The Academy of Learning and Development (ALD) is excited to present the inaugural issue of “Branching Out”, highlighting the experience of team members that go through our six-month mentorship program, Branch Out. What sets Branch Out apart from other mentorship experiences, is the circle structure. Instead of meeting 1-on-1, they meet in a group setting. We find this structure allows our Branch Out participants to not only learn from their mentor, but also their fellow mentees. It also allows for deeper conversations around topics, such as emotional intelligence, building trust, and personal brand.
For this first issue, we are so excited to catch up with Jennifer as she talks about her experience in the program. Jennifer works at The Ridge Resort as an Administrative Assistant III. She recently completed the Branch Out program this past April, and is currently in Expansions, our six-month leadership development program.
Q: “Why did you choose to be part of Branch Out?”
A: I wanted the opportunity to network with other team members whose departments and day-to-day activities were different than my own so that I could gain greater insight into the company’s operations as a whole.
Q: What piece of advice would you offer to future Branch Out Participants?
A: Take time to really participate and understand. Set aside an hour, find a quiet spot to read and work and really try to focus on the monthly lessons and apply them to your current role.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway or advice from the program?
A: I loved having the opportunity to meet with leaders of areas that interest me outside of my current role so that I could start planning my growth within the organization!
We look forward to highlighting more Branch Out stories. Be on the lookout for the next quarterly “Branching Out” newsletter, as we catch up with more fantastic team members like Jennifer.
