NEW VIDEO: Genie Sockel on Being Your Akamai Self

Today we post a new video of yesterday's talk by Genie Sockel which she titles, Being Your Akamai Self. Genie explains that Akamai means Smart in the sense that your smarts are your strengths. The short version of the talks is posted below. To find the full length talk, follow this link to our Vimeo Page here.

In this short clip, Genie teaches an important life lesson using dating as an example. Do you have a similar story you might share that happened in your life?

Here are 9 Full-Length Talks from Grady Talks

Genie Sockel to Talk at Grady High This Week

As a last minute change, workplace sensitivity expert Genie Sockel,  has agreed to present her career perspective to students at Grady High School.  We are lucky to have get Genie jump in on short notice.

Genie has worked as a employment litigator at one of the nation's top employment law firms.  She now runs Akamai Sensitivity Training.   She helps managers who may not be aware of the impact of their communication and behavior on their colleagues and subordinates.

For students, misplaced humor, sometimes heard in their own homes, can easily blow a job interview and make the difference between success and failure.   Look for Genie's talk to be posted in the coming days.

Also, we've been fortunate to receive support from Atlanta-based Prommis Solutions.   Prommis recently provided marketing support, logistics and technical support for the launch of our website,  GradyTalks.org.  Prommis Solutions is a leading  provider of technology-enabled knowledge processing services for the management and resolution of defaulting residential mortgages, including home retention, REO closing and other mortgage-related services.  We are grateful for their support.

Grady High School Graduation Rates

We'd like to see everyone at Grady graduate on time!  Plus, we'd like to see all students go on to college and then on to meaningful careers. 

For the 2009-2010 school year, Grady High School reported a 91.6% graduation rate.  That's well above the APS average of 66.3%, the Georgia average of 80.8%, and the national rate of 69%.   Now, we've learned that the new superintendent,  Erroll Davis, has just ordered an audit of graduation rates after the discovery of 18 APS students who were incorrectly coded as graduates.

Also, the state has changed their reporting method to be consistent with other states and some fear the new graduation rate will not look as favorable.

Nationally, 70.1% of high school grads enrolled in college (in 2009). 

Joy Goodman

This week Joy Goodman kicks off the twice monthly speakers series for Grady Talks. Joy spoke to a class at Grady High School last year and told some inspiring stories of her years as an educator. In this quick excerpt from her talk, she shows her skill at "turning lemons into lemonade" in handling a child with stage fright.

  

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Grady Talks Greatest Hits

Now that Liz Lieberman and Dave Walker have started the Grady Talks Classes at Grady High, I thought it would be great to see some of the greatest moments from last year's Grady Talks.  Here is Chris Webber talking about your career dreams and how to make them a reality.