Kisha Brown-Tuck, PMP

Senior Project Manager, Design and Construction, UMB

In the wake of the pandemic, I was a new employee interested in navigating UMB’s culture and developing stronger connections with other employees across campus.  The UMBrella Coaching Program felt like an ideal opportunity to do so.  Through meaningful dialogues and interactions with the women in my coaching group, I was able to redefine my perceptions of workplace connectedness and professional growth.  These women offered diverse experiences and insights into how to overcome obstacles, achieve goals and OWN our AWESOMENESS along the way!  The monthly professional development events ranging from panel discussions with inspiring UMB leaders to virtual networking sessions with fellow members of Cohort 6 and program alumni, provided me with fresh tools and resources to expand my potential.  Every learning event was well planned and I left each session with nuggets of wisdom that I will continue to apply across various scenarios.  What truly set this program apart from any other I have experienced, was the unwavering dedication of my coach, Jennifer Litchman, MA, SVP for External Relations.  Jennifer’s guidance and support were invaluable and created a lasting impact on my personal and professional growth.  I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an empowering and transformative UMBrella program and community. 

Fleesie Hubbard, MS

Veena Kavdia

Manager, Enterprise Application Development, CITS

The UMBrella Coaching Program is an excellent program that brought together women from various areas of UMB to discuss their career goals and support each other in tracking and achieving those goals. As a new hire working 100% remotely, my initial goal was straightforward: to learn about UMB and expand my network. Soon, my small, cohesive group helped me realize the broader scope of this program, which includes both personal and professional well-being. The way the program content was delivered made it easy for me to attend and share my thoughts without fear of judgment. By the end of the program, I had gained valuable tools to help me succeed.

Victoria Meadows, M.S.

Manager, Enterprise Risk Management Program, Office of the Provost

The UMBrella Coaching Program has been a welcomed blessing during this time in my career. Over the course of the past eight months, I have undergone a lot of change personally and professionally. Within the coaching meetings, the ladies that I was surrounded by were a great support and comfort led by our amazing coach, Niya Werts and included Lamiaa, Lili, Latesha, and Tralisa. We all bonded over similar experiences, and it was great to be able to look forward to our monthly meetings. It was a safe space that was created by Niya to be able to discuss the vulnerabilities that we were facing as women and how we can work through them to be the best version of ourselves. Beyond our monthly meetings, the monthly programming within the UMBrella Coaching Program was exceptional. They were relevant topics that were engaging and insightful, and I was able to put them into practice as I was learning. The empowerment that was fostered and very much encouraged within the program is something that I am going to carry with me during my career at UMB and beyond. The skills learned during my time in the UMBrella Coaching Program have enhanced my abilities as an individual, as a mentor, as a UMB colleague, and as a leader at UMB. I am proud to count myself as an alumnus of the UMBrella Coaching Program and look forward to being a part of a community that fosters the success of women!

Megan Blackwell

Program Administrative Specialist, School of Dentistry

When the opportunity to apply for the UMBrella Coaching Program presented itself (less than one year in to my employment here) I was rather unsure if I should apply. With great trepidation, and the full support of my supervisor and other faculty members, I submitted my application. I was pleasantly surprised when I received notification that I was accepted! Looking back now, I guess I was dealing with a bit of “Imposter Syndrome” at the time, and honestly, I still do a bit from time to time. Unsure of what was to come, questions swam around in my head: how will this program work, how will it benefit me, how will I connect with my professional peers and the coaches? I opened my mind to the possibility of growth and learning, and it was one of the best decisions I could have made. I was so fortunate to have been placed with my coaches Jenny Owens, ScD, MS, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, UMB and Thelma B. Wright, M.D., J.D., MBA, Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine. They complimented each other in their approaches to the meetings, how they guided our group, and how they interacted with each other. They were our coaches and they lead the meetings, however, they presented themselves as our peers in all ways that counted. They opened dialogues and shared personal stories of successes, failures, and lessons learned in such a way that enabled me to feel comfortable opening up. I was able to discuss my own successes, failures, and learned lessons without feeling judged or less than.

This experience presented me with the best opportunity to meet some amazing, strong, and professional women who taught me through their experiences as well. The program offered different events, panels, etc. which provided such a variety of information which I have been able to process and use in my professional life as well as my personal life. As women we look at things a bit different and we are so hard on ourselves, and oftentimes on other women. This program allowed me to see and understand what other women are facing in their professional lives, some similar to my experiences, and some I will never have to experience, but now can recognize and acknowledge. Thank you to the amazing Intersectionality Panel for opening my eyes and my mind to information that I had not stopped long enough to dissect and understand because it just didn’t occur to me. I suppose when you do not have to deal with a problem yourself, we as humans tend to put it in the back of our minds, but this program makes you pull it out, think about it, address it, and learn from those around you.  This program allowed me to grow professionally, but most importantly, it allowed me to learn and grow as a human being, as a woman, as an ally for other women in all walks of life! Thank you Jenny and Thelma, you were both amazing coaches!