If you’re in an administrative or support role, or just getting started in your career, upcoming learning opportunities from UCOP Learning and Development are targeted to meet your career goals! Learn how to leverage your knowledge and skills and make an impact — whether or not you’re climbing the ladder.

Live class opportunity

Influencing Without Authority: Leadership as an Individual Contributor
July 9, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Author and CEO coach Kim Scott believes there are two types of star employees: “superstars” and “rockstars.” While superstars are gunning for promotions, rockstars are grounding themselves as experts in their roles. According to recent research, most individual contributors (ICs) — 62% — plan to stay in IC roles over becoming a manager.

If you’re an IC who wants to take ownership of your career growth, leverage your knowledge and skills and make an impact without climbing the ladder, check out this new workshop! Together, we’ll dive into the leadership skills all “rockstars” need to become influential contributors: building trusting workplace relationships, managing up, carving out a niche area of expertise and connecting your role to the organizational mission. You will:

• Gain insight into your unique position of influence within UCOP.
• Explore the leadership skills of relationship building, managing up, honing expertise and aligning work to the organizational mission.
• Identify one skill you want to strategically focus on for the next month.

Learning cohort opportunity

Take Charge: Developing a Career Strategy is a six-month program, sponsored by UCOP Learning & Development, that will give you the tools you need to thrive in the workplace for years to come. Apply for Take Charge today.

Take Charge is co-led by Amy Levine and Chris Pohalski. Amy is a certified leadership coach, educator and consultant with over 30 years’ experience working with individuals and groups to assist them in reaching their goals. Chris is a career consultant, providing specialized career counseling, coaching and consulting services for professionals and organizations

The Take Charge program’s success comes from its winning combination of classroom learning, independent study and peer mentoring. It includes:

• Six live virtual classes with topics like self-advocacy, managing up, career planning, resume writing and interviewing tips.
• Weekly self-guided assignments that guide you in strategizing how to apply your new knowledge to your career.
• Five peer mentoring sessions that will help you learn to articulate your career goals and work towards achieving them.

Key takeaways include a better understanding of how to manage your career development, an expanded professional network, higher job satisfaction and a stronger relationship with your manager.

Take Charge meets bi-weekly on Thursdays from Jan. 15 to June 12, 2025. Virtual sessions vary from one to two hours (10 or 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT.)  To participate, discuss this opportunity with your supervisor, as their approval is required for you to participate. Then, submit the Take Charge program application by Nov. 21, 2025. For more information, read and download the Take Charge FAQ.

On-demand training

Develop the skills you need to be a high performer and an invaluable asset to your team and UCOP by checking out the Advance Your Career as an Individual Contributor LinkedIn Learning career-development path. Through these classes, you’ll learn to create an inclusive mindset to thrive in times of change; grow your emotional intelligence and decision-making skills; and lead and motivate yourself to achieve your personal best.

To get started with LinkedIn Learning, read the FAQs, then watch a short overview video.

For additional questions, contact ucopld@ucop.edu.

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