Through initiatives like IRE Talks, AI Feast, and similar student-led industry initiatives sponsored by GIBS, students who may be shy and reserved start their journey toward becoming successful leaders through the development of confidence through an incremental, structured, and realistic exposure to the business world, creating their confidence and skills as individuals.
Instead of putting students in high-pressure situations as soon as they enter college, these types of events provide a comfortable and supportive environment in which students interact with leaders, company founders, and professors on a more informal but still meaningful level. Students are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zone through participation in panel discussions and listening to the entrepreneurial experiences of others, asking questions during Q&A sessions, and even hosting and/or moderating various segments of events. The experiential exposure gained from attending these events helps students develop communication skills, a clear thinking ability, and a professional presence, as shy students realise their opinions are valuable and performance requires effort and participation, rather than being perfect.
The experience of working behind the scenes on event planning, content preparation, and presenting with a group provides students with the tools they need to develop their organisational skills, experience working together as a team, and gain a sense of achievement for the roles they are responsible for filling. Almost as importantly, the new campus environment – with its collaborative area, mentorship from faculty members who are approachable, and regular interaction with representatives from various industries – facilitates these transformations by allowing students to learn in environments that are meaningful, relevant, and visible. With time, these shy students become confident communicators.
