Elevate Program Alumni wins the University of Ghana Corporate Icon Contest 2023.

We are very pleased to write about Elevate program alumni Abraham Kpirikai, who has recently emerged as the winner of the University of Ghana Corporate Icon Contest 2023. The Elevate program seeks to ease the transition from college to the workplace and prepare young, upcoming African professionals to succeed in their future career endeavors.?

In this blog, we interviewed Abraham, and you can find out below all you need to know about who he is, the Elevate program, and the role it played in this victory and the award.

1. Who is Abraham Kpirikai?

I am a final-year student at the University of Ghana, majoring in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology, and passionate about improving global human health by contributing to cellular research, disease prevention, and diagnostic advancements using biotechnology. As an aspiring cancer researcher, I am dedicated to supporting innovative assay development and advancing scientific breakthroughs. I continuously seek opportunities to improve and achieve my goals.

Currently, I hold the position of General Secretary for the Ghana Biochemistry Students' Association at the University of Ghana. Before this, I served as the Research Head of Enactus University of Ghana, where I and my team carried out feasibility checks on Enactus UG projects through research and spearheaded the search for grants for said projects.

Outside of academics, I enjoy volunteering, playing basketball, and watching space and wildlife documentaries.

2. Tell us a bit about your Elevate journey

I don't know where to begin. Can I really articulate everything I've learned in the eight months with Elevate? Probably not, but I'll make an effort to capture the most memorable moments and valuable lessons.

It all started in August 2021 when I came across a call for professional development training by Elevate. After being interviewed in November 2021, I was later selected to be mentored, trained, and developed to become a catalyst for positive change in my community.

Each session consistently impressed me, making it difficult to choose a favourite module. From self-discovery and developing a winning mindset to personal development planning and navigating redirection, every session delivered something impactful.

For me, it was a journey of self-discovery, aligning myself with a greater purpose, and learning to appreciate our unique differences despite sharing similar stories.

My top three favourite modules included the power of volunteerism, the art of managing priorities, and the art of networking. Mastering the skill of prioritisation is essential to achieving success in any field. I learned how to identify and eliminate distractions, create a to-do list, set short-term goals, and stick to them. Networking is also critical in today's ever-changing world, and I gained valuable insights into building meaningful connections.

So, what did I gain from this experience?

Through Elevate, they paired me with a mentor named Cyril Wembe, who taught me invaluable lessons that I will never forget. Additionally, I received a LinkedIn premium account for six months and completed numerous courses across various fields through LinkedIn Learning. Most importantly, I made new friends from Cameroon, Liberia, and Belgium thanks to Elevate. Overall, it was an uplifting journey, and I am proud to be an Elevate alumnus from the 2021/2022 cohort.

3. What is the contest about?

Corporate Icon involves students competing to see who has the best Curriculum Vitae (CV) and the best Interview Skills. The contest will start out with students uploading their CVs for a chance to be selected as one of the 5 finalists who will battle it out on 29th March 2023.

To stand a chance to be this year’s Corporate Icon, a participant must:

• Be an undergraduate student at the University of Ghana.
• Present a compelling CV
• Have commendable (interview and other job-related) skills.

For this year, the instructions were:

Imagine any job, internship, or national service scenario of your interest.

For example, apply for an imaginative role in an accounting position, a psychologist position, an internship at a media house, etc.?Prepare a CV and cover letter as though you are applying for this job position. CVs will be judged based on presentation, content, and language.

4. What role did Elevate play in your emergence as the winner of the contest

The skills acquired from the Elevate training program were highly beneficial in the contest as it focused on CV writing and interviewing skills. For instance, the program's emphasis on self-discovery, developing a winning mindset, and aligning oneself to a greater purpose helped me approach the CV and cover letter writing process with a clear understanding of my unique strengths, skills, and goals. This understanding made it possible for me to craft a CV and a cover letter that truly reflect who I am and what I can bring to the table.

Moreover, the program's modules on personal development planning, managing priorities, and networking enabled me to stand out in the contest interview round. Through these modules, I learned how to create a to-do list, set short-term goals, and stick to them, which are all important skills for success in any job - most of which I talked about during the interview process. Additionally, the networking module afforded me the skills to build meaningful connections and communicate my strengths effectively during interviews. It also enabled me to make friends with other participants and contestants.

We extend once again our most sincere congratulations to Elevate program Alumni Abraham Kpirikai for winning the University of Ghana Corporate Icon Contest 2023. It is a tremendous achievement that reflects the hard work, dedication, and talent of this program's graduates.

The purpose of the Elevate blog is to provide well-crafted content for students in Cameroon and Africa to enable them to transition from college into work by leveraging the power of training, mentorship, and placements. Join us monthly to share ideas and writings that Elevate.

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