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Her next goal is to open a Learning and Development Centre in her homeland of Ghana, something she hopes to achieve in three to five years. With her drive and ambition, Stephanie is well on her way to realising her dream!

How completing a CIPD qualification in L&D is helping Stephanie to realise her dreams

A graduate in Event Management, Stephanie’s love of poetry and creative arts led her to take the plunge and leave a permanent role in the banking sector for a one year internship with English Heritage as a creative facilitator. Using her skills as a poet and creative writing, she helped young people learn about history in an imaginative way. The role has led to other projects running motivational workshops in schools and colleges through her company Be Yourself Be Free.

At the same time as building her own business, Stephanie embarked on a CIPD Learning and Development Foundation qualification with Reed Learning, a move she says which came just at the right time.

Leaving the bank, starting a new role and advancing my own personal development with a qualification wasn’t easy but it was definitely the right decision. Having a passion for poetry and creative writing as a basis for developing workshops is fine but I also needed to prove to other people that I can deliver. Being CIPD qualified has helped me to achieve this. I had to keep the end goal in mind.

I really enjoyed studying for the qualification. It has broadened my knowledge and the new skills I have learnt in L&D will be very helpful for developing my business.

Stephanie chose Reed Learning Martin because of the flexibility of the programme and the opportunity to be supported throughout by a personal tutor.

My experience of Reed Learning has been really positive. My adviser Marissa was very knowledgeable and it was her support that encouraged me to expand further on the units and keep to deadlines. I completed the qualification in nine months instead of ten which I was delighted about.

Looking to the future, Stephanie wants to further develop her business and hopes to partner with different organisations.

In the long term I want to take it global. I am very connected to my roots and would love to open a training centre to be used for multiple purposes and to help build life skills for people in Ghana.