#1) Vanquish Imposter Thoughts!

The Challenge: 

Imposter thoughts (note: it’s NOT a syndrome!) are talked about A LOT in the business world, especially as they pertain to women and minorities or other under-repped groups in leadership positions. We don’t always understand what they are, why they show up, and what to do about them. 

The Impact of not addressing it: 

If we don’t understand how to reframe our mindset around imposter thoughts, we inhibit our own growth and learning.  

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand what imposter thoughts are and when they are mostly likely to occur
• Identify when they have occurred in your work life and why
• Learn about 5 strategies to address them.

Host: Kris Holloway, President & CEO, CIS Abroad

Guest Star: Erica Jorgenson, Assistant Director, Office of International Education, University of Denver 

#2: Leverage your networks

The Challenge: We need connections (aka networks) of people to get things done and to move up and around in the world, but many times we don’t know how to build our connections and then how to best use them to our benefit. 

The Impact of not addressing it: Having a wide network protects against job layoffs, gives greater access to ideas and opinions, and means we don’t have to recreate the wheel if we need something, whether that be advice, a raise, or task to be completed. 

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the three types of networking and why each are important 
• Understand which barriers to networking may be showing up for you and why.
• Learn top tips and conversation starters for your next networking event!

Host: Jessica Jones, VP of Partnerships, CIS Abroad

Guest Star: Emily Ostenson, Assistant Director of Education Abroad, UMass Amherst

#3) Harness the power of using the right data. 

The Challenge: It’s hard to know how to find, analyze and use data to see if you are being successful in achieving your goals or in making your case for more resources. We may have heard the term “data-informed decision-making” but not know how it applies to our work. With so much data at our fingertips, it’s hard to know what data to pay attention to that help us work smarter and not harder.

The Impact of not addressing it: Digital technology has given us unprecedented access to data. If we don’t know what information to look at, we risk making decisions based on the wrong information OR WORSE, we don’t make decisions due to analysis paralysis. 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Learn key data terminologies such as conversion rates, KPI’s, etc, as they relate to our field.
• Understand what it means to analyze and mine data.
• Identify tools and strategies related to data that can help you address your barriers to success.  

Host: Scott Tayloe, COO, CIS Abroad 

Guest Star: Marci Heidt, Assistant Director of Advising and Programming, Global Carolina Education Abroad Office, University of South Carolina 

#4): Advocate for what you need

The Challenge: It’s hard to know how to advocate for our own or our office’s needs, especially in a resource-scarce environment. Those needs might be: more staff, higher payer, more benefits or a change to office culture, or other tangible/intangible resources. No matter what, we have to be willing to get uncomfortable, be okay with uncertainty, and build a business case for support.

The Impact (of not addressing this): If we do not know how to harness our power (ourselves, our networks, our data, our resources) to ask for what we need, we will stay exactly where we are. That’s the opposite of progress and the opposite of how we learn and grow. 

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about Cialdini’s “Six Principles of Persuasion” and set your priorities.
• Understand what influences decision-making in you and in the person/s you are trying to influence. 
• Learn how to use verbal and nonverbal language for positive effect.
• Learn how to build your business case through appealing to logic AND emotion.

Host: Kris Holloway, President & CEO, CIS Abroad

Guest Star: Carolina Robinson, Director, Education Abroad, University of Alabama