Career Symposium Connects Women at Every Stage in Changing Times

The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) invites you to our career conference with its theme, THRIVE: Career Growth and Self Development at Every Stage – Learning, unlearning and relearning in changing times. The 11th anniversary Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt Career Symposium will be hosted at the Douglass Student Center on the Douglass Residential College Campus at Rutgers on Saturday, September 26, 2625, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The symposium is FREE to Douglass alums, friends who are financial supporters of the AADC, and to Douglass Residential College students. Non-alumnae may attend for a nominal cost. Advanced registration is required online.

The symposium is designed to bring women across professions, whether beginning or advancing a career, exploring new professions, considering retirement or retired. This in-person dynamic day of connection will feature presentations, workshops and speakers with actionable strategies and insights for personal and professional growth. Dynamic speakers will share signature workshops and panels to educate, empower and engage attendees. There will also be opportunities to network throughout the day. 

“This event is volunteer driven and inspires our community to share their expertise and strategies for every stage, and it is an amazing day of learning, networking and connecting,” said Fabiola Paul ‘09, Chair of the Symposium Planning Committee, and the founder/psychotherapist of Enlightening Counseling & Educational Services, providing online mental health counseling specializing in trauma among women and teen girls.

The symposium features more than 20 powerful presenters exploring the theme of thriving at every stage, with a keynote “From Survival to Thriving: Learning, Unlearning, and Reclaiming Who You Are,” presented by Caprice R. Jenerson, Esq., Class of 1990, a recognized leader in the intersecting spaces of law, leadership, transformation, and equity.

Timely workshop and panel topics include artificial intelligence, non-liner paths, pivoting and upskilling, personal branding, financial and retirement planning, optimizing LinkedIn and leadership. Participants will also have an opportunity to purchase a new professional headshot taken at the event by Tamara Fleming Photography (space is limited, register early, headshots are for purchase).

This highly successful symposium was established through an endowment by the late Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ’42. Welcome remarks will be delivered by Associate Alumnae Executive Director Eileen M. Cotter, and volunteer leaders AADC President Lisa Dorio Ruch ‘89, Esq., and Fabiola Paul ‘08, Chair of the Symposium Planning Committee.

Symposium Keynote, Panel, Sessions and Speakers Line Up

Dynamic experts and presenters will address a range of career development and advancement issues facing today’s women as they move forward in all aspects of their lives:

• The Ups and Downs of AI: Panel Discussion (Shilpa Mudiganti, Felecia Ward, Alison Maloney ’10 and Fabiola Paul ’09)
• Money TALK$™: Rewriting Your Money Story in a Changing World (Dr. Constance Craig-Mason)
• How to Make Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile Stand Out (Ankita Patel ’06 and Lily Juhasz ’22)
• From Passion to Profession: Thriving Beyond Retirement (Wonda Williams)
• Cultivating the Woman Behind the Work (Kaila Boulware Figueroa ’15)
• The Art of Personal Branding (Felecia Ward)
• Writing Your Next Chapter with Intention: Finding Clarity, Purpose, and Possibility at Every Stage of Life (Katherine Clark ’84)
• The STAR Method: Showcase Your Value with Confidence and Clarity (Fabiola Paul ’09 and Eno Totoh ’15)
• Workshop: Embracing Messy Leadership (Sheila Cooper ’89 and Kim Feltre)
• Thriving at Every Stage: Confidence, Career Growth and Self-Care: Panel DIscussion (Krystal Reddick-Pollard, Alexandria E. Latimer, Tosin Oladipo ’22, Khairah Walker-Grayson)
• Minding the Mess: Clearing the Clutter, Calming the Mind Through Life’s Transitions (Zaira Gonzalez)
• Your First Five Years: Building an Unshakeable Financial Foundation (Valeria Mentor)
• Your Greatest Asset is You: Workshop for Students (Lily Juhasz ’22)

About the Symposium

Major funding for the annual Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ’42 Workplace & Professional Development Symposium was provided by the late Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt, Class of 1942. The AADC Symposium Planning Committee is led by Chair Fabiola Paul ‘09 and Director of AADC Alumnae Relations Lorrie Delaney ‘18, and committee volunteers. Learn more about year-round Associate Alumnae programming and events: www.douglassalumnae.org.

Career Symposium Connects Women at Every Stage in Changing Times

The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) invites you to our career conference with its theme, THRIVE: Career Growth and Self Development at Every Stage – Learning, unlearning and relearning in changing times. The 11th anniversary Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt Career Symposium will be hosted at the Douglass Student Center on the Douglass Residential College Campus at Rutgers on Saturday, September 26, 2625, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The symposium is FREE to Douglass alums, friends who are financial supporters of the AADC, and to Douglass Residential College students. Non-alumnae may attend for a nominal cost. Advanced registration is required online.

The symposium is designed to bring women across professions, whether beginning or advancing a career, exploring new professions, considering retirement or retired. This in-person dynamic day of connection will feature presentations, workshops and speakers with actionable strategies and insights for personal and professional growth. Dynamic speakers will share signature workshops and panels to educate, empower and engage attendees. There will also be opportunities to network throughout the day. 

“This event is volunteer driven and inspires our community to share their expertise and strategies for every stage, and it is an amazing day of learning, networking and connecting,” said Fabiola Paul ‘09, Chair of the Symposium Planning Committee, and the founder/psychotherapist of Enlightening Counseling & Educational Services, providing online mental health counseling specializing in trauma among women and teen girls.

The symposium features more than 20 powerful presenters exploring the theme of thriving at every stage, with a keynote “From Survival to Thriving: Learning, Unlearning, and Reclaiming Who You Are,” presented by Caprice R. Jenerson, Esq., Class of 1990, a recognized leader in the intersecting spaces of law, leadership, transformation, and equity.

Timely workshop and panel topics include artificial intelligence, non-liner paths, pivoting and upskilling, personal branding, financial and retirement planning, optimizing LinkedIn and leadership. Participants will also have an opportunity to purchase a new professional headshot taken at the event by Tamara Fleming Photography (space is limited, register early, headshots are for purchase).

This highly successful symposium was established through an endowment by the late Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ’42. Welcome remarks will be delivered by Associate Alumnae Executive Director Eileen M. Cotter, and volunteer leaders AADC President Lisa Dorio Ruch ‘89, Esq., and Fabiola Paul ‘08, Chair of the Symposium Planning Committee.

Symposium Keynote, Panel, Sessions and Speakers Line Up

Dynamic experts and presenters will address a range of career development and advancement issues facing today’s women as they move forward in all aspects of their lives:

• The Ups and Downs of AI: Panel Discussion (Shilpa Mudiganti, Felecia Ward, Alison Maloney ’10 and Fabiola Paul ’09)
• Money TALK$™: Rewriting Your Money Story in a Changing World (Dr. Constance Craig-Mason)
• How to Make Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile Stand Out (Ankita Patel ’06 and Lily Juhasz ’22)
• From Passion to Profession: Thriving Beyond Retirement (Wonda Williams)
• Cultivating the Woman Behind the Work (Kaila Boulware Figueroa ’15)
• The Art of Personal Branding (Felecia Ward)
• Writing Your Next Chapter with Intention: Finding Clarity, Purpose, and Possibility at Every Stage of Life (Katherine Clark ’84)
• The STAR Method: Showcase Your Value with Confidence and Clarity (Fabiola Paul ’09 and Eno Totoh ’15)
• Workshop: Embracing Messy Leadership (Sheila Cooper ’89 and Kim Feltre)
• Thriving at Every Stage: Confidence, Career Growth and Self-Care: Panel DIscussion (Krystal Reddick-Pollard, Alexandria E. Latimer, Tosin Oladipo ’22, Khairah Walker-Grayson)
• Minding the Mess: Clearing the Clutter, Calming the Mind Through Life’s Transitions (Zaira Gonzalez)
• Your First Five Years: Building an Unshakeable Financial Foundation (Valeria Mentor)
• Your Greatest Asset is You: Workshop for Students (Lily Juhasz ’22)

About the Symposium

Major funding for the annual Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ’42 Workplace & Professional Development Symposium was provided by the late Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt, Class of 1942. The AADC Symposium Planning Committee is led by Chair Fabiola Paul ‘09 and Director of AADC Alumnae Relations Lorrie Delaney ‘18, and committee volunteers. Learn more about year-round Associate Alumnae programming and events: www.douglassalumnae.org.