Words by Enrica Latter, Digital Media and Operations Manager at Ashley Latter Training.
On Saturday, 5th October 2024, a group of 17 ambitious dental students from across the UK gathered at the Ashley Latter Training Centre in Manchester. Each student held the role of president at their respective universities throughout the UK and they embarked on a journey to enhance their leadership and communication skills, which would aid them not only during their terms as university presidents, but also in their future careers as dentists. The programme was being delivered by Ashley Latter and myself.
Although none of the presidents knew each other beforehand, they arrived with a mix of nervousness and excitement, eager to discover what the day would bring. We began by asking them to describe their responsibilities as presidents and identify the essential skills and attributes needed for success in their roles. They mentioned duties such as negotiating sponsorship deals, leading, and organising events, managing teams, representing their universities at meetings, and promoting student memberships, among other tasks.
One by one, the participants stood up to deliver their first presentation, highlighting the biggest achievement in their lives so far. Ashley and I provided guidance and feedback from the back, focusing on areas like opening techniques, body language, eye contact, and the language they used. In the afternoon, they were challenged to present again, this time with the objective of selling an idea.
The participants showcased outstanding presentation and leadership skills, especially considering that many had not previously been part of a personal development course involving public speaking. Throughout the day, we nurtured a supportive network among them, with many participants expressing that they had made lifelong friends and wished to stay connected. Even before the course, they had talked about forming a support system to prevent feelings of isolation in their roles as presidents.
The presidents were thrilled with the experience and proud of the skills they had gained, seeing them as crucial to their personal development. Their enthusiasm extended into the evening, where we enjoyed a group dinner in a Tapas Restaurant in Manchester City Centre.
Overall, it was an inspiring and motivational day. The presidents told us they gained invaluable skills in presenting and leading, which would greatly benefit them in the future, with everyone rating the programme 10/10.
Here is some of the feedback from the day:
Imogen Elliot from Bristol Dental School: “I did things I truly didn’t think I ever would/could.”
Sarah Al Chalabi from Kings College London said: “The personalised feedback and attention we get is amazing. So much to learn and so much engagement.”
Glory Zhang from The University of Manchester stated: “I have learnt so much about how to be a positive leader.”
A big thank you to Dr Dev Patel, Founder & CEO of Dental Beauty Partners, for sponsoring the event, and Krishan Joshi, Founder & CEO of Dental Focus, who helped organise the day and bring all the presidents together. Thank you to Dr Connie Yan for her full support on the day, and Dr Matt Billington, Co-Founder of Society App.
It was a day to remember for all parties and hopefully the start of an annual event.
