Diversity and Cross-Organization Collaboration Yields Success for 1st Career Development Forum

This March, GSFC spearheaded the first of a kind opportunity for employees at GSFC-Greenbelt, GSFC-WFF, and NASA Headquarters to obtain an integrated overview of career development tools and resources available to assist navigating one's career development. The comprehensive event included opening remarks from NASA Administrator, Sean O'Keefe, and offered a wide array of information through workshops, web demonstrations, career panel discussions and information booths.

Keynote Speaker, Marcia Steele, gives a spirited address on "From Success to Significance with Leadership and Legacy"

Feedback and response from the event has been overwhelmingly positive and included comments such as, "The Forum helped me to think about what is really important to my life and career," and "a lot of applicable information was shared." In addition, Career Development Forum Team members have expressed numerous accolades of how participating on the team was a career enhancing opportunity.

"Before joining the Career Development Forum Team I felt stuck in my career. …Now I see new possibilities for my career. I also made new contacts that will be beneficial to me in my career."

A WFF employee stated:

"…I thought this would be an opportunity for me to fully integrate with the GSFC family. It turned out to be the greatest opportunity I could've asked for… I feel very good about this experience and would recommend it for every new employee."

John Campbell, Director of Code 800, Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects kicks off the Career Forum at WFF

The event was a collaboration among GSFC-Greenbelt, GSFC-WFF and Headquarters representatives from virtually every GSFC Directorate, representatives from management and non-management ranks and from among every skill group. Gender, race and cultural diversity were achieved within the Career Forum Development Team and among guest speakers, workshop facilitators and panelists. Even the design of the Forum was structured using diversity of learning styles in the workforce as a consideration. As a result, valuable education and awareness was provided that promotes a high performing workforce culture. The event exemplified the caliber of success that can be achieved through the collaborated efforts of a diverse team.

Stay posted as plans to continue and expand Career Development opportunities for the GSFC workforce continue. The Office of Human Resources has rolled out a new Career Development Web-site at http://ohr.gsfc.nasa.gov/career/home.htm. In addition two new career coaches are now on board to provide one-on-one and group coaching for employees five days a week. You may contact the counselors by calling (301) 286-5794, to schedule an appointment. A grand opening of the GSFC Professional Development Center is planned for the near future.

Finally, plans are under consideration for March to become Career Development Month at GSFC and Headquarters and to hold another forum at that time. Now that a foundation has been laid with the "ABC's of Navigating Your Career at NASA," the aim of next year's forum will be to take you beyond awareness toward utilizing all the resources at your disposal, so that your potential and organizational performance may be optimized.

Please stay tuned for upcoming events!
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." William Jennings Bryant

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