A meeting to Remember - Apprentices meet with CEO Sir Dan Moynihan
Have you ever wondered what path your career may have taken if you started it ‘knowing what you know now’? For many, the early years of work are spent homing in on team-level intricacies and daily tasks, with time rarely afforded to connecting with executives and leadership. But like a Seurat painting, the fundamental role of each person is often most appreciated when one can stand back and view them as part of the larger picture.
For apprentices Amy Balfour, Andrew Williams and Eliza Peci, this opportunity is being offered from the get-go. As part of a networking initiative devised by the Harris Apprenticeships Team, they are meeting with executive leaders across Harris Federation – starting at the top with Chief Executive, Sir Dan Moynihan. For these apprentices, this meeting could not have been an email.
Sitting down for coffee on a sunny Thursday morning in November, our three Chartered Manager Degree apprentices began their first meeting in the Coffee Roulette series - a networking initiative designed to provide enlightening insight that deepens the learners’ understanding of how Harris Federation operates, and the importance of the people and departments that sit within it.
The three Harris alumni, who all recently completed their final year of Sixth Form at Harris Girls’ Academy Bromley, Harris Girls’ Academy Dulwich, and Harris Academy Merton, sat down with Sir Dan to talk about teacher recruitment, non-teaching roles within the Federation, and what’s involved when it comes to Estates and Trust-wide projects.
“Leadership is...communicating a vision and purpose to staff that motivates them, and supporting their development”
Sir Dan Moynihan
The apprentices posed a series of insightful questions to the chief executive. Among discussions around how to be an effective leader and remain motivated, the group reflected on Sir Dan’s drive to “make life fairer” for people. Considering the roles of leaders in education, he added “[our leaders] believe your background doesn’t need to be your destiny…anyone you support to do well, can do well”.
Among Sir Dan’s words of advice were helpful prompts on how to bounce-back from inevitable challenges. “Hold your nerve and be willing to be unpopular”, Sir Dan advised - an integral skill when it comes to “[making] changes to how things have been done”.
When asked what advice he would give to those just starting out in their careers, Sir Dan gave three simple pointers: “be positive, learn everything you can, [and] work really hard”.
As part of their termly rotation across departments in the central team and academies, the apprentices will try their hand at finance, human resources and project management. This carousel of exposure is designed to provide hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the people, projects and operations that collectively deliver educational excellence to pupils in London, Essex and surrounding areas.
Before wrapping up the first term of their 48-month apprenticeship, which will land them with a BA (Hons) in Business and Management accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the apprentices will feature on an upcoming episode on Harris Futures podcast. Be sure to tune in to learn more about their journey so far: Harris Futures Podcast.
Over the coming year, the Coffee Roulette series will continue as the apprentices meet with each of the Trust’s directors, as well as the Chief Information Officer and Chief Financial Officer. We look forward to following their journey and sharing the insight they learn along the way.
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