Career management is a journey we all revisit throughout our lives, driven by the desire for growth and new opportunities. This theme was central to our recent event on September 4, 2024, where UWEBC Practice Directors Matthew Cone and Tom Hershberger shared a valuable insight: people don’t leave companies due to a lack of ambition but because they can’t see a clear path forward within the organization. This highlights the critical role of internal mobility in keeping employees engaged and preventing stagnation in the workplace.
Our first member spotlight featured Libby Jordan from Milwaukee Tool, where she outlined the company’s efforts to expand its team of experts to support over 300 frontline leaders across 11 locations. Their goal is to develop a program that provides leaders with transformational learning experiences and resources aimed at driving behavior change and improving business outcomes. The focus areas include enhancing business acumen, strengthening leadership skills, managing workloads effectively, and improving communication. This comprehensive approach is designed to empower leaders to make a significant positive impact on the organization.
Our second member spotlight featured Laura Gottfredsen Suminski from UW Credit Union, where she shared insights into what career development looks like at their organization. She emphasized the importance of fostering employee engagement as a key focus area for growth. Laura highlighted their motto, “First U, now what!” which reflects a strong “you-first” philosophy, prioritizing personalized career development for each employee. This approach underscores their commitment to empowering staff by supporting individual growth and aligning career paths with the unique needs of their team members.
Our final speakers, Artell Smith and Lisa Yaffe from UW-Madison’s School of Business Center for Professional Executive Development (CPED) shared valuable insights on career management and internal mobility. Lisa Yaffe emphasized that the relationship between career development, internal mobility, and organizational competence is not a straightforward, linear path but rather a continuous, circular process. This perspective highlights the dynamic nature of career growth, where development and organizational success are interconnected and evolve together over time.
Finally, our attendees had the opportunity to gather together to discuss and elaborate on the knowledge shared. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the presenters and attendees who made this event a success! For those who couldn’t join us or who want to revisit these incredible presentations, members can access the event recording on UWEBC+.