Lory Calipari, an enthusiastic and motivated honours student, was ready to begin her leadership journey. But there was too much information out there to digest. She needed someone to open her mind to new possibilities.
Lory's head was spinning.
She was about to embark on a 3-4 day conference as part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a program designed to help develop her leadership skills.
But there was so much to take in. So much heavy content. Too much theory.
And as a fifth-year honours student, she enjoyed learning but was going through the motions.
Then, she met Paul, who was running one of the first workshops of the morning.
Further reading: How do you develop a program?
The group had nervous anticipation about it. But they needn't have felt that way. Paul quickly got people moving and engaging with other folk.
"One of the really niche things that Paul did was provide a hands-on experience, so it kept things interesting and fresh," Lory says.
"It's especially important for people sitting down at a conference for most of the week.
"He had his theory and a practical component. It sounds methodical and scientific. But it works. All their workshops I remember them now, ten years later."
One of the activities still stands out today.
Paul took these painted, shiny sticks, and would drop them randomly. He would then ask of the group, what number was it? Slowly, a pattern emerged. A few people got it. Eventually, the group did.
"It was all about thinking outside the box," Lory says.
"Lateral thinking. Different people learn in their own ways. People have different leadership styles and take on things differently."
More recently, Lory has helped as a Program Manager with RYLA.
As someone who has seen the transformation in her career, she feels many people would get the most value out of a PGT-style experience.
It certainly gave Lory food for thought. Imagine what it could do for the people you are empowering? And the impact a workshop like this could have in the years to come?