Engineering, entertainment and 3D design software company Autodesk welcomed three shadows to the Shadow a CEO programme. Wendy Lee, regional manager, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, of Autodesk Far East, says she wanted to instil the importance of teamwork into the shadows. “By working as a team to undergo industry research and present ideas, they learned the communication and negotiation skills required for being an effective leader,” she says.
Preparing a marketing event proposal unleashed the shadows’ creativity as they were required to come up with unconventional ideas, Lee adds. Attending a networking event, meanwhile, offered them the opportunity to hone their networking skills.
Lee was impressed by the shadows’ vision. “They expressed their career aspirations, meaning we could tailor activities to maximise their time with the company.”
Jack Yip, an English student at Baptist University, appreciated the variety of tasks he was able to tackle, including coming up with a SWOT analysis, creating a marketing plan and contributing to a Hong Kong Smart Cities Blueprint application. He says the feedback given on the marketing plans inspired all three shadows to dig deeper, and Yip also gained a greater understanding of Autodesk’s software application such as Revit, a modelling software for architects and engineers, and Maya, a 3D computer graphics application, in addition to the business model of the industry.
Having taken part in the programme, Yip encourages future participants to interact more with the CEO and read up thoroughly on the company beforehand so they have a good understanding of its business model.
Phoebe Yung, a marketing communications and public relations student at City University, says she had the opportunity to network with professionals within the creative industry by attending knowledge exchange seminars and to familiarise herself with current technology trends over the three-day programme. “My favourite part was attending the seminars, as we mingled with technical experts and learned to perform professionally in front of senior management,” she says. Receiving feedback on industry research and company analysis from the CEO was additionally useful, adds Yung.
Tushar Agarwal, a business management student at the University of Hong Kong, says the most beneficial aspect of the programme was working on live project challenges. “We got the CEO’s feedback right away, and found out how she planned to incorporate our solutions in the company’s strategy for the upcoming year.”
As the company is undergoing a major shift in its revenue model, Agarwal says it helped him understand the importance of resilience and innovation in running a large business. The experience additionally helped quell some of the misconceptions that the shadow held about the technology industry, and he is keen to explore opportunities in the industry further.
Once they prepare to seek employment, Lee advises the shadows not to be afraid of contributing innovative ideas and adopting a collaborative attitude, as she believes these are two essential attributes of a successful leader.
