The Industry Project: How One Unit Transformed My Skills, Mindset and Confidence

I am studying a Bachelor of Business (Management) and I recently completed an Industry Project unit where I worked for an external organisation. Initially, I assumed it would be like any other academic subject: research, writing and a final report. What I didn’t expect was how much it would reshape the way I think, plan, communicate and see myself as a future professional. Over fourteen weeks, this unit pushed me to reflect deeply, communicate with purpose and conduct real research that mattered to a real organisation. More importantly, it helped me grow into a more confident, reflective and thoughtful emerging leader.

The first three weeks were all about exploration of project topics and my own assumptions and learning habits. As I looked through the list of industry projects, from which I had to choose one, a theme stood out to me: inclusive leadership. I didn’t know it then, but this would become a major turning point in my learning.

Through the early workshops, I learned that reflection isn’t simply looking back, it's analysing experiences from different angles, noticing biases, and adjusting my approach. That shift helped me choose a topic that felt meaningful and aligned with my strengths: “Characterising Inclusive Leaders,” a project hosted by Aya Leadership.

This early phase taught me that clarity doesn’t magically appear. It is built through structured reflection and understanding the purpose behind what I am doing.

Learning to plan like a professional

If Week 1 helped me choose a direction, Week 5 helped me understand what it would take to actually deliver outcomes from the project.

The project planning workshops didn’t just teach me how to fill out a project plan, they reshaped how I think about projects. I realised that planning is less about documents and more about intention. Setting SMART objectives, defining scope, identifying risks, and understanding stakeholders taught me that structure is what turns ideas into outcomes.

At first, the detailed template felt overwhelming. But as I revisited examples, collaborated with peers, and used self-assessment tools, I began to see planning as a way to reduce confusion and gain control. That shift built a new skill that I know I’ll use far beyond university: the ability to organise complex work into manageable steps.

Becoming a researcher with purpose

Once I narrowed my topic, I had to investigate what inclusive leadership looks like in today’s workplace. Conducting an extended literature review felt daunting, but it became one of the most rewarding parts of the unit.

I learned how to compare studies, spot patterns, and translate dense academic findings into clear insights. Importantly, I had to think like a consultant, not just asking “What does the research say?” but “How does this actually help the organisation I’m working with?”

Through this process, I developed skills I didn’t realise I was capable of:

• Analysing research critically

• Synthesising complex ideas

• Constructing frameworks

• Forming evidence-based recommendations

This was the first time I felt like I was contributing something meaningful to a real organisation, not just completing another assignment.

Finding my voice through the pitch for change

Week 9 challenged me in a completely different way: communication. I had to take more than a thousand words of research and turn it into a five-minute persuasive pitch.

This was uncomfortable at first. Speaking with conviction felt harder than writing quietly behind a screen. But as I practiced, refined my message, and learned how to balance emotion with logic, something shifted: I realised communication is not just about speaking, it’s about connecting.

Delivering the pitch taught me:

• How to simplify complex ideas

• How to engage an audience

• How to speak with clarity and confidence

• How to advocate for positive change

It made me understand that leadership is not just about having the right ideas, but about being able to inspire others to believe in them.

Turning research into impact

By Week 12, everything came together in the Industry Project Report. This was where the research, reflection and planning blended into something real: a practical, evidence-informed framework for inclusive leadership.

This stage pushed me to think like a practitioner. I had to make recommendations that were realistic, ethical and aligned with the organisation’s needs. Writing the report taught me how to:

• Translate research into practical tools

• Write with clarity and purpose

• Link theory to real-world organisational challenges

• Create outcomes that could genuinely help people

Submitting that report didn’t feel like submitting an assignment. I felt like presenting a piece of work I was proud of.

The skills I walked away with

Looking back, the unit helped me to develop far more than academic skills. I walked away with capabilities I’ll carry into future units, internships, and professional roles:

1. Reflective practice

I now understand how to question my own assumptions, evaluate my decisions and use feedback to improve, which is something that will support me in both study and future leadership roles.

2. Project management

From planning to scoping to quality assurance, I learned how to break complex tasks into achievable steps and manage them with confidence.

3. Analytical and critical thinking

I developed the ability to interpret research, identify insights and link ideas in a way that makes sense for real organisations.

4. Professional communication

I learned how to pitch ideas, persuade stakeholders and present information clearly and confidently.

5. Leadership awareness

Most importantly, this unit reshaped how I understand leadership not as authority, but as behaviour rooted in fairness, empathy and collaboration.

How this unit will shape my future

Every part of the Industry Project unit, from the first reflection to the final report, contributed to how I see myself as a developing professional. I now feel better prepared to work with stakeholders, manage projects responsibly, and communicate ideas with confidence.

This unit didn’t just teach me about inclusive leadership, it made me realise the kind of leader I want to become: reflective, ethical, inclusive and committed to continuous learning.

And that, above all, is what made this unit one of the most transformative experiences of my degree.