Taking action for career growth – For Alumni, By Alumni

Dr Deola Agbato (MBA 1997) is an alumna of the Cardiff Business School, with over two decades of experience in banking. She is passionate about developing and empowering talent to improve the sustainability and growth of organisations. Here, she shares her thoughts on how to develop professionally, even while juggling different priorities.

About two years ago, I came to a point where I wanted to take my career to a new level. So, after deep reflection, I self-sponsored and enrolled in a Board Readiness Mentoring Programme for Women, organised by the Women in Management and Business and Public Service and Management (WimBiz). During that programme, I learnt many helpful nuggets that have taken my career to a new level:

1. Build your online brand

   One of these learnings was the need for brand visibility. Before the programme, I would say that I did not consider myself as a brand and was invisible professionally. I wasn’t leveraging my LinkedIn page to enhance my career profile. So, after the programme, I updated my page and headshot to make myself more visible and project myself professionally, since social media is home to the new global job market.

   For more advice on standing out online, take a look at some key tips from fellow Cardiff alumni.

2. Become a ‘thought leader’

   Secondly, I became more intentional about posting regularly on LinkedIn, positioning myself as a thought leader in my industry. These efforts have proved useful, as I later secured an Advisory Board role with the Harvard Business Review, an opt-in group of research professionals. I read somewhere that you should always challenge yourself every year – do something that you are afraid of and you will grow. So, this year, I challenged myself to seize opportunities and speak at thought leadership events. I’ve found them personally fulfilling and look forward to other speaking engagements in the near future.

3. Network, network, network

   While in Cardiff Business School, I networked with coursemates who came from diverse nations across the world: Africa, Asia, and Europe. Networking in Cardiff helped me to appreciate and understand other cultures, and I realised that we are all humans after all. However, when I started working and raising a family, I was not engaging in serious professional networking.

   After the Board Readiness and Mentoring programme, I realised that I needed to network to grow my career. I have now made myself available as a Mentor at WimBiz, as a way to give back to younger women and learn from others too. Also, I have become more active in my professional association, and am attending more networking events to meet other likeminded, passionate people.

4. Time management is key

   Maintaining focus on these professional activities has proven very useful for me. Sometimes this may involve making sacrifices here and there, and missing out on some social engagements for a while. But after achieving my goal, I return to those engagements. For example, while I was balancing a vigorous full-time doctorate degree programme and a full-time job, I had to let go of some social opportunities. However, I took them up during semester breaks and after I finished the programme. Furthermore, I learnt to maximise every available time while studying – while waiting in queues, for example, I read and summarised articles so I could meet tight deadlines.

Making the effort and investment to engage in professional development, visibility, and strategic networking will help you to build your career and your circle. Where you are today is a result of the books you have read and the training you have taken, but it’s also a result of the people in your network. I do hope that you will take action on any of these pillars of professional growth, and I look forward to networking with fellow Cardiff alumni in the future.

Ready to connect with Cardiff alumni like Deola? Join the official network on LinkedIn.