UVA Alumni Career Development Week

The UVA Alumni Association builds strong bonds and affinity on and beyond Grounds. With a rich history of innovation and self-governance dating back 180 years, the UVA Alumni Association’s programs and traditions – including Reunions, the Ridley Scholars program, the Jefferson Trust, and Virginia Magazine – empower our 240,000+ alumni to shape the world around us.

UVA Alumni Association

Alumni of all career stages and career affiliations are invited to join us for four days of learning, discussion, and networking.

Inspired by our mission to empower alumni to plan, develop, and manage their careers for a lifetime, Alumni Career Engagement (ACE) is excited to host our second annual week of virtual programming designed to support you on your career journey.UVA alumni of all industries and experience levels are invited to join us for four days full of learning, discussion, and networking. This year for the first time, we are offering sessions tailored to Recent Grads as well as programming for alumni of all experience levels. Sessions for Recent Grads will be highlighted; alumni are welcome to register for any/all sessions.This event is presented by the UVA Alumni Association.Overview of Career Development Week:Monday, November 11<ul><li>11:00am-12:00pm: Welcome &amp; Keynote</li><li>12:00pm- 1:00pm: Job Search 2.0: LinkedIn &amp; ChatGPT Secrets Revealed</li><li>3:00pm- 4:00pm: Let's Network: Tech</li></ul>Tuesday, November 12<ul><li>11:00am-12:00pm: 5 Must-Have Skills for Career Growth</li><li>12:00pm- 1:00pm: Find Your Own Joy in Plain Sight</li><li>1:30pm- 2:30pm: Introducing UVA Career Connect</li><li>3:00pm- 4:00pm: Let's Network: Media, Sports, &amp; Entertainment</li></ul>Wednesday, November 13<ul><li>11:00am-12:00pm: Building Your Professional Future: Essential Strategies for Recent Graduates</li><li>12:00pm- 1:00pm: Navigate the Job Search with Alumni Talent Acquisition Leaders!</li><li>3:00pm- 4:00pm: Let's Network: Consulting</li></ul>Thursday, November 14<ul><li>12:00pm- 1:00pm: Leadership Unleashed: Lessons and Skills for Today's Business Challenges</li><li>3:00pm- 4:00pm: Let's Network: Entrepreneurship</li></ul> Session Descriptions:Keynote: The Power &amp; Responsibility of Leaders, Raabia Shafi (Col '05) - All AudiencesThis dynamic keynote designed for UVA Alumni will reveal how our role as leaders extends far beyond job performance, directly shaping organizational culture and driving team success. We'll explore the science behind why colleagues magnify the impact of our words and actions and how to leverage this influence to foster belonging and boost performance. Recent research indicates that organizations with solid workplace cultures experience 34.5% lower job turnover, and we'll cover practical ways to nurture both engaged teams and satisfied customers across industries.Through interactive exercises, we'll unpack pivotal leadership lessons from our personal and professional lives, challenge limiting narratives, and craft a leadership mission statement to anchor us when the going gets tough. Join us to unlock your full potential as a culture architect who drives results and builds a thriving, inclusive workplace. You'll leave with an actionable blueprint to become a leader people genuinely want to follow.Job Search 2.0: LinkedIn + ChatGPT Secrets Revealed, Jeremy Schifeling - All AudiencesHiring today looks very different than it did 20 years ago. Applicant Tracking Systems, AI keyword matching, and LinkedIn Recruiter mean that it’s the rare recruiter who’s just sitting there looking through paper resumes.So why are so many job-seekers still applying for jobs like it’s 1999?Join Jeremy Schifeling, who served in leadership roles at both LinkedIn and Khan Academy (OpenAI’s first education partner for ChatGPT), for a deep dive into the most advanced LinkedIn and ChatGPT techniques.Let’s Network: Tech, Liz Sprouse - All AudiencesWanting to meet fellow ‘Hoos in your field? Considering a career change to a new industry? Join us for an hour of coast-to-coast industry networking focused on Tech! The session includes four 12-minute networking sessions.Skills Needed for Career Advancement, Allison Stratton - All AudiencesJoin UVA Darden Executive Education &amp; Lifelong Learning to explore the critical skills driving professional success in today's dynamic and fast-changing business landscape. Hosted by Allison Stratton, Senior Director of Lifelong Learning, “5 Must-Have Skills for Career Growth” will provide valuable insights and practical development strategies for busy professionals who need to upskill quickly, and how Darden’s non-degree certificate programs can help you enhance your career trajectory and position yourself for leadership. This session is presented in partnership with Darden Executive Education.Find Your Own Joy in Plain Sight, Katya Davydova (Col '15) - All AudiencesJoy matters. It’s linked to greater individual and collective well-being and resilience. This workshop helps participants build and sustain daily habits of flourishing. They will leave with three steps they can implement that day to make their lives 10% brighter, and a system of how to maintain those new behaviors. Participants will benefit from social learning in this highly interactive workshop, with individual reflection and partner and group discussion.Introducing UVA Career Connect, Dr. Kemi Jona and Anant Das - Recent GraduatesUVA Career Connect is a cutting-edge digital platform designed specifically for UVA Alumni. The platform supports alumni in their continuous professional development by offering a wide range of educational and skill-building content tailored to each individual’s skill profile and based on real-time labor market data on various career paths and industries. Our vision is to foster a lifelong learning culture that empowers Hoos to thrive in an ever-evolving job market by providing access to the latest labor market intelligence, upskilling resources and certifications, and a continuously expanding set of learning resources (currently 14,000+ and counting) after graduation. UVA Career Connect offers flexible learning opportunities from both UVA and third-party sources for Hoos looking to deepen their expertise in their current field, explore new disciplines, or acquire skills across industry sectors and in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, digital marketing, and analytics. By fostering a lifelong learning culture and providing networking opportunities, UVA Career Connect allows Hoos to remain competitive and advance in their careers long after they leave Grounds. During this session, alumni will be able to preview the platform and explore options for participating. This session is presented in partnership with the University of Virginia Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.Let’s Network: Media, Sports, &amp; Entertainment, Liz Sprouse - All AudiencesWanting to meet fellow ‘Hoos in your field? Considering a career change to a new industry? Join us for an hour of coast-to-coast industry networking focused on Media, Sports, &amp; Entertainment! The session includes four 12-minute networking sessions.Building Your Professional Future: Essential Strategies for Recent Graduates, Nicole Hall, PhD, MBA and Liz Sprouse - Recent GraduatesWhether you are looking for your first post-UVA role, are navigating complex workplace norms, or are already thinking about your next career move, we know you have questions! Join Nicole Hall, Associate Vice President for Career and Professional Development at UVA, and Liz Sprouse, Director of Alumni Career Engagement at the UVA Alumni Association, for a conversation focused on the entry-level career landscape. We will address your questions and share tips and best practices to help you put your best foot forward! This session is presented in partnership with the University of Virginia Division of Student Affairs.Navigate the Job Search with Alumni Talent Acquisition Leaders! Lara Dalch, Mia Brandon, Arianny Mercedes, Megan Saunders - All AudiencesCover letters…AI…LinkedIn…Whether you are a recent grad or an experienced hire, we know you have questions about the job search! Our panel of alumni talent acquisition experts is here to address your questions and share tips and best practices to help you navigate today’s complex job search with confidence!LET’S NETWORK: Consulting, Liz Sprouse - All AudiencesWanting to meet fellow ‘Hoos in your field? Considering a career change to a new industry? Join us for an hour of coast-to-coast industry networking focused on Consulting! The session includes four 12-minute networking sessions.Leadership Unleashed: Lessons and Skills for Today's Business Challenges, Professor Les Williams - All AudiencesPresented by the UVA|Northern Virginia Executive &amp; Employee Education team, this engaging session will advance your senior leadership skillset. Led by Professor Les Williams (Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2000), the program dives into the power of leadership, exploring how it can shape the destiny of an organization. Participants will reflect on real-world business case studies to highlight how leadership can make or break a company and key topics such as cross-silo leadership, the G.R.O.W. Model, and more. Join other Hoo leaders for an active discussion and leave ready to apply these new insights within your own role. Presented in partnership with UVA Northern Virginia.LET’S NETWORK: Entrepreneurship, Liz Sprouse - All AudiencesWanting to meet fellow ‘Hoos in your field? Considering a career change to a new industry? Join us for an hour of coast-to-coast industry networking focused on Entrepreneurship! The session includes four 12-minute networking sessions.

UVA Alumni Career Development Week

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