Upcoming events to focus on global careers, leadership

Ohio University students have the opportunity to learn professional development tips and gain information on starting a career as a global professional through a series of workshops and special events that will be held during the spring semester.

The activities are part of the Global Professional Development Series, which began in the fall semester and is open to all Ohio University students. The series is organized by the Center for International Studies and its Global Leadership Center.

The first event of the spring semester will be the Getting the Job: Introduction to Global Careers event that will be held on Friday, Feb. 2, beginning at noon in Research and Technology Center (R-Tech) 314.

This session will examine some of the major employers in the global professional market and will explain the unique features of applying for positions with these different organizations. In addition, students will learn how to engage with several online employment systems, including the United Nations employment system.

Also during the session, students will be exposed to the way that USAID, the European Union and other major development actors require personal information. Finally, students will be guided through the process of actually applying for a U.N. position, consultancy or internship.

The second event of the semester will be the Leadership and Development for the Global Professional session scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9, beginning at noon in R-Tech 314. The session will be led by Jim Mahoney, a long-time educator who has dedicated his life to bettering educational opportunities for all students. He has served as a superintendent, principal and teacher, as well as an adjunct professor at several Ohio universities.

In 2001, Mahoney joined Battelle for Kids as the organization’s first executive director, and was named executive director, emeritus, in 2016. He currently serves as an executive-in-residence at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. A well-known speaker, he has made presentations throughout the United States, Canada and China. He also co-authored the book, “Data-Driven Decisions and School Leadership: Best Practices for School Improvement,” and has had several articles printed in state and national publications

This session will help prepare students to be more aware of the suite of professional tools and resources available to aid in ongoing professional development. This event is designed to demonstrate the value of self-guided learning and discovery as well as strengths-based leadership.

Other upcoming sessions include:

• Cooperative Project Learning – Friday, Feb. 16, beginning at 2 p.m. in R-Tech 314
• Disruptive Development – Friday, Feb. 23, beginning at noon in R-Tech 314
• Canvas - From Idea to Reality: Value Creation and Accessing the Global Ecosystem – Friday, March 2, beginning at 2 p.m. in R-Tech 314
• Global Consulting – Friday, March 30, beginning at noon

The Global Professional Development Series is open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any majors. Students are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets to the events.

To learn more about the events, or to watch presentations from the fall led by alumni who are now working as global professionals, please visit the Global Professional Development website.