By Christina Tentilucci, Learning Partner
We always encourage our team to sharpen their skills through professional development opportunities. Last month, our Learning and Development Team hosted a Winter Workshop Week packed with sessions that allowed our staff to broaden their horizons and learn from their peers. We sat down with Christina Tentilucci, Elevo’s Learning Partner, to recap this week of growth.
What an incredible week! Our Winter Workshop Week (December 16-20) has officially come to a close, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment that our team brought to this event. From mastering spreadsheets to discovering their inner leaders, it was a week filled with valuable insights, hands-on learning, and meaningful connections.
A Week Full of Learning
Professional development is a huge part of career growth and success. We wanted to offer our employees the chance to enhance their skills and explore areas of the business that they may not have had the chance to. Continuous learning, empowerment, and inspiring innovation are all important parts of Elevo’s culture, and we want to make sure our team knows they’re always at the forefront.
We packed five amazing sessions into just one week, and we were so thrilled to see our team engaging, learning, and applying new skills. Here’s a quick recap of the workshops we offered:
1. Maintaining Balance and Well-Being in the Workplace with Joy Diwa
In this session, Joy Diwa led participants through a practical “PULSE” exercise to identify imbalances in their personal and professional lives. She empowered attendees with actionable solutions to restore balance toward a healthier and happier you. Joy also introduced the #PulseCheck Slack channel, encouraging regular check-ins and support. Participants left with practical strategies to build habits that support overall well-being.
2. Cultural Competency 101 with Antoinette Anderson & Micaela Hamakawa
In this session, Antoinette and Micaela shared insights on how understanding cultural differences can elevate communication, enhance collaboration, and foster a more inclusive work environment. Through interactive activities and the 4E Model of Cultural Competence (exposure, experience, education, empathy), attendees gained valuable tools to navigate diversity and strengthen team dynamics.
3. Leadership for All: Discover Your Inner Leader with Karin Wu & Brian LeTendre
Karin and Brian facilitated a discussion on creative leadership and ways to put others in a position to succeed and lead. They explored ways people can lead from any role. For instance, when joining a new team or project, individuals can leverage their “fresh set of eyes” to offer valuable input. This empowering influence can be used to highlight the great work of others and create opportunities for team members to shine.
4. Public Speaking Tips & Tricks with Darrell Burnside & Christina Tentilucci
In this interactive session, Darrell and Christina helped participants build confidence in public speaking using the 4 C’s framework (capture attention, connect with audience, provide the right context, conclude with a call to action). They shared practical tips for combatting nervousness, crafting engaging speeches, and also provided a supportive space for attendees to practice their own 30-second pitch. Whether preparing for a major presentation or a quick pitch, this session equipped participants with the skills to captivate and connect with any audience.
5. Spreadsheets Tips & Tricks with Jamie Marquis
In this hands-on session, Jamie Marquis unlocked the full potential of Google Sheets, teaching participants how to work smarter, not harder. From organizing data and using formulas to creating dynamic visualizations, attendees learned essential tips and tricks to streamline their workflow. Whether it’s filtering, formatting, or building compelling charts, Jamie provided practical tools to elevate spreadsheet skills and transform the way data is managed.
The Impact on Our Team
Through learning about a variety of topics, our team had the chance to walk away feeling empowered, confident, and ready to tackle new challenges. Our incredible presenters brought energy and expertise that made these sessions unforgettable. They went above and beyond to share their knowledge and help their fellow staff grow their careers. We cannot thank them enough!
When planning the workshop, we also gave our team the chance to vote on the topics they wanted to learn about the most. And, their input helped shape a very impactful week, earning a 4.8/5 satisfaction rating.
Looking Ahead
As we tackle 2025 head on, we’d like to encourage everyone to reflect on what they learned in 2024 and how it can best help them meet their goals for the new year. How can you apply those new skills and insights in the year ahead? We hope our team is feeling inspired and ready to take on whatever 2025 brings.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Winter Workshop Week, whether as a learner, presenter, or contributor behind the scenes. We are beyond grateful for your involvement and couldn’t have asked for a better group to learn and grow with.
We look forward to continuing our journey of learning, growing, and making an impact together!
