Career Services Accelerator

What is the Career Services Accelerator?

The Career Services Accelerator is a group coaching program for

career center executives ready to lead transformative change and achieve measurable results.

Let me tell you what will happen when you join the Career Services Accelerator...

I will help you...

Lead career services through change with confidence
Align teams and strategies to elevate impact
Scale services, even with limited resources
Increase visibility and student engagement
Build buy-in and foster campus-wide collaboration

You will learn how to...

Secure buy-in from faculty, deans, and senior leaders
Advocate for resources internally and externally
Address burnout while fostering innovation
Tell impactful stories to inspire action
Align goals with campus priorities for greater results

What I teach is based on my own proven success

The strategies I share come from my experience transforming career services into a strategic priority at world-class institutions. I’ve used these approaches to increase student engagement by 600%, secure over $8M in funding, expand employer partnerships from 4 to 334 in three years, and build collaborative partnerships with every academic college and department.

I’ve worked directly with university presidents, provosts, and boards of trustees to align career services with institutional goals, position career development as a return on investment, and drive systemic change that resonates across all levels of leadership.

These tactics have been tested and proven at diverse institutions—from public universities to global organizations—helping leaders overcome resource constraints, foster collaboration, and achieve measurable results.

How the program works

Once you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome email with everything you need to get started, including an invitation to your first Core session.

Monthly Core Sessions

Every month, we’ll meet for a 90-minute Core session, held on the third Friday of the month. These sessions are structured to include:

Interactive Presentation and Discussion: Explore a topic chosen by the group, combining expert insights and shared experiences.
Think Tank: One or two Accelerators present a challenge or question, and the group collaborates to provide actionable feedback and solutions.

Monthly Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions

Each month, I host a 60-minute AMA session at varying times to accommodate schedules. This is your opportunity to bring projects or questions and receive personalized advice from me and valuable insights from fellow Accelerators.

Exclusive 1:1 Coaching

Accelerators who commit to six months or more gain access to a private 1:1 coaching session with me. In this session, we’ll dive into 2-3 specific challenges or opportunities you’re working on, with tailored strategies and actionable next steps.

The program is designed to provide both structured guidance and personalized support to help you succeed.

BONUS!

When you join the program, you will get access to past recordings of Core sessions.

What Accelerators say about the program

"We're driving innovation collectively."

"The Career Services Accelerator program adds tremendous value to my professional development. The leadership development presentations are outstanding, providing actionable ideas that can be implemented right away. The community aspect is invaluable—not only does it help combat the isolation often felt in leadership roles, but it also allows us to shape the future of our field together.

"We’re driving innovation collectively. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to elevate their leadership skills and connect with like-minded professionals."

- Joe Lovejoy, PhD, Assistant Dean for Integrated Undergraduate Experience, Indiana University Bloomington

"I really appreciate the opportunity to bounce ideas off of others. I enjoy listening to how others think about problems even if our schools and career centers are different sizes."

"I find our meetings so cathartic. Others on my campus don't understand the pressures of our office. This is a group that gets the work."

"The other Accelerators have helped me think differently about how to work with other career centers on our campus."

"This program has helped me learn how to push back on demands by faculty and administrators while also bringing them in. I'm learning to trust my gut more."

"Space for honest dialogue"

"The Career Services Accelerator served as an insightful community for career services professionals. Rebekah's wisdom, care, and intentionality about the work we do is motivating. I appreciate her strategic lens on ways to take our respective departments to the next level.

What I enjoyed most was having a space to have honest dialogue about challenges and successes, as well as the opportunity to learn from others."

- Tiara Randle , Director, Career Center at Heartland Community College

"I really enjoyed the topic on building faculty buy in, as that is one of my major goals."

"This program has provided a valuable opportunity to step back from the day-to-day crunch of my work, and to think about the big picture."

"In what can be a lonely leadership experience, having thought partners to consider angles for my approach has been helpful."

"Under Rebekah's facilitation, fellow career leaders share immediate insights in a psychologically safe context about how they are navigating change and leading at their institutions."

"I've really appreciated the opportunity to connect with leaders facing similar issues and challenges and loved how Rebekah structures and facilitates the discussions."

"I have found this program super helpful in helping me define our new career center's work more effectively."

"New learning and renewed confidence"

"The program has a wonderful blend of structured and emergent content that allowed participants to safely share their challenges while also offering their expertise.

Rebekah's deft and timely facilitation also ensured that learning goals were met. I personally benefited from new learning as well as a renewed confidence in the understanding I already possessed."

- Tony Bothelho, Managing Director, Career Centre, University of British Columbia

Choose your plan

Starter Package (1 Month)

Ideal for those looking to get a taste of what the Career Services Accelerator has to offer without a long-term commitment.

Growth Package (Quarterly)

Perfect for individuals who want to concentrate on their professional development over a few months, with enough time to see tangible progress and benefits.

Momentum Package (Bi-Annual)

Designed for those ready to build substantial momentum in their career journey, offering a deeper dive and more sustained engagement for greater impact.

Leadership Package (Annual)

The ultimate commitment for dedicated leaders, providing resources and support to achieve long-term growth, innovation, and leadership excellence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Accelerator for me?

Consider the Accelerator if you are:

Leading a career center or career services initiative.
Seeking a collaborative environment for peer learning and support.
Valuing diverse perspectives and real-time problem-solving.
Looking for structured learning and immediate, actionable insights.
Excited to join a supportive community and invest in your professional growth.

If you answered yes to these points, the Accelerator is an excellent fit for you!

How is this program different from other leadership development programs?

Unlike many leadership development programs that may leave you feeling underwhelmed, our program stands out for two key reasons. First, our curriculum is uniquely shaped by the collective goals of our participants themselves – yes, you read that right! This ensures that topics are not only relevant but directly tailored to the needs of our members.

Secondly, a significant portion of our program is dedicated to our Think Tank sessions. Here, we tackle just-in-time issues that members are currently facing, offering immediate support and guidance. This proactive approach aims to inspire you, steer you away from potential missteps, and empower you to resolve pressing challenges effectively and efficiently.

In essence, our program is not just about learning – it's about actionable insights, real-time problem-solving, and tangible results that propel your leadership journey forward. And it's not a beta program! It has proven results with career services leaders even re-enrolling because they are finding great value in this program.

What will the experience be like?

The Accelerator has two parts to it: the Core monthly meetings and the Ask Me Anything sessions.

Core meetings take place once/month for 90 minutes on a regularly scheduled day of the month. The meeting opens with a check in with members, a brief leadership development presentation followed by a discussion, and the remaining time is spent in the Think Tank, where Accelerators bring real-time issues they'd like help thinking through or resolving. There is little prep required for this meeting.

Ask Me Anything session is an optional, 60-minute meeting, that takes place at different times each month. These meetings are largely driven by topics brought by members for discussion, and alternatively, Rebekah may bring a hot topic to discuss as a group.

Meetings are informal and are facilitated by Rebekah.

What are some example topics the group has explored?

So glad you asked! Reviewing the topics alone, you can see how this program is unlike your typical professional development program.

Topics are heavily curated by the participants. Sample leadership development topics include:

effective story telling for career services,
balancing unit-level goals with institutional priorities,
creating a shared vision,
gaining campus buy in, and
addressing personal and staff burnout.

Real-time challenges or issues brought by individuals for collective problem-solving in the Think Tank include:

strategies for dealing with salary inequities,
working with academic departments to create a shared vision,
creating consistency in performance evaluations,
advocating for financial resources,
managing staff expectations during periods of change,
holding managers accountable for strategic goals and outcomes,
among many others.

What are the guidelines around confidentiality?

Members appreciate the ability to talk about real challenges they are facing and those conversations may require disclosing sensitive information. This program works well because Accelerators set ground rules, one of which is about holding issues brought up in confidence. To date there have not been any issues, but if there are concerns raised that a member has violated our ground rules, Rebekah will address the issue immediately.

Who enrolls in this program?

This program attracts career services directors, executive directors, AVPs, etc. who lead centers at the school/college or university level. Universities represented by these directors are small, medium, and large, as well as public and private. Members have a range of experience, from being new to their roles to having worked for many years in an executive-level position. Accelerators are prepared to engage in topics ranging from high-level strategy and execution to tactical solutions.

Will I be in a group with other people who work in similar institutions?

Maybe yes, maybe no. It will depend on who registers for the program, but don't let that limit you. This program is for leaders who are ready to think expansively, learn from others, and apply learning to their own situations. If you feel you can only learn from those in situations very close to your own, then this program may not be for you.

What is the time commitment?

The goal with this program is to provide high value without a huge time commitment. Having been a career services leader myself, I know how tight your schedule can be! Therefore, attending monthly meetings (90 min/month) plus the optional Ask Me Anything meetings (60 min/month) would be the bulk of the time commitment. Members should come prepared with some items for the Think Tank, but that shouldn't take more than a few minutes of reflection.

How might I decide between individual strategy coaching and the Accelerator?

Choosing between individual strategy coaching and the Accelerator program depends on your specific needs and preferences.

If you're seeking personalized attention, tailored guidance, and focused support on particular challenges or goals, individual strategy coaching might be the best fit. This option allows for one-on-one sessions with a coach who can provide targeted advice and accountability. You can learn more about strategy coaching here.

On the other hand, if you thrive in a collaborative environment, enjoy learning from peers, and value the exchange of diverse perspectives, the Accelerator program could be more suitable. It offers a dynamic group setting where you can engage in collective problem-solving, share experiences, and receive support from a community of like-minded professionals.

Ultimately, consider your learning style, desired level of interaction, and the depth of support you're looking for when making your decision. Some individuals may find value in a combination of both approaches, using individual coaching for specific needs and participating in the Accelerator for broader skill development and networking opportunities.

Strategy coaching clients on 6-month or longer contracts, who meet the requirements for the Accelerator, receive a free 6-month membership to the Accelerator.

If you'd benefit from a 15-30 min conversation to help you decide, feel free to schedule a meeting with Rebekah here.

Do you offer scholarships?

Yes, Paré Consulting has a limited number of scholarships available. Reach out to Rebekah to discuss.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse