Focusing on the future of our employees and helping them reach their full potential
Learning and Organizational Development in Human Resources will host the annual Career Development Week (CDW) for employees at both UC Davis Campus and UC Davis Health. CDW is held during National Career Development Month.
November 16-20, 2026
cultivate your career: connect, explore, grow
2026 Schedule
Download Schedule Here
- Monday November 16
In Person at Aggie Square Register to attend Monday In-Person Sessions
Welcome & Keynote - Leading with Authenticity
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.All Tracks
Location: Social Lab - Assembly 2014
Speaker: Mallory Boeckman
Drawing on a decade of experience, Mallory Boeckman will share a candid look at career development, leadership growth, and well-being - three interconnected dimensions that shaped her path. She'll explore what worked, what she wishes she'd known earlier, and what happened when her leadership journey began unexpectedly during the pandemic. Mallory will examine the connection between well-being and effective leadership, and emphasize why bringing your authentic self to work isn't a luxury - it's essential. Her message: authenticity, appreciation, and shared responsibility are what allow all of us to thrive.
Beyond Work-Life Balance: A Framework for Getting the Rest You Need
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wellbeing (Working Smarter, Not Harder)
Location: Classroom 2101
Speaker: Angela LindleyIn today's workplace, many employees are balancing increasing demand while striving to maintain high performance, collaboration, and well-being. Yet traditional work-life balance advice often falls short. This session explores a practical framework for achieving the rest you need to thrive professionally and personally.
Mapping Your Career Story: Reflection on the Past to Explore What is Next
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Classroom 2103
Speaker: Erika ReynoldsHave you ever looked at your career and wondered, How did I get here? Or questioned what your next step should be? Career growth isn't always about climbing the ladder. This interactive session helps you reflect on your career journey, identify patterns, and clarify your next steps.
Lunch + Networking + Resource Fair
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.All Tracks
Location: Aggie Square
Take a break to enjoy lunch, connect with colleagues, and learn about campus career and professional development resources.
Mix & Mingle
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.All Tracks
Location: Aggie Square
Informal social time to connect with other participants and speakers.
Growing Your Career Through Connection, Community, and Visibility
2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Classroom 2101
Speaker: Priya VenkatesanCareer growth is often shaped by the relationships we build, the communities we engage with, and the visibility we create through meaningful contributions. This session explores practical strategies for leveraging professional networks, building community engagement, and increasing your visibility within UC Davis.
Manager Panel
2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.Manager and Leadership Development
Location: Classroom 2103
Speakers: TBDHear from top-performing managers at UC Davis who excel at supporting their employees' career growth and development. Learn directly from their experiences about how managers can have meaningful career conversations with their team members, identify growth opportunities, remove barriers to advancement, and create a culture where career development is a shared priority between manager and employee. This panel offers practical insights into the manager's role in fostering career mobility and development within UC Davis.
Tuesday November 17
Virtual Sessions
Nervous System Derailment and Techniques to Transition Back to Focus
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Wellbeing (Working Smarter, Not Harder)
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Jocelyn NewmanYou're at work, doing your best to focus, when an unexpected disruption throws you off. This workshop teaches practical techniques to recognize when your nervous system is activated and how to transition back to focus using evidence-based strategies.
Register to attend: Nervous System Derailment & Techniques to Transition Back to Focus
Beyond Advice: Practical Interventions for Better Mentoring Conversations
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Manager and Leadership Development
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Emily ZiserBeyond Advice equips UC Davis staff with practical, evidence-informed techniques to foster meaningful mentoring conversations. Learn how to move beyond simple advice-giving to create mentoring relationships that truly support career development.
Register to attend: Beyond Advice: Practical Interventions for Better Mentoring Conversations
What is Your Best Next Move? Defining Your Career Direction & Impact
2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Lal AvanikaMany professionals reach a point where they're working hard but are uncertain about their next step. This session provides frameworks and tools to help you clarify your career direction, define your impact, and make informed decisions about your next move.
Register to attend: What is Your Best Next Move? Defining Your Career Direction & Impact
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Virtual Sessions The Hidden Patterns That Shape Your Leadership: Building Mental Fitness for Managers
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.Manager and Leadership Development
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Erika ReynoldsBeing a manager can be incredibly rewarding, but it's not always easy. Between competing priorities, staffing challenges, and personal demands, managers often struggle. This session helps you understand the patterns that shape your leadership and build mental fitness to lead effectively.
Your Career Is Not Broken: Navigating Nonlinear Career Growth
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Jess FisherMany expect careers to follow a predictable path, yet most professional journeys are shaped by changing priorities, evolving organizations, and personal circumstances. This session normalizes nonlinear career growth and provides strategies for navigating it confidently.
Register to attend: Your Career Is Not Broken: Navigating Nonlinear Career Growth
Next Steps in Your Career Journey: Utilizing Career Development Resources
2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Lisa LaughterAre you looking to take your career to the next level? Join us for an interactive workshop on utilizing career development resources to achieve your professional goals. After exploring your career story and identifying your next steps, this session helps you leverage UC Davis career development resources to move forward. Learn how to create a personalized career plan and access tools and resources such as coaching, assessments, networking opportunities, and other support available to help you take actionable steps toward your next career move. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to grow and develop their career. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future!
Register to attend: Next Steps in Your Career Journey: Utilizing Career Development Resources
- Thursday, November 19, 2026
Virtual Sessions Applying as an Internal Candidate and Navigating Internal Mobility
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Alexander ReyesThis session equips employees and managers with tools, frameworks, and resources needed to actively engage in career development within UC Davis. Learn how to position yourself as an internal candidate and navigate the internal mobility process.
Register to attend: Applying as an Internal Candidate and Navigating Internal Mobility
From Stress to Success: Managing Stress to Grow and Flourish
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Wellbeing (Working Smarter, Not Harder)
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Will PetersAt UC Davis, change and growth are constant. This workshop provides practical strategies for managing stress effectively so you can not only survive change but use it as an opportunity to grow and flourish in your role and career.
Register to attend: From Stress to Success: Managing Stress to Grow and Flourish
Renewal Practices for Leaders
2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.Manager and Leadership Development
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Joanna SiebertManagers are often expected to support others while navigating uncertainty and increasing demands on their own time. This session explores renewal practices that help leaders recharge, maintain resilience, and model healthy well-being for their teams.
- Friday, November 20, 2026
Virtual Sessions 168 Hours to Go: How to Manage Your Time More Effectively
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.Wellbeing (Working Smarter, Not Harder)
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Rodney JacksonWe all have the same 168 hours each week. This workshop focuses on time management skills to help you reclaim time, increase productivity, and achieve better balance. Learn evidence-based strategies for managing your most valuable resource: time.
Register to attend: 168 Hours to Go: How to Manage Your Time More Effectively
Managing Interview Anxiety
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Career Mobility and Navigation
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speaker: Taylor BaldwinMany professionals experience anxiety in interviews that interferes with their ability to communicate strengths and demonstrate experience. This session provides practical interventions to manage interview anxiety and interview with confidence.
Career Development Week Closing Session
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.All Tracks
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Speakers: Amy Shuman & Jeff HeiserJoin us to reflect on the week, celebrate what you've learned, and connect with your peers as we close Career Development Week 2026. This strengths-based conversation will help you make the most of this experience by incorporating who you are and what you do best into your future goals.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I attend Career Development Week during work hours?
Many UC Davis employees are eligible for professional development release time through their bargaining unit contract or personnel policy. Career Development Week sessions are a great way to put that time to use.
How do I find out what I am eligible for?
Release time provisions vary by bargaining unit and policy. Review the UC Davis HR release time eligibility and unit-specific provisions to see what applies to you.
How do I ask my supervisor?
Start the conversation early. Planning ahead gives your supervisor time to balance department needs and makes it easier to say yes. Use the Funding and/or Release Time Request for Professional Development form from Learning and Organizational Development to guide the discussion and document your request.
Tips for a successful conversation:
- Choose the sessions you plan to attend and note their dates and times.
- Share how the learning connects to your current role or career goals.
- Offer ideas for how your work will be covered during your time away.
- Bring what you learned back to your team after the event.
Are you a supervisor?
You play a key role in helping employees pursue training, workshops, conferences, and other learning opportunities. Understanding release time provisions and encouraging advance planning can strengthen team capabilities and build a culture of continuous learning.
Where do I park for the Monday event at Aggie Square?
Park in the Aggie Square Garage. The event is at 4480 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817.
How do I get to the garage?
From Stockton Boulevard, turn east onto 3rd Avenue and keep going until the road dead-ends. Turn left into the garage. After you park, walk through the garage toward the glass buildings and the 300 Aggie Square entrance. Please do not park in the open gravel lots. Those are not event parking.
What will parking cost?
- UC Davis and UC Davis Health employees: Use the HonkMobile app to get the discounted affiliate rate. A daily permit is $5.50 for the C Zone (students and employees) or $6.60 for the A Zone (employees only). Create your account with your UC Davis or UC Davis Health email.
- Event parking in Honk (Zone ASGGA): This is $20 Monday through Friday before 5 p.m. and $5 after 5 p.m.
- Guests without a UC Davis affiliation: Pull a ticket at the entrance. The rate is $2 for every 15 minutes, with a $20 daily maximum. Keep your ticket, because you need it to exit.
Tips before you arrive
- Buy in Honk before you arrive. Choose Zone ID ASG for the affiliate daily rate, or buy a daily permit online in HonkMobile. You will be asked to sign in with your CAS login.
- Do not pull a ticket if you bought a permit in Honk. Doing so charges you the visitor rate. Use the barcode from the app or your email to enter and exit. A screenshot with your phone brightness turned up scans more easily.
- Check your permit. Monthly and daily permits for the Davis campus or UC Davis Health lots do not work in this garage, and Aggie Square Garage permits do not work in UC Davis Health lots.
- A disabled placard or plate still requires a permit to enter the garage and park in a disabled space.
- If affiliate permits are sold out, you can buy a daily permit in the garage at the $20 non-affiliate rate. You can also buy a permit in a nearby Sacramento campus lot (lots 12, 17, and 30).
Prefer not to drive?
The nearest Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) light rail stations are 39th Street and 48th Street on the Gold Line. The UC Davis Med-Transit shuttle runs from the 39th Street Station to the UC Davis Health campus, including the Aggie Square area.
Need help?
- Permit or Honk questions: Transportation Services at 530-754-3687.
- Garage questions: the garage operator, SP+, at 916-443-2539 (press 1).
- Download the Aggie Square parking map (PDF).
Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Strategic Goals
- Vision
- Career Development Week at UC Davis is the premier fall conference for staff development and support within the UC system.
- Mission
- Career Development Week exists to provide UC Davis (UCD) and UC Davis Health (UCDH) staff with access to best practices, knowledge enrichment, and skill-building opportunities related to career and professional development. Through inspiring keynotes, interactive sessions, and community engagement, every UCD and UCDH staff member is empowered to navigate and own their career growth.
- Core Values
Our actions are guided by the UC Davis Principles of Community and the following core operational values:
Collaboration: We cultivate teamwork and meaningful connections across the UC Davis community and beyond.Empowerment: We equip staff with the tools, resources, and confidence to take charge of their career trajectories.
Excellence: We commit to delivering high-quality, impactful programming that fosters growth and learning.
Inclusion: We champion diversity and ensure an equitable, accessible, and welcoming environment for all participants.
Innovation: We embrace forward-thinking approaches to career development, adapting to the evolving needs of our workforce.
- Strategic Goals
Goal 1: Host an engaging, week-long conference in November, providing high-quality programming for up to 1,000 UCD and UCDH staff members.
Goal 2: Offer a hybrid experience that maximizes accessibility and participation, featuring both virtual and in-person opportunities.
Goal 3: Ensure financial sustainability through budget-conscious planning while maintaining a free experience for attendees.
Goal 4: Strengthen UCD and UCDH’s commitment to professional development as a key driver of staff retention, engagement, and success.
Career Development Week Archives
2025 Recordings 2025 Session Materials