Sign up for winter learning and professional development opportunities
The winter season allows us to slow down and take stock of our priorities, goals, and personal inventory. This time of year offers a chance to breathe, regroup, and look ahead with clarity. It can also be an ideal moment to check in with yourself professionally, how you’re growing, where you want to stretch next, and what support you may need along the way.
Whether you’re interested in developing new leadership skills, deepening collaboration with colleagues, or simply exploring what is possible in your career, Stanford offers a wide range of resources to help you continue evolving. From career coaching and structured development programs to self-paced learning tools, there are opportunities at every stage of your journey.
Below, you’ll find a selection of learning and development offerings available now and into the new year. We invite you to browse, reflect on what aligns with your goals, and use these tools to set yourself up for a strong and intentional start to the year ahead. Feel free to revisit this article as a reference for ongoing development and career learning opportunities.
Engage in personalized coaching: 1:1 Development Coaching powered by CoachHub
Visit Cardinal at Work to learn more about starting your coaching journey this January; register by January 12
1:1 Development Coaching powered by CoachHub is a personalized coaching experience designed to support your growth and development journey. This program is designed for all benefits-eligible staff who want customized support in enhancing their leadership skills and applying best practices. It aims to boost their skills and confidence in specific areas, help them adjust smoothly to new roles or responsibilities, and achieve measurable goals.
1:1 Development Coaching powered by CoachHub has already made an incredible difference, with 50 employees embarking on their coaching journeys in Sept. and Oct. 2025 – and 675 participants since the program started in May 2023. Participants have focused on areas such as self-appreciation and appreciation of others, leadership presence, emotional regulation, and authenticity—earning a satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5 in a recent survey. One participant described it as the "best professional development opportunity I've ever had," while others praised the clarity, perspective, and guidance their coaching sessions provide. Another participant liked the flexibility that coaching offers to discuss what felt meaningful in the moment: “It's nice how these sessions can help meet the dynamic needs that come up spontaneously in my life. Today, we worked on my energy levels, which wasn't something I expected to work on during these sessions.”
If this resonates with you, register by January 12 to begin your coaching journey on January 26. You can begin your coaching journey on a rolling basis each month from January through May 2026, allowing more flexibility in determining a start date that best aligns with your schedule. Cardinal at Work for more details and take the first step toward transforming your goals into actionable growth.
Hear from past CoachHub participants
Navigate your career journey: Career Counseling Network
Learn more on Cardinal at Work and schedule your career counseling session today
Career Counseling Network offers personalized, one-on-one guidance tailored to your unique goals and professional journey. Our experienced counselors, who understand Stanford’s diverse roles and growth opportunities, help you identify your strengths, explore career paths, and develop actionable strategies. Whether you’re considering a role change, seeking clarity on your next steps, or aiming for advancement, you’ll gain valuable insights and practical tools to move forward with confidence.
Typical topics covered in career counseling sessions include clarifying career goals, developing career plans, identifying options, and crafting resumes or cover letters. One employee shared the impact that working with a career counselor had on their career: “I have found this to be the most valuable resource in my career. It has helped me in so many ways – from improving my work experience, strengthening my skills, and learning more about myself so I can be a better contributor at work, and helping me in navigating next steps in my career.”
Professional development
Stanford Business Essentials
SBE is a straightforward, high-impact online program offered by the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Learn from world-class faculty who have taught programs for CEOs, Silicon Valley startups, and Fortune 500 leaders, while gaining practical, real-world concepts through four foundational courses: Economics and Strategy, Data and Decision-Making, Finance and Accounting, and Communication and Influence. Register via STARS.
Professional development courses
Register on Axess to join an upcoming (Jan. 29 at 11:30 a.m.) professional development and LinkedIn Learning office hour to learn more about the range of courses available to you.
Unlock your potential with professional development courses in the new year. This opportunity empowers benefits-eligible staff to sharpen their skills, expand their knowledge, and accelerate career growth. With a wide range of courses, all STAP-eligible, you can tailor your learning journey to meet your unique career goals and aspirations.
Upcoming courses:
- Jan. 21-23 The Power of Habit (3-part course): Explore the transformative impact of habits on our lives, learn how to identify and reshape your routine using a simple yet powerful framework based on cues and rewards.
- Jan 27 - Lunch & Learn: When Conflict is Good (No fee): Discover how to turn conflict into an opportunity for growth and trust-building! Bring an actual disagreement you’re facing, and our expert facilitators will equip you with effective tools to navigate challenges, leaving you feeling more confident and empowered to tackle future conflicts.
- Feb. 11 - Working Genius (NEW!): Unlock your potential and enhance your effectiveness at work with our dynamic interactive class on the 6 Types of Working Genius framework! You’ll discover your unique gifts and frustrations, gain practical strategies for improving team dynamics and engagement, and equip yourself with tools to boost morale and reduce burnout – all while learning how to apply these insights in both your professional and personal life.
Additional winter courses and dates will be listed in the course calendar on Cardinal at Work in the coming weeks. Check back soon!
Free learning platforms
Learn more on Cardinal at Work
Stanford offers LinkedIn Learning and Coursera as free professional development tools to learn new skills, improve your job performance, and advance your career. Access the entire catalog of 21,000+ video-based courses across business, technology, and creative topics in LinkedIn Learning. You can also earn co-branded professional certificates and continuing education units for selected certifications, such as those offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). In Coursera, access to a subset of 3,500+ free courses through the “Coursera for Stanford” program across topics such as academic disciplines, business, technology, and professional development.
Register for an upcoming office hour via Cardinal at Work.
Audit a Stanford academic course
Discover more about auditing a course on Cardinal at Work
Support your professional development, career enrichment, or personal interests by taking a course with world-class Stanford faculty. You can audit lecture courses for free to explore a topic that interests you in depth.
