Hi there, please help to proofread my leadership essay and any feedback will be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Question:
Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.
(Minimum word count: 50 words, maximum word count: 500 words)
Twelve years ago, I was a low-paid textile labourer who worked 12 hours a day, six days a week, in an unhealthy working space. My experience as a victim of modern slavery has inspired me to engage in sustainability practice by empowering community members and providing a supportive working system to create a socially, ecologically, and economically responsible fashion environment (sustainable fashion).
In late 2020, I joined XXX company as a product development manager of the XXX fashion brand. Despite a worldwide market with 51 concept stores, I immediately identified shortcomings in its quality management, such as low workforce competencies, unsystematic manufacturing, and ineffective product development. These issues have caused production errors, including fitting failures and fabric defects, which produced tons of garment waste and severe company loss. In handling those wastes, I initiated a recycling design competition. Through online workshops and presentations partnered with universities, I influenced 62 fashion students across YYY (countries) to join this movement. The winning designs have been produced and sold throughout XXX stores globally, with the profit going to the students and universities for their educational development. Through these actions, I increased sustainability awareness in students and recycled over 600 kilograms of fabric waste, or 37% of the total amount, which continues to grow. Moreover, I improved my competency in leading the movement and influencing people.
That successful recycling project, on its own, couldn't stop the company from generating more waste. Therefore, I persuaded the shareholders to allow me to lead a transformative change to the quality of our people, processes, and products (3P). First, I conducted the job-desc assessment to discover the teams' strengths and weaknesses and define solutions (people). For example, in responding to skill disparities among designers, I spend more time assisting them in gaining competencies to minimise design mistakes. Second, I synergised the coordination between internal and external product development stakeholders by implementing an integrated standard operating procedure (SOP). I also shared a real-time data source of product knowledge with them through a digital platform (Google Sheets) to avoid misleading information (processes). Although I faced resistance from workers who felt the standardised procedures could restrict their creative flows, after several intensive group discussions and training, I could finally encourage them to implement the new system comprehensively. Third, I maximise fabric utilisation through effective cutting management and recycling projects (products). These actions allowed me to shape higher-skilled human resources, create a more efficient working system, and reduce production waste, decreasing 2021 companies' overhead costs by 16%. These outcomes embodied sustainable fashion's social, economic, and ecological value.
This intrapreneurship experience has taught me that the key to sustainability is improving people, processes, and products. However, keeping it aligned with the organisation's goals requires brand management, marketing, branding, and financial strategies. Hence, I need to study in the UK to learn about advanced sustainable fashion entrepreneurship skills. With this knowledge, I aspire to empower local fashion communities to implement relevant sustainability strategies to be more resilient and competitive in a rapidly changing fashion industry.
Question:
Chevening is looking for individuals that will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries.
Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.
(Minimum word count: 50 words, maximum word count: 500 words)
Twelve years ago, I was a low-paid textile labourer who worked 12 hours a day, six days a week, in an unhealthy working space. My experience as a victim of modern slavery has inspired me to engage in sustainability practice by empowering community members and providing a supportive working system to create a socially, ecologically, and economically responsible fashion environment (sustainable fashion).
In late 2020, I joined XXX company as a product development manager of the XXX fashion brand. Despite a worldwide market with 51 concept stores, I immediately identified shortcomings in its quality management, such as low workforce competencies, unsystematic manufacturing, and ineffective product development. These issues have caused production errors, including fitting failures and fabric defects, which produced tons of garment waste and severe company loss. In handling those wastes, I initiated a recycling design competition. Through online workshops and presentations partnered with universities, I influenced 62 fashion students across YYY (countries) to join this movement. The winning designs have been produced and sold throughout XXX stores globally, with the profit going to the students and universities for their educational development. Through these actions, I increased sustainability awareness in students and recycled over 600 kilograms of fabric waste, or 37% of the total amount, which continues to grow. Moreover, I improved my competency in leading the movement and influencing people.
That successful recycling project, on its own, couldn't stop the company from generating more waste. Therefore, I persuaded the shareholders to allow me to lead a transformative change to the quality of our people, processes, and products (3P). First, I conducted the job-desc assessment to discover the teams' strengths and weaknesses and define solutions (people). For example, in responding to skill disparities among designers, I spend more time assisting them in gaining competencies to minimise design mistakes. Second, I synergised the coordination between internal and external product development stakeholders by implementing an integrated standard operating procedure (SOP). I also shared a real-time data source of product knowledge with them through a digital platform (Google Sheets) to avoid misleading information (processes). Although I faced resistance from workers who felt the standardised procedures could restrict their creative flows, after several intensive group discussions and training, I could finally encourage them to implement the new system comprehensively. Third, I maximise fabric utilisation through effective cutting management and recycling projects (products). These actions allowed me to shape higher-skilled human resources, create a more efficient working system, and reduce production waste, decreasing 2021 companies' overhead costs by 16%. These outcomes embodied sustainable fashion's social, economic, and ecological value.
This intrapreneurship experience has taught me that the key to sustainability is improving people, processes, and products. However, keeping it aligned with the organisation's goals requires brand management, marketing, branding, and financial strategies. Hence, I need to study in the UK to learn about advanced sustainable fashion entrepreneurship skills. With this knowledge, I aspire to empower local fashion communities to implement relevant sustainability strategies to be more resilient and competitive in a rapidly changing fashion industry.
