By: Anastasia Shteyn, Engineering Student

For 40 Engineering graduate students the weekend of May 10-11 will mark the beginning of a three day series of leadership workshops, entitled 'High Impact Leadership Training' facilitated by Annahid Dashtgard, executive director of Anima Leadership.

Dashtgard has notable experience in organizing leadership programs in Canada and internationally. She has worked for institutions in government, healthcare, education, and non-profit sectors. Moreover, it is not Dashtgard’s first time working with U of T Engineers: during the November 22-24 series, 40 graduate students participated in her powerful workshops.

Last November, Dashtgard stressed her alignment with the Engineering Leaders of Tomorrow program and its values, which include social responsibility, teamwork, diversity and knowledge. She told students about her personal leadership journey and addressed the basis of her unique approach.

Dashtgard’s focus is spiritual awareness - the ability to be sensitive to interpersonal and inner dynamics. According to Annahid, emotions are the engine behind our actions. A lot of societal potential is lost because we are less advanced on the emotional level than the social. Dashtgard believes that leadership training should be based on enhancing self-awareness.

The workshop facilitator explained that by becoming attentive to emotions and body sensations, one opens up options of reacting to various circumstances. She asked students to think about past experiences that informed their views about emotions, and the participants recognized that their everyday patterns of behaviour were, in fact, rather limited. In groups, students tried to increase their self-awareness by describing their feelings in the exercise called Emo-flexing, and to broaden their range of responsive patterns. The activity was centred on paying attention to body sensations and breathing.

Dashtgard created a warm atmosphere in the room despite the whaling winter wind outside. When the students introduced themselves, it became obvious that they came from various Engineering backgrounds and they all appreciated the opportunity to develop their leadership ability. The diverse group, representing all Engineering departments, participated in a variety of activities aimed at increasing self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to resolve conflicts. Students discussed the features of an inclusive and effective team, shared personal stories, feelings, and fears.

Annahid Dashtgard’s unusual approach inspired the students to search for their personal route to leadership through self-awareness and opened many possibilities for the participants. They made new discoveries, met new people and heard new ideas.

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