IoD Management Shadowing Awards

Eliza Collenette from the Grammar School has won the 2014 Institute of Directors (IoD) Guernsey Management Shadowing Awards.

The awards, sponsored by KPMG, were held at the Duke of Richmond Hotel on 15 October and Miss Collenette was one of ten finalists shortlisted from over 60 who completed the programme. She shadowed Fiona Naftel at Les Cotils. Her winning presentation articulated what she had learnt about management during her shadowing experience, describing Fiona Naftel as the "captain of the ship" – the glue that holds it all together. She learned how communication, teamwork and strong leadership were key management skills but success was dependent on everyone.

Each presentation was judged against set criteria by the IoD Management Shadowing panel comprising Brooke Kenyon, consultant at Orchard PR; Rob Jones, IoD Guernsey committee member, Alex Rodger, chairman of Collas Crill; and Debbie Smith, Executive Director at KPMG in the Channel Islands.

The scheme, sponsored by KPMG in the Channel Islands in both Guernsey and Jersey, provided students with the opportunity to gain valuable managerial skills and business insight by shadowing managers from a wide range of local organisations. They also receive training in presentation skills.

The other shortlisted candidates were: Ali Buckland, Grammar School, Daniel Emmerson, Elizabeth College, Jamie Hardie, Elizabeth College, Natalia Jopling Tanser, Ladies College, Lydia McClean, Grammar School, Lewis Palfrey, Grammar School, Alice Sarre, Ladies College, Deanna Smart, Ladies College and Charlie Thompson, Elizabeth College.

Shadow companies were States of Guernsey, Kleinwort Benson, Standard Charted Trust, Specsavers, Watts & Co, Geomarine, Betley Whitehorne Image, Dominion, and KPMG.

Miss Collenette said:  “I was very surprised when I found out I won as I really wasn't expecting it. The scheme has provided me with an interesting and insightful experience giving me new skills, including time management and presentation skills. I learned a lot from my manager, Fiona Naftel, and I am grateful for the fascinating management techniques I gained from her. I would say that the main thing I learned about managing is that it is not about what the manager can do, it is about what the manager can bring out of their staff. I would like to thank KPMG for sponsoring this event as it such a good learning opportunity for young people, in Guernsey, I would truly recommend it to others.”

She was presented with a cheque and for the first time this year the Martyn Mann trophy, which was introduced to mark the huge contribution previous IoD committee member, Mr Mann, had made over several years organising the awards.

The IoD in Guernsey has been running the scheme annually for a number of years and welcomes the participation of companies and students who wish to gain valuable work experience. 

Jo Watts, IoD Committee member and host for the evening, praised all the students for the high standard of presentations. She drew comparisons with her experience of the Commonwealth Games.

She said: "Medal winning athletes are just like successful business people. They don’t achieve success by chance, but by a combination of hard work, attention to detail, good preparation, self confidence and often sheer determination. If you develop these same qualities it will help you too to become winners in your future careers."

KPMG director Tony Mancini said: "Listening to the presentations tonight reminded me why we are so happy to be the sponsor. If the quality of tonight’s presentations is anything to go by Guernsey has a very bright future. I wish you all well for your future careers, I am just glad I am not a judge.”

For the first time this year, the award ceremony was filmed by College of FE student Thomas Allaway, and the film will be uploaded shortly to Youtube.