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

Editor Kevin Kuzma interviews Russell Freeman, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Imagine America Foundation, as part of the 2014 APSCU Conference Rewind video interview series filmed live at the APSCU conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Hi Joyah, It sounds like whereas you are strategically using social media tools to engage with students to accomplish your own goals, your department is not. What is/has prevented a department-wide strategy in career services? What do you hope to accomplish by incorporating these additional resources for use in a department strategy? Robert Starks Jr.

@DrStone : It looks like your onboarding isn't 100% complete because you have not yet started a discussion in a group.  When in a group, if you hover your mouse over the Orange "Group Activity" button in the upper right, you'll see a drop down menu where "discussions" is an option.  This will take you to the discussions area of a group.  Once there, you can start your own discussion.  This should complete the onboarding process and you'll have officially learned how to use all functions within the community!  

I'll have our support team contact you to help.

 … >>>

Hi Viola, In what specific ways do you think students have opportunity to improve how they use online tools? Are there any particular areas you'll be prioritizing to teach your students? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Viola, It's great that you still teach students the importance of remaining current. Engaging in LinkedIn groups definitely helps with professional development, not just job search. They can learn from others with similar interests through dialogue and sharing resources. It's important students understand how to use online communities to build their own personal learning networks (PLNs). Robert Starks Jr.
Discussion Comment
Hi Viola, So glad to hear you say this. Vague statements and cliches have no value and are spotted immediately, particularly by employers who review resumes frequently. Robert Starks Jr.

Hi Fernandel, Finding a student's employment status is typically the "low hanging fruit." Do you use other signals to modify your approach with students such as the examples discussed in the course? For instance, when I see signals of things that interest students such as their music preferences, or the things they've "liked" on Facebook, those have often been ways to engage students in conversation to simply open dialogue. Then, as you build rapport with "MIA" students and/or re-engage them, you strategically steer the conversation down the path that is your goal but don't open with "career conversation." Have you… >>>

Discussion Comment
Hi Viola, I like that you mention awards. Does your office have an awards program to recognize professionalism, communication skills, or other "soft skills?" I've seen more and more career services offices developing training programs to help students develop these professional skills. Adding an awards program could incentivize students and allow them to build more achievements for their resume. Do you do anything like this? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Kristine, What is it that you do to help your less experienced students understand how to convey their non-industry experience, or, transferable skills? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Fernandel, When you mine for data, how do you use that data in your communication strategies? Robert Starks Jr.

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