Students gained industry insights into the importance of professional development, self-assessment, leadership capability, and understanding individual strengths within team and project settings.
Students from the RMIT School of Property, Construction and Project Management recently participated in an industry presentation on Leadership in Construction, delivered by Pete Howell, Hickory Chief People Officer, alongside Ilana Borovska and Isabelle Shawyer, as part of the Management and Leadership in Construction course.
The session provided students with valuable insight into the realities of leadership within the construction industry, drawing on practical experiences and reflections from professional practice. Through engaging discussion and real-world examples, students were introduced to the leadership capabilities, interpersonal skills, and self-awareness required to lead effectively in complex construction environments.
The presentation strongly reinforced several themes explored throughout the course, including professional development, self-assessment, leadership capability, and the importance of understanding individual strengths within team and project settings.
Janet Mayowa Nwaogu, lecturer in the Management and Leadership in Construction course, said: “The session reinforced several concepts we cover in class and gave students a richer understanding of what leadership entails in construction and what it means to be a manager and a leader. It particularly highlighted the importance of soft skills within the industry, and helped students better appreciate the self-assessment and workshop components of the course, designed to develop relational, emotional, and social intelligence for leadership.”
Students gained a richer appreciation of how leadership principles are applied in practice across the construction sector and how these skills contribute to successful project and team outcomes.
The School sincerely thanks Hickory for generously sharing their time, experience, and industry knowledge in support of student learning and engagement. Industry contributions such as these play an important role in connecting classroom learning with professional practice and preparing students for future careers in the built environment sector.
