Jean Kennedy is a Women4IT Graphic Design course graduate, having trained with Women4IT partner the Irish Computer Society. In her words, Jean explains what she has gained from undertaking the training, and what this means for her personal and professional development.
Women4IT: Why did you decide to start the Women4IT course?
Jean Kennedy: To upskill and understand the branding process for launching a new business.
W4IT: How was your experience with the course?
JK: I learnt a lot in a short time frame because the quality of teaching was excellent and the course content was manageable for part time learning.
W4IT: What have you learnt during the course?
JK: The importance of branding in a business and how to physically use the software to make a new brand.
W4IT: What has the course given you?
JK: The ability to visualise my future business idea by branding it and bringing the idea to life. It also gave me something to focus on after losing my job with no certainty of getting it back. The course has given me the confidence to get out of my comfort zone and become an entrepreneur.
W4IT: How have you grown professionally?
JK: I’ve learnt new skills and got the experience of learning online. The Graphic Design course opened my eyes to the bigger picture in relation to branding and website design. I also realised that I enjoy working in a team although I’ve been working solo for most of my career. I have continued onto further education to work on collaborating with others and I’m enjoying it more than I ever thought I would.
W4IT: How have you grown personally?
JK: Women4IT helped me to become productive again and it was nice to focus on my self-development. When I lost my job, I became lazy and found it hard to motivative myself to do anything. The course gave me a purpose and gave me the boost I needed to get back into professional development.
W4IT: Would you recommend it to a friend? Why?
JK: Yes, for a few reasons: it is manageable – part time and you can do it all online. The end project/assessment is not stressful because there is great support and understanding throughout. Although it is online there is still loads of communication – time is given for you to share your opinion and the groups are relatively small so you do feel like you get to know the class personally, I haven’t experienced this connection on other e-learning courses.
W4IT: Anything else you would like to share with us?
JK: Thank you to the organisers and facilitators who made it possible for me to learn so much in such a short time frame. It was reassuring to know that the courses you offer are in demand by companies in Ireland and I know that Women4IT will help me beyond the scope of the course to secure work in the IT sector. I cannot afford to invest in a course now so I would like to thank the grant providers for this opportunity and for providing this education to women in Ireland.
