Career transitions are hard to make, and even harder to plan. It’s tough to see the path when you don’t have a clear understanding of the directions available. We’re co-hosting an @wfualumni panel with @wakeforestbiz to help shed light on three very different career transitions.
Join us on Tuesday, December 8th at 12pm EST for an engaged and informative conversation with Wake Forest alumni, Kristin Winkle Beck (’97), CEO of Pivot Point Professionals, Devin Williams (’16), New Business at Team Epiphany, and Josh McCutchen (MBA’09), VP, Marketing & Sales at Dewey’s, as we talk about different strategies to plan for, and make a change.
The panelists will share how they used networking, graduate school, and an intentional sabbatical to identify “what’s next.” Learn how their action steps made a difference and how they can work for you, too!
Register at the 🔗 in our profile!
We made it to December, y'all! Whew, deep breaths. 👊
We didn't want to let this year end without taking some time to reflect on the good, the bad, and the lessons learned from 2020. Thankfully, several of your fellow Deacs shared their reflections on this past year for our Expert Advice section over on our website this month.
Take a minute to read these reflections (link in profile), learn from the experiences of other @wfualumni and consider your own answers to these questions. #practicereflection 💛🖤
🎩Deacon Spotlight *Update*: Brandon Chubb ('15)🎩
We reconnected with our alumni who we previously featured to check in with their careers and lives. Brandon was a Professional Football Player for the NFL when he first joined our Young Alumni Mentoring Groups and was featured in our Deacon Spotlight. Today, he is the Managing Partner for the VC firm Captain Partners. Captain Partners is a nascent investment firm, with a team full of Wake Forest alums, that sets out to create unique value for our Limited Partners.
In his update, Brandon shared the most significant lesson he's learned in the time since his first Deacon Spotlight - and his insight can benefit all of us:
"The most significant lesson since last time, two years ago, that I have learned is a lesson I already knew but maybe didn’t realize the significance of it. That lesson is to “reach back”. What I mean by that is to make yourself available to assist others, in some fashion or another, who might ask. The amount of people who have helped me get to where I am by making themselves available to take a phone call, respond to an email, grab a bite to eat, etc is paramount to me being in the position I am today, chasing my career dream and goals."
Read Brandon's full update - and his first Spotlight - at the link in our profile!
Why is using pronouns correctly so important? And what does LGBTQ+ inclusive language look like in the workplace? Join us for next week’s Wednesday Webinar facilitated by @lgbtqatwfu’s Kayla Lisenby-Denson! Register at go.wfu.edu/next or click the 🔗 in our profile.
It's been a long year. But don't let 2020 end without reflecting on how you have grown, changed, & developed over the past 12 months.
@wfualumni, use the 🔗 in our profile to consider 4️⃣ key reflection questions and share your responses with us.
One thing we love about our Wake alumni community is your willingness to be vulnerable and share your stories and experiences with each other. We look forward to featuring your reflections on our website starting in December. We’ll keep growing and learning together. 💛🎩🖤
#practicereflection
Building supportive relationships is an integral part of our lives and careers.
Supportive relationships come in many forms. They could be:
Networking contacts
Friends
Family
Mentors and sponsors
Allies and advocates
Wise counselors
Colleagues and managers
Significant others
We all need people in our lives to be successful, to manage difficult times and circumstances (ahem, all of 2020😬), and to get where we want to go next in our lives and careers.
Check out our new expert advice posts at the 🔗 in our profile and start thinking about what relationships you need/want in your life and learn how you can start building those now. 👥👥👥
Deacon Spotlight *Update*: Brandon Chubb ('15)
We reconnected with our alumni who we featured previously to check in with their careers and lives. Brandon was a Professional Football Player for the NFL when he first joined our Young Alumni Mentoring Group and was featured in our Deacon Spotlight. Today, he is the Managing Partner for the VC firm Captain Partners. Captain Partners is a nascent investment firm, with a team full of Wake Forest alums, that sets out to create unique value for our Limited Partners.
In his update, Brandon shared the most significant lesson he's learned in the time since his first Deacon Spotlight - and his insight can benefit all of us:
"The most significant lesson since last time, two years ago, that I have learned is a lesson I already knew but maybe didn’t realize the significance of it. That lesson is to “reach back”. What I mean by that is to make yourself available to assist others, in some fashion or another, who might ask. The amount of people who have helped me get to where I am by making themselves available to take a phone call, respond to an email, grab a bite to eat, etc is paramount to me being in the position I am today, chasing my career dream and goals."
Read Brandon's full update - and his first Spotlight - at the link in our profile!
What makes a good profile? How should I interact in groups? In what ways can I set myself apart as a job candidate on LinkedIn? These questions will guide our next 30-minute Wednesday Webinar to help you make the most of LinkedIn.
If you’re like most people, you either a) “set it and forget it” and never update your LinkedIn profile b) dread the idea of maintaining another social media account, or c) don’t even know what to do with this platform.
You are not alone.
Register for this webinar and you’ll understand the key parts of the profile and how to use the powerful tools available to you through this professional social media.
As always, register at the 🔗in our profile!
🎩Deacon Spotlight: Kristin Eberman ('09)🎩
What if you loved studying abroad so much that you found a way to make a career out of it? That's exactly what Kristin figured out how to do! While she was in school, the idea of working in the study abroad industry never occurred to her (we see that often for young professionals - it's hard to know what careers exist until you start exploring!)
In her years since graduation, Kristin has spent time living and working in Morocco, England, and Australia. 🇲🇦🏴🇦🇺Her roles have changed over the years, but the insights she shares in her spotlight are lessons we can all benefit from learning:
the importance of using your values to drive your career decisions,
finding your way through imposter syndrome, and
managing through uncertainty in the job market.
Read the full spotlight at the 🔗 in our profile.
🎩Deacon Spotlight: Meredith Bragg ('14) 🎩 Growing up in Maryland and during her time at Wake Forest, Meredith always wanted to work in New York City. Since graduation, her path hasn't been linear, but she's found success in cut-throat industries by making the conscious effort to connect with clients as people. In her spotlight, Meredith speaks to the value of your personal network in times of career transition, the idea that your integrity defines how you show up in the best and worst situations, and the importance of carving out time for yourself and for true friendships.
Check out the 🔗 in our profile to read more of her insightful advice!
Raise your hand if you've experienced feelings of stress, dread, anger, sadness, or uncertainty over the past 9 months. 🤚🏿🤚🏾🤚🏽🤚🏼🤚🏻
Okay, now that everyone has their hands raised, we've got your attention!
This month we're focusing in on taking care of your mental wellbeing. Between a pandemic, remote work, an upcoming election, and so many other unwanted gifts from 2020, it's important to stop and determine what YOU need to prioritize your mental health and wellbeing during this time.
We 💛 our @wfualumni and want to see you thrive not only professionally, but more importantly, personally. 🎩
Visit our site at alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/get-expert-advice/ and check out the expert posts we've put together with you in mind.
Our last few Networking Know-How's have been directed at alumni seeking out connections and reaching out for assistance. This week, let's talk about what to do when you're on the receiving end of a request for connection or conversation!
One notable thing about Wake Forest alumni is your generosity. Your willingness to give back and support students and fellow alumni. So many of you have given of your time, resources, and connections to help others. 🎩🎩🎩
What's been your personal experience with receiving requests for networking conversations from other Wake alums? If you had to decline, what tips would you offer to others for doing so? Also, if you've had a positive interaction after saying yes to a connection with a fellow Deac, please share it in the comments below!👇
Assistant Vice President: Allison McWilliams, PhD
Associate Director: Lauren Beam, MS, NCC
Assistant Director: Megan Hoyt
