Professional Edge

Strengthen your qualifications to excel in your career.

Professional Edge is an industry-informed collection of short courses designed to help students develop cutting-edge skills essential in the modern job market.

Build targeted, practical skills in an interactive and engaging format and distinguish yourself in a field of other job applicants. As a participant, you'll receive guidance from instructors informed by the latest business trends and leave with tangible tools and stories you can leverage in your career search.

Whether it’s a basic course in Microsoft Teams or a more advanced course in competitive intelligence or Google Analytics, these University of Oregon-backed credentials can be used to highlight your mastery of highly sought-after skills to potential employers.

As you plan your schedule, take advantage of these largely free one- to two-hour sessions conveniently offered throughout the year.

Apr 12
Power Outages, Cyber Attacks, Earthquakes – Oh My: An Exploration of Business Continuity Planning

Join us for a comprehensive training program designed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate business continuity...
Power Outages, Cyber Attacks, Earthquakes – Oh My: An Exploration of Business Continuity Planning
April 12–May 3
Lillis Business Complex 212

Join us for a comprehensive training program designed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate business continuity planning. This is a two-part series occurring April 19th and May 3rd with an anticipated 2 hours of additional independent work outside of the training. Participants who attend both days of this program and fulfill all requirements are eligible to earn a Business Continuity Essentials microcredential from the Lundquist College of Business. Enrollment Deadline: April 12th With the unpredictable nature of today’s business landscape, being prepared for unexpected disruptions is more critical than ever. Through a blend of interactive sessions, real-world case studies, simulation exercises, and expert-led discussions, participants will learn how to develop robust continuity plans, identify critical business functions, and gain practical insights into risk assessment and crisis management in the dynamic world of business! Whether you're aiming to enhance your resume or simply interested in gaining a deeper understanding of business continuity planning, this program is an excellent opportunity to develop marketable skills and earn a Business Continuity Essentials microcredential upon meeting all requirements. Enroll today to take the first step towards becoming a proactive and prepared business leader. About the Presenters:  Krista Dillon currently serves as the chief of staff and senior director of operations for Safety and Risk Services at the University of Oregon. In her role, she manages the Emergency Management and Continuity program as well as a number of interdepartmental teams including the Incident Management Team, Campus Vulnerability Assessment Team, and Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment Team, and Demonstration Team. Ms. Dillon has held several roles within the Emergency Management program at the University of Oregon since 2004. Ms. Dillon is a former current chair of the International Association of Emergency Manager’s Universities and Colleges Caucus. Ms. Dillon serves as both an incident commander and a planning section chief on the University of Oregon’s Incident Management Team. Ms. Dillon has a master's in community and regional planning from the University of Oregon. Sierra Schlegelmann Administrative Program Assistant, Safety and Risk Services University of Oregon alumni ‘23, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Jackie Kamstra, Global Business Continuity Director, MBA, CBCI, ARM, works for a global, fortune 500 corporation based in Oregon. University of Oregon alumni ‘08, Bachelor of Science, Public Relations. Enroll by the April 12th deadline to reserve your spot! 

Apr 12
Sales Essentials Training Program 9:00 a.m.

Whether you're contemplating a career in sales, embarking on your first professional role, or looking to improve your communication skills to establish trust with others, the...
Sales Essentials Training Program
April 12–19
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Whether you're contemplating a career in sales, embarking on your first professional role, or looking to improve your communication skills to establish trust with others, the Sales Essentials Training program is your foundation for success. This is a two-part series occurring April 12th and 19th, from 9am-1pm both days, with an anticipated 2 hours of additional independent work outside of the training. Participants who attend both days of this program and fulfill all requirements are eligible to earn a Sales Essentials microcredential from the Lundquist College of Business. Enrollment Deadline: April 10th During this 8-hour program, you will learn the art of relationship-based selling throughout the entire sales cycle from a seasoned professional. Through engaging activities, practical exercises, and interactive sessions, you'll not only refine your sales approach but also create an individual development plan for continuous improvement. Designed for participants across all majors and disciplines, our Sales Essentials Training Program offers invaluable insights and skills for aspiring sales professionals, future entrepreneurs, marketers, and business leaders. Why Participate?

Earn a Marketable Skills Microcredential: Enhance your resume and LinkedIn profile when you earn the Sales Essentials Microcredential from the Lundquist College of Business. Develop Core Sales Skills: Gain proficiency in relationship-based selling techniques across key areas essential for sales success, including prospecting, effective communication, overcoming objections, and closing the sale. Create an Individual Development Plan: Leave the program with a tailored development plan, reviewed by an industry expert, to showcase your self-awareness and commitment to continuously improve your sales skills.

This program isn't just about mastering sales techniques; It's an opportunity to develop a versatile skill set that includes effective communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to understand and meet customer needs—qualities that are invaluable in any career path. Enroll by April 10th to secure your spot!

Apr 12
Navigating Retail Investing: Insights into Robinhood Risks and Rewards 1:00 p.m.

Dive into the essentials of retail investing. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the financial system, compare leading retail brokers, and uncover the unique benefits and...
Navigating Retail Investing: Insights into Robinhood Risks and Rewards
April 12
1:00–4:00 p.m.
Lillis Business Complex 440

Dive into the essentials of retail investing. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the financial system, compare leading retail brokers, and uncover the unique benefits and risks associated with using Robinhood for investment purposes.

What You Can Expect to Learn:

Financial System Basics: Explore how money flows through the economy, the role of banks, brokers, and public markets. Comparing Retail Brokers: Analyze the differences between Robinhood, Schwab, Fidelity, and IB. Robinhood's Unique Features: Learn about the distinct features that set Robinhood apart. Risks of Using Robinhood: Understand the potential downsides of investing on Robinhood. Investment Strategy Insights: Discuss the difficulty of outperforming the market and the strategy of investing in stable companies during scandals.

Interactive Workshop:

Participants will engage in practical exercises, such as setting up demo accounts and practicing trades, to apply knowledge in a hands-on environment.

Who Should Attend:

Ideal for college students with an interest in finance, investing, or seeking to understand the complexities of retail brokers. This workshop offers valuable insights and skills for safe and effective investing.

This workshop is offered in partnership between Professional Edge and the Financial Wellness Center.

About the Instructor:

Maria Chaderina is an assistant professor in the Department of Finance at the Lundquist College of Business. Her areas of interest include capital structure, liquidity management, and financial intermediation. Chaderina's research on these topics has been published in journals such as the Review of Asset Pricing Studies.

Chaderina received her PhD in financial economics from Carnegie Mellon University and BS in economics from the University of London and the Higher School of Economics. Prior to joining the Lundquist College, Chaderina taught at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

About Professional Edge:

Professional Edge is an industry-informed collection of short courses designed to help students develop cutting-edge skills essential in the modern job market. Build targeted, practical skills in an interactive and engaging format and distinguish yourself in a field of other job applicants. As a participant, you'll receive guidance from instructors informed by the latest business trends and leave with tangible tools and stories you can leverage in your career search

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Industry-Informed Skills
Explore a variety of interactive short courses.
Dynamic Instructors 
Learn from experienced industry practitioners.
Time Efficient 
Build cutting-edge skills in a short timeframe.
Employability 
Excel in your career search with advanced business skills.

What do you want to learn?

We're always looking to expand our current offering of workshops. Email us at professionaledge@uoregon.edu to let us know what subjects you'd like to see us explore in the future.

Previous workshops have explored such topics as:

  • Design thinking
  • Google Analytics
  • Investment plan design and presentation
  • Storytelling for business presentations
  • Tableau

Are you an employer or alumnus looking to get involved?

There are a number of different ways to make meaningful connections within the Professional Edge program. Contact us to learn more.

  • Teach a short course.
  • Sponsor a new series of skill-building short courses.
  • Hire students with demonstrated skill mastery.

Contact

Professional Edge
Lundquist College of Business
1208 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1208
541-346-3303 
professionaledge@uoregon.edu

Program Facilitators

  • Trish Dorman, Senior Associate Director, Student Engagement and Programming
  • Natalie Abele, MBA student
  • Swati Yadav, MBA student