VCUQatar Alumni Relations Office to host Entrepreneurship & Empowerment workshops

The Alumni Relations office at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar will host two 4-day professional development community workshops in June for designers, entrepreneurs and creative professionals working in advertising and communications.

The ‘Setting up and Sustaining your Creative Practice’ workshop will focus on how to set up a business, manage client relations, projects and effectively promote and market the business. It will also teach participants how to get new clients, negotiate contracts and improve presentation skills besides helping them tackle how to translate their design education into ‘real world’ skills. The 4-day workshop will be held at VCUQatar from 1 to 4 June, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday and costs QR2000 ($550).

The ‘Empowerment for Mid-level Creative Professionals’ workshop offers participants an opportunity to pause and reflect on their careers so far and consider their values, strengths and needs. It will also teach participants how to evaluate their professional growth, position themselves in the creative industry and ensure personal and commercial growth. The workshop will also address the different career paths out there, if participants can take them, how they could plan their careers and tie their personal passions and interests into a successful business plan. The 4-day workshop will be held at VCUQatar from 5 to 8 June, 12:00 to 6:00 PM, Sunday through Wednesday and costs QR2000 ($550).

These workshops will be facilitated by Zelda Harrison who has organized similar workshops for VCUQatar’s Alumni Relations office in the past. Ms Harrison works as a consultant with organizations, businesses, and community groups. She holds degrees in International Marketing and Fine Arts, and has worked in marketing and visual communications for 15 years. Ms Harrison is based in Los Angeles, and is very active in global networks of designers, (AIGA, ICOGRADA), and manages the Centre for Cross-Cultural Design. Her workshops are designed to give communications professionals an awareness of opportunities and their potential for growth.

Those wishing to attend the workshops can register online at www.qatar.vcu.edu and pay securely online or pay in person at the VCUQatar Finance Office. Attendees registering before 26 May, 2011 can avail the special offer and save $100. Refreshments and meals will be provided and attendees have the opportunity to meet and network with fellow professionals living in Qatar.

VCUQatar Alumni Relations Office focuses mainly on activities and career development for alumni starting from when they are in their senior year through their graduation year and post graduation. The office also organizes workshops for the general public to attend. For more information, please contact the VCUQatar Alumni Office on (+974) 4402 0728 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM or email salbuainain@qatar.vcu.edu if you have any questions about the workshops.