Imperative acts as the bridge to remove barriers hindering genuine connections. Simply sign up, log on, and let the program handle the heavy lifting of matching you with a peer and initiating conversations that matter.
UC Berkeley staff have asked for more structured environments to connect with peers across the UC system. The UC Peer Connection Community is one way we’re making that happen.
This is a self-driven program that prioritizes meaningful connections by pairing participants with a peer, an individual working at an equivalent level at UC Berkeley or another of our UC Campuses. In general, managers will be matched with fellow managers, and individual contributor staff will be matched with peers at their level, ensuring a balanced and comfortable exchange.
In addition to matching participants based on their organizational level, participants complete a questionnaire - the Purpose Profile - detailing their goals and motivating factors at work. Leveraging this information, Imperative's matching team will generate purposeful peer matches, connecting individuals with shared values and aspirations.
Once matched, participants will meet with their same peer connection over the course of the matching period. During these weeks of connection, participants will engage in a series of five Smart Conversations, guided conversations utilizing unique prompts provided by Imperative and structured around both participants' Purpose Profiles. These Smart Conversations are designed to facilitate impactful interactions from the very start, and dig deeper than your typical networking conversation. Peer connections will discuss your similarities, differences, values, goals, and what truly drives you.
At the end of the matching period, participants will be matched with a new peer, allowing for participants to match with 3 different peer connections over the course of 1 year.
UC Berkeley People & Culture values community and connection, and we proudly sponsor the UC Peer Connection Community as an opportunity for staff to build relationships right here on campus and across the UC system.
In the dynamic landscape of our hybrid work environment, we understand the challenges of fostering organic connections. The Imperative platform is one solution to make engagement and connection more accessible for you and your colleagues.
Our hope is that participants will:
These conversations are not recorded, so participants can feel comfortable using this dedicated window of time to speak freely about their work and their goals and motivations. Additionally, the peer-to-peer approach aims to foster a level playing field for participants to feel safe and comfortable expressing themselves authentically.
Over the course of 1 year, program participants will be matched with 3 different peer connections. Each peer connection will take place within the time frames outlined below. During that time, participants will engage in 1-hour Smart Conversations through the online Imperative platform. These Smart Conversations will prompt participants to discuss wins, challenges, opportunities and much more related to their work.
Participants will manage the scheduling of their own Smart Conversations directly with their peers, allowing them to find times that are convenient for each participant.
In total, over the 1-year program, participants must plan to commit to 12 hours of conversation spent with their peer connections, and 1 hour to set up their Imperative account and complete the Purpose Profile.
Period 1: September 15, 2025 – December 12, 2025
Period 2: January 13, 2026 – February 27, 2026
Period 3: March 9, 2026 – May 5, 2026
This program is open to any UC Berkeley staff who wish to participate and meet the criteria below. Participants must:
Be employed in a Full-time or Part-time Career or Contract position, (including non-represented and represented employees) at UC Berkeley,
Have successfully completed their probationary period (if you are unsure about whether you have completed your probationary period, please ask your manager/supervisor),
Be on pay status at the time of enrollment,
Have the support of their direct manager/supervisor to ensure that they are able to participate in all program events as part of their professional development and supported by our Participation in Campus-Sponsored Activities Policy
Complete the program application.
Please submit your application here.
UC Berkeley has 100 spots available for staff to participate in the UC Peer Connection Community in 2025-2026.
To be selected for a spot, please submit your application by Friday, August 22, 2025 at 5:00 pm PST. After that time, 100 participants will be randomly selected to join the program.
Applicants will be notified by Thursday, August 28th, regarding their placement and status.
Please note: if you are not randomly selected to participate in 2025-26, you will be given priority to join the program in 2026-27.
