What am I working on currently?
How to Boost Your Productivity with AI Tools │ Productivity Improvement, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
LinkedIn Learning (Started: July 2023; Estimated Completion: Late 2023)
Course Description: Generative AI tools have made a big impact on business in a short period of time. Many people are using them to make their jobs easier and to help them produce even better work. But it can be hard to know where to begin. Join Dave Birss, innovator and AI expert, as he practically demonstrates how to collaborate with AI tools in the best way. He shares a framework to help you understand how you can incorporate AI into your everyday tasks. He also shares a number of useful prompts that can streamline tasks and help you achieve even better results.
Completed Courses and Continued Education
The Science of Well-Being │ Communication Skills, Personal Development, Mental Health, Stress Management
Coursera via Yale University (Started: May 2023; Completed: July 2023)
Course Description: "The Science of Well-Being” taught by Professor Laurie Santos overviews what psychological science says about happiness. The purpose of the course is to not only learn what psychological research says about what makes us happy but also to put those strategies into practice. The first part of the course reveals misconceptions we have about happiness and the annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do. The next part of the course focuses on activities that have been proven to increase happiness along with strategies to build better habits.
Decision-Making Strategies │ Communication Skills, Problem Solving, Decision-Making
LinkedIn Learning (Completed: June 2023)
Course Description: Learn the art and science of business decision-making from leadership trainer and coach Mike Figliuolo. Mike outlines the four styles of decision making—autocratic, participatory, democratic, and consensual—and reveals which styles are best suited for specific situations. Recognizing that ambiguity is a part of any decision-making process, Mike covers the four types of ambiguity you'll face so that you can recognize what you don't know in order to reduce risk and plan for contingencies. He also presents techniques for involving stakeholders in the decision-making process, and explains how to use a RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed) matrix. By applying these major concepts, you'll have the tools to help you make better decisions faster, incur less risk, and gain more support for your decisions.
Like many, I was furloughed during the pandemic. At that time, I made a commitment to continue my education and broaden my knowledge, acknowledging the possibility of new career opportunities outside of the theatre and the arts. I took a variety of courses to expand my skill set and broaden my knowledge while also embracing the ability to focus on personal development. A selection of those courses are listed below.
Soft Skills for Professionals │ Communication Skills, Problem Solving, Work Ethic, Time Management, Teamwork
CPD Accredited Course; Alison via Workforce Academy Partnership (Completed: July 2021)
This course provided me with an understanding of the soft skills, job search skills, and interpersonal skills that are needed to succeed in the workplace. I learned what soft skills are, skills for communication, and how to work as a team. The course explained the process for solving problems and time management. Additionally, it focused on how to be adaptable and flexible, and about having a good attitude and work ethic.
Google Sheets for Home & Business │ Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Google Sheets, Administration
CPD Accredited Course; Alison via Benjamin Portnoy, Data Analysis & Digital Media Expert (Completed: October 2021)
This course expanded my knowledge on how to create, view, and edit Google spreadsheets. It touched on both basic and advanced tasks with Google spreadsheets, including data formatting and modifications, arithmetic and stats operations, as well as the capabilities for data analysis, information customization, and data visualization. The tasks taught ranged from beginner to advanced levels to ensure proficiency.
Introduction to Change Management │ Management, Change Management
CPD Accredited Course; Alison via Saylor Academy (Completed: October 2021)
This course introduced the key concepts and practices involved in an organizational change including people, ideas, and strategies. With this course, I learned how to build an effective change strategy around increased competition and technological advancements. It focused on how I can play an effective role within an organization that is going through a period of change and adjustment.
Public Relations: Best Practices and Ethics │ Management, Public Relations, Ethics
CPD Accredited Course; Alison via Saylor Academy (Completed: October 2021)
This course introduced me to the best practices and ethical codes necessary for excellence in public relations. I learned about conducting research, strategic action planning, communication implementation, and results evaluation. The course focused on the RACE process in public relations, along with how to apply these best practices in the real world by looking at related case studies.
Tourism - Marketing and Promotion │ Tourism, Digital Marketing, Product Marketing
CPD Accredited Course; Alison via Saylor Academy (Completed: August 2021)
This course on marketing and promotional campaigns for tourism taught me the do's and don't of a promotional tourism campaign, how to identify a target audience, and how to understand your customers' purchasing process.
Meditation │ Personal Development, Mental Health, Stress Management
CPD Accredited Course; Alison via CourseFlix (Completed: July 2021)
This course served as an introduction to the basics of meditation, including a look at its definition and variations. It guided me through the preparation you should take in order to facilitate your meditation and how I can refine my practice in order to maximize the benefits.