Employee Development Day

Employee Development Day

We are excited to announce our upcoming Employee Development Days, themed From Insight to Impact: Competencies in Action. This theme reflects Pace University’s commitment to turning learning into meaningful, real-world impact. It’s not just about gaining insight – it’s about applying what we learn to elevate our work, strengthen our teams, and advance our mission. Employee Development Day will be in-person at the New York City Campus and Pleasantville Campus.

Register Today!

1. Speak with your supervisor and make a plan to attend.
2. Employee Development Day 2026 – Fill out form
3. Your registration is for the whole event – Select the track that most fits your current role.

Campus: Pleasantville Campus
Date: Friday, March 27 | 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: Multipurpose Room, Willcox Hall

Campus: New York City Campus
Date: Tuesday, March 31 | 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: Student Center, One Pace Plaza

What's New This Year

Employee Development Day will look a little different in 2026:

• Two distinct learning tracks designed to meet employees where they are:
  • Managers & Leaders – Pace employees who are currently managers and/or leaders at the University
  • Individual Contributors – Pace employees who are not currently managing employees and/or aspiring to be Managers/Leaders
• A strong focus on Pace’s core performance competencies (PDF), helping employees connect skill development directly to their daily work
• Highly practical, application-focused workshops that promote upskilling and skills employees can immediately apply in their roles

What to Expect

Designed as an in-person, internal conference for staff and full-time faculty, you can expect to engage in networking activities, identify your groundwork for the day during a keynote, attend concurrent workshops related to your chosen track, reflect on what you’re learning with colleagues at lunch, and visit information tables.

On the day of your event, head straight to our registration tables where you will be greeted by our Welcome Crew who will provide you with your materials for the day. You can find the New York City Campus registration table at the Student Center, One Pace Plaza and the Pleasantville Campus registration table at the Multipurpose Room, Willcox Hall.

There is no need to register for each workshop ahead of time! Your track selection automatically registers you for the corresponding workshops. On the day of the event, our staff will help you find your way to the workshop locations.

Event Schedules*

Our incredible facilitators are planning dynamic workshops with you in mind, and in the meantime, we’re excited to share our current schedule.

*Schedules are subject to change due to facilitator additions and room availability.

Pleasantville Campus – Friday, March 27

• 9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.: Check-in and Networking
• 9:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Welcome and Overview of the Day
• 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.: Keynote Speaker– Peta-Gay Clarke, Diversity Manager & Program Lead, Code Next, Google, Inc.
• 11:05 a.m.–11:50 a.m.: Workshop Tracks Session 1
  • Manager and Leaders Track: From Difficult to Impactful: Mastering Feedback in a Coaching‑First Workplace
  • Individual Contributors Track: So…What’s Going On at Pace?: How Everyday Conversations Shape the Pace Experience
• 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.: Workshop Tracks – Session 2
  • Manager and Leaders Track: Leading with Strengths: Unlocking Team Potential Through CliftonStrengths
  • Individual Contributors Track: Project Skills Made Simple: Essential Tools for Managing Work from Start to Finish
• 12:45 p.m.–1:55 p.m.: Lunch & Learn (Sponsored by TIAA)
  • Keynote: Al Loureiro, Managing Director and Head of Retirement Sales and Product Coaching, TIAA
• 2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.: Workshop Tracks – Session 3
  • Manager and Leaders Track: Leading Projects with Confidence: Practical Project Management for People Leaders
  • Individual Contributors Track: From Clash to Connection: Communicating Across Worldviews
• 2:55 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: TIAA Sponsored Workshop
• 3:30 p.m.: Closing Activities and Raffles

New York City Campus – Tuesday, March 31

• 9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.: Registration and Networking
• 9:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Welcomes from Pace Leadership and Overview of the Day
• 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.: Keynote – We Are All Miracles, Facilitated by – Neil Braun, Dean Emeritus for Pace University
• 11:05 a.m.–11:50 a.m.: Workshop 1
  • Manager and Leader Track: From Difficult to Impactful: Mastering Feedback in a Coaching‑First Workplace
  • Individual Contributor Track: From Intention to Impact: Practicing and Measuring Inclusive Excellence
• 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.: Workshop 2
  • Manager and Leader Track: Leading Projects with Confidence: Practical Project Management for People Leaders
  • Individual Contributor Track: From Clash to Connection: Communicating Across Worldviews
• 12:45 p.m.–1:55 p.m.: Lunch and Learn – sponsored by TIAA
  • Keynote: Al Loureiro, Managing Director and Head of Retirement Sales and Product Coaching, TIAA
• 2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.: Workshop 3
  • Manager and Leader Track: Leading with Strengths: Unlocking Team Potential Through CliftonStrengths
  • Individual Contributor Track: Project Skills Made Simple: Essential Tools for Managing Work from Start to Finish
• 2:55 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: TIAA Sponsored Workshop
• 3:30 p.m.: Closing Activities and Raffles

Plan Your Travel

If you are coming from a different campus, please refer to Bus Schedules and Shuttle Services:

• From the Law School Campus, Pace offers transportation via the Pace White Plains Shuttle Bus to the Metro North station.
• The Pleasantville Campus offers the Pace Pleasantville Shuttle Bus from Metro North to the Pleasantville campus.
• A local Metro North train connects Grand Central and Pleasantville.

Keynote Speakers

Neil Braun
Dean Emeritus for Pace University

Neil S. Braun started out as a corporate attorney and has served as President of the NBC Television Network, CEO of Viacom Entertainment, and President of Imagine Entertainment (Ron Howard’s and Brian Grazer’s production company). He has been an internet entrepreneur and partnered with the producer of SHREK to create CGI animation company Vanguard Animation. He has served on the Board, Audit and Governance Committees of IMAX Corporation and chaired nonprofit boards and committees. He was Dean of Pace University’s Lubin School of Business from 2010 until 2020. He is a cofounder of Mediflix, a platform providing medical mentorship from hundreds of the world’s top specialists to help individuals navigate their chronic conditions. And he is now co-teaching a course in Emotional Intelligence and Leadership and developing other initiatives at Pace University.

Peta-Gay Clarke
Board of Trustees Member for Pace University
Diversity Manager & Program Lead, Code Next, Google, Inc.

Peta-Gay Clarke is a well-rounded Business Technology and Community leader coupled with a passion for providing Computer Science education to underrepresented youth. Peta-Gay is a Diversity Manager working within Google’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division and an Adjunct professor within Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science. At Google, Peta-Gay is the Program Lead for Code Next—Google’s first community-centric initiative to expand tech social capital for Black and Latinx youth. The Code Next mission is to cultivate programs and events for high schoolers.

Prior to joining Google in 2015, Peta-Gay was the Deputy Director of IT at the Columbia University School of Journalism. Earlier in her career she worked as a Software engineer building web-based applications for companies such as Federal Reserve Bank, NYC Department of Education, New York Magazine and COACH Inc. Peta-Gay has received the Civic Engagement Award for Academic Excellence and Community Service from Pace University, the President’s Award for Commitment, Service, & Leadership from Farmingdale State University, and the Corporate Vision Award from 1199 SEIU Child Care Corporation. Peta-Gay holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Programming from Farmingdale State University of New York (SUNY) and has earned a Master’s Degree from Pace University. Peta-Gay is a 1st generation Jamaican American. She is a native New Yorker and resides in Long Island.

Al Loureiro
Managing Director and Head of Retirement Sales and Product Coaching, TIAA

Al Loureiro has more than 17 years of senior leadership experience at TIAA, where he has built and scaled high-performing teams across retirement distribution, leadership development, and client engagement. His expertise spans investment planning, retirement income strategies, advisor enablement, and enterprise performance transformation—supporting both individual professionals and large institutions.

Al leads a national training, coaching, and leadership development organization that equips hundreds of associates and leaders each year. He designs scalable coaching systems that translate strategy into execution, helping professionals strengthen core capabilities including emotional intelligence, communication, executive presence, and applied problem-solving in real-world environments. Known for his engaging and practical style, Al ensures leaders leave with tools they can immediately apply

Workshops by Tracks

Individual Contributors

Project Skills Made Simple: Essential Tools for Managing Work from Start to Finish

Facilitated by: Shuana Thompson, Assoc VP, Enterprise Info Sys, Financial Information System and Meghan O’Mara, Sr. Info Systems Project Manager, IT Plans Office

This workshop introduces individual contributors to easy, approachable project management concepts that make everyday work more organized and less stressful. Attendees will learn how to define goals, plan key tasks, and communicate effectively to move their projects forward. A guided exercise helps participants apply the tools to a real project, ensuring they walk away ready to put their new skills into action.

So…What’s Going On at Pace?: How Everyday Conversations Shape the Pace Experience

Facilitated by: Alyssa Cressotti, Director, Communications and Digital Engagement, University Relations

Most people don’t form their opinion of Pace University from a website or press release. They form it through everyday interactions—with the person answering the phone, helping them find an office, or chatting about work with friends and family.

This session focuses on how everyday communication helps build trust, clarity, and pride in the work we do at Pace. During times of change and transformation across the University, clear and thoughtful communication helps reduce confusion and ensures people get accurate information.

From Clash to Connection: Communicating Across Worldviews

Facilitated by: Dr. Sue Maxam, Assistant Provost for Wellness and Deborah Amarah, LCSW, Senior Staff Clinician, Counseling Center

We live in highly polarized times where a simple comment or conversation can quickly turn adversarial. This interactive session will explore the nationally renowned Moral Courage method of discussing heated issues productively, transforming them into trust-building opportunities and healthy conversations.

Members of the Pace community can immediately begin putting these strategies into action both here and outside of Pace. The model we will discuss is all about healthy, productive, respectful communication with diverse members of the community, especially when they diverge from one's own perspective. When people practice these principles with humility and curiosity, they model a path forward for healthier conversations and stronger communities.

From Intention to Impact: Practicing and Measuring Inclusive Excellence

Facilitated by: Jah Davis, Senior Director of Outreach and Opportunity, Division of Opportunity and Institutional Excellence

Inclusive Excellence requires more than awareness, it requires accountability. This interactive session explores how bias, power dynamics, and decision-making practices shape workplace outcomes. Through real-world case studies and applied skill-building exercises, participants will practice inclusive leadership behaviors and identify measurable indicators of inclusion and belonging within their teams. The session concludes with practical next steps for sustaining this work through leadership and continued engagement.

Managers and Leaders

Leading Projects with Confidence: Practical Project Management for People Leaders

Facilitated by: Shuana Thompson, Assoc VP, Enterprise Info Sys, Financial Information System and Meghan O’Mara, Sr. Info Systems Project Manager, IT Plans Office

This session equips managers with simple, effective project management practices that help them guide teams with clarity and purpose. Participants will learn how structured planning, goal definition, and strong communication create more predictable outcomes and smoother execution. Through a hands on project exercise, managers will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to leading work across their teams.

From Difficult to Impactful: Mastering Feedback in a Coaching First Workplace

Facilitated by: Luciana Ziegler, Director, Employee Relations and Engagement, Human Resources and Sia Bundor, Director, Employee & Labor Relations, Human Resources

This workshop helps participants transform challenging conversations into meaningful, growth oriented dialogue. Attendees will learn practical strategies for delivering clear, empathetic, and actionable feedback that strengthens performance and trust. Through interactive practice, they’ll build confidence and skill in creating a coaching culture where feedback drives positive impact.

Strengths Based Leadership for Managers

Facilitated by: Megan Brown, Assistant Director for Leadership Initiatives, Center for Student Engagement

Discover how a strengths-based approach can elevate your leadership and strengthen team performance. Grounded in positive psychology and Clifton Strengths, this interactive session helps managers identify and leverage their own talents while recognizing and developing the strengths of their team members. Participants will explore practical strategies for aligning individual strengths to drive engagement, collaboration, and high achievement.

New Virtual Sessions - March 30, 2026

Register for the virtual workshops using the links below

Breaking the Burnout Cycle: Resilience Beyond Perfectionism
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Debbie Amarah, LCSW, Senior Staff Clinician, Counseling Center
Learn practical strategies to break patterns of burnout, set healthy boundaries, and sustain well-being in high‑demand environments.

Ready to Grow Your Career? Build a Professional Brand That Gets You Noticed
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Kimberly Porter, Director of Operations, Assessment & Strategy, Career Services
Explore how to build a strong personal brand and communicate your value as you grow your career at Pace