Career Development Week

Focusing on the future of our employees and helping them reach their full potential

Learning and Organizational Development in Human Resources will host the fourth annual Career Development Week (CDW) for employees at both UC Davis Campus and UC Davis Health. CDW is held during National Career Development Month.

Join an In-Person Networking Event
RSVP to join an in person networking event at the location that works best for you. In addition to networking activities there will be a resource fair and refreshments.

Tuesday, November 18, 9-10:30 a.m. UCD Campus Student Community Center
Wednesday, November 19, 11:30 a.m.- 1p.m. UCD Health Campus Aggie Square Assembly Hall
RSVP to attend

November 17-21, 2025

cultivate your career: connect, explore, grow

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Click the dates below to explore our info-packed sessions & plan your week

MONDAY - NOVEMBER 17, 2025
9:15-10:45 am - Opening Keynote: The Evolution of a Well-being Leader
We are excited to begin Career Development Week 2025 with a warm welcome and insightful reflections on our journey ahead. Our Chief Human Resources Officer, Tammy Kenber, will provide brief remarks, setting the tone for a week filled with growth, learning, and connection. The highlight of our opening session is a keynote address by Dr. Sara Aghamohammadi, Professor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Chief Wellness Officer at UC Davis Health. Sara’s journey through medicine includes her growth through trauma and burnout, exemplifying how our paths are rarely straightforward and are enriched by the connections created along the way.

Speakers:
Tammy Kenber, Chief Human Resources Officer
Dr. Sara Aghamohammadi, Professor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Chief Wellness Officer, UC Davis Health
Facilitator: Lisa Laughter, ACC
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11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Conflict Competence for Career Development: Skills for Electronic Communication
As work teams increasingly become more diverse and collaborate through electronic communication, there is increased benefit in developing skills to communicate effectively across multiple platforms and with individuals from different backgrounds and career levels. This interactive workshop will provide tools, techniques, and skills to effectively manage conflicts related to electronic communication in the workplace. Workshop attendees will learn how conflict competence can support career development, how electronic communication can be used effectively in the workplace, skills to manage conflict through electronic communication, and how the Ombuds Office can help support career development through services focusing on conflict competence.
Speakers: Casey Woods & Jenny Vaccari
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12:45 pm - 2:00 pm - Thriving Through Change: Finding Purpose and Building Resilience at Work
In today’s fast-changing workplace, resilience and purpose are more than buzzwords. They are essential tools for well-being and growth. Drawing from her research on Collective Healing, Dr. Deb Johnson explores how employees at all levels can shape healing workplace cultures through psychological safety, voice, and inclusion. This interactive session offers practical strategies to build personal resilience, reconnect with purpose, and foster environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Participants will leave with:
• Tools to reflect on purpose and well-being
• Insight into creating healing work environments
• Inspiration to lead with authenticity and care, regardless of your role

Speaker: Deb Johnson
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2:15 - 3:15 pm - Interviewing with Impact: A One-Hour Crash Course
In just one hour, gain powerful tips to help you make a memorable impression in your next job interview. Whether you're feeling rusty or facing interviews for the first time in years, this fast-paced session will boost your confidence and sharpen your strategy.
You’ll learn how to prepare talking points that highlight your strengths, respond to questions with clarity, and avoid common pitfalls.
This session is ideal for professionals at any stage of their career who want to quickly and effectively enhance their interview performance.

Speakers: Antoinette Joy & Tracy Diesslin
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TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 18, 2025
9:00-10:30 am - Perk Up Your Network: Coffee, Connections, and Career Insights (IN-PERSON)
Start your day with a boost at our Coffee, Connections, and Career Insights event! Mingle with colleagues from UC Davis Health and UC Davis Campus while discovering valuable resources and strategies to enhance your professional network. Whether you're looking to build relationships, explore new opportunities, or simply enjoy some engaging conversation, this event is your chance to connect and grow. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and gather information on the support available to help you thrive both personally and professionally. Don’t miss out—your next career breakthrough could be just a coffee chat away!
UC Davis Campus - Student Community Center, Room D
Facilitator: Lisa Laughter, MA, ACC
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11:45 am - 1:00 pm - Supporting Employee Career Mobility for Supervisors and Managers
Career conversations between managers and employees are key to boosting engagement, increasing productivity, and retaining staff. Supporting career development also enhances your reputation as a leader who nurtures growth and development, strengthening your ability to attract top talent. In this session, you will explore practical tools and UC Davis resources to hold effective career discussions. We will also broaden our understanding of retention to include preparing our staff for future roles within our organization. By supporting internal talent mobility, we help create an environment where employees can grow, thrive, and contribute.
Speakers: TBA

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1:30 - 2:30 pm - Charting a new path: Career Change Insights from UC Davis Colleagues
Career changes are a natural and often necessary part of professional growth. For UC Davis and UC Davis Health staff, these transitions can feel overwhelming, uncertain, or even isolating. This interactive session offers adaptable strategies, research-based tools, and authentic stories from colleagues across departments, backgrounds, and job functions to help you confidently navigate a career pivot within the university system. Whether you’re considering exploring a new department, shifting your focus, or stepping into a new role entirely, this workshop will help you reflect, plan, and act with intention. You’ll hear directly from UC Davis colleagues who have made successful transitions and learn how they leveraged their strengths, clarified their values, and persisted through the ups and downs of change.

Speakers: Elizabeth Sturdy, Jeff Heiser, Lisa Laughter, & Kimberly Evans

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2:45 - 3:45 pm - Balancing Work and Parenthood: Real Life Strategies for New and Soon to be Parents
Returning to work after having a child is a major life and career transition, yet many working parents feel unprepared, isolated, or overwhelmed during this phase. This session offers actionable strategies, grounded in both research and personal experience, to help new and soon to be parents, find tools to successfully navigate the challenges of work-life integration while advancing professionally.

Speakers: Eva Lee & Christina Cadang Chan

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WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 19, 2025
9:00 - 10:30 am - Next Steps in your Career Journey Utilizing Career Development Resources
Are you looking to take your career to the next level? Join us for an interactive workshop on utilizing career development resources to achieve your professional goals. Learn how to leverage the tools and resources to create a personalized career plan and take actionable steps toward your next career move. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to grow and develop their career. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future!
Are you looking to take your career to the next level? Join us for an interactive workshop on utilizing career development resources to achieve your professional goals. Learn how to leverage the tools and resources to create a personalized career plan and take actionable steps toward your next career move. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to grow and develop their career. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future!

Speaker: Lisa Laughter

Register
11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Nosh, Network & Navigate: Savor Connections and Resources
Take a midday break and join us for Nosh, Network & Navigate: Savor Connections and Resources, a lively lunch event designed to help you connect with colleagues from UC Davis Health and UC Davis Campus. Enjoy a delicious meal while expanding your professional network, sharing insights, and discovering new resources to advance your career. Whether you're looking to forge new relationships, strengthen existing ones, or simply engage in meaningful conversations, this event offers a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere for all. Don’t miss this chance to nourish both your body and your professional connections—see you there!

UC Davis Health Campus - Aggie Square, 4480 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817
Facilitator: Lisa Laughter, MA, ACC
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2:00 - 3:30 pm - Navigating Parenthood and Other Big Life Changes in your Career
Major life transitions—such as becoming a parent, caregiving, or experiencing health-related changes—can dramatically shift how we show up at work. This interactive and informative session will explore strategies to proactively navigate these life moments while maintaining career momentum and well-being. The session will guide staff through anticipating and planning for workplace impacts, including preparing for family leave, having effective conversations with managers, and setting up for a successful reentry. We’ll also discuss how to integrate work and life in a sustainable way, using life events as springboards for development, resilience, and leadership growth.
Speaker: Mallory Boeckman
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2:15-3:15 pm - Claiming Your Expertise: Consulting as a Path to Professional Growth
In a collaborative institution like UC Davis, many people already serve as consultants—formally or informally—while others may be exploring external opportunities in nonprofit or government settings. This workshop will help participants recognize and develop their expertise, and see consulting as a way to lead from any position. We’ll practice identifying strengths, shaping a value statement, and learning to scope projects, set goals, and define boundaries. Featuring voices of experienced consultants, the session highlights collaboration, trust, and clarity—equipping participants to grow as leaders and contribute more fully to the mission of UC Davis.
Speaker: Laura Cerruti
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3:15 - 4:15 pm - Coaching for Change Management: Helping Individuals and Organizations Thrive Through Disruption
Change is hard. Particularly during a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. In this presentation, we will explore the implications of change and the benefits of coaching. Coaching for change management can help build resilience, strengthen communication, foster adaptability and inspire innovation. Learn tips to help your team thrive during disruption.
Speaker: Emily Ziser

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THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 20, 2025
9:00 - 10:30 am - ERG Panel: Leading Through Community: Career Development in Employee Resource Groups
Colleagues from both Campus and Health will join this panel discussion to share their career journey - challenges, wins, and support. From this discussion, you will gain insight into how you can take advantage of the career management resources available to all staff at UC Davis and UC Davis Health.
Moderator: Christopher Nguyen Pheneger
Panelists:
Kimberly Evans, Chair, African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA), UC Davis
Erica Avila, Chair, Womxn in Technology (WIT), UC Davis
Dannette Hollinger, Chair, African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA), UC Davis Health
Daniel Marenco, Chair, Latinx Staff and Faculty Association (LSFA), UC Davis Health
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10:45 am - 12:00 pm - Values Based Career Design
This interactive workshop will enable participants to intentionally design their career, using their personal values. Through reflections and activities, participants will learn about design thinking and how to apply it to career development, as well as identify their top personal values, and how they show up in career decision-making.
Speakers: Cloe Le Gall-Scoville & Margaret Rea
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12:30 - 1:30 pm - Designing your own Learning Journey: Instructional Thinking for Career Growth
Take charge of your professional development by thinking like an instructional designer. In this interactive session, you'll learn how to apply principles like backward design and reflective learning to map out a personalized plan for growth. Whether you're exploring new directions or deepening current skills, you'll leave with practical tools to guide your journey—grounded in evidence-based strategies and tailored to your unique goals.
Speaker: Jennifer Lattin
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12:15 - 1:30 pm - Strengths Driven Career Development
Unsure about your next career step? This workshop is designed to help you discover your unique strengths and find a more fulfilling path. Instead of asking "What job should I have?", we'll explore "How can I leverage my talents every day?" Based on the CliftonStrengths assessment, this workshop will guide you through a brief reflection and mini-assessment to explore Gallup's 4 Domains of Talent. You'll learn how focusing on your natural talents can boost your engagement, reduce stress, and lead to a more purposeful career. Take a step toward building a professional life where you can truly thrive. No prior experience with Clifton Strengths is required.
Speakers: Jeff Heiser & Amy Shuman
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1:45 - 3:00 pm - Savage Simplicity - Be Savage About Simplifying Your Work & Life
Simplify to Thrive is a 75-minute interactive workshop designed to help UC Davis professionals make space for career growth through practical, time-saving strategies. Inspired by the Savage Simplicity podcast, this session introduces micro-goal setting, time-blocking techniques, and the Simplicity Strategy Map to support work-life balance and intentional career development. Participants will leave with actionable tools and a personalized plan to simplify their routines and stay focused on what matters most.
Speaker: Bernadette Hill
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3:15 - 4:15 pm - I just became a manager, now what? Navigating the Transition from Individual Contributor to Supervisor
Transitioning from an individual contributor to a supervisor role is both exciting and challenging. This presentation will explore strategies for shifting from personal productivity to team leadership. Key topics include developing emotional intelligence, effective communication, and delegation. We’ll cover moving from “doing the work” to empowering others, cultivating empathy and conflict resolution skills, and learning to trust your team while balancing support and autonomy. Time management and prioritization will also be highlighted. Attendees will gain insights on building trust, offering feedback, and leveraging UC Davis resources to support their growth as new or continuing managers.
Speaker: Jordan Dade
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FRIDAY - NOVEMBER, 21, 2025
9:30 - 10:45 am - The Phoenix Effect: Rebuilding Your Skill Narrative After Setbacks
Encountering curveballs is an inevitable part of your career journey. Whether it's a project that didn't go as planned, an unexpected career transition, or a challenging work shift, these experiences often leave you questioning your capabilities. What if these challenges were the cornerstone for building your most valuable skills? This workshop empowers UCD and UCD Health staff to leverage past professional adversity into powerful assets. Rooted in resilience and a growth mindset, you will reframe setbacks as rich learning opportunities and uncover hidden, transferable skills — such as adaptability and grit. You will learn how to articulate your "Phoenix skills" in a compelling narrative. If you are looking to boost confidence, enhance your career story, and navigate an ever-changing professional landscape, this session is for you. Discover how your strongest skills often emerge from your toughest moments.
Speaker: Carmen Hill
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9:30 - 10:45 am - Rethinking Professionalism: Punk Principles for the Future of Work
Punk is more than music—it’s a mindset that values authenticity, solidarity, and challenging toxic norms. As workplaces evolve, punk’s ethos offers a fresh lens on professionalism. This session introduces “punk professionalism,” a framework for fostering inclusion, creativity, and engagement. Through historical examples, personal stories, and interactive exercises, attendees will explore punk’s DIY ethic to reclaim agency in career growth. Participants will leave with actionable tools to apply punk-inspired practices in their teams and work environments.
Speakers: Spencer Atkinson & Jenn Vaughn
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11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Applying as an Internal Candidate and Navigating Internal Mobility
This session is designed to equip employees and managers with the tools, frameworks, and resources needed to actively engage in career development within the organization. Through a blend of self-reflection, strategic dialogue, and resource navigation, participants will learn how to take ownership of their career paths and support others in doing the same.
Speaker: Alex Reyes
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12:30 - 1:30 pm - Closing Keynote: Leading with Compassion & Courage: Fostering Inclusive Cultures in Our Work
We look forward to ending Career Development Week 2025 with inspiration and community. Our closing session will feature a keynote address by Theresa Pak, whose leadership and commitment to fostering an inclusive and dynamic campus culture will resonate with all of us. Theresa’s work has centered on equity-minded nursing, compassionate care, and creating environments where every person feels seen and supported.
Speaker: Theresa Pak
Facilitator: Lisa Laughter, ACC
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