Professional Development Programs

 Project Management for the Casual Project Manager

January 24-25; 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for a two half-day exploration of the fundamental elements of Project Management and the project lifecycle facilitated by certified project management professionals! With a focus on project management best practices, you will learn to apply the skills, tools, and knowledge necessary to understand the most effective path forward for your project. From initiation to closing, you’ll develop foundational knowledge that will enhance your project management skills. Whether you’re just starting your project management journey or have led a number of projects, this course is for you!

Facilitated by Ari Mack, OD Consultant, Organizational Development & Effectiveness; Chris O’Brien, Workday Project Manager, HR Information Systems; Carrie Susskind, IT Project Manager, Research Administration Information Services 

So, You Want to Be a People Leader?

February 2; 2-4 pm or February 23; 9-11 am

Discover if you have the desire and would like to acquire or hone the skills to be an excellent people leader. Data recently gathered at Cornell and supported by data being reported on across the world, indicates that people don’t leave jobs, they leave bad managers and toxic work environments. Too often in the past individuals who were good technical experts were chosen to lead and manage others. Often the skill that makes you the best technical expert is completely different than the skill of leading and managing others. Excellent people leaders are critical to creating a culture where people feel valued, a sense of belonging, and engaged.

• Understand the role and expectations Cornell has of people leaders
• Learn the significance of people managers having a passion for leading, developing, and coaching others towards the accomplishment of the mission and vision of the organization
• Discover the importance of emotional intelligence in managing others
• Learn the skills to lead and develop individuals and teams
• Know the critical role coaching plays in developing others
• Align and implement objectives to advance the strategy of the department

Creating a Learning Culture – Explore Your Impact

February 9; 9-11:30 am

More than any time in history, the products, tools, and services we use in life and in work are being dreamed about, invented, and shared with us at an ever-increasing pace. The positive of this is that we experience new, exciting things like new ways of listening to music, recording sound, communicating with one another, exchanging documents, money, and information, processes to develop new ideas, new foods, new ways of procuring food, and the list goes on. The pace at which change occurs around us, both in and out of the workplace calls for us to be engaged, take risks, be ever-passionate explorers of new knowledge to help drive effectiveness, innovation, and application of new learnings. Learn how you can be part of creating and maintaining a learning culture.

• Understand the importance of lifelong learning in response to the rapid pace of cultural, technological, workforce, and strategic change
• Learn your role in developing and maintaining a learning culture
• Discover the meaning of the “passion of the explorer” and how it contributes to your success
• Learn how the creation of new knowledge drives new learning for innovation and application in the workplace
• Discuss the value of taking responsible risk and learning from mistakes

Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset 

2 days, in-person program: February 22-23; 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Program Fee $175

In this workshop, participants learn the difference between inward and outward mindsets. They discover where they have been inward and how to turn more outward. They learn how to turn their mindsets and behaviors outward by applying the following tool sets:

Self-awareness tools—Four tools to overcome a self-focused inward mindset and more consistently work with an others-inclusive outward mindset.Mindset change tools—Two tools to implement and sustain an outward mindset.Accountability tools—Three accountability tools to help individuals clarify their roles and hold themselves accountable for their impact on other collaboration tools—Eight collaboration tools to help individuals and teams plan, work, and resolve differences more collaboratively and effectively.

This course equips participants with tools that enable them to:               

• Understand the two mindsets and their implications on results
• Assess the extent to which they are working with an inward mindset
• Change their mindsets to become more outward
• Re-conceive their jobs to make them more outward
• Hold themselves more fully accountable
• Report on performance in a way that keeps them working outward
• Work in a way that is more collaborative, fulfilling, and effective
• Positively influence others to change
• Address and resolve conflicts

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 | 11:30am – 12:30pm

HR 3070  Would you like to expand your opportunities to grow within Cornell? Applying for an internal job posting may allow you to advance your career, move to a different department, and learn new skills. In this workshop, you will learn about Cornell’s recruiting process and what you can do to stand out as an internal candidate.

Register through CULearn.

Thursday, March 16, 2023 | 11:30am – 12:30pm

HR 3072  Your resume is most likely the first impression you’ll make on a hiring manager or internal recruiter, so it’s extremely important to ensure that impression is accurate. While different opportunities require different resumes, the real goal of most resumes is to secure an opportunity to INTERVIEW. In this session, you will learn tips and important information on how to be strategic as you build your resume.

Register through CULearn.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” – Ben Franklin.

Being offered an interview is exciting and can also be daunting. Hear from an expert recruiter about everything you need to prepare for your interview and feel equipped to answer confidently. You will learn how to present your true self, highlight your strongest attributes, and adequately prepare for anticipated questions. Walk into the next job interview with total confidence.

Register through CULearn.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | 11:30am – 12:30pm

HR 3073 Cover letters are an important part of your application materials and can serve as an example of your communication skills! In this workshop, we will review important details to pay attention to when communicating your interest and fit for a job. You’ll see examples of what to include and how to format a cover letter and you’ll hear about what hiring managers look for in cover letters.

Register through CULearn.

Journeying with Generations

2 consecutive days - April 5+6; 10-11:45 am each day

The workforce today includes representation from as many as 5 generations. Have you ever spent time thinking about how this impacts your workplace culture? Your day-to-day activities? Have you ever wondered about how to better understand the perspective of someone from outside of your own generation and how you might communicate more effectively with this person? Please join us for a forum to discuss the ways in which we can improve our understanding of and communication with colleagues in a multigenerational workforce. You will also have the opportunity to learn about additional resources available to you here at Cornell to support you in this endeavor.

By the end of this session, we hope that participants will:

• Feel comfortable having conversations within their own units about their generations and their perspectives through their generational lens
• Become more comfortable engaging with colleagues of other generations while exploring how to tap into the cumulative experience of all.
• Explore how the intersectionality of generational cohorts, life experiences, and identities come together and create unique dynamics.

Challenge assumptions and apply strategies for making the workplace more welcoming and inclusive for all generations.