Brain-Based Career Development

Career Level: Basic- and intermediate-level career services professionals
Competency: Needs assessment and goal setting
Fee: FREE (member); FREE (nonmember);

Summary
For most individuals, the career development process is inherently overwhelming due to the sheer amount of information and future-based thinking that goes along with making life-altering decisions. In today’s world of information overload, practitioners must understand the brain’s biological limits and the impact this has on career development. Research in neuropsychology has highlighted limitations in the processing power of specific areas within the human brain. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and imagining the future, is easily “overwhelmed.” Decision-making is negatively impacted when the brain is overloaded with information; imagining the future—something you have not experienced—also takes a lot of mental effort. People spend more time thinking of problems (what they have seen) than solutions (what they have never seen). Knowing that decision-making gets difficult when the prefrontal cortex is exposed to too much information, especially with future-based decisions, career development practitioners can be strategic in the manner in which they provide services and resources to clients.

Following this program, you will be able to:
- Understand the Brain-Based Career Development model;
- Examine “decision-making” and “taking action” from a brain-based perspective;
- Examine how clients become overwhelmed;
- Practice the seven BBCD coaching techniques; and
- Formulate a plan for how to implement the BBCD model in current career development practices.
Presenters

Holly Seckinger, Executive Director of Employer Engagement, Ohio University - Career Services
As a fourth-generation Bobcat with deep ties to southeastern Ohio, Holly Seckinger is a natural connector of alumni, employers, and students. She currently serves as the executive director of employer engagement on the career services team. She previously worked in development for leadership annual giving, as well as alumni engagement in the College of Business. Prior to that, she had a long career at Fifth Third Bank in Columbus, Ohio. She is working on becoming a three-time Bobcat as a Ph.D. candidate in the higher education program. She completed her master's in the same program, as well as a certificate in management and leadership. She received her bachelor's of business administration in marketing.

Aaron Sturgill, Executive Director, Career & Employer Engagement, Ohio University - Career Services
Aaron Sturgill serves as the executive director for career readiness at Ohio University. With a background in career services, student development, and recruiting, he has dedicated his career to empowering students to achieve their professional goals. He is known for his innovative approaches to career readiness, fostering strong industry partnerships, and enhancing the employability of graduates. His commitment to student success is evident in his leadership and the impactful programs he has implemented at Ohio University.

Dustin Saunier, Director of Operations, Ohio University - Career Services
Dustin Saunier is a two-time Ohio University graduate, earning a BSS in 2007 and an M.B.A. in 2013. He broke into the career field in 2018 by joining the Career & Leadership Development Center after working for years as an internal auditor. He has been a Project Management Institute Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) since 2022 and takes pride in being a specialist in systems and analytics for his alma mater.

Imants Jaunarajs, Assistant Vice President, Ohio University - Division of Student Affairs
Imants Jaunarajs serves as the assistant vice president for the Division of Student Affairs at Ohio University. He oversees career services, the Center for Student Engagement & Leadership, sorority and fraternity life, and event services. With 20 years of experience in university career centers, he is a creator of innovative and outcome driven career readiness best practices, including Brain Based Career Development (BBCD) and Leadership Coaching (an executive coaching model for students). He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Earlham College and Master of Arts from Western Michigan University.