On January 21, 2025, the Dublin Early Career Committee hosted its first event of 2025 in collaboration with the Amundi Women’s Network Ireland. Led by Les Austin, Capability and Business Change Manager at Bank of Ireland, members of 100 Women in Finance and Amundi employees learned how to enhance their professional communication skills during the interactive workshop held at the Amundi Ireland offices.
The event began with introductory remarks from Sarah Austin, Expertise Reporting Specialist at Amundi and committee member of 100WF Dublin Early Career Committee.
The interactive workshop focused on essential communication techniques with practical exercises and strategies that attendees could implement in any professional setting.
Throughout the session, Les Austin covered key areas designed to elevate both verbal and non-verbal communication:
- The Power of First Impressions: Participants learned how to make an immediate and lasting impact by using subtle cues such as posture, tone and physical space to help shape initial perceptions.
- Mastering Non-Verbal Communication: A deep dive into body language, facial expressions, and gestures helped attendees learn how to align their non-verbal cues with their intended message.
- Crafting and Delivering Compelling Presentations: Participants explored how to structure their presentations to effectively convey the key points and maximise engagement.
- Effective Verbal Communication: Attendees examined how to confidently express their thoughts and ideas in a concise and clear manner in one-on-one conversations or group settings.
- Building Confidence and Overcoming Stage Fright: This session was a highlight for many and offered strategies to conquer anxiety and build self-assurance when speaking publicly.
The workshop finished with a Q&A session, allowing participants to seek tailored advice from Les Austin and share their experiences.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Aisling McCaffrey, Sustainability Advisory Director at Grant Thornton and co-chair of 100WF Dublin Early Career Committee.
Thank you to our guest speaker Les, Amundi, for their support and the Dublin committee for contributing to the success of the event.
If you are not already a member, join 100WF today to be part of our global-networking finance community, and to receive invitations to 100WF events in Dublin and around the world.
To learn more about 100WF in Ireland please contact the Dublin Committee.
Written by the 100WF Early Career Dublin committee