1. University of East Anglia
Norwich Business School
Employability, Creativity and
Personal Development
NBS-5131A
Lectures 1-2
27 September, 2021
Dr. Fahri Karakas
F.Karakas@uea.ac.uk
13. Slide 1.13
ABOUT THIS MODULE
This is an applied vision and skill development module; focusing on the
development of the new skill sets for professionals of the 21st century.
It is designed as a learning environment and a management trainee program
that focuses on the development of knowledge and skills for global leaders.
A core belief underlying our approach, demonstrated in interactive sessions,
stems from the Chinese proverb, “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I
remember. Involve me and I understand.”
We will have intensive brainstorming sessions, professional development
workshops and executive training programs to help you and your colleagues
to develop and apply professional skills for your career in the 21st century.
In today’s global, rapidly changing knowledge based economy, learning and
experimenting with management skills is one of the smartest investments
you can make for your future careers and employability.
14. Slide 1.14
1. Creativity:
Develop creative and innovative thinking skills
Learn design thinking tools to advance innovation
Undertake collective creative and problem solving activities effectively
Appreciate different thinking styles
2. Personal Development:
Engage in self reflection
Plan, monitor and review individual development
Engage with psychometric testing for recruitment purposes, self-awareness, and team development
Gain awareness of personal values, beliefs, including emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence
3. Communication:
Understand the communication process and communicate in a variety of formats; both verbal &
non-verbal
Design and deliver engaging presentations
Practice writing clearly and creatively
Present information about the self: Personal statement, CV
Experiment with visual, creative, narrative, digital methods
15. Slide 1.15
4. Working with others:
Engage in team work and collaboration
Practice project management and design thinking
Develop leadership skills and knowledge
Develop cultural intelligence and managing diversity
Understand and build empathy with different personalities at work
Develop interpersonal effectiveness through emotional intelligence
5. Employability:
Improve employability through global vision, continuous learning, personal branding, entrepreneurial thinking,
creativity, and adaptability
Develop proficiency in navigating the job market and submitting a job application
Synthesize information from a variety of sources to better assess the self, the job market, global trends,
organizations, and careers
Engage in self directed learning, personal planning, and design thinking for career management
Practice and demonstrate the use of relevant transferable skills and competencies in a simulated environment
6. Entrepreneurship:
Improve employability through personal branding, entrepreneurial thinking, creativity, and adaptability
Develop proficiency in developing business proposals/plans
Synthesize information from a variety of sources to better assess the market, business trends, and consumer
needs and develop business ideas
16. Slide 1.16
Karakas, F. (2019). Self-Making
Studio: An Inspirational Doodle Kit
for Self-Discovery and
Employability. DiPublica.
https://selfmakingstudio.com/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-
Making-Studio-Inspirational-Self-
Discovery-
Employability/dp/173077282X
17. Slide 1.17
Bolles, R.N. (2021). What Color is Your
Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job
Hunters and Career Changers. Berkeley, CA:
Ten Speed Press.
Cameron, J. (2016). The Artist’s Way: A
Course in Discovering and Recovering Your
Creative Self. London: Pan Macmillan.
Burnett, B. and Evans, D. (2016). Designing
Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful
Life. Knopf Publishing.
Harvard Business Review
Fast Company
Wired
Forbes
18. Slide 1.18
The module is based on self-directed learning; so independent studies and
exercises will be very critical.
Undertake min. 6 hours of self-directed learning for this module every week:
Complete the module readings, review lecture and seminar materials, get
prepared for our sessions,
Do the weekly creative challenge/imagination experiment,
Do Internet search about business trends and companies that you are interested
in (Your goal: How can you best prepare yourself for your dream job? Think about
how you can develop relevant skills and knowledge.)
Watch 2 TED Talks (that are interesting and relevant to you) and listen to 2
episodes of BBC Radio 4’s Dessert Island Discs programme (you can choose
among potential mentors or role models based on your passions)
Document/gather evidence on your personal development, learning, and skill
development to form a portfolio that you can use in your summative assessment
and in your future job applications
Prepare and build your portfolio quickly
20. Slide 1.20
1) Job application portfolio (40%):
Think of your “dream job” after graduation (your career objectives, your
ideal position, your ideal company).
◦ Suppose your instructor is the HR director of your company. Prepare and submit a job
application package for this job. Differentiate yourself from hundreds of other job
applicants.
Include the job advertisement and your updated CV, a cover letter, and
poster.
◦ You should find a real job advertisement and attach this job ad. This should be an entry-
level job for new graduates. The job advertisement should clearly specify expected
knowledge, skills, and experiences that are sought for. You will customise your job
application (i.e. CV and Cover Letter) for this job advertisement.
◦ CV: Your professional updated CV – there should be no errors – proofread.
◦ Covering letter: On the covering letter, reflect on why you want this job and why you are
best candidate for this position; along with how you have prepared for this position based
on your learning from this module.
◦ Poster: On one A4 page, design a poster that will reflect your personal brand. This can be
your creative CV or a visualization of where your career dreams/passions lie. You do not
need to explain your poster; as it should be self-explanatory.
21. Slide 1.21
2) Imagination Experiments/Creative Challenges (10%):
◦ Read Section 11 of the Module Handbook and read the challenges set up for you. There is no
one right answer – these challenges are mainly about play, creativity, risk-taking,
experimentation, personal voice, and reflection. Companies want to hire candidates who
demonstrate courage, passion, and creativity. These challenges will help you develop a
colourful, creative, and well-rounded profile. You will choose your top two favourite
challenges and attach them to your coursework.
3) Evidence of Engagement and Learning in Lectures (10%):
◦ In this module, lectures (which are designed as workshops) are as important as seminars
and you are expected to attend all lectures and actively participate in all the activities and
exercises during the lectures.
◦ Part A: In this section, you will reflect on what you have learned from relevant lectures.
Please write one short paragraph for each of the Monday morning sessions. In this
paragraph, summarize what you have learned (2-3 sentences) and briefly explain how you
will apply your learning in your life (2-3 sentences).
◦ Part B: During the lectures, you will also participate in a series of ‘learning adventures’
where you apply exercises and work individually or in groups. Please choose and attach two
learning adventures you have done in lectures (you might be done these individually or in
groups – you can choose these from any lecture that you wish).
◦ In total, your evidence of engagement and learning in lectures (Part A & B) should not
exceed 3 pages.
22. Slide 1.22
4) Appendix Tables: Incorporation of Seminar Activities and Relevant
Module Skills &Learning (40%)
◦ In this section, please try to integrate and apply what you have learned in this module.
We want to see how you progressed since the start of this module (i.e. in terms of skill
development, integration and application of knowledge, demonstration of learning,
depth of self-reflection). Please attach the following pieces of evidence of your
engagement with seminar activities in this module:
◦ Time Management Grid
◦ Personal and Professional Development Plan
◦ Top 10 Skills Evidence Table
◦ Personal Branding Canvas
◦ Application of Gibbs Cycle of Reflection
◦ Evidence Table for Self-Directed Learning Activities
◦ Flower Exercise Result Sheet
◦ Choose your own option: You will include one exercise that you will choose from the
options to demonstrate evidence of your learning from seminars and lectures.
23. Slide 1.23
Assessment Component Comments/Feedback/Suggestions
CV (10%)
-Professional? Free of errors?
-Detailed and focused?
-Evidence of relevant skills, knowledge and experiences in detail?
-Good presentation?
Covering Letter (10%)
-Customised for the company and for the job?
-Evidence of relevant experiences, knowledge, and skills?
-Professional style and presentation?
Poster (10%)
-Evidence of personal branding, design thinking, and creativity?
Overall Evidence of Fit between the Job/Position Requirements and
Job Application Portfolio (10%)
Imagination Experiments/Creative Challenges (10%)
- Two challenges/experiments attached?
- Evidence of creativity, risk-taking, experimentation, personal voice,
and reflection?
Evidence of Engagement and Learning in Lectures (10%)
- Reflection on learning and skill development during module lectures?
- Brief evidence for two sample ‘learning adventures’ during lectures?
Appendix Tables: Incorporation of Seminar Activities and Relevant
Module Skills and Learning (40%)
Overall Mark %
Mark
NBS-5131A – Employability,
Creativity and Personal
Development
Assignment 1
Job Application, Learning, and
Skill Development Portfolio
Due: November 11, 2021
Indicative Marking Scheme
24. Slide 1.24
Inspiration. Imagination. Insight. Integration. Inquiry. Innovation. Implementation
◦ This exercise is about creating creative assets for your future. What are you really curious and passionate about? Think of it as a
“Kickstarter” type of project. Try to demonstrate creativity, originality, reflection, and depth. Use your best creative skills and
talents.
◦ Some of the sample artwork or projects or alternative ideas from past students are below:
Establish your own YouTube channel, TikTok, Instagram, Medium, podcast, or blog
Compose songs and create ideas for your first album
Create your own fashion line, brand, and catalogue (with sample clothing designs)
Create your own book proposal and write sample pages and introduction for your book
You project should have the following sections (each of these should be very focused/brief):
1.Executive summary: Summarize your artwork as an elevator pitch. How does this work represent and document your
learning and skill development in this module?
2. The artwork: Make sure that you capture your artwork through photographs or Internet links; and clearly attach these to
your appendix. It should be very easy for the graders to access your work online – make their job easier, not harder.
3. Description and the process of creation: Why and how did you come up with this work? How did you design and build this
work? Why is this work original and unique? How does it connect to the learning objectives and skills of this module?
4. Explanation and evidence of learning and skill development: Make sure you describe your artwork clearly and make sure you
connect it rigorously with the learning outcomes and skills you have mastered in this module. Explain how this work
constitutes evidence of your learning and skill development.
5. Significance and utility of this work: Where is your contribution? How does this work connect to your personal branding?
How does it connect to your career goals and passions? How can you use this work for your future career?
6. Reaching your fans: Who could be your fans? How do you define your target group? How do you reach your “1000 true fans”?
How can you build your audience for the long term?
7. Creative advertisement/poster: Create an A4 poster for your artwork; which will be an advertisement that will position and
market this work for relevant stakeholders.
◦ The applicable word limit for the written part of this assignment is 1500 words. Please feel free to use tables, figures, and
visuals as these do not count towards the word count.
25. Slide 1.25
◦ In this project, you will imagine yourself as an entrepreneur establishing a business after graduation. You will prepare a
focused and creative entrepreneurial business plan for your enterprise.
◦ As you come up with your business plan, try to identify real problems in society, create innovative
solutions and commercialise those solutions to a target market.
◦ You can create a café, a restaurant, a consulting/training company, a technology company, a social media company and what
not. The sky is the limit! Try to demonstrate creativity, insight, reflection, and depth. Innovation, integration, and synthesis
are critical. Use your best creative skills and talents. What are you really curious and passionate about?
◦ You business plan should have the following sections (each of these should be very focused/brief):
1. Executive summary: Summarize your business idea as an elevator pitch. Where is your unique value proposition?
2. Business description: What is your core or your "secret sauce" which is not easily duplicated? How do you define
your sustainable competitive advantage?
3. Your product /service: How do you design and build your product or service? How do you develop the idea, technology and
passion necessary to get started?
4. Market analysis: What about the competition in the market? How do you differentiate your business in this market?
5. Marketing plan: Who are your customers? (A profile of your targeted customer) How do your customers access/reach your
product or service? What is the process for acquiring a targeted customer?
6. Financial/operational plan: What metrics need to be put into place to determine if your product/service is successful (or
not) early in the process? How do you make money? How do you scale to widen and diversify the revenue stream?
7. Creative advertisement/poster: Create an A4 poster for your business; which will be your advertisement.
◦ The applicable word limit for the written part of this assignment is 1500 words. Please feel free to use tables, figures, and
visuals as these do not count towards the word count.
26. Slide 1.26
2) Evidence of Engagement and Learning in Part 2 Lectures (10%):
◦ In this module, lectures (which are designed as workshops) are as important as seminars
and you are expected to attend all lectures and actively participate in all the activities and
exercises during the lectures.
◦ Part A: In this section, you will reflect on what you have learned from lectures. Please write
one short paragraph for each of the two-hour Friday afternoon sessions. In this paragraph,
summarize what you have learned (2-3 sentences) and briefly explain how you will apply
your learning in your life (2-3 sentences).
◦ Part B: During the lectures, you will also participate in a series of ‘learning adventures’
where you apply exercises and work individually or in groups. Please choose and attach two
learning adventures you have done in lectures (you might be done these individually or in
groups – you can choose these from any lecture that you wish).
◦ In total, your evidence of engagement and learning in lectures (Part A & B) should not
exceed 3 pages.
27. Slide 1.27
Appendix Tables: Incorporation of Semester 2 Seminar Activities and Relevant Module
Skills & Learning (40%)
◦ Appendix Tables: Incorporation of Seminar Activities and Relevant Module Skills and Learning (40%)
◦ In this section, please try to integrate and apply what you have learned in Semester 2. We want to see how you
progressed since January (i.e. in terms of skill development, integration and application of knowledge,
demonstration of learning, depth of self-reflection). Please attach the following pieces of evidence of your
engagement with seminar activities in this module:
1. Design Thinking Application
2. Creative Toolkit: Café Exercise
3. Benchmarking Table
4. Business Model Canvas
5. Six Hats Thinking Application
6. Belbin Role Result and Analysis
7. Evidence Table for Self-Directed Learning Activities
8. Optional Tables: You may include optional (extra) tables that demonstrate evidence
of your learning from seminars and lectures.
28. Slide 1.28
Assessment Component Comments/Feedback/Suggestions
Executive Summary (10%)
-Compelling and original elevator pitch?
-WOW factor or secret sauce?
Creativity and Design Thinking (10%)
-Evidence of originality and lateral thinking?
-Evidence of innovative potential?
Evidence of Personal Reflection (10%)
-Depth of self-reflection/self-awareness?
-Evidence of passion and eloquence?
-Strong and authentic voice?
-Connections to career goals and passions?
Impact and Contribution (10%)
- Clear explanation of ideas?
- Feasibility and utility of ideas?
- Potential for positive change?
- Impact of project to your future career?
Research and Knowledge (10%)
- Evidence for self-directed learning?
- Evidence for relevant research?
- Evidence for hard work and preparation?
Evidence of Engagement and Learning in Lectures (10%)
- Reflection on learning and skill development during module
lectures?
- Brief evidence for two sample ‘learning adventures’ during lectures?
Appendix Tables: Incorporation of Seminar Activities and Relevant
Module Skills and Learning (40%)
Overall Mark %
Mark
NBS-5131A – Employability
Creativity and Personal
Development
Assignment 2
Seven I Project (Option A) or
Entrepreneurial Business Plan
(Option B)
December 14, 2021
Indicative Marking Scheme
29. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
In 2021, which country has the most
number of companies on Fortune Global
500 list?
•CHINA
30. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
In 2021, how many companies do China
and US have on Fortune Global 500 list,
respectively?
•CHINA: 133 Companies
•United States: 122 Companies
•China has surpassed the US in 2020.
33. TECH RACE: CHINA AND THE US
• Beijing laid out plans to become the world leader in artificial
intelligence by 2030, with the aim of making the industry worth 1
trillion yuan ($147.7 billion).
• China has the world’s most valuable unicorn — AI-powered news
and video app ByteDance at a $75 billion valuation.
• China has the world’s largest internet and mobile communication
markets, the most supercomputers, the highest number of STEM
graduates, at 4.7 million, and the most scientific academic papers.
All of these factors have led China’s ascent to second-place
worldwide patent filings, at 21% of the world total, right behind the
U.S. at 22%.
• China’s tech titans, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent, are funding the next
generation of start-ups.
34. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
Which country has unveiled the world’s
first AI news anchors?
•CHINA
37. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
What is the most addictive social media
algorithm in the world?
TikTok
40. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
Which generation comes after Gen Z?
ALPHA
42. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
What is the 8th wonder of the world,
according to Einstein?
Compound Interest
“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the
world. He who understands it, earns it; he who
doesn't, pays it.”
45. Slide 1.45
• The city you lived before coming to Norwich
• What is your career goal after graduation?
• Your work experience, if any
• Your top hobby/interest
46. Slide 1.46
Born and grew up in Turkey – BA Koc Uni and MBA
Bogazici in Istanbul
PhD at McGill University, Montreal, Canada (2010)
Research Fellow at the Open University (2010)
Senior Lecturer in Business and Leadership at University
of East Anglia
Visiting Lecturer at Mountbatten Institute, London
Visiting Lecturer at University of Cambridge (Pembroke-
King’s Programme)
Published 30+ articles in leading journals, author of Self
Making Studio
After the PANDEMIC, went through a mid-life crisis:
◦ Started writing on Medium and wrote 355 articles as of now
◦ Became a YouTuber and created 400 Youtube videos
◦ Became a TikToker last month and created 60 TikTok videos
48. Slide 1.48
• You need to develop your antifragility and preparedness for black swans.
• You need to learn to think differently by learning across disciplines,
applying mental models, and focusing on the long term.
• You need to develop new capabilities for dealing with FONKU — the fear
of not keeping up.
• You need to focus on using your own imagination every day.
• You need to take care of your brain and improve your learning habits.
• You need to forget the career ladder and start creating your own assets.
• You need to become a polymath (renaissance person) who learns and
innovates beyond borders.
• You need to make a commitment to create your own creative
assets and invest in your own creativity.
• You need to develop your inspirational capital by being curious and
passionate.
• You need to develop positive habits, systems, and assets to take control of
your own future.
49. Slide 1.49
Michelangelo finished painting Sistine
Chapel work in 4 years
What will you accomplish in 4 years?
http://www.vatican.va/various/cap
pelle/sistina_vr/index.html
http://www.vatican.va/various/cap
pelle/index_sistina_en.htm
50. Slide 1.50
A Renaissance PERSON uses both left-brain and right-
brain type of thinking.
1) curious
2) risk-taker
3) creative
4) has perseverance and self-discipline
5) has a thirst for knowledge and new experiences
6) excellence in physical, intellectual, artistic and
social fields, which includes deep expertise in at least
one field and is exceptional in other fields
7) and most importantly, is always learning
53. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
Which AI has beaten Stockfish (the
strongest traditional chess program) in
just 4 hours? Which company is this?
ALPHAZERO
GOOGLE - DEEPMIND
57. FAATMAN dominates
every landscape in our
lives — not just tech
https://medium.com/predict/faatman-dominates-
every-landscape-in-our-lives-not-just-tech-
4201b572ffec?source=friends_link&sk=6c1f678a93
a93d5d4ecbfa8b584e3cf8
61. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
What is the highest valued automotive
company in the world?
TESLA
63. Elon Musk Becomes The World’s Richest Person
His worth increased from 27b to 192b in just 2020
68. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
OpenAI created a new AI software that
uses deep learning to produce human-like
text. What is the name of this language
prediction model?
GPT-3
80. Greta alone in 2018.
2019: Look at the scale of
the movement she started
83. Slide 1.83
“Creativity is no longer a luxury. It is
a critical survival skill that we need to
adapt to rapid changes, solve complex
problems, imagine new possibilities,
and navigate uncharted waters ahead
of us.”
Dr. Fahri Karakas
84. HERE IS A PUZZLE:
What is the most valuable hospitality
company in the world?
AirBnB
not Hilton!
87. Spend time every day for your learning and
interests
Share what you learned with friends each
week
Go out of your comfort zone
Develop new skills – stretch yourself
Solve a challenging issue/problem
Take online courses (MOOCs)
88. 20-30 minutes
Write non-stop about 3 pages
This will be your stream of consciousness
No censor – free writing
You delve into deeper and be more focused
89. 2-3 Hours Every Week
It has to be alone: To be receptive
Be involved in creative activities or arts
Have fun, pursue an interest, get inspired
Record your thoughts, ideas, reflections
90. Keep a diary about your learning every day
Record and capture ideas as they emerge
Reflect on your learning and how you change
Create new ideas based on what you have read,
researched, and learned
Reflect and seek deeper meaning
Iterate ideas, projects, and solutions
97. Slide 1.97
Designers and entrepreneurs love rapid prototyping
Don’t be afraid to show half-finished ideas
Everyone is born creative – you need to reclaim your own
creativity.
97
98. Slide 1.98
It’s all about learning by:
creating,
doing,
experimenting,
making mistakes,
having fun and
stepping out of your comfort zone
rather than just focusing on theory…
98
99. Slide 1.99
So invest your creativity, time, energy, dedication, sense of
adventure and spirit, if you want this to be the start of an
exciting and potentially life-changing new path...
99
103. Please watch 2 TED Talks and listen to two BBC 4 Desert
Island Discs episodes every week.
These are goldmines of wisdom on self-making and creativity.
TED Talks www.ted.com
BBC 4 Desert Island Discs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/find-a-
castaway
109. Having watched videos of
Ferran Adria, Brian Cox, Elon Musk, and Marina Abramovic,
Think of 4 imaginary lives that would
be fun and interesting to have:
1.
2.
3.
4.
111. Slide 1.111
11
1
Write the title of the Movie:
Your success story/impact/legacy (briefly)
Who would play you?
3 Skills your Cinema Self has (but you do not yet have):
3 Places you need to travel as your cinema self
YOU WILL DISCUSS IN CLUSTERS OF THREE
TOTAL TIME: 5 MINUTES
Feel free to offer ‘pop corn’
120. Slide 1.120
Look at the
periodic table
and choose
which ones
are the most
critical
elements of
your success
in your current
situation.
Rank the top
10.
Also choose
the ten that
you seem to
have
neglected up
to now.
Exercise