Creative Leadership Programme for Animation, VFX & Games: Applications Now Open

Screen Skills Ireland is pleased to announce the launch of the Creative Leadership Programme for Animation, VFX and Games, in collaboration with Animation Skillnet, Animation Ireland and with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).

Now in its second year, the programme has been designed to Empower the Growth and sustainability of the Irish Animation and related sectors.

Context

The Irish animation and related industries have grown significantly in the past 15 years. These businesses have originated from operational and creative personnel moving out on their own. As a result, the leadership and management skills required to support the growth of these rapidly growing creative organisations has yet to fully materialise.

As businesses move more and more into the digital age, the need for people and creative leadership is increasing. This is especially prevalent in the creative industries where large creative teams are working intensely on long term projects in a virtual remote world.

The programme intends  to develop high performing teams in the Animation, Games and VFX industries by developing authentic leadership abilities within individuals who have moved, or wish to move from a technical/ creative role into a position where they are leading a team, within the larger organisation as well as those who are transitioning from outside of the industry, including returners.

Focusing on empowerment and leadership through authenticity, the course will support candidates in discovering their own leadership style and give them the tools to empower growth within the larger organisation.

In the short term, this course will provide individuals with leadership and management skills to deliver positive results and create a thriving workplace climate that fosters innovation, creativity and problem-solving within but not specific to Animation and related businesses.

With continued growth, the course will affect a cultural shift in the development of high performing teams throughout the target industries.

Course Modules

Leading Self

  • Completion of individual personality profile report
  • Building self-awareness
  • Communicating with different personality types
  • Understand your leadership style
  • Time management/productivity
  • Goal setting/OKRs

Leading Teams

  • Leading with emotional intelligence
  • Creating an interdependent leadership climate
  • Leading vs managing
  • Creating a high-performance team
  • Creating alignment and cohesion
  • Giving effective feedback

Design Thinking

  • Understanding creative thinking
  • Creating empathy
  • Defining problems
  • Ideation
  • Prototyping
  • Testing

Inclusive Leadership

  • Equality, diversity and inclusion principles 
  • Conscious inclusion vs unconscious bias
  • Inclusive leadership behaviours
  • Creative problem solving and 
  • Values in leadership

Personal Value Proposition

  • Leadership statement
  • Effective will power
  • Key partnerships 
  • The people you serve
  • Finding your why

Managing Stakeholders

  • Managing multiple stakeholders
  • Strategic networking
  • Influencing others – managing upwards
  • Leading upwards
  • Like v trust

All participants will be asked to complete a Clarity4D personality profile questionnaire at the beginning of the programme; this will provide them with an individual report on their personality preferences and how to communicate and influence others.

About the tutors

Fiona Flynn – Fiona is an experienced Senior Manager, Consultant, coach and facilitator She is a passionate and active supporter of Women in Business and developing Female talent within organisations. She is President of PWN Dublin (Professional Women’s Network) – a global Not for profit volunteers organisation supporting Gender Balanced Leadership. Fiona has significant experience in building and developing teams to deliver results and growth in market share in a highly competitive fast paced environment, with over 20 years sales and marketing experience, 12 years of which was spent working in the highly competitive telecommunications and internet sectors. She is an accredited Emotional Intelligence coach. 

Stephen Fagan – A creative entrepreneur with a proven track record, Stephen is the Managing Director of Studio Meala, a qualified coach and creative professional. Stephen has over two decades of experience in the audiovisual industry, where he transitioned from creative roles to Managing Director. His hands-on experience allowed him to practically apply, design and coaching tools to real-world scenarios, establishing two internationally recognised animation studios in the process. As a qualified coach, Stephen works with Creative, Entrepreneurs and small businesses to develop in alignment with their own core values to create long term success.

There will also be a number of guest tutors throughout the programme, names to be confirmed.

Delivery

Due to Covid-19, it is envisaged the programme will be delivered in virtual classrooms using Zoom. The sessions will be interactive and practical using breakout rooms.

Sustainability

There is a strong focus on equipping participants with tools, frameworks, models that they can immediately put into practice.

Assignments

As part of the blended learning approach, participants will complete assignments, project to support embedding the learning and include a reflective learning journal, group projects and presentations.

Dates

December 5th 2020 – May 25th 2021

Every 2nd Tuesday  18:30 – 20:30

Every 2nd Saturday 09:30 – 12:30

Virtual classes using the Zoom platform.

Cost

The programme fee is €250 per person.

Application Procedure:

Please note that applicants must have a current, valid address in the Republic of Ireland in order to be considered for this course

Please apply by completed the form at the following link: https://forms.gle/skK9sGmpYhuF3EQY6 

Deadline for Applications:

Please apply by 12pm on Wednesday 11th November