A year at WMG gave Taofen Zeng more than new skills and knowledge. It changed the way she thought about herself, her career and what she could achieve.

It is difficult not to be enthused by Taofen as she speaks about the year she spent at WMG studying for an MSc in Programme and Project Management. “It really changed me as a person,” she said. “I can honestly say that I learned as much about myself as I did about project management!”

Taofen came to Warwick from China, where she had gained her first degree in Economics. “I wanted to move on from my original subject,” she explained. “Project and programme management interested me a lot, and I did want to do something different.”

Her first experience of WMG was at a presentation in China. This gave her the opportunity to find out about the University, meet teaching staff and gain more information about the subject area.

“It seemed like a really exciting opportunity,” Taofen added. “Particularly when you bear in mind the facilities on offer and Warwick’s reputation as one of the best institutions in the UK.”

Once at WMG, Taofen found the collaborative style of teaching very refreshing, as she described: “A lot of the learning was based on teamwork, co-operation and open discussion. With the help and guidance of teaching staff, I changed the way I thought about things: my approach to project management first, but also the way I viewed my choice of career path.

“I learned to question things and I felt inspired and motivated to do what I enjoy – and to stretch myself at every opportunity. That has stayed with me, and I’m sure it always will.”

To emphasise this approach, Taofen described how she joined Warwick’s volunteer programme and spent time painting homes for underprivileged people in the local community. “It was great fun, and I learned how to paint too. That will always come in useful!”

Her dissertation project examined the relationship between the emotional intelligence of project leaders and the success of projects. A subject that clearly fascinates Taofen. “I looked at a number of areas that are classed as ‘emotional intelligence’ and how they would impact on a project, particularly within the context of Chinese culture. The results were really interesting, in particular how many project leaders overestimate their abilities –  to motivate their teams for example.”

This pioneering piece of research earned Taofen a distinction for her project.

Once she had completed her MSc, Taofen secured a position with Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate in China. Here she has already worked on a number of different projects, largely focused on arts and science.

“What I gained from WMG has been invaluable to me,” she added. “Both in terms of my project management skills, and the way I approach people, my work and what I am aiming to achieve.”

Finally, Taofen was keen to give a personal message of thanks to her Module Tutor at WMG, Adelia R Nicholls. “I cannot thank her enough for her support during my time at Warwick. She helped me overcome any difficulties I had, particularly when I decided to revise my thesis at the last minute, and I could not have done it without her. She is an inspiration.”