Over two years ago, when I was still a student with no clear career plan, I signed up for an opportunity that would completely change my trajectory.
Like many students, I had interests but no set direction. I knew I wanted practical experience, so I decided to apply for the IoD Leadership Shadowing Scheme.
I didn’t know it then, but this decision would become a defining point in my career journey, leading to growth, confidence, and, ultimately, a fulfilling role in digital marketing.
How It Started: Leadership Shadowing Scheme
Application
With an interest in marketing from studying A-Level Business, I applied to the IoD Leadership Shadowing scheme during my time at Sixth Form in 2022. Why? - I’d missed the opportunity of work experience due to COVID-19 disruptions, so I wanted to gain some sort of practical experience to add to my CV.
Placement
I was placed with Indulge where I shadowed the Director, Patrick, for three days. He introduced me to the core functions of the business, explaining key concepts like the differences between retainers and projects, as well as various management approaches such as agile and waterfall.
During my time there, I got to attend key data protection and cybersecurity training, and I even got to observe a product pitch firsthand. What was initially intended as a brief experience turned into an entire week of valuable shadowing and work experience. I was also invited to join the Indulge team for their summer social, which involved kayaking along Cobo and some lovely food to follow!
As part of the program, we had to create a presentation about our experiences and insights. After presenting to a judging panel, I didn’t make it to the finals.
I thought my time with IoD was over, but I soon discovered it was just the beginning of many more opportunities.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Initiative
From the 2022 Leadership Shadowing cohort, I was one of ten selected for the Leaders of Tomorrow initiative. This program aims to ‘develop young business talent, and to introduce Guernsey's Leaders of Tomorrow to thought leaders and influential career role models from the Bailiwick and beyond.’
This gave me exclusive access to various IoD conventions, events, and educational breakfasts. Our group had a diverse range of interests, allowing us to view different perspectives on local and workplace matters. This dynamic allowed us to bounce off each other, and we soon became a powerful team.
To hear more about the opportunities from this initiative, read this article highlighting our group’s experience!
The Future
Before my engagement with IoD, I lacked a career plan. To my surprise, Pat reached out to me after my initial placement, offering holiday work throughout Sixth Form.
With each return to the office, I started to navigate this career path I never expected but felt fortunate to find. With each visit, my skills and understanding grew stronger.
I have now been here working full-time for over a year, and still attend IoD workshops and events to gain valuable knowledge!
Conclusion
For me, this journey has proven that it’s the taking part that truly matters. Despite not ‘winning’ the scheme, or even placing in the top 10, I gained opportunities that I never saw coming.
If you’re a student considering this programme, I can’t recommend it enough - all it takes is saying “yes” to an opportunity for it to change your life.
