Webinar Recap: Ready for Your Next Move? Build the Capabilities That Matter

In a world defined by constant change, the most important question isn’t “What’s next”, but rather “Do we have the capabilities to meet whatever comes our way?”. This idea set the tone for our recent webinar on April 28, presented by Dr. Dianne Tyers, Assistant Vice-President of the School of Continuing Studies.

The webinar, Ready for Your Next Move? Build the Capabilities That Matter brought together almost 100 attendees for an insightful and interactive session on the skills that matter most in today’s workplace. Attendees walked away with a clearer view of their existing strengths, insight into areas for growth, and practical ways to spark more intentional conversations with their teams about capabilities.

Starting with Self‑Reflection

The session began with a downloadable self‑assessment tool designed by Monica Darroch, program development manager and Mariel Mading, manager of Professional and Workforce Learning and Innovation at the School of Continuing Studies. The tool was designed to help participants evaluate their confidence across four capability areas shaping the modern world of work:

• Human-Centered Leadership
• Systems Thinking & Strategy
• Data-Informed Decision Making
• Technology-Enabled Innovation

Through 12 statements rated on a five‑point scale, registrants reflected on where they felt strongest and where they felt stretched.

Understanding Today’s Context

To ground the conversation, Dr. Tyers explored the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) environment that defines today’s workplace. She explained that decisions are being made faster, data is abundant but clarity is scarce, systems are interconnected, and expectations of leaders are continuing to expand. With so much change coming from every direction, Dr. Tyers emphasized that the more technology we adopt, the more we must embrace our humanness.

A Capability Model for a Changing World

The capability model that was introduced drew on market research, job-posting analysis, and current workplace trends. Built around nine competency domains and four integrated capability areas, the model is intended to be teachable, observable, and applicable, to help individuals and organizations understand where they stand today and how they can grow.

1. Human‑Centered & Inclusive Capability

As technology accelerates, human connection becomes even more essential. This domain includes inclusion and belonging, psychological safety, accessibility, cultural humility, and more. As Dr. Tyers noted, “Organizations perform through our people” and managers’ most important job is understanding those people.

2. Systems Thinking & Sustainable Strategy

This domain addresses the heart of complexity: seeing patterns and interconnections. It includes systems mapping, equitable change processes, cross‑functional alignment, and more. Dr. Tyers emphasized that it helps organizations shift from reactive to intentional decision‑making.

3. Data‑Informed & Ethical Decision Making

Data helps cut through noise and misinformation, but human judgment and critical thinking remain essential. This domain highlights evidence‑based insights, bias‑aware analysis, transparency, and more.

4. Technology‑Enabled & Responsible Innovation

The final domain explores how technology can enhance human capability as opposed to replacing it. A few of the things highlighted in this area include ethical AI, digital accessibility, and sustainable tech practices. This domain is all about balancing speed with intention and opportunity with judgment.

From Individual to Organizational Capability

Healthy organizations require strength across all four domains listed above, yet strengths in modern organizations are rarely evenly distributed. Capabilities exist at multiple levels:

• Individuals: What do I want to learn?
• Teams: How do we balance our collective strengths?
• Organizations: Where do we need to build capability to support our future direction?

Capability building can happen through formal learning, informal learning, mentoring, communities of practice, and more. Gaps can be addressed through development and collaboration, which is where the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) plays a key role. At SCS, the Next Move Professional Growth Series is built with the four critical capability domains in mind, to be able to push your team and your organization to the next level. Regardless of what capability individuals, teams, or organizations need to develop, this series has tailored micro-credentials for everyone. Offerings are short, focused, and perfect for busy professionals looking to make their next move or strengthen their existing capabilities.

Understanding capabilities requires awareness of strengths and areas for development by taking a holistic view across capability domains. As the workplace continues to evolve, a key message was shared to close out the webinar: capabilities can be built individually and strengthened collectively. With awareness, intention, and the right learning opportunities, we can all be better prepared for whatever comes next.

Next Move micro-credentials are currently open for registration. Browse all offerings today and build the capabilities that matter.