Free Webinar on Workforce Development Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Navigating the unknowns associated with COVID-19 has proved challenging for everyone, and those charged with workforce development at businesses and organizations nationwide are no exception. In response, WGU Missouri and its parent university Western Governors University (WGU), are hosting a three-part, webinar series called “Ambition Never Rests,” addressing workforce development challenges and opportunities, and changes in higher education amid the pandemic. The first, 60-minute webinar will be held Thursday, July 16, at 9 a.m. and will address the “State of Workforce Development Across Industries.” The webinar is free and open to the public. Registration is required and can be completed at wgu.edu/thoughtleaderseries.

Two experts from Missouri will be among the speakers highlighted in the July 16 webinar. Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri, will be providing the welcoming remarks, while Cynthia Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Mercy and President of the Mercy Health Foundation, will serve as a panelist. The webinar will feature a panel discussion between Williams and three other experts from around the nation. They include: Natalie Guzman, SVP, Internal Communications Director at Fifth Third Bank; Tamera Maresh-Carver, Managing Director, Development Innovation, and Organizational Strategy for FedEx Express; and Herman Bulls, Vice Chairman, Americas International Director, JLL. The webinar will be moderated by Spencer Stewart, VP Strategic Partnership with WGU.

The “State of Workforce Development Across Industries” webinar will provide insights into how businesses across the nation are navigating employee resizing, developing and implementing workforce continuity plans, upskilling employees and strategizing for fiscal year 21 and beyond. The discussion will also highlight how companies are considering the full breadth of their employees’ needs, in phases that include stability, self-esteem, mental health, community, growth and meaning in the context of crisis. Panelists will share plans, experiences, successes and pivots, as well as their thoughts on what the journey forward may look like.

At the end of the webinar, there will be an opportunity for individuals to participate in an open discussion and ask questions. The two subsequent 60-minute episodes of the webinar series will take place Aug. 24 at noon and Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. These webinars are titled “Upskilling for career advancement aligned with employer goals” and “How to advance and retain your workforce” respectively. Moderators and speakers will be announced at a later date.

All sessions will be recorded, and a link of each recording will be shared with webcast registrants after each session. Each session is valid for one Professional Development Credit (PDC) through SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. Participants are encouraged to register for the free series in advance by visiting wgu.edu/thoughtleaderseries. For additional questions, please email WGUwebinars@wgu.edu.