Designed to empower emerging student leaders, the Student Leadership Training (SLT) is an annual conference organized by the Notre Dame University- Louaize (NDU) Consulting Club (CC) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers – NDU Chapter. This year, the third edition of the SLT took place between November 11 and 12, 2017, at the Liqaa Convention Center in Rabweh, in collaboration with Ongoing Concepts, sponsored by Byblos Bank, and supported by Torabika and Tropicana. The two-part seminar conference hosted 80 attendees from all fields of study, and was followed by three certified workshops. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Michel Hayek, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Najib Metni, Chairperson of the Mechanical Engineering and Mr. Melhem Rechdan, Assistant Dean of Students.
Gilbert Doumit, NDU graduate and founder and managing partner at Beyond Reform & Development gave the first seminar. He discussed the “Impact of Youth on Modern Day Society” where he urged all participants to remain in their native country (Lebanon) and to help their nation achieve the heights of its lofty potential. He concluded by saying, “As individuals, we should stop demanding change, and we should start supplying it. We need to start behaving like engaged people with wisdom as we have much left to do than to litter over the present. ”
Antoine Saad, founder of Notebook, presented the second seminar titled, “How to be a Good Listener.” He stressed the importance of active listening and interpretation of speech in addition to sharing his extensive knowledge on the topic. He ended his lecture with an inspirational quote, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with the intent to reply.”
Representing Ongoing Concepts was Naeim el-Zein, an expert in HR development, behavioral psychology, and inter/intrapersonal skills development, who gave the first three-hour workshop titled, “Acing Job Interviews [Using Body Language],” which walked students through analyzing different body movements that might be a decisive factor for securing a dream job, , covering many topics, such as tone of the voice, arm barriers, time management, handshakes, personal space, facial expressions, attire, posture, and reading the signs.
Day two kicked off with the second three-hour workshop titled, “Developing Your Executive Presence,” given by Milad Hadchity of Ongoing Concepts. With more than 15 years’ of experience in the fields of personal branding and image consulting, as a Radio and TV host, he taught students how to sell ideas effectively, influence others, demonstrate dynamic leadership, gain recognition, and enhance their credibility, among many other essential performance skills.
Andre Abi Awad of Ongoing Concepts gave the final and last session of the tri- three-hour workshops..” He is the founder of Entreprenergy, co-founder of CoPro Space, and CEO of Digital Smarter, all of which signify his prowess in the field of digital entrepreneurship and empowerment. His talk focused on “The Art of Networking. Mr. Abi Awad touched on many elements of both digital and ‘analog’ networking, taught students how to effectively broaden and develop their professional networks, and included a myriad of tips and tricks to achieve goals through effective networking. “Building a solid network leads to the most promising opportunities.” He concluded.
The advisor of the NDU Consulting Club is Dr. Simon Abou Jaoude, FT, Clinical Psychology and the ASME-NDU advisor is Dr. Charbel Bou Mosleh, FT, Mechanical Engineering and ASME Student Regional Advisor, Middle East and Africa.