2025 Conference Schedule
8:30-9:00 a.m. - Check-in
- Includes refreshments and light snacks
9:00-9:45 a.m. - Welcome & Keynote
- Join us for our conference kickoff. Cal Aggie Alumni Association staff and leadership will share opening remarks. We will wrap up our opening ceremony with a keynote address to set the tone for an unforgettable conference.
10:00-11:00 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions Round 1
- Unlocking Authenticity: Three Steps to More Confidence, Balance, and Impact
- Participants will learn how identifying their life and work vision will help them show up authentically, foster better life balance, and increase their positive impact on the world. Julie will guide participants to tap into their values and strengths to unlock their vision and integrate their personal and professional personas to embrace their full identity.
- The Intentional You: Own Your Life + Career Without Losing Authenticity
- Whether you're just starting your career or are an established professional, join us for an inspiring keynote as we explore finding purpose and confidence in both work and life. Drawing inspiration from his psychology background and real-life experience as a corporate executive, Ricky Koo guides you on how to align your career with your values, navigate through challenges, and build a supportive network all while remaining true to yourself.
- Being First-Gen as a Superpower: How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Leverage Your Strengths for Career Success
- This career development session empowers attendees to embrace their first-gen identity as a career superpower. Participants will learn to overcome self-doubt, embrace authenticity, and leverage their strengths to confidently claim aligned opportunities. This session is ideal for first-gen recent grads and current professionals, offering actionable strategies and space to honor their journey.
- Empowered Leadership: Navigating Race, Identity, and Impact
- This interactive session explores how racial identity development shapes how you lead, influence decisions and navigate professional dynamics. Through guided self reflection, participants will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities leaders of color face, and learn strategies for fostering inclusive, equitable workplaces driven by identity-based leadership.
11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions Round 2
- Navigating Career Shifts: Mental Wellness and Strategic Roadmapping
- Join Brea Aguas, LMFT, Esq. for an engaging session on mental wellness and strategic roadmapping, ideal for anyone considering a career change. Explore the psychological effects of transitioning careers, practical planning techniques, and effective strategies to help you along the way. You'll gain valuable insights and walk away with a toolkit to navigate challenges and achieve a successful career transition.
- First to Go to Tech: Forging the Path as a First-Generation Professional
- Hear from our panel of low-income and first-generation college graduates who are rising, early career professionals in tech and media. In this panel, we will hear first-hand experiences from our covering topics such as building social capital, dealing with imposter syndrome, and more, as we look in depth at the unique challenges that first-gen professionals experience.
- Leveraging Alumni Networks for Career Growth
- This engaging session dives into the incredible benefits of alumni networks. Discover how to tap into these valuable connections for mentorship, job opportunities, and professional growth.
12:10-1:30 p.m. - Lunch
- Includes Exhibitor Fair and headshot booth
1:30-2:30 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions Round 3
- How to Make Grit Your Superpower
- Shayla Smith empowers rising and established professionals, especially women and marginalized communities. She shares insights on leveraging business opportunities, fostering empathetic leadership, and maximizing productivity. Attendees will learn to cultivate grit as their career superpower, drawing from Smith's experience as a Black female executive in organizational management and strategic planning.
- Mindful Career Transitions: Leveraging Resilience and Self-Reflection for Personal Growth
- In this session, the presenter will explore the intersection between career and identity through mindful transitions, offering strategies for professionals to navigate career changes with resilience and self-reflection. Attendees will learn to align their career choices with core values and personal identity, helping attendees make purposeful, authentic moves in their professional lives. Drawing on clinical counseling experience and personal insights as a Black and gay male, the presenter will share practical mindfulness techniques and reflective exercises to empower participants. This session demonstrates how identity-centered approaches can enhance fulfillment and success. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to embrace change and navigate their professional journeys with clarity and intention.
- Building Your Advisory Board as a Neurodivergent Professional
- This session highlights the value of establishing a personal advisory board for recent graduates. Through a personal case study, UC Davis alumna Star Ghanaat (class of 2021) will explain what an advisory board is, how this model supports young professionals and neurodivergent graduates in launching their careers, and who should be included on your own personal advisory board.
2:40-3:00 p.m. - Closing Remarks
- Includes a raffle, refreshments and some brief closing words.