Robert Pearl Starks

Robert Pearl Starks

Location: phoenix, arizona

About me

As Vice President of Product Development, I lead cross-functional teams of designers, developers, QA testers and product stakeholders to develop, launch, and improve products customers need and love. 

Previously, I've worked in a variety of leadership roles in education / learning & professional development. Through my experience, I've become accustomed to working across departmental silos and with various stakeholders (executives, end-users, faculty, staff, students / learners, alumni, parents, regulatory agencies, partners and employers) to facilitate collaboration and advance common goals. In my previous roles, I've advocated for student needs and driven organizational change that helped educators do their best work, students thrive in their careers, and employers connect with quality talent.

Despite different contexts, a common theme in my career journey has been to do work that contributes to a mission which improves people's lives. It's also always been important for me to work with an organization whose values align with my own. I'm a listener, empathizer, customer advocate, servant leader, and lifelong learner. I'm never satisfied with status quo, I constantly strive for "better," and I'm driven by genuine curiosity to solve complex problems.

“Work to become; not to acquire.” -Elbert Hubbard

Interests

social media, career development, training, higher education, web 2.0/3.0, career services, leadership, marketing

Skills

social media, marketing, training, consulting, management, strategic planning

Activity

Glen A. Jones is the Ontario Research Chair in Postsecondary Education Policy and Measurement and Profesor of Higher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.  He gives his opinions on the key issues facing higher education in Ontario. 

Discussion Comment
Hi Jamie, Do you have students go to any other people or certain individuals? Do you ever find conflicting advice, outdated feedback or feedback that is simply contradictory to evidence-based best practices? If so, do you have any specific example you could share and how you've handled it? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Amy, Regarding your preference for the Objective statement - thank you for sharing a bit about your reason/strategy. It has been my observation that the majority of people, when writing an objective statement, tend to focus on what they want from an employer and from a job vs. what value they offer reflecting a marketing mindset which so many job seekers lack. Do you have a certain formula or writing style you teach to help students focus on what they offer vs. what they want? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you.

Hello Amy, Thank you for sharing your process. It's important to encourage students to feel comfortable in the conversational style you've described while challenging them to think more deeply about themselves. The process definitely is one of self discovery and awareness and is necessary before developing any marketing collateral. I love that you describe the process as organic - it definitely is and speaks to the old saying that a resume is a "living document" because we grow, our experiences change and so too must the collateral we use to convey our value proposition in the job market. Thank you… >>>

Discussion Comment
Hi Faney, Do your students use any niche social networks for 3D Animation such as Game Artisans (3D Game Art), DeviantArt, or Behance? The great things about networks like these are that artists can get inspiration from other artists and useful feedback/critique. Would love to hear what networks they are actively using from your experience. Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Faney, That's great your students are so positive. If you ever encounter a negative person, I know other institutions try to provide concise responses and instructions to contact a specific person either by phone or email to resolve issues off the public platform. This seems the norm but I am always curious to hear what others are doing. Thank you. Robert Starks Jr.
Hello Faney, Have you run into instances where students are sharing negative comments or experiences? How do you handle these types of issues? If you have not encountered this, do you have a protocol established or process for if/when it does? Thanks! Robert Starks Jr.
Discussion Comment
Hi Rhonda, With so much advice out there that can often be contradictory and confusing for students, how do you manage the challenge of encouraging student to use tools like Google for examples while helping them avoid "bad" advice and examples? Look forward to your thoughts.

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