Continuing and Professional Education

September is National Workforce Development Month! To celebrate, we’ve been busy putting together an exciting new career development event. This November, join experts from across VCU, the University of Richmond, and the Richmond community for the Workplace Learning Summit. Designed for working professionals across industries, this collaborative learning experience creates a unique space for employees and managers to learn, connect, and grow together. “Gone are the days where one person owns an entire project or an entire workflow,” says Dr. Christopher Reina, Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leadership at VCU. “In a world in which we continuously need each other’s inputs in order to create amazing outputs, how we communicate matters.”

Centered on the theme, “Creating Connection at Work: Communicating, Collaborating, and Building Trust”, the Summit explores the skills and practices that help individuals and teams thrive in today's workplace. “Now more than ever, this theme is something that I think our society deeply needs,” says Dr. Monti Narayan Datta, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond. “In this world after COVID-19, our community has changed. For those years during COVID… when we were engaging one another through screens, we weren’t spending enough time sitting together and listening together. [Now] we’re back… and finding a way of reengaging each other.”

Through a combination of expert-led presentations, guided reflection, and interactive deep-dive sessions, participants will gain practical tools for strengthening workplace relationships, navigating challenging conversations, leading with emotional intelligence, and fostering meaningful collaboration.

According to Yedda Stancil, Executive Director of The Innerwork Center, “In the workplace today, what we’re being asked to manage is so much more than [performance]. We’re being asked to manage [emotions] not only for our team members, but also for ourselves.” So whether you’re seeking strategies for difficult conversations, tools for leading with emotional intelligence, or practices for building trust and connection at work, the Summit offers actionable approaches that can be immediately applied in your professional environment while fostering connections across the Richmond region.

“Work is not just about task and productivity. It is also about relationships. When people are connected, they are more likely to trust each other and share ideas,” Eunkyung Ahn, a University of Richmond Adjunct Instructor, told us. 

Hear more about the event in this Workplace Learning Summit video. To see the full list of speakers and deep dive sessions, check out the summit agenda here.

If you're ready to learn how to foster trust and meaningful collaboration in your team, register today for the Workplace Learning Summit. We look forward to seeing you November 2nd in the VCU Student Commons.