The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is launching a new Alumni Women’s Network with a series of four professional development sessions in 2023-24 facilitated by Vicki Updike, founder and CEO of Appleton-based New Sage Strategies.
The sessions, which begin Sept. 7, will be held on the Oshkosh campus in the Culver Family Welcome Center, 625 Pearl Ave.
“Through the network, we want to create a community of alumni support,” said Carrie Rule, UWO alumni outreach coordinator. “We’ll have a strong emphasis on mentorship, which could involve simply sharing your experience at a round table or building a deeper professional relationship with another alumna.”
Each network event will include two key components: exploration of a professional development topic with facilitated discussion; and a structured networking exercise.
“It’s our goal that at each session alumni will walk away with new knowledge and new connections to expand their networks,” Rule said.
Vicki Updike
2023-24 Alumni Women’s Network sessions
Session 1: 8-9:30 a.m. Sept. 7
Networking and Mentoring
We all have a love, hate relationship with networking. We know it’s important, yet it can be daunting. Well, it doesn’t have to be. In this workshop, we will discuss the value of networking, mentoring and sponsoring. You will learn ways to network and create value from your network. This will also be a great opportunity for you to grow your network with a facilitated networking workshop.
Register for the first session by Aug. 28.
Session 2: 8-9:30 a.m. Nov. 1
Your Influence and Impact
Expand your influence and impact. Would you like to have more influence at work? Or find the courage to say hard things? Or make a bigger difference in the lives of others? The secret irony is this: Your thoughts and actions may be getting in the way of precisely what you hope to achieve. In fact, the way to a powerful impact outside of you begins with a focused alignment within you.
Session 3: 8-9:30 a.m. Jan. 16
Building Confidence and Leadership Presence
There are so many times we get in our own way. We are not all 100% confident 100% of the time, so let’s stop pretending to be and just be who we are. Confidence is a skill, just like all other skills, that can be grown. Also, what is leadership presence and how can this help me grow my confidence?
Session 4: 8-9:30 a.m. March 7
Contributor to Leader Level up
The journey from a successful individual contributor to a leader is complicated. We will be discussing the mistakes and challenges that high-performing, high-potential team members have as they transition to leadership roles. How can we, ultimately, learn and grow from those experiences?
About the facilitator
Updike, an author, speaker and executive coach, has experience as a president and C-suite executive. She offers a unique perspective in coaching and business advising. She is passionate about helping create strong, effective leaders and leadership teams. Updike loves a good challenge and leans on her knowledge and experiences to help build results-minded leadership qualities in each person or group she works alongside.
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