The FNB graduate program experience was invaluable. I expected courses that were purely hard skills based, the FNB graduate program however goes far beyond that, focusing on your holistic development. The program covered everything from Career management and networking to strategic thinking and mindfulness. I quickly realized that a successful career does not depend on hard work alone but rather a combination of hard work and a multitude of soft skills, skills that I assumed were self-taught and picked up along the way. I was gladly mistaken, and the graduate program imparts these skills at an expert level!
Personally Personal Mastery and Professional Presence had the greatest impact.
Personal Mastery thought me how to plan my journey, decide and decipher where exactly I want my career to go and how to get there. It provided me with practical tools that helped me highlight areas of personal weakness prompting growth, and areas of strength to leverage on the journey to success. The module required a lot of work and deep introspection, but the lessons learned will influence not just my career but my personal life as well.
Professional Presence surprised me the most, the tools gained are simple to understand and easy to implement but have the greatest impact. Professional presence thought me the power of posture, tone of voice, use of hand gestures and the art of conversation. The Professional Presence toolkit will enable me to standout and make an impact, which is especially important during the time of virtual work where face-to-face interactions are limited.
The grad program itself is fantastic and provides you with skills that will impact your growth and development far into your career.
