About 40 business representatives participated in this month’s Workshop Wednesday, hosted by HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity department, which featured a high-energy interactive presentation by author and artist Amy Malkan entitled Achieving Your Desired Results.
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Malkan led the group through activities and examples demonstrating that most people are conditioned to view situations from a certain point of view. She said that changing your perspective is often effective in improving your outcomes.
“We are conditioned with our own belief system and our perceptions of how we see the world,” Malkan said. “Every one of us have blind spots, but if you can put yourself in the other person’s shoes, whether it’s your customer, your boss, or your spouse, you will be more likely to get a positive result.”
Malkan also spoke on leadership, effective communication, the importance of creativity, and the benefits of getting outside of your comfort zone.
“It was fun, very engaging and collaborative,” said Terry Rasmussen, account executive with Edgenuity, who represented his company at the workshop. “(The exercises) allowed us to experience what she described.”
The presentation wrapped up with a fun networking activity, where attendees wrote something they needed help with on a large post-it note. The group was invited to walk around and read all the notes, and, if they could provide assistance with an item, to connect and exchange contact information.
HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity department hosts Workshop Wednesday on the first Wednesday of each month. Topics vary and are targeted to provide relevant information and assistance to minority- and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) interested in doing business with the district.
For more information on upcoming workshops and networking opportunities, contact the Business Assistance Supplier Diversity office at 713-556-7273.