Career Development Cohort Opportunities

Series and Cohorts for All Roles and Levels at UCOP

Roadmap of Career Development Cohort Opportunities
UC Systemwide People Management Series and Certificate (PMC): This asynchronous online series supports current and aspiring people managers. It is designed to increase our people management capabilities across the entire UC system.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Self-paced e-learning program that includes 16 core sessions and four electives
  • Electives include live and on-demand courses
  • Includes the UC Managing Implicit Bias Series
  • Those who complete this series receive the People Management certificate
  • Open to any UC employee
  • Geared for pre-managers to senior leaders
  • Ideal for current or aspiring people managers who would like to learn essential skills for more effective leadership
  • A great opportunity for individual contributors who anticipate moving into a people-manager role and want to acquire critical skills in advance
UCOP People Management Integrated Learning Program (PM-ILP): PM-ILP complements the People Management Series and Certificate. Participants meet in monthly live sessions as a cohort to extend the learning of the e-courses.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Seven-month live virtual cohort program aligned with  the 16 e-courses in the People Management Series (see above)
    • April - November 2026
  • Employees who complete this program will receive credit for the 4 required electives needed for the People Management Series and Certificate.
  • In addition to the criteria outlined above, this experience is geared towards people who value a cohort experience and learning with others
  • Program Fee: $100; Paid by your department
  • Application process for the 2026 cohort begins in February 2026
UC Managing Implicit Bias Series: This systemwide series is designed to increase awareness of implicit bias and reduce its impact at the university.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Six-course asynchronous online training series focused on becoming aware of bias and mitigating implicit bias in the workplace, including in the recruitment and hiring process
  • Part of the People Management Series
  • Note: This series is required for all managers and recommended for people serving on a hiring committee. 
  • Open to any UC employee; required for all people managers
  • A great opportunity for staff to understand and explore implicit bias.
UC Women’s Initiative for Professional Development (UC WI): This systemwide program is a unique, experiential, professional development program to support the success and advancement of mid-career, woman-identified professionals and is open to all employees who support and are committed to this mission
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Program currently on hold
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UCOP Mentorship Program: This program partners UCOP staff with an experienced mentor to help expand their networks, enhance their professional development, explore potential career possibilities get targeted coaching and guidance.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Lasts one year
  • Program provides a formal one-on-one mentoring structure to foster a culture of development and learning
  • Mentors and mentees meet monthly to work towards collaboratively created goals
  • Monthly mentee cohort meetings
  • All UCOP employees interesting in growing their skills in a one-on-one setting with an experienced leader
  • Program Fee: $100; Paid for by your department. 
  • 2026 program runs Jan through Dec 2026.  Applications open fall of 2025.
Making Power Moves: Women and Leadership: This program is offered in partnership with the President's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (PACSW). It is an exceptional career development opportunity with content focused on women and leadership in the workplace. 
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Open to all  employees at UCOP who manage people and/or projects
  • All employees who support the advancement of women-identified professionals at UCOP are welcome to attend
  • Program Fee: $1,000; Paid for by your department.
  • 2026 program runs Jan through March 2026.  Applications open Fall 2025. 
UC Peer Connections: A UC systemwide peer-to-peer program that provides an opportunity to enhance employee connection and sense of belonging across the system. 
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Participants are paired with a peer at an equivalent at UCOP or other participating UC locations (UCB and ANR)
  • Engage in five 1-hour conversations with your matched peer thought the Imperative Platform over the course of 12 weeks.
  • Open to all UCOP staff
  • Program is free
  • Application process open August 2025.

Cohorts for Individual Contributors at UCOP
Leadership Fundamentals for Emerging Leaders Program (LFP): This cohort learning opportunity is designed to help participants develop and practice leadership and behavioral skills that are crucial in today's information overload and über-fast-paced work environment.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • 5-session cohort 
    • All-day kick-off session in Oakland (virtual option available)
    • Three 1-hour Zoom sessions
    • Final 3.5 hour wrap-up Zoom session
  • Facilitated by Pierre Khawand from People On-the-Go
  • Online portal, intersession assignments, peer workgroup, and leadership project. 
  • Designed for employees who do not have management experience but are interested  in strengthening their leadership skills
  • Have at least 1 year of service with UCOP
  • Program Fee: $100; Paid by your department
  • Travel to Oakland covered by department
  • Fall 2025 cohorts application closed; next cohort is in Spring 2026.
Take Charge: Developing a Career Strategy: This program provides administrative, support, and entry-level staff with tools to better direct and manage their careers.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • 6-month program consisting of 11 interactive virtual sessions
    • Jan - Jun 2026
    • 6 live virtual classes
    • 5 peer mentoring sessions
    • Weekly self-guided assignments
  • FAQ
  • Designed for administrative, support, or entry-level staff
  • Career, contract, represented employees who have completed the probationary period.
  • Program Fee: $100; Paid by your department
  • 2026 program applications open Fall 2025

Series and Cohorts for Managers and Supervisors at UCOP
Manager Essentials at UCOP (ME@UCOP): This program supports managers/supervisors who are interested in learning essential UCOP processes, policies, competencies and leadership philosophies.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Topics  include:
    • Hiring & Recruitment
    • Compensation
    • Inclusive Leadership
    • Procurement
    • Budget
    • Leaves & Accommodations
    • Employee Law
    • People Development
    • Managing in Hybrid
  • Open to all people managers/supervisors
  • Required for people new to managing or supervising at UCOP since 2020
People Leader Forum is a monthly opportunity for people managers to connect with one another to develop leadership skills, build community and share best practices.
Description

 Target audience Cost and Application Process
  • Rotating topics every first Friday of each month from 1-2 p.m. (PT).
  • Designed for people managers to share best practices, swap strategies for navigating current challenges and learn to better support themselves and their teams.
  • This course is open to Managers/Supervisors only.

Cohorts for Senior Leaders at UCOP

UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Collaborative (on hiatus): This program supports senior staff and faculty/academic personnel administrators in developing leadership skills and awareness, focusing on inter-UC location and cross-functional involvement. 
Description

 Target Audience Cost and Application Process
  • Program currently on hold