��ţӰ��

Courses vary from multi-day sessions on and Microsoft Office products to single-day deep-dives into topics such as , and . Many classes are virtual but signature classes, such as the Star Achievement Series and CliftonStrengths, are in-person.

In addition, employees can register for one of two nationally recognize Certificates and six internally recognized that guide learners through a specific combination of courses to meet professional development goals.

The catalog of offerings in 2024 brings back popular courses, including (Feb. 20, May 14, Aug. 14 and Nov. 6), (March 18, May 22, Sept. 24 and Dec. 9) and (Jan. 16, April 3, Aug. 21 and Oct. 9).

The course roster features a revised version of (April 3 and Oct. 16) and two new courses: (Feb. 28 and Oct. 24) and on (June 3 and Nov. 18). These courses, Birmingham said, help managers and employees identify their strengths to maximize their potential.

“We wanted individual contributors to be able to have the language that they could go back to their managers and say, ‘These are the 10 areas I excel in, and then these areas are very difficult for me,’” said Birmingham who will lead the courses. “For managers, we are going to teach that from the perspective of their top 10 strengths as individual contributors, and how they must also work to bring out the strengths of their direct reports.”

L&OD is also introducing two new certificate programs. The additions of the Communications Certification of Excellence and Self-Leadership Certificate of Excellence focus on helping employees become stronger, more effective communicators and leaders.

“We have leaders all over Duke because they lead themselves,” Birmingham said. “Everybody has a role in their own leadership.”

For Treasure White, an Advanced Medical Lab Scientist in the ��ţӰ�� Health System Clinical Laboratories Division of Molecular Pathology, Genetics and Genomics, the L&OD courses have helped her to thrive in her career at Duke. She first learned about the classes from a course catalog in her breakroom in 2019 and has tried to enroll in a course every semester.

White has taken a course on managing multiple priorities that has helped balance duties as she’s taken on more leadership roles, as well as classes on PowerPoint to strengthen her presenting skills. She’s currently taking courses to work toward a promotion.

“The most beneficial part for any of my classes is just seeing what I can take from the class and how I can apply it to my current position,” she said. “I appreciate the classes because they are building new skillsets for me — permanent skillsets that I can take anywhere within Duke and beyond Duke.”

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through  or write working@duke.edu.

Follow Working��ţӰ�� on