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

Discussion Comment
Mary , Thank you for sharing. These are indeed challenges. Can you explain what interventions you have in place to address these challenges? Additionally, how might you be able to use social media as a tool to incorporate into any existing or new intervention strategies to help you overcome these challenges? Robert Starks Jr.

Mary , It sounds like you have a very clear purpose to facilitate discussion based on two key statements in your forum post - "It's best to engage in a way that will ramp up discussion with everyone involved..." and "I can use feedback from them all to continue asking discussion based questions." Can you elaborate for us all on what greater purpose you have in facilitating discussion? What is this a means to accomplishing for you? How do you measure its effectiveness in accomplishing your intended outcome? I think this is a discussion that could help all who read… >>>

Susan, Do you do any competitions or other strategies to use the Facebook platform to drive goals such as increased one-on-one appointments, increased event participation, earlier completion of resumes or portfolios, peer job search assistance to expand career center capabilities, etc.? Could you share your experience in using platforms to drive career center goals in various areas such as the examples mentioned? It sounds like you are doing a great job using the platform for rapport building, career center awareness and marketing - I'm wondering if you could talk about your "conversions." For instance, contest A resulted in a 30%… >>>

Discussion Comment

Susan, You may be interested in the concept of reverse job searching which is an inbound marketing technique that requires the strategic use of social media platforms to attract interest and opportunity vs. only seeking opportunity. The primary idea is that one's virtual presence in virtual communities already allows them the opportunity to have dialogue and form relationships with targeted audiences. For instance, if my goal is to become employed in the graphic design industry, I may join virtual communities of graphic designers such as LinkedIn Groups, or niche social network platforms that allow me opportunities to engage with my… >>>

Recently, Today’s Campus had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Chris Bustamonte, President of Rio Salado Community College,  A man from “humble beginnings,” Dr. Bustamonte, who recently celebrated 20 years in the Maricopa Community College district, details Rio Salado’s history and future, including a recent expansion outside of Phoenix, Arizona. We also asked Dr. Bustamonte about the current educational landscape, higher education’s challenges, and how higher education can continue to improve. It was an honor to converse with Dr. Bustamonte and learn more about Rio Salado and higher education on the whole. We thank Dr. Bustamonte for his time and… >>>

This is a great discussion.  You might be interested in this previous blog post that shared the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2012.  Take a look here: http://lwire.us/?l=GRQT  

Discussion Comment
Susan, Can you describe these alternative search methods you mention? I think it would benefit the forum for all to see. Additionally, I would presume social media would play a role in alternative methods not only to "search" but to connect and "pitch" in a sense making targeted niches aware of one's value proposition and thus perhaps gaining opportunities in this manner vs. just "searching and applying" to job ads. Thanks in advance for sharing. Robert Starks Jr.

Innovation requires new ideas and measured risk-taking but how does one stimulate innovative thinking from a group?

 

1. Getting comfortable with Risk - Determine within your work group how much risk is acceptable to you and to your employees.  Involving the team to discuss this will help the team understand that measured risk-taking is necessary for innovation and will help everyone get comfortable with some agreed-upon level of risk for ideas discussed.

2. Communication and Reflection - Ask your work group to communicate before, during, and after decision-making processes about problems and/or mistakes.  Reflecting on problems and mistakes and communicating… >>>

This is a presentation I have delivered to different audiences.  I am sharing it to help others learn and spread the information among their networks.  I hope you find it helpful and that it sparks your curiosity to learn more. 

View this Presentation: 

Thanks for this report - it's a very useful resource!

End of Content

End of Content