Professional development opportunity - Leadership fundamentals

[Natalie Schock]

Hi all, 

During 2025, I talked to a lot of folks in the research and technical fields, from tenured professors to evaluators like us to software coders. I wanted to know what leadership trajectories looked like for them. Again and again I heard the same thing: When you're good at something, you get promoted to leadership. But leadership isn't the same as doing, so it's hard. Meanwhile, you're presumed to be good, so there's no support!

This wastes time and energy. Worse, it burns people out. 

I want to be part of a solution, so I designed a short course on leadership fundamentals for research/technical team leads through my alma mater, Johns Hopkins. If you or someone you know may be interested, please register and/or pass along. See one-sheeter text below for more details.

Cheers to a healthy, happy, and productive 2026!

Natalie

Course 

Lead Better Now: Fundamentals for Experts Moving from Bench to Boss 

Time 

7-8:30 pm ET 

Dates 

March 3, 10, 17, 24 (Tuesdays) 

Location 

Zoom 

Cost 

• General $200 

• JHU alumni $100 

• JHU faculty/staff/retiree $40 

• JHU faculty/staff/retiree spouse/domestic partner $100 

Who 

This course is designed for up-and-coming or new leaders in research and technical fields. Think a doctoral student, research lead, or a software engineer seeking a promotion. But the big ideas are applicable across fields and could be a good refresher for more seasoned leaders sensing that something is off with their team. 

What 

• Session 1: “The Why:” Big ideas from research on leadership of research/technical teams 

• Session 2: The BEAR (Before, Explicit, Accurate, Routinized) technique for communicating expectations 

• Session 3: Mindset Shift: Doer → Leader of Doers & Manager of Doing 

• Session 4: Mise en place 

How 

Each week will have a short lecture, a short (fun) application exercise, a 1-minute reflection, and a discussion. Out-of-class work is minimal: think breezy, magazine-ish readings. You’ll make a simple goal each week (e.g., make a list of needed processes) and text an accountability partner about it (informally, not weird). 

Why 

It’s really hard to move from being an IC (individual contributor) to leader. The way tech and research industries are set up, the knowledge and skills that got you the promotion in the first place are of limited value. Plus, no one teaches you the new knowledge and skills you need.  

The good news is that leadership is a bundle of skills, like cooking or playing basketball. And just like you can learn to mince and dribble, you can learn to lead. In this course, I’ll teach you some fundamentals of leadership for research and technical teams. Head’s up: A lot is about mindset, so this is best for folks ready to be receptive and reflective. 

Why Me 

I spent the last two years studying leadership and developing and presenting content. Here's what some recent trainees said: 

“It was transparent, fun, and I walked away with something I could use.”  

“It was a fresh take on leadership training. The concepts can be applied  
to many different groups.” 

I have a master’s degree in teaching, a PhD in education, and have spent thousands of hours teaching adults and children in-person and online. I’ve had over 20 jobs, with leaders ranging from teenage shift managers in restaurants to former lay missionaries in social work to Ivy League lawyers in finance. 

Enroll 

https://events.jhu.edu/form/odysseynatalieschocksp26