Despite the limitations of COVID-19, eleven members of Shannon Chamber have been conferred with a CPD Diploma in High Performance Leadership by Dublin Technological University. The conferring took place virtually and was the first virtual conferring ceremony organised by Shannon Chamber Skillnet.

The members were conferred after completing a rigorous period  of study that involved online lectures and one-to-one coaching as set down by the requirements of this Level 8 Diploma, which was delivered by Career Decisions Ireland and accredited by Technological University Dublin (TUD). The comprehensive results-driven programme was designed to enable participants to enhance their leadership capabilities, equip them with highly effective coaching skills to lead and motivate their teams to maximise performance and results.

The conferring was attended by Dr Colin Hughes, Head of School and Dr Lorraine Sweeney, Assistant Head of School, TU Dublin, with the Diplomas conferred by Dr Hughes. Miriam Magner Flynn, Managing Director and Noelle Foley Coughlan, Client Services Manager, Career Decisions /CDT, Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber and Claire Quinn, Network Manager, Shannon Chamber Skillnet also attended the virtual graduation.

Diploma recipients included Colette Walsh, Duncan Kerin, Niall Staunton, Noel O’Connor, Thomas Hogan, Una McNamara, Valerie Vaughan, Niall O’Callaghan, Vanessa Mc Tigue and Aisling O’Brien.

Addressing the graduates, Dr Hughes said that their commitment and dedication to personal development and knowledge acquisition had received its acknowledgement and reward. He also commended Shannon Chamber Skillnet for having the vision and commitment to seeking to continually support the professional development of leaders in its network and Career Decisions Ireland for delivering a challenging and engaging programme.

Congratulating all graduates on their enormous achievement and wishing them every success for the future, Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said: “The tremendous investment in time involved in undertaking this programme will deliver quantifiable payback in the years ahead. Leadership is fundamental in any organisation and when the leaders themselves undertake training at this level, the associated message that permeates throughout the organisation is very strong.”

Adding her congratulations, Career Decisions’ Managing Director Miriam Magner Flynn said that professional development is a journey and she wished the graduates well as they continue to develop their leadership competencies and performance into the future. “Career Decisions are committed to developing leaders to world class standards. Our dedicated division CDT (CoachDevelopTransform) specialises in Leadership & People Development, Executive Coaching and Accredited Executive Education Programmes,” she said.

Extending her thanks to Technological University Dublin, particularly Dr Hughes and Dr Sweeney for their ongoing support and professionalism, Ms Magner Flynn added: “TUD’s history of academic excellence and expertise has enabled all of our students to graduate with a qualification of international repute.”

Sharing their feedback on the benefits they derived from completing a programme of this quality, the graduates unanimously agreed that it has given them very applicable and excellent transferrable ‘soft’ skills not touched on in their previous courses of study. It has also given them new problem-solving skills, an ability to better communicate corporate strategy and coach their respective teams.

“It was very practical and incredibly beneficial,” they added.

The Level 8 Diploma in High-Performance Leadership, delivered by Career Decisions Ireland and accredited by Technological University Dublin (TUD), is a comprehensive results-driven programme designed to enable participants enhance your leadership capabilities. It delivers highly effective coaching skills to lead and motivate teams to maximise performance and results. The content is extremely practical and reflective of the day-to-day challenges that managers encounter and must manage.