Jacqueline Ryan, Senior Internal Communications Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, made the move into internal communication from a science and manufacturing background, with some imposter syndrome along the way. She shares how working towards her 40 CPD points a year built her knowledge, credibility and confidence, and became a lasting habit of continuous learning.
My route into internal communication wasn't a traditional one – which is so common in this profession! I studied Microbiology at university and spent the early part of my career working as a Quality Manager in a manufacturing environment. When I made the move into communications, I was learning a completely new profession and there was definitely some imposter syndrome that came with that!
I felt that I needed some professional backing to help build my knowledge, credibility and confidence. I wasn't in a position to commit to a full qualification at the time, so CPD felt like the perfect middle ground. It gave me a structured way to develop while still fitting around a busy career.
What particularly appealed to me was that CPD wasn't limited to formal training. Through IOIC webinars, events, industry reading, mentoring and volunteering opportunities, I was able to broaden my understanding of the profession while also building a network outside of the organisations I worked for. As someone working in a small internal communications team who had transitioned from a science and manufacturing background, those external perspectives were invaluable. They helped me better understand the breadth of the internal communications profession, learn from experienced practitioners and gain confidence in my own approach.
As my career progressed, the value of CPD evolved too. What started as a way to strengthen my foundations has become an invaluable habit of continuous learning. Working towards the 40 points each year gives me a clear framework to stay curious, keep developing and continue investing in my professional growth.
The real value of CPD is in the reflection
The biggest surprise was probably how powerful the reflection element turned out to be.
It's easy to attend a webinar, read an article or take part in an event and then move straight on to the next task. Logging CPD encouraged me to pause and think about what I had actually learned, why it mattered and how I could apply it in my role.
Looking back across a full year of CPD has also become a valuable resource for conversations with my manager about my development and future career aspirations, providing a clear record of where I've invested my time, what skills I've been building and the areas I'd like to develop further.
More than ever, as technology, organisations and our profession continue to evolve at pace, professional growth can't be measured by a single qualification or milestone. It's the cumulative impact of continuous learning over time that helps maintain confidence and credibility throughout your career.
You're probably already doing CPD, just start logging it
Start! Many people underestimate how much learning they're already doing. If you've attended a webinar, listened to a podcast, read industry research, been mentored, mentored someone else or spoken at an event you've probably completed CPD activities without realising it. You’ll have much more to log than you think!
Capture activities as they happen and spend a few minutes reflecting on what you've learned. The reflections don't need to be lengthy; they're simply an opportunity to think about the practical value of the experience and how you'll apply it.
Most importantly, logging CPD helps to build the habit of continuous learning, reflecting and taking ownership of your professional growth. Over time, those small moments of learning really do add up.
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