2025 Concurrent Sessions

Innovate @ Work: A Creative Toolkit

Presenters: Jeff Heiser

Session Description:

This interactive workshop explores a practical framework for generating fresh ideas and addressing challenges with a creative mindset. In the ever-changing world of higher education, we constantly encounter the need to adapt, improve, and discover new ways of working. Whether you're seeking career growth, innovative approaches to your services, streamlined administrative processes, new methods for supporting students, or simply looking for...

Personal Branding: Stepping Up and Standing Out

Presenters: Kris McGuigan

Session Description:

In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, professionals must do more than keep up—they must stand out. Your personal brand is the key to differentiating yourself, unlocking new opportunities, and positioning yourself as a trusted expert. This interactive workshop will guide you through the essential steps of discovering your unique value proposition, exploring innovative ways to communicate your expertise, and developing strategies to...

Thrive Beyond Burnout: Reclaiming Balance, Purpose, and Psychological Safety in Your Career

Presenters: Danyelle Gibson Grant

Session Description:

In the relentless pace of today’s workplace, many experienced managers and leaders find themselves at a crossroads—juggling high-impact roles, navigating organizational changes, and quietly battling exhaustion. The demands of leadership, coupled with the evolving landscape of higher education, often leave professionals feeling stretched thin, questioning their ability to sustain their careers without sacrificing well-being...

Live Your Best Worklife: Job Enrichment Hacks for Enhanced Satisfaction and Engagement

Presenters: Jeanette Lindsay

Session Description:

Are you looking for ways to find more fulfillment and engagement in your current role? This workshop explores practical "Job Enrichment Hacks" designed to help you transform your work life. We'll delve into the five key elements of job enrichment: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback, and discover how they can be applied to enhance your daily experience.

Whether you're a manager seeking to...

Resiliently Efficient - Positioning Teams to Thrive Amidst Chaos

Presenters: Belle Walker

Session Description:

Many organizations, including UC Berkeley, place a high priority on both operating efficiently and building resilience. Efficiency is a Core Behavioral Anchor for Achieving Results and Resilience is part of the definition of Change Agility. Simple!

But what if I told you that it was a trap?

Efficiency and resilience are both valuable, important goals – and they also form a natural tension. Overcoming this pitfall can require...

Connect with Confidence: Own Your Agency in Networking and Interviewing

Presenter: Dinorah Meyer

Session Description:

Both networking and interviewing have in common the task of introducing yourself to people you don’t know. They can bring up a fear of being negatively evaluated and turned down. While the value of networking in a job search seems like common knowledge, many people find it hard to do. They may feel uncomfortable or intimidated by the idea of approaching strangers to promote themselves professionally. They may not know how to reach out or...

Transforming Workplace Conversations using Non-Violent Communication (NVC)

Presenter: Kelly Johnson

Session Description:

Transforming Workplace Conversations using Non-Violent Communication (NVC) aligns powerfully with the conference theme Discover, Explore, Innovate and the UC Systemwide Core Competency ABCs — Achieving Results, Building Relationships, and Creating the Future.

NVC encourages participants to discover new ways of understanding and expressing needs, emotions, and intentions. By fostering empathy and clarity, it helps individuals explore more thoughtful...

Guiding Growth: Strategies for Effective Student Employee Mentorship

Host: Diego A Holguin

Panelists: Emilie Mitchell, Finley Golightly, Rebecca Robles, Sofia Angelina Vita-Casquejo

Session Description:

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on the transformative...

Breaking Free from Chaos: Taming the Monkey Mind for Career Success

Presenter: Kimmie Opoku, PCC and Dr. Kathy James, PCC

Session Description:

In today’s fast-paced world, the ""monkey mind""—that restless, chaotic chatter of doubt, fear, and distraction—can hinder personal growth and professional advancement. This workshop explores how to break free from internal chaos and transform the monkey mind into a tool for clarity, focus, and career innovation.

Aligned with the...

A Modern Day Treasure Hunt: Detecting Gold

Presenter: Meg Helf

Session Description:

This workshop offers a fresh, engaging perspective on how fundamental human skills—clarity of purpose, motivation, psychological safety, and collaboration—extend beyond traditional workplace training and are essential for innovation and career growth.

Using the real-life experience of a scuba diving treasure hunt, the session will illustrate how navigating uncertainty, relying on diverse perspectives, and problem-solving under pressure are...