I think for most of the people who go on the Gemini Project, it beats any other training course hands down. This, for me, was for a number of reasons:

• The sometimes uncomfortable but ultimately rewarding dynamic between the Royal Bank of Scotland and Princes Trust people
• The Skye setting and the ability to get away from the day to day
• The uniqueness of the course components
• The charisma of Ian Chisholm

I found several of the sessions very raw and intense and was personally very emotional on several occasions, culminating in a ‘eureka’ type moment when I felt as if I had discovered what type of leader I wanted to be.

The non directive coaching sessions were equally raw and the honesty and openness with which the PT delegate, Sam, tackled her subject prompted me to take few risks with my own topic. There were to be a few occasions when the honesty of the PT people prompted me to evaluate my contribution and go that little bit further.

I loved the idea of the themed days around the core values and the kick off sessions where we all took turns to introduce the day were really effective. My birthday also took place during the course and I’ll always have the memory of kicking off the session on Integrity followed by being given a big signed birthday card which was a lovely touch.

It was my first visit to Skye and I was captivated by its openness the beauty of the jagged, mountainous skyline and the majesty of the coast line. I really loved being able to disappear for half an hour myself at lunchtime and just meander around , taking in the silence, finding a bit of calm amidst all the competing emotions and thoughts which each session seemed to bring.

I felt that I really got on with most of the PT people and genuinely liked most of them and felt that it was reciprocal. In fact I felt that I had more in common with a few of them than some of the RBS delegates but maybe that’s just a west coast of Scotland thing. Sam was part of my coaching group and she was great; loving, emotional, kind, honest but also damaged by some of her earlier experiences. I made a commitment to help a charity she was involved in and subsequently contacted them to make a regular donation.

Ultimately, I learnt a lot about myself and looking at some of the recent feedback I have had from my managers I would like to think that some of the really positive stuff from them was due in part to what I took away from the Gemini project. I also felt that the RBS people maybe helped the PT people to become a bit more self confident and realise that they had a lot to offer which was equally as important as the personal growth which I achieved.

I don’t think any of us will ever quite forget the experience.

Gerry McBride
Class of July 2004