Develop measurable improvement in
your workforce through interpersonal
skills training
The Ascent Professional Development Immersion program teaches motivated employees the
interpersonal skills they need to thrive in the modern workplace.
Why invest in employees’ soft skills? Because doing so leads to better financial, professional, and personal outcomes for employees and companies alike.
Ascent PDI focuses on developing employee self-esteem and confidence, lifelong learning and metacognition, personal and professional core values, and literacy in business culture. The result? Professional employees who are less likely to engage in workplace conflict, turnover, and absenteeism and who are more motivated and successful in their jobs.
For more information on Ascent PDI provide your email
Ascent Professional
Development Immersion
A Research-Based Training by WOS
Based on 20 years of research and workforce development experience, the Ascent PDI curriculum is driven by the Langer Workforce Maturity Arc (LWMA). This tool is designed to measure an individual’s readiness to successfully assimilate into the corporate workforce.
With a curriculum driven by the LWMA, Ascent PDI gives employees from diverse backgrounds the tools they need to flourish and prosper in your company. Program participants learn actionable skills to help them become better professionals, better students, and ultimately, better people.
Program Focus Areas
Ascent PDI provides 40 hours of immersive virtual instruction relevant to a variety of industries.
The program is divided into four main areas of study; students may enroll in all four classes or in
each individual class.
Participants receive digital badges for their LinkedIn profiles upon
completion of each core area of the program.
Each virtual live course is two hours per week
Students are also expected to complete one hour of individual learning each week.
Self-Esteem
This course provides a framework for further developing one’s self-awareness through an examination of self-esteem and self-acceptance, values, and career and life visioning. Participants study and apply various strategies to create and sustain a positive attitude, resiliency, and a growth mindset; engage in positive self-talk and counter irrational beliefs with rational actions.
Metacognition
Participants will learn to identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to support their own learning – both within and outside of the workplace. They’ll work toward developing awareness of their own thoughts, learning styles, and modes of understanding.
Socio-Economic Values
Employees will learn strategies for integrating their personal, community, and professional values and goals in the workplace. The curriculum covers various approaches to goal-setting, time management, emotional intelligence, and financial literacy, so students are prepared to take ownership of their career progress.
Business Culture
WOS lays the groundwork for exploring professionalism, employer and employee expectations, conflict resolution, teamwork, and other interpersonal skills. Students will develop interpersonal skills like leadership, ethical behavior, citizenship, and civic literacy.
Self-Esteem
This course provides a framework for further developing one’s self-awareness through an examination of self-esteem and self-acceptance, values, and career and life visioning. Participants study and apply various strategies to create and sustain a positive attitude, resiliency, and a growth mindset; engage in positive self-talk and counter irrational beliefs with rational actions.
Metacognition
Participants will learn to identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to support their own learning – both within and outside of the workplace. They’ll work toward developing awareness of their own thoughts, learning styles, and modes of understanding.
Socio-Economic Values
Employees will learn strategies for integrating their personal, community, and professional values and goals in the workplace. The curriculum covers various approaches to goal-setting, time management, emotional intelligence, and financial literacy, so students are prepared to take ownership of their career progress.
Business Culture
WOS lays the groundwork for exploring professionalism, employer and employee expectations, conflict resolution, teamwork, and other interpersonal skills. Students will develop interpersonal skills like leadership, ethical behavior, citizenship, and civic literacy.
After completion of all four Ascent PDI courses, participants
receive the Ascent PDI Graduate badge so they can highlight
their new skills on their LinkedIn profiles.
Your employees already have what it takes to succeed.
The goal of Ascent PDI is to develop these innate skills and bring them to the surface, creating
better outcomes for their lives and for your company.
Course Topics
Your Values
Self-Awareness
Growth Mindset
Self-Esteem, Positive Self-Talk
Feedback – Giving and Receiving
Attitude, Resilience
Confidence, Failures and Successes,
Imposter Syndrome
Handling Stress, Anger Management
Wellness
Goal Setting and Time Management
Emotional Intelligence
Empathy
Diversity (including Generational) in the
Workplace
Diversity (including Generational) in
the Workplace continued
Community & Ethnic Solidarity
Financial Literacy
Attendance, Punctuality
Video Conferencing Relationship Building and Etiquette
Teamwork
Managing Conflict
Employer Expectations, Professionalism in the Workplace
Business Etiquette
Transferable Skills
Professional Brand
Elevator Speech
Lifelong Learning
Learning Styles and Study Strategies
The Art of Listening, Asking Questions,
Mind Mapping, Note Taking
Decision Making, Critical Thinking,
Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Business Writing
For more information on Ascent PDI provide your email
Meet Our Instructors
Valerie Echols
Instructor
Valerie Echols is currently instructing for WOS and was responsible for managing WOS Veterans and T.A.P programs in Newark and Somerset, NJ. She joined the WOS team in February 2014. Prior to joining WOS, Valerie was the Senior Manager of Logistics for one of the largest blood collection and distribution organizations in the US. Valerie currently serves as a Colonel in the US Army Reserve in the role of Human Resources Officer. In addition, Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rutgers University and an MBA from Monmouth University.
Addie M. Rimmer
Director of Student Learning
Addie Rimmer has designed and taught interpersonal skills courses for WOS since 2008. She has a bachelor's degree from The City College of New York and a master's in journalism from Columbia University. She is a doctoral candidate in Adult Learning and Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Addie has dedicated her career to promoting and teaching vital interpersonal skills to underrepresented individuals.
Jarrell Mosley
Instructor
Jarrell Mosley joined the WOS as a Program Manager in May 2019. Prior to taking on this role he held positions as an Admission Advisor, Associate School Director, School Director/Project Manager, culminating in a professional career of 18 years in both private and public post-secondary education. His tenure as an education administrator and project manager has provided him with years of experience managing and motivating large teams and has equipped him with the principles and skills of effective leadership.
Susan Fountain
Instructor
Susan Fountain is a faculty member at CUNY’s School of Professional Studies. She developed and teaches in the B.A. in Human Relations program, which serves working adults who have not had the chance to complete a college degree. She also designed the Graduate Certificate in Adult Learning program at CUNY SPS. She has taught courses on adult learning, adult development, program design, conflict management, interpersonal behavior and leadership. Susan has a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
How it works
Learn more about what to expect from the Ascent PDI program.
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