Professor of Practice, Management and Operations
9 Learning Experiences
Personal and Professional Development
4-Course Series
50 hours
12 hours per course (approx.)
About Personal and Professional Development
Develop the skills you need to grow personally and professionally in today’s workplace. This Specialization focuses on key drivers of long-term success:
Finding purpose at work
Building a strong personal brand
Developing meaningful professional relationships
Applying research-backed strategies for success
You’ll learn how to:
Define your values and connect them to your work
Communicate your strengths and position yourself effectively
Build motivation, resilience, and consistent habits
Navigate your career with clarity and intention
Through practical frameworks and real-world insights, each course emphasizes applied learning. You’ll create a personal brand story, develop a networking action plan, and build strategies to improve performance and well-being. These skills are relevant across industries and roles—from early-career professionals to experienced leaders.
This Specialization is ideal for anyone looking to gain clarity, improve career outcomes, and build habits that support long-term success. No prior experience is required.
Applied Learning Project
Throughout the Specialization, you’ll complete applied exercises that connect personal and professional development concepts to your own life and career. You’ll reflect on your values and purpose through Self-Affirmation and Purposeful Leadership Reflection, and use structured exercises like Personal Goals, Role Model Reflection and Reflected Best Self to better understand your strengths.
You’ll also build and express your personal brand by designing your brand logo and creating your brand story, while strengthening relationships through guided networking exercises and a Networking Action Plan Reflection. In addition, you’ll use Assess Your Conscientiousness and Grit and develop a Personalized Action Plan for Success to turn your learning into clear next steps.
Skills You'll Gain
- Goal Setting
- Employee Motivation
- Business Networking
- Brand Management
- Communication Strategies
- Leadership
- Develop Networks
- Personal Branding
- Team Motivation
- Brand Identity
- Analytical Thinking
- Planning
- Storytelling
Jane Dutton Collegiate Lecturer Emerita and Intermittent Lecturer in Business, Stephen M Ross School of Business
2 Learning Experiences
Professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity, School of Public Health and Professor of Health Behavior, Department of Family Medicine
2 Learning Experiences
Lecturer II in International and Comparative Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
1 Learning Experience
Clinical Assistant Professor of Business, Stephen M Ross School of Business
1 Learning Experience
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
4 Courses in this series
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Free U-M Access CoursePurpose at Work: A Course for Employees and Leaders
Discover how purpose impacts workplace engagement and learn strategies for finding and fostering purpose in your work and leadership.
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Free U-M Access CoursePersonal Branding: Stand Out and Succeed
Build your personal brand by applying strategies from top companies to define your values, pitch, and story.
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Free U-M Access CourseHow to Network: Leading Yourself to Lead Others
Develop a networking mindset and learn practical strategies to cultivate relationships for personal growth and career advancement.
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Free U-M Access CourseThe Science of Success: What Researchers Know that You Should Know
Uncover research-backed strategies for achieving personal, academic, and career success through daily habits and small wins.
