Day 1 – SDF’s Festival of Learning & Development 2021

Keynote

Belonging – Me. We.

9:40 to 10:45

Kate Richardson-Walsh

Synopsis: Belonging is central to me. Belonging is central to we. We can only belong in our teams and communities when we fully accept all of ourselves. Belonging is a basic human need and is fundamental in all of our lives. I will share my personal story and the Great Britain women’s hockey team story through the lens of belonging. Together we will explore the psychological tools we used to help us see our whole self and thrive. As athletes we learnt how to manage our state and own our super strengths. These skills were as valuable to me now as they were then and I hope they will help you on your own journey of self acceptance and belonging. When coupled with an empowered team driven culture, we were able to create a team where everyone had value, everyone had worth and everyone played a vital role. I will demonstrate how team cultures with aligned visions, values and behaviours are key to the success of both ‘me’ and ‘we’. What do we demand and accept of ourselves and the people around us?

Keynote

A VC’s perspective on the challenges and opportunities for Learning and Development professionals.

10:55 to 11:45

Professor Dame Janet Beer, University of Liverpool

Professor Andy Schofield, University of Lancaster

Synopsis: This keynote focuses on discussing challenges and opportunities that exist for organisational development/learning and development professionals supporting their institutions/staff in the coming years.  

Janet Beer, VC, Liverpool and Andy Schofield, VC, Lancaster, will share their insights to provoke thinking about the type of support HE institutions may need to drive change through people – especially as a result of Covid, changes in working arrangements and other big agendas on the horizon.  Specifically, Janet & Andy will address questions around opportunities and challenges associated with hybrid working, inclusivity and wellbeing – all hot topics for organisational development professionals just now.

Workshop

Empowering yourself

11:55 to 12:45

Anne Fogarty, Centre for Learning

Synopsis: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

Helping you develop confidence, self-esteem and sense of empowerment. Convert intention into positive action. Develop self-awareness and set personal boundaries, feel more fulfilled and in control as you achieve your dreams and goals. Empower Yourself!

Keynote

Resonance, Resilience and Zen Leadership

13:40 to 14:45

Dr Ginny Whitelaw, Institute of Zen Leadership

Synopsis: The themes of this festival – agility, self-direction, connection, and reimagination ­– will become felt experiences in this interactive session that explores how physical Zen practices can enhance your resonance and resilience as a leader. You’ll learn what resonance is, and how it shows up both in your inner state and outward impact. You’ll experience how self-protection, trauma and differing time scales of change between mind and body can dampen resonance, destroy agility, and leave one stuck in the past. Finally, you’ll learn how to use breath and body to enter a more resonant, resilient, and connected state from which you can reimagine the present and make your greatest difference.

Workshop

Resilient teams for uncertain times

14:55 to 15:45

Andry Anastasis McFarlane, The Learning Moment

Synopsis: What makes a HEI team resilient, even in uncertain times? The qualities of resilient teams, based on real team projects that thrived, despite adversity. Resilience team activities that build resourcefulness, adaptability and networks. How managers can lead on team resilience in the workplace.

Pecha Kucha

15:55 to 16:45

Winnie the Pooh & The Art of Coaching

Rubina Menghrani, The 3Rs

Synopsis: Using the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh and friends we will look at how coaching can be used as an effective and powerful tool for self-development, a journey which includes the consideration of their own motivation, identification of goals and ‘un-learning’ of patterns of behaviour that have prevented progress.

What did you expect?

Mark Gilroy, TMS Development International Ltd

Synopsis: This pecha kucha will explore the psychology of expectation – how do our expectations of what other people say, who we are and who we want to be affect how we experience the world? And what does it all mean for us at work? Expect talk of men in white coats, Batman, sleeping and coffee!