Career Practitioner Conversations with NCDA

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Aug 2026

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Career Practitioner Conversations is a podcast series from the National Career Development Association (NCDA). NCDA provides research, resources, and support to career development professionals all over the world in their work to empower others to achieve their career and life goals. These conversations with industry leaders cover a wide variety of relevant topics for today's career practitioners. Legal Disclaimer: NCDA provides these episodes solely for educational and informational purposes. Opinions expressed in these episodes do not necessarily reflect the views of NCDA. NCDA disclaims any liability relating to any podcast content.

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August 11, 2026Episode 2131 min

Career Practitioners of Tomorrow - Core Competencies: Evidence-Based Approaches to Professional Growth

This episode is the second in the Career Practitioners of Tomorrow (CPT) series from NCDA's Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion (DICI) Committee. It explores how graduate students, early-career professionals, and new career services practitioners can intentionally build their professional identity through evidence-based strategies rooted in national standards, emerging research, and the evolving landscape of work and career development. Panelists—including counselor educators, career services directors, and workforce development leaders—unpack the core competencies necessary for success in the profession and discuss trends reshaping practice. The conversation emphasizes practical, research-supported pathways for ongoing growth, including scholarship, writing, presentation development, mentorship, networking, and engagement with the National Career Development Association (NCDA). This session: Explains how evidence-based frameworks guide effective practice and develop competencies. Highlights current and future trends shaping the field. Provides actionable guidance for building a strong career development portfolio. Offers tips for engaging deeply in NCDA to accelerate growth. Speakers Moderator: Dr. Nina Talley - Director of Career Development, Center for Career & Professional Development, University of South Florida Dr. Christian Chan - Assistant Professor, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Victor Massaglia - Director of Career Services, University of Minnesota School of Public Health Resources CPT Project for Session 2: Submitting Professional Proposals Career Practitioners of Tomorrow Guide: https://bit.ly/NCDA-DICI-CPT Contact CPT: https://forms.gle/Y4oTKiL4kpdiisF69

July 23, 2026Episode 2010 min

NCDA's International Student Services Committee 2026 Mini-Conference

In this episode, Melissa Venable hosts Dr. Pankaj Desai and Abby Senuty - Co-Chairs of the 2026 NCDA ISSC Mini-Conference hosted by the NCDA International Student Services Committee (ISSC). This conversation introduces the annual I SSC Mini-Conference taking place on Friday, August 7, 10:00-4:00pm CST. Registration is free and open to all NCDA members, and attendance earns up to 5 CEs. Registration Form Information and Agenda Join the NCDA ISSC Committee (Interest Form) Resources ISSC and other NCDA Committees ISSC YouTube Channel Learn More About Our Guests: Dr. Pankaj Desai currently serves The Career Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as the Senior Assistant Director for Inclusion Initiatives. Multiculturalism in higher education, career education, international and first-generation student support, globalization in education, mental health and well-being, college student persistence, and student development are some of his areas of interest. Dr. Desai currently serves the NCDA International Student Services Committee as the Chair of the annual mini-conference planning committee within the Professional Development and Community Connections Team. Together with The Career Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Desai is the recipient of NCDA’s 2025 Diversity Initiative Award. Dr. Desai is also honored to also be a part of the 2026 cohort of the NCDA Leadership Academy. Abby Senuty is the Director of Career Resources at Skagit Valley College and the current Co-Chair of the NCDA International Student Services Committee’s annual mini-conference. Prior to working in higher education, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and worked in college access advising. She is passionate about access to career resources and strengths-based, collaborative approaches to career development.

June 23, 2026Episode 1932 min

Skills You Can See: Data Literacy and Technology Innovations for Job Seekers, and Employers, and Educational Institutions

NCDA's Technology Committee co-chairs Dr. Eric Hines and Angie Thompson host guest Denise Lawson from Quality Information Partners. They discuss data literacy and emerging tools, such as verifiable credentials and digital wallets. Lawson explains data literacy as role-dependent, stressing ethical data creation, asking good questions, and careful interpretation in career guidance. They discuss the shift toward skills-based hiring, using portfolios of verified skills from education, work, and extracurricular activities, starting as early as high school. Lawson emphasizes interoperability standards, trusted credential registries, and keeping humans in the loop — especially as AI changes work and can generate inaccurate claims — so that employers, educators, and counselors can share information with greater trust and better align education with workforce needs. For more on this topic, check out Denise Lawson's recorded NCDA Webinar: Digital Innovations and the Future of the Talent Marketplace . Denise Lawson is a Senior Associate at Quality Information Partners (QIP) where she currently leads projects related to data literacy for education professionals and furthering the use of postsecondary outcomes data. She also works on efforts to promote skills-based hiring and advancement as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s T3 Innovation Network. In addition to these projects, Denise led the development of eLearning courses on data visualization for use by state and local education agencies and training materials related to student data privacy rules and regulations. She is an adjunct faculty and serves as a project advisor for second-year graduate students in the Master of Science in Public Policy and Management program at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College. Denise provides guidance to student teams on the completion of a capstone project performed for a real-world client. She also conducts student workshops to build student skills in areas such as project planning and managing client relationships. Denise has an MBA with a focus on information technology from the University of Edinburgh and a BS in psychology from Georgetown University. She also holds a PMP certification. Erik M. Hines, Ph.D., is a Professor of Counseling in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Educational Sciences within the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. Dr. Hines research agenda focuses on the postsecondary readiness and career development of Black men and boys across various contexts (P-12, community college, 4- year college/university) and critically examines how high impact programming shape their educational and career outcomes and experiences. Additionally, Dr. Hines studies the career exploration of educationally vulnerable students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). He has secured over $12.5 million dollars in research and program funding. Angie Thompson has worked in higher education for over two decades and currently serves as the Assistant Director of AI Education and Student Engagement at the University of Montana. A certified federal application specialist and career coach, she teaches career courses and is nationally recognized for her expertise in AI, career readiness, and federal hiring processes. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the NCDA Technology Committee and is actively involved in the University of Montana’s AI Future Project and AI Community of Practice, where she helps shape campus-wide AI guidelines, initiatives and ethical frameworks. Angie has recently written an article on AI and, this year, will also serve on the NCDA AI Task Force and the NACE AI Content Special Interest Group. Resources Learn about the activities of all of NCDA's Committees NCDA's AI Resources NCDA's Webinar Series

May 12, 2026Episode 1835 min

Beyond Cultural Awareness: Charting the Course for Intercultural Competence in Career Services

Daniel Pack hosts a conversation about intercultural competence in advising international students with Esther Ra and Vicky Lee. Vicky recounts an early negative career services experience that revealed advisors’ lack of understanding of international students’ nuanced needs, including immigration and cultural norms. The speakers emphasize cultural humility and relational advising and present the LBC framework—Launchpad, Bridge, Coach—as a scaffolded approach to culturally responsive career services providing foundational context and real-world examples for U.S. job searching, bridging cultural differences and systems navigation (including addressing imposter syndrome and using tools like GoinGlobal Cultural Wizard), and coaching through ongoing goal setting, follow-ups, and continuous engagement to build agency and career self-efficacy. Daniel Pack is a Career Exploration Specialist at Syracuse University, where he has spent over eight years helping students navigate their professional journeys. His two passions are supporting international students in their career development and exploring the convergence of AI and career services. He is the author of Culture, Communication, and Community: Navigating School, Work, and Belonging in America, a guide for international students adjusting to American professional and academic environments. He is an active member of the National Career Development Association, serving as Co-chair of the Resources Subcommittee for the International Student Services Committee. Daniel can be reached at dvpack@syr.edu and LinkedIn . Esther Ra , Ed.D., CCMC, CELDC (she/her) is currently an Associate Director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Career Services where she co-leads the International Committee, collaborating with many internal and external campus partners to ensure the career needs of the international community. Dr. Ra is also a Lecturer at The Wharton School, lecturing in the MBA, Executive MBA, and Global Executive MBA Communications Programs. She is a Visiting Professor at Seoul National University, and has had appointments at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. She has 25 years of experience in both K-12 and Higher Education sectors as an advisor, professor, researcher, teacher, and professional developer. Dr. Ra is Principal and Founder of ERa Coaching and Consulting ( www.drestherra.com ), where she collaborates with private clients and organizations towards advancing professional development and career pursuits. She is a daughter of immigrants and a bicultural, first-generation scholar-practitioner, coach, and consultant. She can be reached at estherra@upenn.edu or via LinkedIn . Vicky Lee , M.Ed., M.S. (she/her) is a doctoral student and Graduate Research Assistant pursuing a PhD in Education at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Before returning to school full-time, Vicky worked as a higher education and student affairs practitioner for over 7 years, with hands-on experience primarily in career services and international student services. Vicky also has experience working abroad in England and Scotland. Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of Career Equity, Access & Global Career Development at Suffolk University’s Center for Career Equity, Development & Success. Vicky is an international and first-gen student who aspires to be a scholar-practitioner in higher education. She can be reached at vicky.lee@gwu.edu or via LinkedIn . Learn about NCDA's Committees, including the International Student Services Committee .

April 22, 2026Episode 171 hr 7 min

Beyond Green Jobs: Applying Sustainability and Climate Justice Issues to Career Development Practice

Dr. Mike Stebleton hosts, Nicole “Nicki” May, and Dr. Candy Ho in this episode about integrating sustainability and climate justice into career development. Stebleton cites 2023 data that 81% of U.S. college students worry about climate change, framing eco-anxiety as a career issue. The conversation includes a definition of sustainability as meeting present needs without harming future generations (including seven-generation thinking) and climate justice as addressing unequal climate impacts. Michael J. Stebleton , PhD, is a Professor of Higher Education at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He teaches both undergraduates and graduate students in the Department of Organizational, Leadership, Policy, and Development. Nicole L. May is a PhD candidate, instructional designer, and adjunct instructor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Her research centers around higher education’s responses to the climate crisis and sustainability leadership. Dr. Candy Ho is an internationally recognized career development scholar, keynote speaker, and author. She is the author of Discovering Careers and is currently writing two books on green workforce transformation and higher education leadership. As Chancellor’s Chair at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, she works with K-12 educators to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into meaningful learning experiences. Resources Job Function Action Guides from Project Drawdown Actions and hopes of the sustainability-focused student . Inside Higher Ed Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: A global survey . The Lancet Planetary Health Enhancing a career development curriculum by embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals . Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling Beyond green jobs: Students navigate the reality of the climate crisis . Career Convergence Global ambitions, local support: Understanding faculty influence on international students' career development. Canadian Journal of Career Development , 24 (1), 33-49. Applying a critical climate education lens to generative AI . Journal of College and Character , Odyssey Blog Aditi Garg from U of Saskatchewan’s published guide on embedding the SDGs in teaching and learning Climate Literacy in Every Classroom, University of Minnesota United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Hope-Action Theory Career Week North America - 2024 CDBees Padlet

April 14, 2026Episode 1518 min

NCDA Updates: 2026 Conference Overview with Dirk Matthews

In this episode, Melissa Venable interviews NCDA President Dirk Matthews about the NCDA 2026 Global Career Development Conference, June 30–July 2 in Minneapolis. Dirk presents the event theme, “Creative resilience: integrating dynamic solutions and career development,” emphasizing practical, creative problem-solving amid constant change. He highlights the conference’s community, learning, and networking benefits and introduces new conference features this year: partial livestreaming of the opening keynote and select sessions to increase accessibility, and board-hosted evening activities. Keynotes include: Dr. Bidhan (Bobby) Parmar, author of “Radical Doubt;” Azizi Marshall on communication (“Speak Like a Badass”); and Dr. Jaana Kettunen on the international considerations of artificial intelligence. Dirk also shares his leadership goals focused on accessibility, scholarships, and an organizational assessment to guide NCDA's next strategic plan. Dirk Matthews, MS, CMCS is the current NCDA President (2025-2026). He brings a diverse background of experience to career development that is fueled by his work as a therapist, educator, photographer, and filmmaker. He is a leader in career services and an educator at Columbia College Chicago. He is a private practitioner in career development and the owner of an architectural photography business. Dirk has provided career services in higher education and to adults for the past 23 years while teaching film and career preparation courses for 26 years. In addition, he is a Facilitating Career Development instructor. Dirk previously served as chair of the NCDA Training and Education Council, and as co-chair of the Technology Committee for three years. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Alumni Relations at Columbia. Dirk received his master’s degree in organizational psychology from California Southern University. He has been published in several journals including Career Developments and has an extensive history of presenting on subjects ranging from film analysis, portfolio development, and career development. His recent research focuses on the impact of the pandemic on organizations. Resources NCDA 2026 Global Career Development Conference

April 7, 2026Episode 1610 min

DEI Symposium Series - Concluding 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026

This episode closes a podcast series from the DEI symposium at NCDA’s 2025 Conference in Atlanta. Dr. Cheryl Love, who highlights the NCDA Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion Committee (DICI), encourages listeners to access symposium workshops via the podcast, and invites participation amid efforts to minimize DEI work. Dr. Natasha Barnes-Gwynn, DICI co-chair, previews the fourth annual DEI symposium in Minneapolis, including content on ethics, multicultural competence, supervision, working with diverse populations, a State of the Union, and mentoring. She describes DICI’s subcommittees, resources, publications, a new group for new professionals and students, a membership meeting, and a reception. Dr. Frank Gorritz FitzSimons issues a call to action to join DICI for support, impact, and community. Dr. Cheryl Love is a Career Counselor and a College Specialist for the Arts, Humanities, School of Education and School of Public Policy in the Career Center at the University of California, Riverside. In this role she also serves as the Liaison to the African Student Programs, the Black Student Success Initiative, Basic Needs, UCR Transfer Work Group, and the Kessler Scholar Program. Dr. Natasha Barnes-Gwynn , CCC, NCC, FCD-I is a Clinical Professor at Southern New Hampshire University. She also serves as a career consultant through her private practice, Increasing Our Understanding (I.O.U.) Consultation, LLC. Dr. Barnes-Gwynn is a newly appointed board member for the Council of Accreditation and Related Educational Programs. Dr. Frank Gorritz FitzSimons , LPC, is a counselor educator in Florida. He is a nationally recognized scholar and counselor educator on topics including providing affirmative counseling care to queer and transgender communities of color, providing multicultural supervision, utilizing diverse approaches to counseling work, as well as addressing and disrupting white supremacy in counselor education. Resources: NCDA Committees NCDA 2026 Global Career Development Conference - Minneapolis

March 31, 2026Episode 1423 min

DEI Symposium Series - Barriers to Women's Leadership in Male-Dominated Careers

This episode is part of the DEI Symposium Series, developed from the DEI Symposium presented at the 2025 NCDA Global Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Debra Sgro and Dr. Karen Ingram discuss barriers to women’s advancement in male-dominated careers and the concept of the “broken rung,” noting representation drops sharply at higher leadership levels in technology and education. Dr. Ingram describes intersectional challenges as a woman of color, the politics of advancement, and earning a doctorate to meet credential expectations and strengthen her leadership voice. Debra recounts being denied an expected promotion, pushing for an off-cycle promotion, and learning self-advocacy and visibility. They also discuss gender bias and offer tips including assertive boundary setting, documenting contributions, building reciprocal relationships, thinking entrepreneurially, and pairing self-advocacy with amplifying other women. Deborah Sgro is a certified career professional with a private practice, Beyond The Glass Ceiling, LLC . She specializes in coaching technology and business professionals at all levels to achieve their envisioned career. As a former senior financial technologist professional, she worked on Wall Street for over 40 years developing technical solutions addressing business objectives for the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, and BNY Mellon. Throughout that time, she also groomed emerging talent by establishing and running mentoring programs, providing on-the-job training sessions, and personally coaching to assist people with their career advancement goals. Deborah holds a CCSP certification from the National Career Development Association. She is also a certified project manager and certified Agile Professional from the Project Management Institute. Deborah holds two master's degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology, one in Computer Science and the other in Technology Management. She is on the Board of Advisors for Women in Big Data , and is the Global Mentoring Director for that non-profit professional association. Deborah also addresses corporate women resource groups, university audiences, and presents at NCDA conferences on all aspects of career advancement. For more information: www.linkedin.com/in/deborahsgro Dr. Karen Ingram is the Career and Technical Education Director for Davidson County (North Carolina) Schools and current President of the North Carolina Career Development Association. Resources: Dr. Heilman - Gender Bias in the Workplace: Obstacles to Career Progress (Video) McKinsey and Company and Lean-In.org: Women in the Workplace 2024 BLS Reports - Women In The Labor Force

March 24, 2026Episode 1323 min

Career Practitioners of Tomorrow - Agility in the Changing Landscape: Support for New Career Practitioners & Workforce Developers

NCDA's Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion (DICI) Committee introduces a series of discussions that support graduate students in career counseling programs and other new workforce and career development practitioners. This episode is the first in the Career Practitioners of Tomorrow (CPT) series. It introduces the L.E.A.D. (Legacy, Equity, Advocacy, and Development) approach for career professionals to navigate changes in the economy that affect the career development profession. Speakers: Moderator - Denise Felder, Workforce Equity Advocate, and Associate Director of Career Services at the University of Minnesota’s College of Education & Human Development Dr. Nina Talley, Director of Career Development, University of South Florida Dr. Natasha Barnes-Gwynn, Owner of I.O.U. Consultation, LLC, and Clinical Faculty with Southern New Hampshire University Denise Felder (she/her) is a career coach, writer, and keynote speaker with 20 years experience encouraging individuals and challenges systems to address disparities in education and employment. Her unique background in journalism, career and college readiness, and higher education have encouraged and informed youth and adults in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, AmeriCorps, TRIO, community colleges, universities, and numerous workforce development and community organizations. Denise is a past president of the Minnesota Career Development Association, a Certified Poverty Awareness Coach, an Offender Job Retention Specialist, and a YWCA Racial Justice Facilitator. Her professional development includes participation in the Equity Works Leadership Institute at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy with the Twin Cities African American Leadership Forum, and completion of the Equity and Diversity Certificate program (ECHO) from the University of Minnesota’s Office of Equity and Diversity. Her consulting business DeniseMpls Career Services ( https://denisempls.org ) is based in Minneapolis, MN, operating in cyberspace, and living in the hearts of many. Dr. Nina L. Talley is a higher education leader with 25+ years of experience in career services, workforce development, and student success. She has directed multimillion-dollar workforce initiatives, developed AI-powered coaching frameworks, and worked extensively on career and leadership in tertiary education. Her expertise lies in integrating technology and student-centered design to improve persistence, retention, and outcomes. Dr. Natasha Barnes-Gwynn , CCC, NCC, FCD-I is a Clinical Professor at Southern New Hampshire University. She also serves as a career consultant through her private practice, Increasing Our Understanding (I.O.U.) Consultation, LLC. Dr. Barnes-Gwynn is a newly appointed board member for the Council of Accreditation and Related Educational Programs. Resources CPT Project for Session 1: Social Mobility & Economic Disparities Career Practitioners of Tomorrow Guide https://bit.ly/NCDA-DICI-CPT Contact Career Practitioners of Tomorrow: https://forms.gle/Y4oTKiL4kpdiisF69

March 10, 2026Episode 1247 min

DEI Symposium Series - Empowering Underrepresented Students for Today's Workforce

This episode is part of the DEI Symposium Series, developed from the DEI Symposium presented at the 2025 NCDA Global Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Alicia Monroe and Ruben Britt share highlights of their conference session -- No Barriers! No Disruptions! SOLUTIONS!: Empowering Underrepresented Students for Today's Workforce -- which addressed intergenerational workplace conflicts, validating students’ narratives, self-reflection on culture and barriers, and inclusive career-preparation strategies. They note shifting U.S. workforce demographics and distinguish race as a social construct from culture as identity. Emphasizing communicative action and active listening, the discussion includes how social identities, stereotyping, and micro/macroaggressions can negatively impact hiring and student development. Recommended solutions include cultural competency and implicit-bias training, mentoring and shadowing, inclusive internships, partnerships with student groups, and highlighting alumni success. Ruben Britt, Jr. is an educator, author, lecturer, and nationally certified career counselor with over 49 years of experience in education as both a teacher and career planning counselor. A nationally recognized expert on career coaching and educational issues, Ruben has served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Education, the Educational Testing Service, the New Jersey Department of Higher Education, and several colleges and community organizations. He is the author of five books and has written numerous articles on career development, education, and social issues for publications such as Diversity in Education , Upscale Magazine , Black Enterprise , The Philadelphia Inquirer , and Black Collegian Magazine . Ruben is the former Assistant Director of the Office of Career Advancement at Rowan University and the former host of Career Talk on WGLS-FM, a radio show offering tips and advice on career planning and job searching. Alicia S. Monroe, EdD, is a PK–20 experienced educator, international education consultant, and career development practitioner. She serves as Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rowan University, where she designs and implements equity-centered, high-impact college-to-career initiatives in collaboration with campus partners and employers. Her work includes sustained partnership with the Office of Accessibility Services, supporting collaborative planning, mentoring, career coaching, and internship and employment pathways for students with disabilities. Dr. Monroe is a 2025 inductee of the NACE Academy of Fellows, the CEO and founder of Solutions for Sustained Success, LLC, and national faculty for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). An esteemed scholar-practitioner, she has co-authored an academic text and published multiple scholarly articles focused on creating inclusive learning environments, career readiness, equity, and student engagement. She is one of the original architects of the Whole Child Framework, a trademark of ASCD, and her professional service includes active leadership within NACE and the National Career Development Association (NCDA).