Developing People

VCP Mentoring Scheme with Professor Shearer West and Josh Sendall

In this episode, Shearer and Josh share their perspectives of the VCP Mentoring Scheme, discussing the impacts of this developmental opportunity as both mentor and mentee:
"I learn a huge amount from my mentees, both about their lived experience and also about the culture of their departments, and I can get underneath the skin of what's going on at the University... and to help people's career development at the same time" - Shearer West"More than anything, my overriding 'and what next' is recognizing my own value as a leader... and to harness what is distinctively me" - Josh SendallThe VCP Mentoring Scheme supports leadership development for colleagues in Grades 9 and 10 roles who aspire to more senior leadership positions at Leeds or beyond, but feel that factors related to one or more protected characteristics may be limiting their professional growth.
The scheme aims to take you on a personal and professional leadership development journey, and particularly encourages applications from colleagues currently under-represented in leadership positions at the University including (but not limited to) women; ethnically minoritised colleagues; staff who identify as LGBT+; and disabled colleagues.
 
Click on the following link to visit the SharePoint site for more information about the scheme (UoL employees only): Vice-Chancellor and President's Mentoring Scheme
This scheme complements our wider leadership and career development offer, which can be found here: OD&PL (Organisational Development & Professional Learning) - Home
 
HostSarah Budello
 
GuestsProfessor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Leeds
Josh Sendall, Acting University Librarian and Keeper of The Brotherton Collection

LinkedIn Learning Part 2: Accessible Development for All Staff

In this episode Sarah chats to Dawn Abel and Kate Noll about how LinkedIn Learning can support staff who don't work regular hours or use a computer regularly in their role, how managers and facilitators can use LinkedIn Learning to help their staff in their professional development, and the joy of being able to find courses to help develop your own hobbies and interests - from watercolour to creating your own YouTube Channel!
 
Resources Mentioned
LinkedIn Learning Guide for Staff
Digital Essentials for Staff
HostSarah Budello
GuestsDawn Abel, Operations Manager, Cleaning Services 
Kate Noll, Learning and Development Adviser, OD&PL
 

LinkedIn Learning Part 1: Career Support, Resource Curation and Skill Development

Rachael Clark and Emma Chippendale join Sarah in the podcast booth to talk about LinkedIn Learning, a fantastic resource available for all staff and students.
With over 24,000 expert-led courses available on a broad variety of topics, Rachael describes how LinkedIn Learning can be used for career development using the 'My Career Journey' function, the accessibility features and flexibility of learning, and how staff can also curate and create their own materials for use in student education and beyond.
Emma speaks about how she has used LinkedIn Learning both for upskilling in her role as well as for her personal development, particularly coming back to work after a long period of ill health. 
Rachael's 'Beginners Guide to LinkedIn Learning' can be found here: TEM - Training catalogue
HostSarah Budello
GuestsRachael Clark, Digital Practice Advisor and LinkedIn Learning Lead
Emma Chippendale, Diary Support Coordinator, People Programmes & Planning, People & Culture Directorate
Find out more about LinkedIn Learning using the following link: 
https://peopledevelopment.leeds.ac.uk/linkedin-learning/ 
 

PGCAP Part 2: Teaching Transformed - Graduates describe how the programme has impacted their practice

In this episode, Dr Clare Tweedy and Carl Hartley talk about their experiences as students on the PGCAP programme.We discuss how they discovered confidence in their identities as teachers, and how the practical teaching methods taught on the programme fostered innovation, increased engagement, and earned them both wider recognition for their work.HostSarah Budello, Digital Practice AdvisorGuests
Dr Clare Tweedy, School of Biomedical Sciences
Carl Hartley, Lecturer in Journalism Practice
Find out more about the PGCAP here:
https://studenteddev.leeds.ac.uk/ 
 

PGCAP Part1: Empowering Educators - Behind the scenes with the programme leads

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Victoria Taylor and Jim Baxter about the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) programme.They share insights from a course that’s transforming teaching at the University of Leeds through reflective practice, community building, collaborative learning, and innovative approaches, reflected in their recent 2025 Teaching Excellence Award for Sustained Collaborative Excellence.HostSarah Budello, Digital Practice AdvisorGuestsVictoria Taylor, Academic Development Consultant, PGCAP Programme Lead
Jim Baxter, Academic Development Consultant, PGCAP Design and Delivery TeamFind out more about the PGCAP here:
https://studenteddev.leeds.ac.uk/ 
 

Navigating Technical Careers with Sarah Myers: EPS Technical Services Manager

In this episode I chat with Sarah Myers, Technical Services Manager for Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) about her career progression from technician to services manager.
 
HostSarah Budello, Digital Practice Advisor
GuestsSarah Myers, Technical Services Manager, Engineering and Physical Sciences Find out more about the Technicians Network, including the Event Programme for Technicians Week 2025, here: https://leeds365.sharepoint.com/sites/Technicians-Network
 

Aurora Programme: Leadership Development for Women Grades 6-8

For our first ever episode, Sarah speaks with Maria Stopyra and Dr Hema Viswambharan about the Aurora leadership development programme.Maria shares how Aurora is tackling the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in Higher education through supporting women to find their voice, connect with a mutually supportive network and tackle the challenges women face in the workplace, both externally and internally.Hema shares her experience of returning to work as a researcher and teacher after raising her family, and how she looked for the programme after feeling 'stuck' in her role in a male dominated field. Hema tells us how she has found the programme transformative on a professional and personal level - and finally went for the promotion she wanted.Aurora is for women (including non-binary and transgender colleagues) in grade 6-8 roles who want to develop and enhance their career. The programme is designed for the early stages of leadership - if this sounds like you then please follow the links below for more information.HostSarah Budello, Digital Practice Advisor
GuestsMaria Stopyra, Academic Development PartnerDr Hema Viswambharan, Senior Research Fellow Find out more about Aurora here: https://leadershipandprofessionalpractice.leeds.ac.uk/home/leadership/leadership-development/aurora/
 
Also mentioned:Women at Leeds Network: https://equality.leeds.ac.uk/staff-networks/waln/
OD&PL Development Programmes: https://peopledevelopment.leeds.ac.uk/
Thank you to Claire Sowerby, Jacki Willson, Tao Jiang, Laura Cunliffe, Andrea Rylands, Louise Goulsbra, Katherine Wilson, Dionne Walker, Sarah McPherson, Bex Cattran, Charity Brown, Antonia Jones, Megan Kime, Lianne Stennett, Megan Whittaker, Helen Convey, Marlene Marques Scott, Frances Noble, Michelle Ellwood, Stephanie Siviter, Maria Garcia-Florenciano, Louise Newsham and Pazit Ziv.