When learning creates opportunities

Last month, we shared an exciting first chapter for PeopleStories Academy: 28 leaders and young professionals joined our very first Communication with Influence workshop in Siem Reap.

But for us, the learning was never meant to end when the workshop did.

One of the things we want to do differently through PeopleStories Academy is stay connected with participants after they leave the room. Through regular follow-ups, reminders and practical exercises, we encourage them to keep using what they have learned in real situations, because that is when learning can start to make a real difference.

And just a few weeks after our first workshop, we are already seeing that happen.

One participant, Samath, joined the workshop wanting to become a more confident communicator. At the time, he had also been searching for a role with an NGO but was finding it difficult to get an interview.

During the workshop, Samath spoke with our Founder, Victoria, about the challenges he was facing. Afterwards, Victoria helped him think about how he could communicate his experience and strengths more clearly through his CV and job applications.

Not long after, a message arrived from Samath:

“Hi Victoria, I have good news to share. After I followed your feedback for my resume and job application, I got a call for an interview at an NGO this afternoon at 2pm.”

It was his first interview invitation after applying for several NGO roles.

But what made us even happier was hearing what Samath planned to do next.

He told Victoria:

“One more important note is that I'm planning to apply the STAR framework during my interview.”

Samath wasn't simply remembering something from the workshop. He was putting it into practice when it mattered.

Then, a week later, another message arrived.

“I got good news. I just landed a job at Paul Dubrule — a wonderful NGO! Thank you so much for your effort in helping me to embed the communication skills.”

For us, this was a wonderful moment.

Of course, the achievement belongs to Samath. He put in the work, took what he had learned and had the confidence to apply it. But his story also captures something that is very important to us as we build PeopleStories Academy.

We don't want people to simply attend a workshop, enjoy it and then go back to doing everything exactly as before. We want learning to continue.

Seeing Samath turn what he learned into a real opportunity is exactly what we hoped for when we created the Academy. Congratulations, Samath — we can't wait to see what you do next. 🧡

Story written by volunteer: Caroline van 't Hoff