Ghalia Kawwa (right) with her fellow classmates and the course director, Dr Phil Connors.
As told by Ghalia Kawwa.
The Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership (formerly the Humanitarian Leadership Program [HLP]) has been a transformative experience for my professional growth and leadership. I have benefitted tremendously from the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical work we have done throughout the course.
My experiences of the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership
The way the course has been designed enables participants to gain foundational knowledge that is further built by self-reflection, coaching, peer reviews and high-pressure humanitarian simulations. I can honestly and undoubtedly say that the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership has been a unique experience that reinvigorated my passion and knowledge for humanitarian work.
I have also been incredibly fortunate to meet academics and a group of professionals who share my passion and dedication to this field. Taking this course with other professionals from all around the world with various backgrounds, cultures and experiences has added so much value to my learning and ongoing professional growth. I am happy to say that the network of professionals we formed during the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership remains alive even after the end of our course. As such, we continue to share learnings, updates, and information that is extremely useful for all of us in this field.
We learned how to become life-long leaders in whichever title or position we hold in our work. We learned to empower people and be strategic thinkers… Most importantly, I have learned the power I have as an individual to influence change and others to better serve humanity.
We learned a lot in this course; some aspects more subtle than others. Among these many things, we learned how to become life-long leaders in whichever title or position we hold in our work. We learned to empower people and be strategic thinkers. We learned about the operational challenges that are naturally born in this sector and the decisions we need to make in light of those challenges and the humanitarian principles. Most importantly, I have learned the power I have as an individual to influence change and others to better serve humanity.
Pathways after graduation
There’s no doubt that developing leadership skills is a road to no end. I recognize that there’s always room for improvement and learning in the path of becoming the best version of myself. Indeed, this course has provided me with the solid foundation and confidence to pragmatically work on my less developed aspects and the habits I want to change in my professional career. I believe that this course is important and relevant to each and every humanitarian worker who wants to continuously develop their skills and contribution to humanity. I feel privileged to have taken a part in the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership, and will continue on promoting its value to many others in this field.
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