With anticipation and twenty-nine new scholars I arrived at the first Bootcamp. We had been given no information about the next five days so the only insight I had had been gathered over (many) drinks at the 2016 Scholar’s Showcase the previous week. ‘Amazing’ and ‘intense’ were recurring adjectives so, despite my ignorance of what was coming, my expectations were high. It now seems inevitable but they were not only met but well and truly exceeded.
On day one, Sherilyn – who at this stage was even more excited than us and now I understand why – formally introduced us to the four P’s, the lectures, mentors and coaches that would structure our development over the next nine months, along with what was in store for us in the coming days.
To accurately describe the five days that followed in a succinct way is an impossible task but here it goes! I was audience to some incredible talks from Stephen Miron (Group CEO Global), Stephen Greene (CEO Rockcorps), Sarah Warby (ex Marketing Director Sainsbury’s) and Shadi Halliwell (Creative & Marketing Director Harvey Nichols) to name just a few. We spent two days on a, genuinely life changing leadership course, The Living Leader and finished the week stood in a circle singing an African tribal song at the top of my lungs with zero inhibitions left.
Having had the first taste of the scholarship it’s now clear how much goes into it, how much I stand to gain and how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. My eyes are open wider than ever before. I’m 100% consciously incompetent but comforted with the knowledge that I have the Marketing Academy team, mentors, coaches and 29 new friends to support me on my journey.
