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Career Continuum

GBA recognizes the career of a geoprofessional includes several stages of experience and knowledge. Each career stage requires support at different levels for professional development to accelerate competencies of consultants. In support of this lifelong journey, GBA launched the Career Continuum to address all stages of a geoprofessional’s career.

GEOPROFESSIONAL CAREER ASCENT PROGRAM

The Geoprofessional Career Ascent Program (GCAP) is a structured, four‑tier pathway within the GBA Career Continuum—Embark (early professionals), Ascend (management), Summit (leadership), and Sustain (senior/special development)—designed to move participants from consulting fundamentals to advanced business and leadership capabilities in the geoprofessions. Delivered in cohort-based series of weekly 75‑minute sessions led by a learning manager and subject-matter experts, the curriculum builds skills in professional communication, project and client management, risk, and business performance with multiple cohorts scheduled annually by level.

Embark (Early Professional Class)
Now enrolling for 2026 classes: April 2-June 18  |  October 1-December 17

The Embark Early Professional Class is the first class of GCAP. Embark introduces early-career geoprofessionals (less than four years of experience) to the essential skills, knowledge, and consulting tools needed to thrive. Designed to lay the foundation for a successful consulting career, Embark blends real-world project scenarios with professional competencies that participants can immediately apply in their daily work.

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Each Class includes 24 representatives of GBA member firms who have high potential as consultants and business leaders within their firms. If you are looking to accelerate the growth and unleash the potential of your future leaders and your firm, GBA can help by:

• Building your early professional’s business acumen by providing introductions to key consulting fundamentals.
• Optimizing your future leader’s business performance through interaction and training with other top-notch professionals.
• Exposing your early professionals to the wide array of GBA benefits and resources.
• Providing a time- and cost-efficient approach with live virtual sessions moderated by an experienced GBA speaker and facilitated by an expert adult-education instructor.

Your key people will not want to miss out on this opportunity!

The Embark Early Professional Class consists of 10 live, virtual sessions (75 minutes long) occurring bi-weekly on important business and consulting-related topics, including:

  • Consulting Fundamentals
  • Communication
  • Ethics
  • Proposals
  • Contracts
  • Risk Management
  • Project Management

Classes are taught predominantly using GBA reference materials, led by experts from GBA member firms, and facilitated by an expert in adult education. The classes also help these Early Professionals develop a network of other professionals in a similar career stage across North America. Upon successful completion of the class, each participant will receive a Certificate of Completion to acknowledge and document their achievement.

Ascend
Now enrolling for 2026 classes: April 7-July 14  |  October 2-December 18

Ascend is the second class of GCAP. Geoprofessionals who have been identified by their senior leaders as ready to transition from pre-professional work to project, people, and/or client management can use this class—designed by and for geoprofessionals and their unique professional responsibilities—to elevate quickly to the role of manager.

ascend information and application

Your technical stars don’t automatically become effective managers—and that transition is where many firms feel the most strain. Ascend is designed to close that gap.

Part of GCAP, Ascend equips emerging managers with the people, project, and client‑management skills they need to succeed. This cohort‑based, live virtual program is built by and for geoprofessionals, addressing the real‑world leadership challenges faced in consulting environments.

Who Ascend Is For
Ascend is ideal for geoprofessionals who are:

  • Moving from technical contributor to project, people, or client management
  • Identified as high‑potential staff in your succession pipeline
  • Managing others for the first time—or about to
  • Typically bringing 5-10 years of experience into their next career stage

Skills Your Employees Will Build
Ascend focuses on the skills most often missing in early management roles, including:

  • Time and priority management in a consulting environment
  • Delegation and accountability without over‑functioning
  • Emotional intelligence and self‑awareness
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Managing conflict productively
  • Training and developing others
  • Client management and trust‑building
  • Listening and communication skills
  • Leading with a growth mindset

If you have employees who are technically strong but need structured development to lead teams, manage clients, and navigate complexity with confidence, Ascend was built for them.

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For additional information or with questions, please email info@geoprofessional.org or Sara Menase at sara@geoprofessional.org.