Posted on No Comments on Aurora Day 7 – Your Future in HE

Aurora Day 7 – Your Future in HE

For the penultimate Aurora session, the Northern cohort met in person for the first time. As our final facilitator-led session it really felt like the end of the Aurora programme. We met in the Queens hotel in Leeds and it was quite an experience being in such a big space with so many people. There was definitely a buzz and an energy that I don’t think you could have created online.

A large conference room with high ceilings and ornate arches and architraves is host to the Aurora session. Many women sit at tables, facing the platform where a speaker is talking, with a backdrop reading Aurora and an illustration of women's faces.

The event included a panel Q&A and several presentations that we then took back to our table for further (albeit brief) discussions. Some of the things that struck me as interesting from this day included:

We’re just starting our leadership journey

There was a definite emphasis on how we can keep up the momentum that we’ve generated through doing Aurora, continuing to be reflective and self-aware, as well as proactively managing our career.

One suggestion I particularly liked was that we make a note of our “light-bulb moments”. I took that to mean not allowing points of learning or self-awareness to slide by. Noting and then reflecting on them will allow us to build a better understanding of ourselves, and our environment.

Build a support network

Aurora has helped us make some connections with other Aurorans, and our mentors, but how can we continue to seek out new contacts and build a support network as we progress? I was struck by how this needs to be an active conscious process, and will change and evolve as we move through our career.

I’m planning on staying involved in the Aurora networks both at Leeds and from Advance HE, and remaining in contact with my Action Learning Set and my Mentor. However I need to think about what I’m looking to develop next and who I might be able to engage to help me.

We ARE the future

We’re all able to help shape the future that we want to see. As we progress and hopefully take on positions of leadership we should be using that opportunity to help promote a more equitable workplace. Be the change we want to see, and work to break down the obstacles we had to face ourselves.

Even with no conventional power we can still promote this. It might look like amplifying the voices of other women or people from minority groups in meetings, encouraging colleagues to apply for leadership roles, or taking on a mentor role ourselves.

And finally: Is there even such a thing as Leadership?

One of the Panel members Professor Linda Evans presented herself as leadership-agnostic and I thought it was an interesting viewpoint.

The suggestion is that leadership is a process, and doesn’t present as the few exerting control over the many, in a single direction. Influencing happens both ways, which means we are all leaders and can all exert influence. It doesn’t just happen through grand actions, but can often go without noticing, through micro gestures.

I really enjoyed the day. It was lovely to feel the energy of the Aurorans in the room and end the programme on a high.

I’d like to thank my table for really engaging with the work that we were tasked with, although I’d have loved to chat to you all for much longer!

Eight women sat at a round table smiling at the camera. They are all wearing turquoise Aurora lanyards. They are in a busy room filled with similar tables. Water bottles and notepads scatter the table.

Posted on No Comments on Using Linktree for Networking – Part 1

Using Linktree for Networking – Part 1

A speaker at a conference I attended recently gave her Linktree address at the end of her presentation and I saw how useful it was in summarising your key links and contact points.

I had seen Linktree being used by businesses, but never by individuals in a professional capacity. I find LinkedIn to be be a bit unwieldy and overblown for what I need it for – making contacts and sharing useful links, so it was an appealing solution.


Inspired by this, and by trying to be more proactive in my networking, I decided to set up a Linktree account to take along to the in-person Aurora session. I thought that this would allow me to share a simple link with people I met, that would point them to my contacts and content.

Creating the Linktr.ee Account

I logged into Linktr.ee and found my FirstnameSurname as my Linktree address had been taken by some other user. Instead I added my middle initial between my Firstname and Surname and set up my account as linktr.ee/emmahsykes. My initial appears already on my work email address and felt like it was a more professional option than a nickname or a number.

I was tempted to add something to reference the University of Leeds in there, but whilst I can’t see myself leaving, I didn’t want to lock myself in place. I also kept it separate from the name I use on my social media accounts, not because that name is too silly or or inappropriate, but because I like to keep my personal and professional accounts separate.

I found it really easy to set up and customise without a guide, although as a disclaimer – I’m a confident tech user. There is a help site with a step by step guide on how to get started with Linktree, for those who might need it. I chose a free account, but it was clear what paying for an upgraded plan would offer you.

Preparing for the event

Thinking forward to the Aurora event, I created a few links that I thought may be useful on the day. I thought about questions I’d been asked in the past and things I wanted to share with other Aurorans.

Blue Linktree page with Emma's headshot at the top and a short description underneath reading "Digital Education Systems Officer at the University of Leeds. 2024 Auroran.". Below six white buttons offer links to pages as described in the text.

Under a header About Me, I added my email address under Contact for Aurorans so people could download my address to their contacts easily and would be more encouraged to reach out.

I had links to this Aurora Blog in case it got brought up in the session, and my LinkedIn page for those who wanted to connect.

Under Other Links I added a link to the University of Leeds Aurora page and the Advance HE page, in case someone asked about Aurora more generally.

Finally I added a link to Ask A Manager a wonderful (albeit American) site giving useful advice to work problems, including those in leadership or management positions. I’d mentioned this a few times at Aurora sessions and hoped others would find it useful.

What happened next?

Anticlimactically, I didn’t use my Linktree link at the Aurora in-person event. It was such a packed day, with limited time for general networking so there wasn’t an opportunity. I met some lovely people on my table, who I chatted with and exchanged contacts with, but there wasn’t a need for me to share my details in that way. Rather than force it, I’ve squirrelled it away for another time, and will update this blog with a Part 2 when I’ve used it.

Stay tuned to find out more!