Monthly meetings build connections and friendships, provide advice and encouragement, and offer career development strategies and goals.
The UMBrella Coaching Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) helped me to feel more connected to our University community and assisted with developing the next steps for my career at UMB.
The monthly meetings with my group connected me with other women on campus from a variety of positions and departments. I better understood the roles of women at the University and heard inspirational success stories. Each month, our group focused on specific topics for discussion, which encouraged us to come up with strategies and solutions within our work environment.
(Apply to be part of the 2020-2021 cohort.)
Through discovering our strengths, we developed goals and the best methods to achieve these goals. The small, open-table discussions provided me with an opportunity to hear other women’s stories and give them feedback. I also told my story and received advice and encouragement. Since completing the program in October 2019, I have received my first promotion, and I feel that I will continue to make growth.
I built a connection with the women in my group. I looked forward to seeing them every month, and I try to keep in touch with each of them now, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I completed the program, I still feel the support of and connection to these women. I would encourage other women on campus to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.
Christiane Pollock is a program coordinator with the Department of Neurology at the School of Medicine.
The UMBrella Group works to support the success of women at UMB by building community and helping them achieve their personal and professional goals, enhancing their leadership skills, and championing women at all levels of the organization. Learn more at umaryland.edu/umbrella/.