Largest Foundational Skills Program Cohort Begins Eight-Month Learning Experience

Staff from across Duke will build skills, confidence and professional connections

People talking in a classroom
Members of the Foundational Skills Program cohort get to know one another during the program's kickoff event. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

Trent Lee says that Duke is in his blood.

His grandmother worked at Duke for 46 years. His father was a Duke staff member for 44. His brother has worked at Duke for a decade.

With eight years as a Zone Maintenance Mechanic for Duke Engineering & Operations, Lee knows much of his Duke journey is still ahead of him. So when Engineering & Operations Director Joshua Pontsler recommended he join the Foundational Skills Program to broaden his skills and support his professional growth, Lee welcomed the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to this,” Lee said.

Foundational Skills Program participant Carlotta Mingo has a professional headshot taken at the program's kickoff event. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

Organized by Duke Learning & Organization Development, a unit within Duke Human Resources, the Foundational Skills Program is part of Duke’s Professional Development Academy and offers tailored training to Duke University and Duke University Health System staff in non-administrative roles.

With training, coaching, mentoring and strengths assessments, the program provides a holistic approach to professional development, helping participants strengthen their skills, expand their confidence and grow personally and professionally within their careers at Duke.

“We want you to be confident, to build skills and feel comfortable and ready for whatever that next step may be or to grow in place and take on new responsibilities,” Senior Learning & Organization Development Consultant and program organizer Marjorie Siegert told the group. “We want you to learn and feel more fulfilled and happier to be here with us at Duke.”

With 26 members, the Foundational Skills Program’s third cohort is the largest in its history, which dates back to 2018.

Members come from across Duke, including Duke Facilities Management, Duke Raleigh Hospital, the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke Orthopaedics and Duke Health clinics in Brier Creek, Wake Forest and Greensboro.

Duke Cancer Center colleagues Erin Squires, left, and Fatiha Hannou, right, chat at the Foundational Skills Program kickoff event. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

During a round of introductions at the kickoff event, participants shared what drew them to the program. Several said they hoped to sharpen their leadership skills while others said they hoped to use what they learned to open new career horizons and grow their network at Duke.

The class learned about the pacing and the details of the eight-month program and, afterward, had professional headshots taken.

Colleagues Erin Squires and Fatiha Hannou joked that they wanted to have their photos taken together. Self-described “Besties,” the pair work together as Certified Pharmacy Technicians at the Duke Cancer Center Specialty Pharmacy.

“There are so many opportunities to learn,” Hannou said about the topics the program will cover.

While Squires has been at Duke nearly seven years and Hannou for around four, when they learned of the Foundational Skills Program, they saw a can’t-miss opportunity to grow their leadership and communication abilities and help their unit thrive.

“When I saw this, it encouraged me to think ‘Hey, we’re great leaders, maybe this can help us sharpen our skills and better help our team,’” Squires said.  “I want to be able to help others grow. I see so much potential in our team, I just want to encourage them and help them with their growth.”

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