Scholarship / Networks and connections can maximize your opportunities and expand your vision and perspective [2]

Chevening is looking for individuals with strong networking skills, who will engage ...

I have always been an outgoing and social person, but it was not so long ago when I become fully aware of the importance and potential of networking at a professional level. Growing up in a relatively small city made me realize opportunities are less abundant and the huge importance of developing networks and connections that can maximize your opportunities and expand your vision and perspective.

We all know that communications skills are important, but I have learned that they can be absolutely crucial and turn things completely. True communication skills are far more complex than just establish conversations or sharing information; the ability convey your ideas freely without fear of judgment or rejection in an unknown environment or out of your comfort zone is something that only few people can accomplish. If you become conscious of this, you can constantly improve it and see the how it reflects on your relationships and influence others.

I can recall an opportunity in which I found networking skills to be vital to reach a goal. While working at XXXX, there was social project for the governmental telecommunications company to provide internet connections to public schools in distant districts. At the time I was team leader of five technicians, I had to schedule tasks, organize resources and coordinate each intervention.

One day, floods and heavy rain caused serious damage to power facilities and access roads to one school under my responsibility. I informed and proposed alternatives to the project manager but the bureaucratic procedures of the company became real obstacles, therefore the final decision was to exclude that facility of the project.

This could have meant less work for me, but I was aware that the only the affected were going to be the people of that school.

So I took the initiative to find a solution but I needed help, due I was not longer able to use the company's resources for that school. I reached every person that I knew from our customer and associates and I was able to burrow a 4x4 vehicle for a few hours to take the equipment through the damaged road, I contacted the director and teachers of the school and explained them that we had to take alternative measures and I needed help or the installations were going to be canceled; they promptly gathered volunteers that manually lifted cabinets that we wouldn't have been able to lift without a small crane.

Although, were not able to restore electricity, one of the local guys offered a small power generator that we used to configure the equipment and made the tests. Finally, two of my technicians consented to work with me late ours for this good cause.

At the end we succeeded and were given distinctions for extraordinary efforts, but the greatest merit came from the people of that school. This was a great example on how relationships can provide strong collaborations and synergy to overcome problems,

I'm certain that the Chevening community gathers highly proficient professionals and leaders that can provide a thriving environment for collaborations and contributions. I would be keen to engage with them and with people in the UK, hopefully to form a group that can lead to collaborations, enhance international relationships or facilitates opportunities like project funding related to the Digital Divide in my country