Accelerate

“Accelerate has been an incredibly valuable experience. I appreciated the practical tools, reflective exercises, and peer learning opportunities that helped me grow both personally and professionally. The sessions challenged my thinking, boosted my confidence, and gave me space to connect with like-minded colleagues. They helped me to solidify confidence in myself, my capability and to keep on being unapologetically myself - it was nice to feel accepted and understood and not like an imposter. I particularly enjoyed the supportive environment created by Nishi and all of the facilitators, they made it very easy to engage, be open, and take real learnings away from the insights shared. I very much enjoyed the course, the new network of peers and working styles it opened my eyes up to. Thank you very much to all those involved and participating in the programme!”

Katy Wilson, WMG

“It was a very positive experience, and that can be said about the programme as a whole. While I’ve done training courses/programmes where there has been the sharing of challenges and helpful tools to address them, I think Accelerate has been the only programme that enabled/supported us to get to the heart of WHAT is important to us as people (and therefore as leaders), and WHY that is the case. Which I think lends itself more naturally into authentic take-away commitments and personal actions, as well as level of comfort to share those more widely, even in a professional context. So thank you for your (significant) part in that!”

“Accelerate has been instrumental in building my confidence to feel 'ready' to progress to a more senior leadership position. One of the key learnings for me was that the mind is like Teflon for the positive and Velcro for the negative and that it is completely within our control to recognise when we are being overly critical of ourselves and take action to counter that, actively dialling up our 'inner mentor' and toning down the 'inner critic' when our brain starts to naturally catastrophise. I have learnt so much from my peers on the course and the challenges that they have faced during their careers. Accelerate provided a safe space in which we could all openly share our experiences and learn from one another. The work on our core values was also particularly insightful – I now feel much more able to clearly articulate my core values and confident to fall back on them if I’m ever in a quandary about what the ‘right’ next step should be.”

"Accelerate was far more than a training programme for me. I felt it was a safe space to grow, reflect and connect. It beautifully complemented my Level 5 coaching qualification training, by giving me further insights which helped me understand the why behind what I already do and gave me fresh tools and confidence to lead with purpose.

The cohort network was fantastic and was a genuine safe space where we shared openly, supported one another. I really enjoyed learning through creative and interactive approaches, especially the session by Olivia Mythodrama, which brought leadership challenges and my underlying archetypes to life in unforgettable ways. It was a great ice breaker for the cohort and joining line managers."

Rachael Kirwan, Innovation Group

“The opportunity to participate in Accelerate arrived at the perfect time for me. Being relatively new within a leadership and management role at Warwick, I was looking for the opportunity to better understand myself and my leadership style, to build the skills needed to be an authentic leader and to do so in a community of like-minded individuals with whom I could learn, share knowledge and grow with. If I had to summarise what the Accelerate programme has given me in 1 word it would be ‘peace’ – the peace to know that I’m good enough to be a leader, the peace to know that I can tackle any obstacle that I’m faced with using the tools and skills learnt during the programme and the peace that there is a community of individuals to share and seek guidance/support from going forward. I’m so very grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the programme and I wholeheartedly recommend it to others.”

Sophie Watts, RIS

“Participating in Accelerate has been a transformative experience at a pivotal point in my career. Having recently stepped into a senior leadership role, the opportunity to pause, reflect, and invest in my development was invaluable. Nishi and the team created a supportive and inspiring environment that encouraged authentic leadership and personal growth. One of the most impactful aspects was the focus on building relationships over simply completing tasks - an insight that has reshaped how I lead. The connections I made in the cohort have been incredibly meaningful, and I continue to collaborate with several participants as part of my day-to-day work. The Inclusive Leadership module stood out, not only for its relevance but also for its ripple effect - my manager brought one of the activities to our team Away Day, sparking important conversations. This programme has deepened my understanding of inclusive leadership and given me the confidence to lead with authenticity and courage.”

"What’s missing at senior levels goes beyond a lack of diversity, it’s also the absence of authentic, inclusive, and respectful leadership among some of the key gatekeepers. One of the most compelling aspects of Accelerate was its dual engagement of participants and their line managers, offering a sense of hope that “change will come.”

The programme’s blend of in-person training, coaching, and mentoring was a welcome feature, accommodating different learning preferences and aligned with its aim of equipping participants with leadership approaches tailored to their unique challenges and opportunities. The sessions didn’t offer platitudes, but rather created space to reflect on how we might navigate institutional spaces and build the confidence to open doors for ourselves or apply more assuredly for roles. To that extent, it has contributed positively to our ongoing professional development."

Sam Grierson, EPQ

“I greatly valued taking part in Accelerate this year as it gave me lots of practical ideas for improving my leadership capacities and team-working skills authentically. The course was also very timely in supporting me to recently obtain an academic promotion, which I applied for in the months after starting Accelerate.”

“Accelerate has been a really transformative experience. The programme not only helped me understand my own leadership style, but also gave me the tools and confidence to lead others effectively. The supportive network of peers, mentors and Nishi, combined with a focus on authentic leadership and overcoming systemic barriers, made it truly empowering. It's a must for anyone looking to grow as a leader in an inclusive and meaningful way.”

Megan Caulfield, Dean of Students Office

“The Accelerate programme has been transformational for me. I applied since I was struggling to understand how I could grow as a leader and I couldn’t quite picture what my leadership attributes are and how these could be developed. The programme has equipped me with knowledge, resources, coaching, mentorship and a peer network that together have empowered me to deliver more intentionally and confidently as a leader and to exploit more opportunities to raise my profile. I’ve learnt to lead with authenticity and will take learnings forward, to further growth, and to position myself for a more senior role. I thoroughly recommend this course as a springboard to developing skills to becoming an inclusive leader.”

Anonymous

"Who should join? If you are an aspiring leader, or someone curious about leading more authentically and inclusively, then this course is for you. You will leave with practical insights, renewed energy and a cohort network that continues to support each other.

I felt it was very timely and was an investment in myself from the University, my line manager, the course leads, my wonderful cohort and of course by me!"

Rachael Kirwan, Innovation Group

"Accelerate provided a safe space to reflect on leadership at Warwick, including where I see myself within it. For me personally, the impact of the programme has not significantly altered my experience positive or negative, but it has created a valuable space to connect with colleagues who share common challenges. These connections have fostered mutual support and prompted us to reflect on our own practices, particularly in how we manage others.

I also really appreciated meeting the range of presenters who genuinely believe in authentic and inclusive leadership an approach I strive to embody every day. That the institution designed and invested in this programme is, in itself, a meaningful step in the right direction. I sincerely thank everyone involved for their willingness to try and “speak truth into existence."

Sam Grierson, EPQ