Are You Future Ready? AdVAncing Your Professional Development

Latest Episodes:

Amy Parker: Semper Disco and What Will I Learn Today Apr 07, 2020

About: Amy Parker is the Executive Director of the Human Capital Services Center, the Chief Learning Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the catalyst for starting this podcast series. She discusses her journey from the restaurant business, to DOD, to becoming the Chief Learning Officer at VA. She sets the foundation for this series by asking, "Are you future ready?"
Quote: “Semper Disco…what will I learn today”
Resources:
Leadership Development Framework: VALDF@va.gov
My Development Plan:
Talent Management System: (https://www.tms.va.gov/SecureAuth35/)
VA Enterprise Training Resources: (https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VACOETR/sitepages/home.aspx)

Lauren Osinski: Winning or Learning Apr 07, 2020

About: Lauren Osinski is a Supervisory Training Specialist in the Veterans Benefits Administration. In this podcast, Lauren talks about lessons in resiliency learned along her personal development journey, including her time in the US Army.
Quote: “I don’t fail; I win, or I learn”
Lauren's Submitted Resources
Books:
Mindset (Carol Dweck)
Grit (Angela Duckworth)
Flourish (Martin Seligman)
Better than Before (Gretchen Ruben)
The Resilience Factor (Karen Reivich)
Websites:
The Center for Positive Psychology at UPENN (https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/)
Positive Psychology (https://positivepsychology.com/resilience-in-the-workplace/)
Gretchen Rubin (https://gretchenrubin.com/)
TED style talks:
Raphael Rose: (https://www.ted.com/talks/raphael_rose_from_stress_to_resilience)
Carol Dweck: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-71zdXCMU6A)

Dr. Carl Bryant: Learn to do the Things You Can't do Apr 07, 2020

About: Dr. Carl Bryant is the Deputy Director of the Human Capital Services Center. Dr. Bryant is an Air Force Veteran and has taught leadership development around the world. Dr, Bryant discusses the characteristic that make for successful leaders, as well as the characteristics that can hold leaders back. The conversation delves into VA's Leadership Development Framework.
Quote: “I’m always doing things I can’t do – that’s how I learn to do them.” Pablo Picasso.
Resources:
Talent Management System: (https://www.tms.va.gov/SecureAuth35/)
Leadership Development Framework inbox: VALDF@va.gov

Nealie Page: Work Hard at Work Worth Doing Apr 07, 2020

About: Nealie Page is the Chief of staff in VA's Office of Management. In this episode, Nealie touches on her personal development journey from the Department of Defense to Veterans Affairs. Nealie talks about the importance of values in personal development and identifies characteristics that can help you better take on change in the workplace.
Quote: "Work hard at work worth doing"

Bob Harrison: Learning is the Blood of Life Apr 07, 2020

About: Bob Harrison is the Director of Client Services for the Employee Education System. Bob discusses how he came to serve 26 years in the Army and shares the importance of discipline and values while on your personal development journey.
Quote: “Personal development is the blood of life itself. The day you stop learning and developing, is the day you start dying.”
Resources:
VA Enterprise Training Resources https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VACOETR/sitepages/home.aspx

Vivian Idowu: Choosing VA as the First Step out of Grad School Apr 07, 2020

About: Vivian Idowu is a program specialist for the Human Capital Services Center. In the episode, Vivian talks about the important role her family plays in her personal development journey and touches on the program she recently hired into the VA under.
Quote: “When you like where you end up, you don’t care how you got there”
Resources:
VA Careers: (https://www.vacareers.va.gov)

Season 2 Trailer Feb 19, 2021

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Human Capital Services Center and Ms. Amy Parker, VA’s Chief Learning Officer, are excited to announce the launch of season two of Are You Future Ready? AdVAncing Your Professional Development. Each episode features actionable insights, experiences, and helpful advice for the VA community and those interested in honing their professional development skills. Tune in every other Friday starting on February 26, 2021!

AdVAncing: Employee Engagement Feb 25, 2021

Tune in to hear about ways you can build a more positive workplace culture and become more engaged at work. Dr. Marks and Mr. McCloskey highlight actionable tactics you can use to begin building a better, more inclusive workplace. All listeners can learn more about NCOD’s research on and tools for employee engagement and organizational health at their website. VA employees can access their workgroup’s AES dashboard and Your Leadership Canvas to begin conversations about making small steps with big impacts on your engagement at work. The Leadership Development Framework – a roadmap for your professional development journey – is also available to all VA public servants.

AdVAncing: Emotional Intelligence Mar 19, 2021

If you would like to continue this episode’s conversation, Ms. Turner can be reached at Megan.Turner5@va.gov to answer questions dive deeper into the topics discussed. Acquisition professionals can learn more about VAAA’s training programs at https://www.acquisitionacademy.va.gov.

AdVAncing: A Growth Mindset Jun 28, 2021

On this episode of Are You Future Ready? AdVAncing Your Professional Development Amy Parker, VA’s Chief Learning Officer, is joined by Mr. Jeffrey Smith, who at the time of recording was the Executive Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Office of Talent Management, to talk about AdVAncing: A Growth Mindset.

During this episode, Amy and Jeff talk about how a growth mindset is essential for building a successful future as an individual and as an organization. This episode will also highlight how you can build key skills for success in any role including continual learning, strategic thinking, and problem solving through developmental opportunities like mentoring and coaching.

If you would like to learn more about the Office of Talent Management’s services, you can visit their website.

Mr. Jeffrey Smith is now the Executive Director of VBA's Office of Mission Support. We wish him success in his new role and look forward to working with Dr. Aaron Lee, who has filled the role of Executive Director of the Office of Talent Management.

AdVAncing: Your Passion Jul 30, 2021

During this episode, Amy and Harvey talk about the process of finding your passion and how to live in alignment with it. They also discuss Conscious IDEA – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access – and how leaders and team members alike can help build a more equitable and inclusive VA.

If you’d like to learn more about this episode’s topics, visit the Are You Future Ready? SharePoint for links to the resources Amy and Harvey mention during the podcast.

If you enjoyed listening, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a colleague, friend, or on your professional and social network platforms.

The Human Capital Services Center and Ms. Amy Parker, the Department of Veterans Affairs Chief Learning Officer, are proud to present season two of the podcast Are You Future Ready? AdVAncing Your Professional Development. Each episode features actionable insights, experiences, and helpful advice for the VA community and those interested in honing their professional development skills.

AdVAncing: Trust Aug 12, 2021

During this episode, Amy and Barbara discuss the importance of trust, how we measure it and how it relates to both Veteran and employee experiences. This episode also highlights journey mapping, which is a tool used to chart your future path both personally and professionally.
If you would like to learn more about this episode’s topics, visit the Are You Future Ready? SharePoint for links to resources related to this week’s topic of discussion. To begin charting your professional future, visit the Leadership Development Framework SharePoint.
The Are You Future Ready: AdVAncing Your Professional Development Podcast is now available on the Talent Management System (TMS) 2.0.Click here to access the collection.
The Human Capital Services Center and Ms. Amy Parker, the Department of Veterans Affairs Chief Learning Officer, are proud to present season two of the podcast Are You Future Ready? AdVAncing Your Professional Development. Each episode features actionable insights, experiences, and helpful advice for the VA community and those interested in honing their professional development skills.