By: Ljubica Basica
Edited by: Megan Lilly and Amna Choudry

A core tenant of Junior League of Washington’s (JLW) mission is to advance women’s leadership through trainings and to provide opportunities for community involvement. Members are equipped to succeed as community volunteers by gaining knowledge about the communities they serve, developing volunteer management skills, and building leadership abilities that they can apply in their careers, on community boards, and beyond JLW.

As a part of the JLW experience, members participate in various trainings, many of which are hosted by the Development & Training (D&T) Committee. Training sessions are offered both virtually and in-person at the Loughborough House, also known as JLW Headquarters, to give members a variety of ways to participate in personal and professional development.

This year, D&T provided several opportunities for members to elevate their professional wellbeing. Two sessions that specifically resonated with members focused on creating a compelling resume and preventing burnout.

In the training “Creating a Compelling and Concise Resume,” members heard from Bonnie Lessans of FlexProfessionals who shared tips on how to improve their resume to stand out in a competitive job market. Members learned about resources available online, from worksheets to generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to use in job searches. The tips and tricks shared about resume development not only helped those who attended with their job searches, but also provided attendees with the skills and ability to help others in the greater community with their job searches, resume preparation, and interviewing. Through this professional development, League members were set up for success in transitioning their JLW experiences to their professional resumes.

Another D&T event, “Beyond Burnout – Simple Steps To Resilience and Resonance For Holistic Well-Being”, brought together members who were seeking strategies to live a more balanced life. Members heard from Cheryl Davis (link to Cheryl Davis’s website https://coachche.com/), a local leadership and lifestyle coach, who helped them understand how to recognize signs of burnout, and how to pull themselves out of “survival mode.” Davis shared techniques on how members can prevent burnout through self-care practices. The talk came at a serendipitous time, with stress and burnout at an all-time high. Leaders must understand how to recognize burnout and take care of themselves, which in turn also enables them to better support others.

Coach Che presents to JLW members at the “Beyond Burnout” event in January 2025.

While training has been a longstanding priority of JLW, these opportunities aptly fit the League theme for 2024-25 of demonstrating how members S.H.I.N.E. through the League, the community, and the professional world. By providing opportunities for members to build confidence and develop leadership skills, the League encourages members to grow as leaders in the community, building others up through a strong foundation.