Fox International Fellowship Communication Workshop Series

The Fox International Fellowship Communication Workshop Series, facilitated by Dr. William Vance, with coaching experts from Executive Voice, and held between October and December 2024 at Yale’s Watson Center, provided Fox Fellows with practical tools to improve their communication in academic and professional settings. Through a mix of plenary sessions, group discussions, and personalized coaching, participants focused on refining how they present and explain their ideas, engage with audiences, and build credibility in international contexts.

Over the course of the workshop, Fellows worked on a variety of communication skills. Early sessions, such as the Plenary Session on Communication Practices, covered topics like message clarity, influencing others, and building a professional presence. As the series progressed, Fellows engaged in more specific workshops, including Public Speaking, where they focused on structuring speeches, and Meeting and Conference Participation, which honed their skills in advocating for ideas during discussions. The Diplomatic Language and Negotiation session addressed how to navigate cultural differences in negotiations, while Academic Presentations or Job Interview helped Fellows practice explaining their research and preparing for professional interviews.

The workshop culminated in Personal Coaching Sessions, where Fellows received tailored feedback based on speech analysis software results and developed an action plan for continued improvement. By the end of the program, participants had strengthened their ability to communicate clearly and confidently, skills that will be invaluable in both their academic and professional careers.