Month: June 2022

There was a fantastic turnout for our Faculty of Business and Law (BAL) Celebration Event last week, it was great to see you all!
Students networked with businesses, heard inspirational talks and caught up with friends. It was a brilliant atmosphere and a great way to celebrate students’ achievements during their time at De Montfort University (DMU). Many congratulations to all of you for all you have accomplished during your time at university! A huge thank you also goes to all staff and businesses involved with the event.

Don’t forget we’re always here to support you in your next steps. You can contact the team via email balcareers@dmu.ac.uk.
As a DMU graduate you can also join the Alumni Hub for free for alumni news, job opportunities and more.
See here for information and to sign up:
https://dmuforlife.org

In response to the global pandemic, ECP students transitioned from working face-to-face with their peers and their project hosts, to conducting their projects in a virtual environment. All ECP meetings, events, research and check-ins moved online. To ensure the success of their projects during the pandemic, students have needed to be flexible to ensure they have met key deadlines, maintain their professionalism and in doing so have shown great resilience.

Global MBA student Kenn Orocio recently excelled during his ECP where he worked closely with Voice America broadcaster Chris Cooper, Managing Director of Chris Cooper Business Elevation (CCBE). This company supports business leaders to increase their leadership skills and organisational performance using a variety of approaches, one of which is through an online business radio show.

Chris required fresh ideas about how to leverage his online radio show in a busy marketplace and also how to increase listenership and income. Chris asked for an ECP student to concentrate on these vital areas for his business. Kenn was ready for the challenge and targeted his research accordingly, on behalf of his project host. 

Kenn adapted quickly to working in a virtual environment. Of his experience the student said “meeting the kind people from CCBE, learning about their business and hearing what they have done to expand it has been very fulfilling.”. He also said that taking part in an ECP allowed him to improve “many skills that I have acquired through the years. Some of these skills are communication, time management, problem solving skills…and the ability to adapt.”

Of the project, Chris Cooper said “I enjoyed Kenn’s enthusiastic and committed approach to supporting the brief and his proposal which has clearly been a lot of work…I am very grateful for the support and the work produced by Kenn. I am in admiration of him for keeping motivated during a very unusual and difficult period for many. Being stranded away from your home country with no library access must be difficult.”

Chris also said “I took several thoughts from Kenn’s report that were helpful and it energised me to move it forward and also appreciate what an asset I potentially own… I think the report will continue to add value.”

Chris was so impressed by the research undertaken by Kenn that he has continued to host a new group of ECP students during our current cohort.

A Successful Sports Placement

LCBS postgraduate student, Paul Kaerger, has been on placement with Paralympic high jumper Jonathan Broom-Edwards. Amongst his many sporting achievements, Jonathan has been awarded three World Championship silver medals and one Paralympic silver medal.

During his ECP, Paul was asked to explore the ways the Paralympian can attract sponsorship from interested businesses, and to research companies who suit the target market of the athlete.

Of his ECP, Paul has said “I have enjoyed meeting Jonathan, learning what it takes to be a successful athlete and learning about the challenges that top-level athletes face has been very rewarding.”. Paul also said “the ECP has been a great opportunity to engage with a sports organisation to further my experience of working in the sports sector”.

With our latest cohort going out on their placements this week, watch this space as we follow the progress of our students.

To find out more about the Executive Company Project, and how it may benefit your business, contact us on ecp@dmu.ac.uk.

Over the summer, MSc Strategic & Digital Marketing student Itunu Para-Mallam, completed an ECP with Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL). This company is a charity organisation which focusses on improving the lives of people in the local community through volunteering, and has been part of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Leicester and Leicestershire for over fifty years.

A prosperous partnership leads to a positive future

During her ECP, Itunu worked within the Communications team at VAL to analyse the charity sector and assess the impact of the company’s existing marketing and promotion. Itunu was pro-active in meeting with a variety of companies and stakeholders to conduct face-to-face interviews, which helped build a wide knowledge of the sector. 

Kevin Allen-Khimani, Sector Support Manager, hosted Itunu throughout her ECP. Kevin said “We have really enjoyed working with Itunu. Chatting things through with Itunu has reaffirmed our thinking concerning how we take our marketing and communication forward. Itunu has fitted in very easily with different teams at VAL, has a good understanding, but also asks the questions in a way that engages people. It’s been a great experience it’s really worked well for us.”

Itunu said “During the project I have enjoyed thinking of strategies and getting to know the charity sector which is an area I have always been interested in. An ECP isn’t an opportunity that most people get at university, and I felt that this would be an invaluable opportunity, especially as I’m going into the world of work very soon…the ECP has been a really good opportunity to get to know other people but also myself as a marketeer.”

Itunu now works at CDK Global in her role as a Product Marketing Graduate, and credits the ECP with helping to increase her visibility to employers and her confidence in applying for roles and working within companies.