Gaining the communication skills to move from expertise to influence

Students enter the MEL and MHLP programs with a clear purpose: to gain the credential, skills and network that will support their transition into leadership positions. Whether they are working in engineering, architecture, planning or health care, they share an ambition to take on greater responsibility and drive change in their fields.

“Our students are already exceptional professionals, but leading a team or a department requires a completely different toolkit,” says Bailey Kew, Manager of the MEL MHLP Programs. 

“‘Hard skills’ get you the job, but ‘human skills’—negotiation, emotional intelligence and strategic communication—are what allow you to thrive in it. The workshops we offer throughout the year offer students a low-stakes environment to experiment with new leadership behaviours, receive immediate feedback and refine their professional identity before they re-enter the workforce.”

Learning to communicate and connect like a leader

One of the first professional development workshops offered in 2026 focused on communication, which is arguably the most essential leadership skill of all. The session was led by Ivan Wanis Ruiz, the founder of Public Speaking Lab who is known for his practical tips and energetic and interactive teaching style. Ruiz zeroed in on one-to-one communication and the interpersonal skills that underpin successful leadership.

“The session I offered in January explored what’s needed for successful one-to-one communication through activities, real-world examples and engagement,” he says. “There are more than enough ideas out there. What we need are tactics – conversation strategies you can start using right now, whether that’s for introducing yourself to a stranger or asking questions that help you develop a meaningful connection with someone.”

Communication is a competitive advantage

Wanis Ruiz says that communication skills are the defining differentiator for future leaders.

“I always ask students to identify what can’t be replaced by AI,” he says. “The ability to connect with people – to lead and convince – can’t be replicated. The competitive advantage of the future is not your expertise in and of itself, but how you communicate your expertise.”

He provides examples of two candidates with similar technical and professional backgrounds interviewing for the same role. “Your ability to communicate is what will get you hired and promoted.”

Practising the skills to build confidence

So just how do you learn to be a better one-on-one communicator? Practice.

Wanis Ruiz structures his workshops to turn the focus away from himself as the instructor. After introducing a concept, he gets students talking among themselves, practising the techniques he’s shared so they build rapport and trust with each other while gaining confidence in their ability to engage and communicate.

“The nervousness and fear about talking to a stranger might never really go away entirely,” he says, but it gets easier with time once you have some practical tactics and are committed to practice.”

Expanding from one-to-one to one-to-many

Later in the year, Wanis Ruiz will deliver a workshop focused on public speaking so that MEL and MHLP students can extend the skills they’ve learned about one-to-one communication to situations where they are communicating with larger audiences.

Kew says the response from students to Ruiz’s first presentation has been overwhelmingly positive, with students valuing the “pivot from theoretical classroom learning to ‘real-world’ simulation.”

Embracing growth and the unknown

“One of the things I think is very encouraging about the MEL and MHLP is that it attracts people who are ready to take a chance and develop new skills,” says Wanis Ruiz. 

“For most people, the fear of the unknown is greater than the fear of being unhappy. MEL and MHLP students are embracing the unknown because they know that on the other side is growth and opportunity.”