It started as an observation by two alumnae, Cynthy Moffatt (’88) and Anderson Board of Advisors member Beth Friedman (’87), at a lunch with Dean Judy Olian about two years ago. Both Moffatt and Friedman had, for various reasons, spent time away from the workforce after graduating from UCLA Anderson. Their question: How many other female alumni had the same out-of-work experience and what type of assistance might be available to help those who desired to relaunch their careers?
Their inquiry sparked Anderson’s Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) to initiate a new effort they called Career Re-LAUNCH. It’s geared toward UCLA Anderson alumnae who have been out of the traditional full-time workforce for more than five years and are ready to explore career opportunities and gain knowledge of current business insights and practices in preparation for re-entry into the workforce. OAR focused on providing a program that would offer guidance, training and resources for alumnae who were not only eager to return to work, but might “want to do something that provides more personal fulfillment,” according to Mia Dolak (’96), who had left the corporate environment and has been pursuing part-time consulting work while raising two sons.
In the first stage of the planning, OAR reached out to graduates from the 1990s, evaluated the size and scope of the need and conducted a survey to help guide the process. The five-month program they developed includes faculty-driven coursework on skill-building, guided career exploration, online learning resources and self-assessments, and the Executive Education team helped with the program design.
Once the program launched online in January, the initial set of 25 participating alumnae received a Birkman Method Assessment and coaching session to help confirm career choices, show alternative career options and build personal awareness of strengths, motivators and working environments that would help ensure career success. They then spent a weekend at UCLA Anderson, participating in faculty-led classroom sessions and attending the 6th annual Velocity Women’s Leadership Summit on February 9. Participants are expected to augment their academic “refresh” utilizing a wealth of online resources from Anderson’s faculty.
Program participants will complete their Career Re-LAUNCH program with access to guided career exploration, an online learning library, career coaching sessions with Alumni Career Services’ David Cooley and Elissa Harris (’00) and a webinar at the close of the program. They will also have access to recurring video conference-based group coaching encompassing a wide range of career topics and boot camp basics: resumes, interviewing, narrative and networking.
The response so far? “It is a good push for me,” says Irene Wang (’96), who, like many of the participants, had left the corporate world to raise a family. “I want to do something that is meaningful and also has financial rewards. But you don’t stumble into a new career path without effort. This program provides tools, support and accountability, so I actually schedule the relaunch ‘work’ into my calendar.”
Kimberly Moore (’96), a former marketing executive who earned a certificate at Le Cordon Bleu to become an executive chef and caterer to many Hollywood stars, is eager to find a way “to marry all of my skills and passions.” In a world where much of the professional landscape has changed, Moore views the Career Re-LAUNCH program as an opportunity to help her do that.
“All participants have expressed their excitement with the ‘sisterhood’ that Career Re-LAUNCH has created, along with the promise of partnering with faculty staff, alumnae and current MBA students in a deeply immersive educational experience that will give them the best chance for career success going forward,” says Jill Baldauf (’81), associate dean of alumni relations.
It's a store of knowledge. and really awesome.
Posted by: Harry pattinson | 03/04/2018 at 09:32 PM
Great!
Posted by: Cityone | 02/27/2018 at 09:43 AM