19th July 2018

#150Leaders: London Takeover

Wednesday 11 July saw all four cohorts of our #150Leaders together for the first time. With a busy itinerary of prestigious speakers and reuniting with colleagues and friends, there was excitement for the day ahead.

The opening welcome from Dr Katerina Kolyva and Professor Nigel Harrison was a time to recognise the achievements of all the leaders, from Student Nurse and Midwife of the Year to presenting on an international stage.

We were very pleased to have Professor Brian Webster-Henderson, Chair of the Council of Deans of Health, present on political astuteness and the key competencies required:

The next session was led by Professor Peter Shaw, a leadership coach and author of 100 Great Leading Well Ideas. Each student was given a copy of his book, and Peter highlighted key take home points from the book:

After lunch, Professor Aisha Holloway opened with an unconventional task: make your heart sing. To boost energy, Aisha asked students (and staff) to listen to the song that really makes your heart sing – listen, sing, dance. Aisha continued her presentation the theme of networking and leadership, including how to best use your network and how to make networking meaningful:

Unfortunately, consultant midwife Sheena Byrom OBE was unable to join us on the day but luckily had sent a video for students with some advice for the future:

The formal conference ended with a time to reflect on the future and the contributions each leader will make in healthcare. The day ended with a time to put theory into practice with an informal networking drinks reception. The Reception was joined by the Royal College of Nursing’s Janet Davis and Chief Allied Health Professions Officer Suzanne Rastrick.

More photos and buzz from the day can be found on twitter using the hashtag #150Leaders.