Management and International HR alum, Aymen Dewji, discusses her time at LSE, what she has learnt from setting up her own business “ShiftRight Consulting” and provides some advice on how to deal with burnout whilst at university and in the workplace.
Name: Aymen Dewji
Programme studied and year of graduation: MSc Management & International HR, 2007
What are you most proud of to date personally or professionally?
My proudest moment to date has been the ability to take a vision and turn it into a viable business model through the development of ShiftRight. I am proud to have founded a business that at its core is focused on helping organisations and people achieve goals that may at first glance seem daunting. Our value-system is truly based on the belief that we are partners with vs. vendors of our clients.
What piece of advice do you wish you were given during your time at LSE?
Soak it all in and take advantage of the phenomenal network you have at your disposal! It’s really easy to be linearly focused on course work and classes. While that is certainly important, I think some of the true ‘ah moments’ I experienced were a result of candid conversations with peers and having access to a global roster of speakers that are true change makers in their field. Being exposed to schools of thought, opinions and ideas that challenge you to think differently is a privilege. When else will you have the ability to go to a public lecture being given by a world leader?!
How would you advise students and recent graduates to deal with burnout at university and in the workplace?
Burnout is a reality we all face irrespective of what phase in life you are. The best advice I was given was to focus on the ‘W.I.N principle’, ‘What’s important now?’. As simple as it sounds, managing your workload by prioritising what’s critical, and proactively scheduling undisturbed ‘work-time’ is important. It is equally important to know when you need a change of pace, to take a break and to step away so you can come back to a problem or idea with renewed creativity and energy.
What burnout preventative strategies would you recommend?
Try to instil habits that help you to be proactive with timelines, this will save you a ton of anxiety and stress when you are contending with multiple deadlines and assignments. Understand your limitations, know when you have ‘hit a wall’ and need to take a break in order to come back with renewed productivity.
Make time for creativity, indulge in things that you are passionate about – it will help you approach your work with greater innovation and ensures you are less prone to burning out.
