# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Gibbs Reflective Cycle (Greenwalty, 2023)

# data[].attributes.body
The first bootcamp in this module helped me identify the importance self reflection and awareness, what my values, strengths and skills are and how to use this as a guide to build a career plan for myself. 'Gibb's Reflective Cycle' which was developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988, was the foundation upon which I was able to structure my reflection on experiences in order to improve my self awareness and learning.

Gibb's Model consists of 6 stages- description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and an action plan. It is overall a simple, methodical model that can help one identify their experiences, emotions and the impact on others. (Greenwalty, 2023)

# data[].attributes.headline
Using Gibb's module during class, here is a reflective piece that covered the "Who am I" part of my self reflection journey:

# data[].attributes.subject
Using Gibb's module during class, here is a reflective piece that covered the "Who am I" part of my self reflection journey:

# data[].attributes.body
I am a strong advocate for under-represented groups in the beauty industry. Whether these groups vary ethnically, by gender, colour, disability or age, I believe that representation matters. My main career goal is to tackle these issues through strategies that I have learned during my journey as an HR student pursuing a master's degree.

I am a musician. A violinist who knows how to lead an orchestra. I am creative, disciplined and passionate about my art.

I am a waitress, proud of my financial independence no matter how small my role may be now. I have learned how quickly it takes for me to adapt to a new job in a new country, how much pressure I can handle and how to prioritize my time to manage both university and work.

Lastly, I am still trying to figure out how much more I can be, what I don't want to be anymore and how I can just be happy over being the most successful and perfect person.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Identity Bible Verses for Who You Are and Whose You Are! - Forget Him Knot

# data[].attributes.headline
Another important key area of reflection in Bootcamp 1 was understanding our values. "

# data[].attributes.subject
Another important key area of reflection in Bootcamp 1 was understanding our values. "

# data[].attributes.body
Values are abstract desirable goals, stable across times and over situations... the higher the importance a person attributes to a value, the more likely they are to act in ways to promote the attainment of that value" (Shwartz, 1992)

Here are some of my personal values and how they are connected to my career:

1) Passion: My deep interest in the beauty industry, HR and psychology, shows genuine passion, not only from a professional standpoint but on a personal level as well.

2) Commitment to diversity: My goal to address the issue of under-representation in the beauty industry in terms of people and products, reflects a strong commitment to EDI. This value will drive me as an HR leader to initiate inclusive practices at my workplace.

3) Excellence: "Strive to excel" was my school's motto and I grew up aiming to be excellent in everything I am passionate about. Although, psychology, beauty and HR are three different fields, they work together to fit with my specific career goal. My excellence in understanding these 3 areas will position me as a unique HR leader in the beauty industry.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Black Handwritten Tips Arrows Circle Instagram Post (1)

# data[].attributes.body
Lastly, this bootcamp help uncover my personal strengths, weaknesses and skills. I took a test to assess my numerical, verbal and critical reasoning. My strength lay in my verbal reasoning but I had already predicted a positive result for this portion of the test as my ability to comprehend and reason with written or spoken language is good. My numerical and critical reasoning were average and could use some improvement.

From my Capfinnity profile, the following were my strengths:

a) Self belief: I have learned to be confident in my abilities.

b) Competitive: I am highly motivated by competing against others

c) Courage: While I may feel afraid rarely, i never let this fear get in the way of what I want to do.

d) Adaptable: I like re-arranging resources and adapting plans to meet demands of new situations.

My weakness was that I don't have the ability to focus on detail, avoiding it wherever I can.

I also took a personality test using lumina sparks and this is what I understand better about my personality type:

I am driven by results and efficiency, goal focused and push others around me to meet high standards. I am competitive and success oriented and prefer direct communication and decisive actions. While this may be good for an analytical leader, my focus on being rational may overlook emotional aspects of those around me which means I tend to be less empathetic sometimes. I need to develop good listening skills and empathy and consider other's perspectives so that I can have better relationships with people.

# data[].attributes.body
Based on everything I learned about myself in Bootcamp 1, using Gibb's reflective cycle here is a summary of my self reflection experience, feelings, an evaluation and a detailed action plan:

1) Experience: During the bootcamp, I engaged in group discussions with my classmates, and took individual tests like Capffinity and Lumina Sparks that aimed at understanding my strengths, values and skills better.

2) Feelings: initially I was curious about my self-reflection experience. As the bootcamp progressed, I felt intrigued about uncovering insights about myself especially in regards with personality and critical reasoning. I had moments of clarity and some moments of discomfort as I recognized some negative aspects about myself that I had not considered before.

3) Evaluation/analysis: The positives I took back from the bootcamp included realizing my potential of being a good analytical leader and an appreciation of my values like passion for my interests. Although I found difficulty in acknowledging my weaknesses in numerical reasoning and in being empathetic, it made me self-aware and take actions on what need to be done in order for me to improve myself.

4) Action Plan:

a) Cultivating empathy: I need to practice how to question my assumptions in both big picture issues and everyday interactions. Empathy can boil down to my willingness to learn to be mindful of the "what ifs" in situations before I make decisions. (Abramson, 2021)

b) Practice aptitude tests: My next action plan is to practice taking diagrammatic reasoning, logical reasoning, numerical reasoning and situational judgement tests. With the help of practice I can improve my speed, confidence and overall accuracy of my scores in the future.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bootcamp 2 : Understanding & leveraging your personality and emotional intelligence  

# data[].attributes.subject
Bootcamp 2 : Understanding & leveraging your personality and emotional intelligence  

# data[].attributes.body
The second bootcamp focused on being self aware about our emotions and how to control them. According to Daniel Goleman, self awareness which is the foundational skill of emotional intelligence is the most important as it necessary for managing oneself and is the core of empathy. (Matthew Lippincott, 2019)

To get an idea of basic emotions, we took a look at Plutchik's emotion's wheel. The model illustrates relationships between eight primary emotions: joy, acceptance, sadness, disgust, fear, anger surprise and anticipation. It is necessary to understand these emotions because, "they influence our health, performance, wellbeing, motivation, sense of fulfillment, and decision-making skills. (Grinnell, 2016).

# data[].attributes.body
From an E.I. questionnaire given to us during class, I discovered that I struggle to get along with difficult people. I can neither suppress my emotions when I need to nor let anger go quickly. Managing my emotions is something that I need to work on. However, my self-awareness and social skills are good.

Apart from the questionnaire, I had a group discussion during class that required me to think back on a situation where I was unable to regulate my emotions. Several instances came to mind so I had reflected on the most recent one. It was an argument with a friend about our views on feminism. I felt very strongly about my perspective and later said things that I regretted out of anger. I learned many important lessons from instances like these. I need to learn how to communicate calmly and clearly so that I avoid an emotional outburst. I also need to be empathetic and listen to the other people's perspectives, understanding that not everyone has the same mindset as me. It is better to agree to disagree on some things. I could also walk away from situations and conversations that I know will trigger me and come back to it when i have collected my thoughts to articulate them in a better way. This bootcamp taught me strategies that I will highlight next, to manage emotions how to reframe situations. 'Cognitive restructuring, or cognitive reframing, is a therapeutic process that helps discover, challenge, and modify or replace their negative, irrational thoughts or cognitive distortions.' (Clark, 2013)

# data[].attributes.body
There was a focus on emotional agility during this Bootcamp. According to Susan David, this means being flexible with your thoughts and feelings to optimally respond to everyday situations. In her Ted talk she explains how understanding and embracing emotions, rather than categorizing them as good or bad is an important part of resilience. She recognizes emotions as valuable data, promoting genuine happiness and matching one's actions with their values. This approach leads to better emotional agility and individual and societal wellbeing. (David, 2018)

# data[].attributes.body
In 1995, Joseph Luft and Harry Lngham designed a psychological took called the Johari window to improve self awareness, personal development, communication and interpersonal relationships. It has 4 quadrants as shown in the image. The model emphasizes on skills like empathy and co operation in both professional and personal contexts.

During our discussion of the Johari window in this Bootcamp, we had an activity where we referred to our strengths from our Capfinnity profile and sorted them on the left side of the Johari window. These included my strengths that were known to myself and others such as- being courageous, competitive and adaptable. Some strengths that were known to me but unknown to others is my self-belief (confidence to believe in my abilities), my ability to stay grounded in whatever situation I find myself, and my time optimization. After a brief group discussion, i completed the right side of my Johari window after asking my peers for their perspective about me. Strengths that were known to others and unknown to me was my rapport building, optimism and ability to build people's esteem. Lastly, areas of self-discovery included humor, resilience and my judgement.

# data[].attributes.body
a) Keeping a mood journal: Writing down feelings can help reflect on my emotions more deeply. It can help keep track of what specific circumstances contribute to my 'harder to control emotions'. Understanding my triggers and reactions to them can help me come up with productive ways to deal with them in the future.

b) Practicing restraint: Learning when to express myself can help me take more control over my actions. Being mindful of my surroundings can help me learn when it’s OK to let feelings out and when I need to temporarily keep them aside.

# data[].attributes.body
‘A personal brand is a perception or emotion, maintained by somebody other than you, that describes your outstanding qualities and influences that person’s relationship with you’ (McNally and Speak, 2010)

The first activity of Bootcamp 3 required us to reflect on how our strengthening our personal branding can support one's career.

1) Personal branding differentiates one from other candidates. Employer's want someone with unique skills, experience and personality to gain a different perspective.

2) It establishes visibility: Personal branding increases online visibility and can help one reach new audiences. This in turn leads to new collaborations, partnerships and opportunities.

3) Establishes credibility: Personal branding can increase credibility when someone has a consistent online presence to showcase authority and expertise in their field.(www.linkedin.com, 2023)

My unique ability to combine my interests of the beauty industry, psychology and HR positions me as a strong HR leader in this industry. My online presence on LinkedIn, keeping up with trends from different beauty giants like Sephora, Fenty Beauty, Loreal, Estee Lauder, etc is quite strong. However my visibility in terms of reaching out for collaborations could be improved to strengthen my personal brand

# data[].attributes.body
During Bootcamp 3, I framed a brand map that highlighted the foundation of my personal brand like my values, story, essence, mission, etc. First, here are my key take aways from lumina sparks about my personality type for some context.

My natural strengths include having a driven mode of working. I push myself and the people around me to meet high standards. I do this to test myself and get the best out of my team. Trustworthiness is another priority of mine. I consider the impact of my words carefully and only inform my own ideas after taking a note of all actions. I can also predict what a group reaction will be before I speak.

# data[].attributes.body
The first step in developing my personal brand is clarifying my values, vision and personal brand statement. This has been attached in my personal brand map. In order to understand it's impact and gather feedback, I can use analytical tools on LinkedIn and insights from social media like views, comments, likes, shares and followers to keep track of what content my audience resonates with the most. For feedback, I can reach out directly to trusted peers and professional connections to ask for suggestions. This can be done through channels like LinkedIn polls or google forms.

Next, ideally spending two to three hours weekly, sharing content and engaging on social media by responding to texts can help me be consistent in improving my personal brand. I could think of strategizing every 1-3 months if required and if i notice a visible decline audience engagement.

The challenges that I could face along the way is keeping track of all my engagement metrics, content, and the changing trends in the industry. This is a process that requires a high level of commitment and time.

I could learn to tackle these issues from other experts in this field. I could take inspiration from people like Flaguni Nayar, CEO of Nykaa and learn how they exemplified their values to become successful.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bootcamp 4: Self Leadership for professional wellbeing and performance 

# data[].attributes.subject
Bootcamp 4: Self Leadership for professional wellbeing and performance 

# data[].attributes.body
"Self leadership is the practice of intentionally influencing our thinking, feelings and actions towards our objectives". (Bryant, 2017).

The Bootcamp taught us self leadership strategies like wellbeing, coping, having a positive sense of self and maintaining perspective which are the foundations for resilience and motivation.

From my Capfinnity profile, I realized that my resilience levels or my ability to bounce back from tough situations are not strong. Therefore, using theories from this Bootcamp helped me professionally develop myself in this area.

# data[].attributes.headline
Seligman's PERMA theory of wellbeing for self leadership

# data[].attributes.subject
Seligman's PERMA theory of wellbeing for self leadership

# data[].attributes.body
There are five building blocks that enable wellbeing– Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Positive emotion involves cultivating gratitude, mindfulness, and hope. Engagement leads to the fulfilling state of "flow" when deploying skills on challenging tasks. Relationships amplify joy and provide meaning and support. Meaning arises from belonging to something larger than oneself. Accomplishment is pursued for mastery and success. There are strategies to increase each of these. (ppc.sas.upenn.edu, 2023)

The first Bootcamp activity that aimed at increasing PERMA levels was to rate myself out of 10 on each of these levels and what short and long term action plan I can make to increase each of these levels.

I rated myself as the following:

Positive Emotion - 8

Engagement - 8

Relationships - 7

Meaning - 8

Accomplishment - 7

Ways to improve these:

Positive emotion:

a) Spending time with people I care about (Kok et al., 2013). I could spend more time with my friends and family.

b) Do hobbies and creative activities that I enjoy (Conner et al., 2018). Activities like playing the violin, drawing and gaming tend to cheer me up.

Engagement:

a) Spend time in nature, watching, listening, and observing what happens around me.

b) Practice living in the moment, even during daily activities or mundane tasks like when I am at work, focusing at university or doing house chores.

Relationships:

a) Get in touch with people I have not spoken to or connected with in a while. Like sitting with different people during class or reaching out to a LinkedIn connection who shares similar interests as me.

Meaning:

a) Get involved in a cause or organization that matters to me.

b) Try new, creative activities to find things I connect with like learning a new instrument or journaling.

Achievement:

a) Set goals that are SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound.

b) Reflect on past successes.

# data[].attributes.body
We had an activity to help us reflect on our stress levels during this Bootcamp. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. Some stress can be good, it can push us to work hard. But too much stress can make us feel overwhelmed, and prolonged stress can eventually lead to problems. The stress bucket is a way to visualize this. The clouds above the bucket are the things that cause stress. This fills up the bucket and it can be released by doing things that are enjoyable or that help to stress less. (Neil Laybourn, 2018)

The stressors in my bucket include: Poor sleep, overtime at work, procrastination, anxiety, loneliness and bad diet.

The factors that require my urgent attention and that can change are my poor diet and sleep schedule. I should learn to prioritize self-care. I could cut short my night outs and spend time with my friends during the weekends instead.

The things that cannot change and that are beyond my control are the number of hours I need to attend at work and university, which stress me out sometimes. These are some things that I cannot compromise on as I want to complete my course and also ensure that I am doing financially well.

My helpful coping strategies are playing my violin, speaking to my family and spending time with good friends. These are people who can help me overcome my loneliness and make me feel less anxious as well.

My most unhelpful coping strategy is turning to alcohol which is only a temporary escape and makes my anxiety worse in the long run.

I can spot when my container is close to overflowing when i sense that I am burnt out. Although my mind wants to do certain things, my body does not allow me to.

# data[].attributes.body
To summarize, here are my action plans:

To enhance my resilience and overall well-being, I will focus on the PERMA model's five building blocks: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Short-term actions include scheduling regular time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, practicing mindfulness, and reconnecting with old friends. I will also set SMART goals, improve sleep hygiene, and adopt a healthier diet. Long-term strategies involve continuous learning, volunteering for meaningful causes, and expanding my social circle through networking and community involvement.

To manage stress effectively, I will replace unhelpful coping mechanisms, such as turning to alcohol, with healthier alternatives like playing the violin, speaking to family, and spending time with friends. Regularly monitoring my progress through monthly self-assessments and reflections will help me stay on track. Sharing my plan with a trusted friend or mentor will provide accountability and support. This structured approach will not only boost my resilience but also contribute to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

# data[].attributes.body
Career success refers to “the positive
psychological or work-related outcomes or
achievements one accumulates as a result of
work experiences” (Seibert, Crant, & Kraimer,
1999, p. 417)

The most important takeaway from this module for me what BHAG- Big Hair Audacious Goal. "It is a long term goal that challenges the very nature of what is possible. It is clear and compelling and serves and a focal point of effort, often creating immense pride. They are bigger, bolder and more powerful than regular long or short-term goals". (Oak Journal Method, 2020)

# data[].attributes.body
Long-term Goal-Setting: Over a Decade

My Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is to be an HR Director at a major beauty company is to end beauty stereotypes, deal with underrepresentation, and develop an inclusive industry that welcomes individuals of all sexes, races, and backgrounds. This objective includes changing workplace culture, marketing tactics, and corporate policies to reflect genuine diversity and inclusivity.

Emotional Pull and Excitement

I find this goal to be very personal and significant. The desire to live in a society where everyone, regardless of appearance or background, feels respected and represented is what draws people in emotionally. I'm excited about the challenge of eradicating ingrained prejudices and advancing genuine inclusivity. It is a bold plan that calls for a total paradigm shift in the business, not just small adjustments.

Motivation behind the BHAG

A strong commitment to social justice and equality serves as the driving force behind this BHAG. My goal is to empower marginalized groups and promote an accepting and diverse culture by taking on and altering beauty stereotypes. Creating a lasting impact on society and establishing a standard that other industries can follow are more important than just corporate success.

Imagining Success

A deep sense of pride and achievement overcomes me as I envision myself having already accomplished this goal. It is my vision of the beauty industry to embrace diversity in all its forms, with advertisements showcasing individuals of all sexes, races, ages, and body types. We have reinterpreted beauty standards and established an industry that is truly inclusive and represents the society we live in.

Perception of others

Some would argue that I've spearheaded a revolution in the beauty business, dismantling obstacles and presenting underrepresented groups with opportunities. My leadership would be honored for its bravery, foresight, and commitment to promoting diversity. My peers in the industry, coworkers, and the general public would consider me a trailblazer who has raised the bar for inclusion and diversity.

Bold, Big, and Authentic Vision

I see broad diversity initiatives, inclusive marketing campaigns, and policies that promote equal representation being put into action by being real and thinking big. The objective goes beyond simply changing our business; it also aims to spread throughout the industry and society, advancing the idea of an inclusive and diverse beauty.

# data[].attributes.body
This professional development plan is made based on my experiences and feedback received from the 5 Bootcamps and the assessment center conducted during the professional development module. The assessment center was conducted online to test our presentation skills, group discussion skills and one-on-one interview. My feedback based on my communication skills during the one-on-one interview and group discussion was positive. However, due to unpreparedness and nervousness while presenting the PPT, this section of the assessment center was not a positive experience for me. I was unaware that we had to prepare a PPT the previous day and it was difficult for me to adapt and prepare a presentation on the spot. This made me highly stressed and high pressure activities can affect performance.

My 5 year Professional Development Plan

Year 1: Self-Assessment and Skill Enhancement

In the first year, I will focus on self-assessment and improving essential skills like enrolling in a public speaking course like Toastmasters to build my presentation skills and confidence. I need to improve my numerical and critical reasoning abilities through online courses on platforms such as Coursera. I will also continue learning my psychology courses as well as it is a branch that goes hand in hand with HR. I will prioritize self-care by establishing a consistent sleep schedule and a healthy diet, incorporating regular exercise, and practicing mindfulness techniques like yoga or meditation. By year’s end, I aim to complete the public speaking course, improve my test scores, and maintain a healthy lifestyle for six months.

Year 2: Professional Growth and Networking

The second year should center on professional growth and expanding your network. I will seek a mentor within your for guidance and support. I will attend industry conferences, seminars, and workshops to build professional connections. Enhancing my empathy and listening skills by participating in emotional intelligence and active listening workshops is another crucial step for me. I will establish a mentorship relationship with quarterly goals, attend at least three industry events, and connect a few professionals on LinkedIn to broaden my network.

Year 3: Leadership and Specialized Training

In the third year, I will focus on leadership development and specialized training. I want to enroll in leadership programs to enhance my ability to lead teams. I need to take specialized courses on diversity and inclusion to prepare for my goal of becoming an HR Director. This leadership program, will help me earn a DEI certification by the end of the year.

Year 4: Implementation and Real-World Application

The fourth year should focus on applying my skills and gaining practical experience. I would like to lead diversity and inclusion initiatives within my organization to showcase my leadership capabilities. I would regularly seek feedback from peers and supervisors to ensure continuous improvement. i would like to successfully lead a major initiative, receive positive performance reviews, and dedicate at least 50 hours to relevant community volunteering to gain hands-on experience.

Year 5: Strategic Positioning and Long-Term Goal Alignment

In the fifth year, I will focus on positioning myself strategically for my long-term goal of becoming an HR Director in the beauty industry. I need to secure a leadership role that matches with this ambition, such as a senior HR manager or diversity officer. I will leverage my personal brand to position myself in a reputable designation. i will often engage with senior leaders and industry experts through high-level events to expand my influence. I aim to secure a relevant leadership role, gain recognition through speaking engagements and publications, and build a strong network of senior professionals in the industry.