Niagara College Human Resource students were able to deepen their global perspective and understanding of international industry standards through a keynote lecture from Caroline Conlon, who is a lecturer at Munster Technological University (MTU) in Ireland.
Hosted on September 26, Conlon explored topics of leadership, bias, Intelligence quotient (IQ), Emotional intelligence (EQ), and guts, resilience, initiative, and tenacity (GRIT) through her keynote entitled “How to Design a Human Resources (HR) Professional for the Future”.
“This networking event offered an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in the field of HR,” said NC’s Senior Director of Global Engagement, Holly Catalfamo. “Those attending were encouraged to bring their questions, curiosity, and enthusiasm, and connected with like-minded peers and professionals who share a passion for HR.”
As part of a binational experience between MTU and NC, Catalfamo and Kristine Clark, Professor of NC’s School of Business and Management, delivered lectures to MTU’s HR students in 2022 during a Be World Ready (BWR) visit to Ireland.
“I was also invited to deliver a keynote address on Gender Equity in the Workplace to one hundred eager students,” said Catalfamo. “It was such a great experience to interact with students from Ireland – they were so incredibly keen and excited to learn more about what organizations can do to be more inclusive, and also about NC and Canadian culture in general.”
During the session at NC this fall, Conlon conducted exercises to help students gain a deeper understanding of HR concepts and expressed how utilizing them can lead to more meaningful connections, greater trust, and, ultimately, a workplace where everyone can thrive.
“I hope the experience was not only interesting and educational for the students, but also that it sparked an interest in all things international and being world-ready,” said Conlon. “Personally, seeing the beautiful NC and having rich and interesting conversations with students and staff was amazing. Even some NC students I met at MTU in Ireland last autumn during the BWR trip came in to say hi.”
Conlon also talked about the ‘light triad’ concept, emphasizing compassion, empathy, and altruism, which resonated with NC’s Business Administration – Human Resources program student Nashwa Higazy on a personal level.
“Understanding the light triad reminds me that being a better person goes hand-in-hand with being a more effective student and future HR leader,” said Higazy. “It’s not just about managing people, but about truly caring for them. As I embark on my HR journey, I’m inspired to cultivate these humanistic qualities, recognizing that they make me a better HR professional and contribute to a more compassionate and empathetic workplace.”
