Welcome Discovery Senior Living Team Members!
Unlock your potential and elevate your impact with Level Up Learning—Discovery’s new series of high-impact, 90-minute virtual classes designed to strengthen the professional and leadership skills that matter most.
Level Up Learning classes are practical, engaging, and immediately applicable. Each class gives you the tools, insights, and confidence to take your performance—and your career—to the next level. Whether you're looking to sharpen communication, build stronger relationships, lead with greater influence, or navigate complex challenges, these sessions are built to help you grow with purpose and momentum.
Important Note: Bookmark this page to easily register as sessions become available.
For questions about this program, please reach out to Judy Whitcomb at jwhitcomb@discoveryseniorliving.com. For questions or issues with the enrollment process, please email executive.education@depaul.edu.
Who Should Attend
This program is for Discovery Senior Living team members. See session descriptions for more details on the target audience for each class.
Enrollment Expectations
- Courses fill quickly and many sessions have waitlists. Please enroll only in classes you can fully attend.
- Ensure you have the technology, connectivity, and environment necessary for an engaging virtual learning experience.
- Complete pre-class program assignments when required.
- Complete post-class assignments when required.
Full Participation Requirement
- Cameras must remain on for the duration of the session to support interactivity, collaboration, and engagement.
- Team members are expected to participate fully, including breakout discussions, activities, and chat interactions.
- Joining late or leaving early may forfeit credit for the course.
Attendance, Cancellations, & No-Show Policy
- Any cancellation must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance to allow another team member to enroll. To cancel, please email executive.education@depaul.edu.
- Cancellations made within 24 hours are considered late cancellations unless due to a documented business emergency.
- No-shows and late cancellations without a valid business emergency will result in a $250 charge to the team member’s department.
Requirements to Earn the Course Completion Badge
- Attend and participate in the entire course, from start to finish.
- Meet all engagement expectations, including camera-on participation.
- Partial attendance does not qualify for badge issuance or course completion.
- Badges are issued through Credly, which allows you to showcase your achievements and easily share them on platforms like LinkedIn or your digital resume.
Professional Courtesy & Learning Culture
- Treat these sessions as dedicated professional development time and an investment in you by Discovery!
- Please review this linked document for best practices for virtual learning.
March 19, 2026
Creating Brilliant & Memorable Professional Presentations
<div class="ck-content"><p><strong>Facilitator</strong>: <a href="https://www.depaul.edu/faculty/charles-drehmer" target="_blank" title="Dr. Charles Drehmer">Dr. Charles Drehmer</a></p><p><strong>Date/Time:</strong> March 19, 2026 - 1:00pm CT</p><p><strong>Format</strong>: 90-Minute Virtual Instructor-Led Session</p><p>Participants will learn to message rather than distract from it. They will apply the Nichols “Two Things” technique to promote clarity and deepen audience understanding while strengthening team delivery for greater collective credibility. The session also equips participants with strategies for confidently pitching to power and influencing senior stakeholders with impact.</p><p>After this class, participants will be able to: </p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Leverage PowerPoint as a tool to enhance presentations and avoid distraction</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Promote understanding from audience using the Nichols Two Things technique</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Present as a team to build synergistic credibility with audience</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Pitch to power</p><p><strong>Target Audience</strong>: Team members who have responsibility for delivering presentations on a recurring basis.</p></div>
March 25, 2026
Bridging the Divide: Building Constructive Conflict Resolution Skills
<div class="ck-content"><p><strong>Facilitator</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-a-herrera/" target="_blank" title="Gabriel Herrara">Gabriel Herrara</a></p><p><strong>Date/Time:</strong> March 25, 2026 - 1:00pm CT</p><p><strong>Format</strong>: 90-Minute Virtual Instructor-Led Session</p><p>In this virtual instructor-led session, participants will deepen their understanding of the root causes of conflict while identifying their own conflict styles and triggers. They will practice active listening, empathy, and rapport-building techniques to de-escalate tension and navigate challenging interactions more effectively. The course also equips learners with collaborative problem-solving skills that foster a growth mindset, strengthen team dynamics, and enhance interpersonal relationships.</p><p>After this class, participants will be able to: </p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Articulate the root causes of conflict and identifying personal conflict styles and triggers</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Apply active listening and empathy as tools for conflict de-escalation</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Apply empathy to bridge differences and build rapport during challenging interactions</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Leverage collaborative problem-solving skills to address and resolve issues constructively, fostering a growth mindset, improving team dynamics, and strengthening interpersonal relationships</p><p><strong>Target Audience</strong>: Any team member that desires to improve their ability to resolve conflict constructively.</p></div>
April 15, 2026
Leading Without Authority
<div class="ck-content"><p><strong>Facilitator</strong>: <a href="https://www.depaul.edu/faculty/robert-s-rubin">Dr. Robert S. Rubin</a></p><p><strong>Date/Time:</strong> April 15, 2026 - 1:00pm CT</p><p><strong>Format</strong>: 90-Minute Virtual Instructor-Led Session</p><p>In this virtual instructor-led session, participants will learn to expand their relationship networks and build a strong base of personal power. They will explore both formal and social influence tactics that drive commitment and enable them to lead effectively without relying on positional authority. The course also provides practical strategies for “managing up,” helping learners take initiative and strengthen their upward relationships.</p><p>After this class, participants will be able to: </p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Build a relationship network and base of power</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Leverage formal influence tactics to promote commitment</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Influence without authority</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• "Manage up" - by taking initiative to improve upward relationships</p><p><strong>Target Audience</strong>: This course is designed for any team member who wants to strengthen their ability to influence others, build effective relationships, and lead collaboratively without formal authority.</p></div>
April 22, 2026
Introduction to AI and Generative AI at Discovery
<div class="ck-content"><p><strong>Facilitator</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/margokidd/" target="_blank" title="Margo Kidd">Margo Kidd</a>, Discovery's VP of Technology & <a href="https://www.depaul.edu/faculty/james-moore">James Moore</a>, Faculty at DePaul University</p><p><strong>Date/Time:</strong> April 22, 2026 - 1:00pm CT</p><p><strong>Format</strong>: 90-Minute Virtual Instructor-Led Session</p><p>This foundational session introduces team members to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI in a clear, practical, and business-relevant way. Participants will build a shared understanding of what AI is (and is not), how generative tools like ChatGPT and Copilot work, and the appropriate use of this technology at Discovery Senior Living. </p><p>The session also addresses the risks and responsibilities that come with AI use — including accuracy limitations, hallucinations, bias, ethical considerations, and legal obligations — so participants feel confident using AI thoughtfully and appropriately. Through examples and discussion, learners will explore common AI tools and real-world use cases, helping them identify where AI can responsibly enhance productivity, decision-making, and creativity in their roles. This session will be led jointly by Discovery’s VP of Technology, Margo Kidd and James Moore, Professor at DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business.</p><p>After this class, participants will be able to: </p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Explain the basic concepts of AI and Generative AI in plain language</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Understand how generative AI produces outputs and why errors (hallucinations, bias, over-confidence) can occur</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Recognize ethical, legal, and responsible-use considerations for AI in the workplace</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Identify practical use cases for AI tools across different types of work</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Develop an informed, balanced perspective on both the opportunities and risks of AI</p><p style="margin-left:40px;">• Explain the appropriate use of AI at Discovery Senior Living</p><p><strong>Target Audience</strong>: This course is designed for team members who use or desire to leverage AI in their roles at Discovery.</p></div>