You may have noticed we recently launched a Certified Career Conversations Facilitator Open Programme. It’s designed to equip you with the skills and confidence to become a career mentor and champion, with the additional capability to empower others within the organisation(s) you support so you can foster a culture where career growth and fulfilment are at the forefront.

To build our community of Certified Facilitators, we plan monthly ‘Excellence Exchange’ workshops. These are to share knowledge and experience and learn from other experts. You’ll join your peers and meet up once every month to gain feedback, work out problems and ask questions. This is a great way of making some valued connections as well as sharing ideas, resources and best practices.

However, we understand that this is an investment of your time. So, we created this blog post to help you understand everything you need to know before signing up. 

What is the Excellence Exchange?

The Excellence Exchange is dedicated to fostering continuous learning, sharing best practices, and offering support to our AO certified career conversations facilitators. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, this is your space to connect, collaborate, and grow together.

Who is this for?

Certified career conversations facilitators from all backgrounds are welcome to join us. Whether you work for a large corporation or run your own business, if you’re committed to creating a culture of career development within organisations, you will benefit from being part of the community!

Who is this not for?

While our community is designed to cater to a wide range of certified career conversations facilitators and learning and development professionals, it is not for you if:

1. You have not completed our certified facilitator training and certification process. Or, you are not involved in facilitating career development conversations within organisations.
2. You are seeking quick fixes or instant results. Our community is focused on fostering continuous learning and professional growth, which requires time, commitment, and active participation. 
3. You are unwilling to share knowledge and experiences: Our community thrives on the contributions and insights of its members. Individuals who are unwilling to share their knowledge, experiences, and best practices with others may not find the collaborative nature of our community appealing.

Why we created the Excellence Exchange

We create the Excellence Exchange because we are committed to empowering our certified career conversations facilitators and learning and development professionals to deliver excellence and keep learning.  We recognised the immense value in fostering a vibrant community where professionals from diverse backgrounds could come together to share their expertise, exchange best practices, and support each other’s growth. By creating a platform like the Excellence Exchange, we aim to facilitate continuous learning and collaboration, ultimately elevating the standards of career development practices within organizations worldwide. Our vision is to cultivate a culture of excellence where every member feels inspired, valued, and equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to drive positive change in the areas of career conversations and development. 

What is included in the Excellence Exchange?

You will have access to:

Monthly Online Workshops:

Every month we will have an interactive online workshop led by Team AO, guest experts and thought leaders and members of the community, covering topics tailored to your interests and needs.

Discussion Forums:

You will be able to connect with fellow facilitators, ask questions, share insights, and discuss challenges in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Peer Learning Circles

You can join smaller peer learning circles to collaborate closely with like-minded professionals, exchange experiences, and provide mutual support.

Resource Sharing

You will be able to access a wealth of resources, including articles, case studies, templates, and more, contributed by Team AO and fellow facilitators to support your professional development journey.

One to one coaching:

You will be eligible for one 90-minute 1:1 coaching session per quarter.

Unlimited access to library of Excellence Exchange Sessions:

All Excellence Exchange sessions will be recorded and facilitators will be able to access the recordings of all previous sessions.

What problems does the Excellence Exchange solve?

The Excellence Exchange addresses several key challenges faced by certified career conversations facilitators and learning and development professionals:

Isolation and lack of support:

Many L&D professionals work independently or within small teams. The Excellence Exchange provides a supportive community where members can connect, share experiences, and seek advice from like-minded peers.

Lack of collaboration opportunities:

Collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential for professional growth, yet opportunities for collaboration may be limited. The Excellence Exchange facilitates collaboration through peer learning circles, workshops, and resource sharing, allowing members to learn from each other’s experiences and expertise.

Difficulty in keeping up with industry changes:

The field of career development is constantly evolving, with new tools, techniques, and challenges emerging regularly. The Excellence Exchange helps members stay ahead of the curve by providing access to relevant and up-to-date information. This enables them to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

How much does the Excellence Exchange cost?

Newly certified facilitators receive access to the Excellence Exchange for a defined period based on the fee they paid for their initial training as part of their chosen package. After that period, the pricing for Excellence Exchange is £99 per month for a minimum of 12 months. This includes 4 quarterly 1:1 coaching sessions valued at £2,200. After 12 months, the fee will automatically renew monthly. You can leave at any time. 

Is the Excellence Exchange good value for money?

The cost of the Excellence Exchange reflects the value of the comprehensive resources, materials and support:

Comprehensive Resources:

The Excellence Exchange provides access to a wide range of resources, including workshops, discussion forums, curated content, and networking opportunities, that are relevant and valuable to your professional development goals.

Quality of Content and Expertise:

The workshops and resources offered by the Excellence Exchange are high quality and delivered by experienced industry experts. They provide actionable insights, practical strategies, and up-to-date information to help you excel in your role as a career conversations facilitator.

Community Support and Collaboration:

The Excellence Exchange fosters a supportive and collaborative community where members can connect, share experiences, and learn from each other.

In addition to all of the above, the community offers personalised learning experiences tailored to your individual needs and interests as a certified facilitator through opportunities for ongoing feedback, coaching, and skill development with Team AO.

Who will be co-ordinating the Excellence Exchange?

The online learning sessions and content will be led by Antoinette Oglethorpe, other members of Team AO and invited guest experts as well as other members of the facilitator community.

How do I get involved? 

Joining our community is easy. Just let us know you’re interested, and we’ll send over all the information you need.