2024 Core Forum

Professional development is critical to the learning of new skills as well as building long term career success. Each type of activity has its benefits and while there aren't necessarily drawbacks, there can be more useful opportunities than others. Being in an information and education centered field, there are nearly endless training sessions and webinars. These are useful for keeping up with trends but not the best for deepening internal knowledge and interpersonal understanding. One of the tools to help you survive and thrive through change and stages of advancement is to develop a Professional Peer Network. These networks can offer more consistent and interpersonal engagement that support your journey of growth and learning. If mentorships and coaching programs are about structured development, professional peer networks are informal but no less critical to success and growth. More than friendship, less than coaching, a peer network provides connection to people at the same career stage, a support system that understands your work, and two-way learning giving as much as you receive. The same small trustworthy group allows everyone to meet challenges, celebrate successes, and move forward with each individual's goals. At this interactive session, attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences with networking and crowdsource additional advice for developing their networks. Join us as we share some of our achievements and opportunities from public, state, and nonprofit networks to help you start on your own journey toward relationship-centered, collaborative professional development.