Kirklees College students were among those to benefit from the world’s largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship.

Huddersfield-based positive impact specialist Deborah Ogden set about inspiring the next generation of leaders when she addressed the students during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The 75 students at the Chapel Hill campus watched live from the Waterfront Quarter while up to 4,500 students across other sites – and the Thomas Jefferson Institute in Mexico – tuned in to watch the seminar on live streaming and later via the college’s own programme, KC TV.

Deborah is a nationally respected performance coach and speaker on personal branding and making a positive impact. She has 15 years experience working on the PR and image of high profile names including cricketer Andrew Flintoff, Lancashire’s Old Trafford cricket ground and the Bradley-based Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Students learned how to make an impression - from body language and visual impact to communication skills – key to those wishing to start up their own businesses.

Deborah has acted as business mentor to students on the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at Kirklees College since last September. As part of their induction, students have attended two sessions covering the importance of first impressions and impact.

Said Deborah: “It’s crucial to learn from the start that the ability to influence and communicate with clarity is a key to success.

“I hope that I can make a positive impact among the students and equip them with some important life skills to help them fulfil their ambitions. You only get one chance to make a first impression!”

Lydia Butterworth, business enterprise manager at Kirklees College, who organised the event said Deborah’s presentation was insightful and thought-provoking. “It’s packed full of techniques that can be used immediately and she delivers in an entertaining fashion,” she said. “We’ve recognised that personal impact is crucial in any career. However good a product is, people buy people and the ability to influence and communicate with clarity is key to success.”