Discover Your Skills
Doctoral studies can feel isolating as if you're alone on an island, and as a result, it can feel like a humongous task to navigate interpersonal conflicts and build relationships. The OYF workshops helped me break down these concepts and provided strategies so that now I am able to de-escalate conflict and maintain meaningful relationships with my peers, supervisors, and thesis committee."
Priyanka Prabhu
PhD Candidate, Chemistry
Contact Information
Jenny Richmond-Bravo
Doctoral Professional Development Coordinator (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies)
p. 519-661-2111 x87848
jrichm6@uwo.ca
Current doctoral students will receive a monthly email with Own Your Future news and events.
Connect on LinkedIn
For more regular updates, news, job postings, discussion, and program engagement, please Join our LinkedIn Group!
Communication & Relationship Building
Graduate Students Who Excel in Communication & Relationship Building:
Communicate Complex Information
You tailor your communication to a variety of audiences and adjust the level of technical detail to ensure comprehension and impact. You showcase your unique voice and style and present ideas with clarity.
Disseminate Information Effectively
You use dissemination channels (publications, social media, etc.) to effectively share information relevant to your research, scholarship, or creative activity.
Work Effectively With Others
You establish rapport, empathy, and understanding with others. You address conflict, give and receive feedback, and manage power imbalances to foster positive working relationships.
Build Partnerships and Collaborations
You build partnerships that enhance the needs and interests of all parties.
Working With the News Media
December 2, 2025, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
In this workshop with Justin Zadorsky, Media Relations Officer, you will learn the basics of working with the news media to promote your work and research. You'll learn about the current media landscape, how to work with reporters, get some basic interviewing tips and be introduced to op-ed writing and The Conversation Canada.
New Writing Workshop for The Conversation Canada
December 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET *HYBRID*
Audience: PhD students, postdocs, and faculty
This workshop is presented by Western Communications' Media Relations team.
From academic writing to the newsroom, Editor-in-Chief of The Conversation Canada Kim Honey, will lead an all-new writing workshop aimed at turning research-based knowledge into an effective news style article for publication in The Conversation. The Conversation is a daily independent online publication, delivering analysis and explanatory journalism from the research community directly to the public.
This is an interactive workshop where participants are encouraged to bring story ideas for potential articles. It will be offered in a hybrid format.
To learn more and reserve your spot, please email Media Relations Officer Justin Zadorsky (jzadorsk@uwo.ca). Please indicate if you wish to attend in person or via zoom. In-person spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dissertations: Finding Joy in the Writing Process
January 20, 2026, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET *Online/Virtual*
In this seminar you will gain insight into managing feedback and the expectations of supervisors, and reveal resources to demystify the dissertation writing process. This seminar also addresses how to be active (instead of reactive) to take ownership of your work and even provides a strategy that can forever transform your relationship to your dissertation.
Copy That! Grappling with Copyright at Western and Beyond
January 22, 2026, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET *Online/Virtual*
Did you know that the simple act of creation is enough to be the holder of the copyright to a work? That is, unless you sign these rights away. This session will provide an overview of copyright basics and provide a summary of your rights as a creator, and advice on how to protect these rights. It will also cover publishing, teaching, and document creation with practical examples of what to look for in a variety of employment contexts including universities, colleges, and the private sector..
more Communication & Relationship Building resources for Grad students
GradWRITE Seminar Series
GradWRITE Seminars cover a variety of writing support topics for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Western Libraries Events and Workshops
Learn about publishing, copyright, information management and more!
Western Research Support
Access programs to support research communication, knowledge mobilization, and opportunities for collaboration.
Inspiring Minds
Practice describing your research and scholarship in 150 words!
EDI Learning
Access workshops and online modules to support your communication and relationship building skills while upholding EDI principles
Truth and Reconciliation
Resources and actions for engaging in, and promoting, Truth and Reconciliation work at Western and beyond.
