Fall 2021 | Wednesday Webinars
Join us for these power-packed sessions of our popular Wednesday Webinar series!
- September 15: Management in the Midst of Post-Pandemic Work – Ryan Smith (‘13)
Leading a team of people can be difficult in normal circumstances. Then, throw in a global pandemic and the entire landscape of how, where, and when we work changing drastically, management suddenly becomes more challenging. In this 30-minute webinar, Ryan Smith (‘13), a Human Resources Manager in the financial services industry, will offer strategies to help managers navigate these new shifts in work and supporting employees in a post-pandemic environment. - October 6: Navigating Year One – Allison McWilliams (‘95) & Katherine Laws (‘20)
Your first year of work in your first job after college is exciting, challenging, and full of opportunities for growth and development. Join Allison McWilliams (‘95) and Katherine Laws (‘20), authors of the new book “Year One: How Young Professionals (And Their Managers) Can Thrive in Their First Job After College,” as they share tips, wisdom, and advice for navigating your Year One. This webinar is for young professionals who have recently graduated from college AND the managers/colleagues who work with them. - November 17: Get “Seen” on LinkedIn: How to Stand Out From the Crowd (in a Good Way!) – with Erin Andersen (MSM ‘17)
You’ve made a LinkedIn profile and connected with other professionals. But now what? Whether you’re an active job seeker, open to new work opportunities, an entrepreneur seeking to grow your business, or a seasoned career professional, Erin Andersen (MSM ‘17) has strategies for you to get more out of LinkedIn. Join this 30-minute webinar for practical tips that you can start using now to get “seen” on LinkedIn and bolster your networking skills.
September 23, 2021 | Alumni Book Group: Boundaries and Burnout
WFU alumnus Ryan Riccordella, Solutions Expert at Inmar and contributor at Thrive Global, will lead a conversation around burnout and boundaries as we navigate re-entry to work and processing this past year and a half. We’ll discuss a couple of articles and crowdsource strategies to start the fall off right!
Ginny Bowen Olson (MBA ’04), Founder & President of Brand Elements Coaching, will share LinkedIn best practices so you can enhance your professional brand online. This workshop will include a live review of one lucky participant’s LinkedIn profile. Ginny will conduct an actual LinkedIn critique session, where she will coach the participant on how to showcase their professional brand and work experience via LinkedIn. You’ll gain actionable insights you can use to update your own profile – to grow your visibility and expand your network within this crucial career platform.
September 30 | 6:00 to 7:15 pm EDT | Latin America in the Headlines: Migration from Central America and Careers in Foreign Policy
A virtual conversation on US foreign policy towards Latin America with Katherine Duffy Dueholm (’89), Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mexico and Central America at the US Department of State, and Hillary Quam (’03), Special Advisor for the Western Hemisphere in the Office of the Vice President.
October 3, 2021 | Coffee Chat with Alumni
Whether you’re hoping to build your network professionally or just take a few minutes to meet someone new, sign up for these 1:1 alumni conversations! Here’s how it works: Register by Friday, October 8th. Our team will match alumni for 1:1 conversations. On Tuesday, October 12th, we’ll connect each conversation pair with a short introductory email. Each conversation pair will work to find a time to meet that works for you both! It’s that easy! Plan to chat for 15-minutes, maybe over coffee or a quick bite to eat!
October 6, 2021 | 12-12:30pm EDT | Using the Wake Network: A Tool for Alumni
You hear about the strength of the “Wake Network”, but did you realize that the “Wake Network” is also a searchable alumni database available to Wake Forest alumni? It’s been around for years! Join us for a “how to” session: how to access it, how to perform searches, how to update your information, and how to activate your Wake Forest Gmail account.
November 3 & 10, 2021: I’m Still Here
In this two-part discussion we will discuss the book I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown. Participants are invited to read the book and/or listen to the podcast conversation with Brene Brown and discuss what it means to “fit” into white spaces, to “get it right, not to be right,” and to build a culture of learning in our organizations.
November 5, 2021 | Coffee Chat with Alumni
Whether you’re hoping to build your network professionally or just take a few minutes to meet someone new, sign up for these 1:1 alumni conversations! Here’s how it works: Register by Friday, November 5th. Our team will match alumni for 1:1 conversations. On Tuesday, November 9th, we’ll connect each conversation pair with a short introductory email. Each conversation pair will work to find a time to meet that works for you both! It’s that easy! Plan to chat for 15-minutes, maybe over coffee or a quick bite to eat!
Open Enrollment | Five For Your First Five Online Course
Over five modules you will be introduced to the five key competency areas that we believe all young professionals need to master in their first five years after college; reflect on your values, skills, strengths, and learning goals; identify the people you need to have in your network; and create a plan for what comes next, for you. This self-paced course has been designed to accompany the book, Five For Your First Five: Own Your Career and Life After College, written by Allison E. McWilliams, Assistant Vice President for Mentoring and Alumni Personal & Career Development at Wake Forest University.
Open Enrollment | JUMPSTART: A Job Search Strategy Prep Course
Between endless online applications and emails to networking contacts, the job search can feel like a shot in the dark. But it doesn’t have to be! There are effective tools and strategies known to increase success, and in this self-paced online prep course, we’ll break down what you need to know for your next job search. At the end of this prep course, you will have clarity on your job search target, a refreshed resume and LinkedIn profile, greater understanding of the strength of your network, and a plan for what’s next. This open enrollment prep course is entirely self-paced. You’ll have access to all the materials and we won’t remove you from the course after you finish.
Skills-based Workshops
From our colleagues at the School of Business, these technical classes are offered to alumni monthly. Access recordings of previous classes, and register below to join live. Classes are virtual and run from Noon – 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
- September 16 | Excel Charts
- October 12 | Excel Filters & Sorting
- November 10 | Excel PivotTables
- December 9 | Cleaning Data with Excel
Assistant Vice President: Allison McWilliams, PhD
Associate Director: Lauren Beam, MS, NCC
Assistant Director: Megan Hoyt
