Bossing through Learning: Joanna Steele

As a boss, learning is your superpower. You don’t know what you don’t know, but there is now a multitude of ways to find out.

After completing my Marketing & Spanish degree at London Metropolitan University, I vowed that I was never going to study again.

Not because I didn’t enjoy my course or my studying experience – I actually really loved my uni days and not just because of the socializing! However, I was eager to get into the world of work and at the time thought that what I had studied was all I needed to launch and sustain me in my career.

However, over time, I have developed a totally different perspective on education and studying and realise that in order to grow it is imperative to continue learning throughout your life.

Working in the digital field as I do is exciting. Technological advances and changes in consumer behaviour ensure that it’s an industry that is ever evolving and in order to keep up and remain an authority in my field.

I have to keep on learning or I’ll get left behind – @MissSteele Click To Tweet

Just recently, I completed a Fintech course with Oxford University. I had zero knowledge of financial markets but understood that it’s an area that is being disrupted by technology particularly in Africa.

It was important that I improved my knowledge in this area. As a result, I am now part of a group of alumni working on a great project– so two wins – knowledge of a new field and a potential business opportunity!

But it’s more than just keeping abreast of your industry, it’s equally important to learn new things in general, and to stay curious.

In order to grow and live a fulfilled life, it’s important to expand past your comfort zone, increase your skills and knowledge and deepen your understanding and perceptions around areas that you may not often be exposed to.

Haven struggled with weight issues for most of my life, I challenged myself to complete a fitness qualification with YMCA in a bid to better understand health and fitness and to spur on my weight loss.

In fact, I am now a fully qualified Group ETM (Exercise to Music) instructor and whilst I don’t teach classes I definitely have a different approach to my health and have incorporated new elements into my daily lifestyle to maintain a certain level of fitness.

Learning is more than just studying, it’s about growing – @MissSteele Click To Tweet

Encouraging yourself to try new and different experiences, setting yourself challenges, not necessarily knowing how to get there but knowing your why which propels you along your path of achievement.

My Top 5 Reasons for continued learning

1. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride and helps build self-confidence. Psychologists say that learning makes us happier!
2. It gives you access to new and different opportunities. My network has expanded exponentially – the number of new friends I’ve made and the projects I’ve been able to work on with people I’ve met through learning has been incredible
3. It fuels creativity. You can learn something in a seemingly un-related area which can trigger an idea in another.
4. It fuel change
5. It fuels productivity. Developing a new skill influences the way you do things day to day and can make doing things quicker and easier, saving time, energy and stress.

Having lived and worked in the UK my whole life, I have no experience of living in another country let alone starting a business in one.

But my aptitude for learning, whether it’s reading, taking courses or training is what’s prepping me on this journey and helped me one step at a time to steadily achieve my dream.

I like to believe that learning is our superpower. You don’t know what you don’t know, but there is now a multitude of ways to find out.

I reckon it’s definitely time to redefine the phrase CPD from Continued Professional Development to Continue Pushing for your Dreams.

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