NTU Women’s Network Embraces Change with Strengths and Confidence

Creating space to connect, reflect, and thrive during times of organisational change

Supporting a Diverse Network

The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Women’s Network has been a vibrant community since 2016, supporting more than 500 members across academic and professional services roles. With change an ever-present reality — from ongoing restructures to the arrival of a new Vice-Chancellor — the network wanted to create space for its members to pause, reflect, and explore how to thrive in shifting times.

Amy Manktelow, Planning and Projects Manager at NTU and organiser of the network, had already seen the power of Strengthify’s approach through her own experience of the programme. Inspired by the outcomes she gained personally and seeing the greater value possible across an organisation, Amy wanted to share those benefits more widely. She organised a Discovery Day for 34 members of the Women’s Network, giving colleagues across both academic and professional services and departments the chance to explore their strengths and consider how to apply them in periods of change.

The Workshop: Strengths Insights and Practical Actions

Facilitated by Carley from Strengthify, the session combined CliftonStrengths insights with interactive group activities.

Highlights included:

• Encouraging reflection and self-awareness: Participants explored their top strengths and how these shape their working styles.
• Practical tools for applying strengths: Attendees learned how to use their strengths more intentionally during appraisals, periods of change, and everyday collaboration.
• Fostering connection: Sharing personal reflections helped build new links across roles, departments, and career stages, breaking down silos and encouraging empathy.

The balance of structured exercises and open conversation gave participants both clarity and confidence, while also creating a supportive space to connect with peers.

Feedback: Positive, Reflective, Empowering

The workshop was very well received:

• 100% of participants rated it “very” or “extremely valuable”.
• 95% said the CliftonStrengths assessment was valuable, with many describing it as “uncannily accurate”.
• 100% would recommend a strengths-based approach to colleagues.

Participants highlighted the value of:

• Having a safe space to reflect and explore strengths.
• Practical insights that could be applied in work, study, and personal contexts.
• Reframing challenges during times of change into opportunities for growth.

Participant voices:

“Uncannily correct and eerily on point, this workshop will help direct your energies to where they need to be.” – Liz Turner

“Not just another course… truly reflective and very relatable.” – Linda Chiou

“Validating, informative, a game-changer.” – Lucy Judd

“Reflective in a super positive and empowering way.” – Participant

Outcomes and Next Steps

The Discovery Workshop gave NTU Women’s Network members:

• Greater confidence in their strengths.
• Tools for applying those strengths during change.
• Stronger cross-university connections.

For some, the session sparked ideas to bring this approach into their own teams and departments, extending the network’s impact further.

What’s Next?

While this Discovery Workshop was designed specifically for the NTU Women’s Network, the feedback showed clear enthusiasm for continuing strengths-based development.

• Several participants expressed interest in Strengthify’s Management Development Programme (MDP) to build on their personal and leadership skills.
• Others highlighted the potential of team workshops to deepen collaboration within their own departments and bring the benefits of strengths-based working into day-to-day practice.

The NTU Women’s Network experience shows how a single Discovery Workshop can spark both individual growth and wider organisational conversations about development.

Is your network, team, or department facing change and looking for ways to build confidence and connection?

Strengthify’s Discovery Workshops provide practical tools to help people understand and use their strengths, creating momentum that lasts well beyond the session.

Find out more about our Discovery Workshops

Explore our full range of team development programmes