Employee Spotlight: Judith Evans
Meet Judith, one of Azesta's exceptional facilitators whose career journey from law enforcement to experiential learning highlights her passion for connection and development. Judith thrives on fostering meaningful engagement, blending coaching techniques with real-world applications, and creating environments where participants feel safe to share diverse perspectives.
In our latest ‘Employee Spotlight’, Judith reflects on her favourite facilitation moments, the transformative power of experiential learning, and the personal growth she’s gained along the way. From inspiring participants to embrace new insights to empowering conversations beyond the workplace, Judith exemplifies Azesta's mission to make learning impactful and memorable.
1. Path to Facilitation: Judith, what inspired you to become a facilitator? Was there a pivotal moment that led you to pursue this career?
I spent 24 years in operational law enforcement and realised that one of the things I loved most about my job was connecting with others. Whether that was developing my teams or influencing external stakeholders or senior managers. When I left that career, facilitating and coaching became a natural fit.
2. The Power of Experiential Learning: Do you believe experiential learning has a unique impact on participant engagement? How does it help people better retain what they learn?
Undoubtedly! Experiential learning creates an opportunity for participants to engage with the material in a personal and (hopefully) more meaningful way. Many of us learn by 'doing' and this allows us to think through the theory at an accessible level and then see how it fits for us as individuals, adapting our learning as we 'play'.
3. Favourite Training Moments: What’s been one of your favourite moments as a facilitator at Azesta? Any memorable reactions or breakthroughs you’ve witnessed?
At Azesta we often get the opportunity to work with participants over extended periods and I feel very privileged to be able to build a trusting relationship, share my knowledge and experience and watch others develop in confidence and ability. Hearing stories about how someone has been able to have a more skilful interaction as a direct result of our input is inspiring. And that experience is not always in the workplace!
4. Overcoming Challenges: Facilitating can sometimes be challenging - what’s your approach to ensuring every participant feels involved and engaged, even in diverse groups?
I love diversity! It brings wonderfully different perspectives but needs a psychologically safe environment to allow those to be drawn out and where challenge is seen as an opportunity to explore, not a criticism.
Acknowledging good behaviours allows participants to build on their existing skills and reinforces that we all bring something different. And as a facilitator, I have to be very patient to ensure that we maintain the right balance.
5. Benefits Beyond the Workplace: In your experience, how does experiential learning influence participants outside of the workplace? Have you seen it affect their personal growth or mindset?
It definitely does. So many times on 2 day programmes a participant will arrive on day 2, pull me aside and tell me about a conversation they had the previous evening. My most memorable was with a team leader who had been able to have a really positive conversation with their autistic sone, simply because they listened! (Don't get me started on the power of listening)!
6. Advice to New Facilitators: For those considering a career in facilitation, what advice would you give them? What’s been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?
Work with other facilitators and learn from them while developing your own style. Relate, relate, relate the theory and insights back to the workplace, otherwise the session simply constitutes a fun day away from the office and you were the corporate entertainer. We are there to support and challenge and that's not always an easy balance. Have fun! And remember you are always at least 5 minutes ahead of your audience 😉
7. Looking Forward: As you continue with Azesta, what are you most looking forward to achieving or exploring further in your role as a facilitator?
Being a facilitator means you are always learning yourself, even when you have facilitated the same programme a number of times as your audience always changes, so staying open to that opportunity continues to be important to me as I work with our lovely Azesta clients. And using the fabulous Metalog tools, looking at opportunities to use them creatively with new clients is an exciting prospect.
8. Personal Growth through Facilitation: How has being a facilitator shaped your own personal or professional growth?
Years ago I used to see my perceived inability to take sides (sit on the fence) as a liability / weakness. Through my job as a facilitator I now see it as a strength as I have the ability to explore multiple perspectives without jumping to conclusions or being judgmental. Holding that tension for our participants can be hugely insightful for them.
9. Interesting fact: Is there something (interest/ hobby/ special talent) that you're happy to share that might surprise people?
Why is this the hardest one to answer? I love time spent with friends - wild swimming, book club or regular walks with one of my closest friends where we obviously solve world problems. And I do love the opportunity to travel, whether with family (family time is the best time for me) on holiday or through my work. Probably my most exciting place to have travelled to was Moscow partly because that destination feels very much closed off these days. Wandering around the centre of Moscow after work one evening on my own was amazing and empowering.
