From Entry-Level to Leadership: An HR Insider's Guide to Career Growth: Connext Event
What does it take to build a successful career and grow into leadership? Join us for an engaging and practical session with Ellen Martin, an experienced employment law attorney and human resources professional, as she shares an insider’s perspective on navigating career growth in the nonprofit sector.
This seminar will explore the skills and strategies that can help you advance your career with confidence. Ellen will provide real-world insights on topics such as advocating for yourself, communicating effectively with leadership, negotiating salary and compensation, standing out in a positive and authentic way, positioning yourself for promotions, and successfully transitioning from being a peer to leading a team.
- Strategies to advocate for yourself and your career goals
- Best practices for transitioning from colleague to supervisor
- Practical tools to stand out professionally while remaining a collaborative team member
Ellen has 35 years of legal, human resources and leadership experience. She is a Founding Member of FineLine Employment Law and FineLine HR Consulting. As a seasoned employment law attorney and HR leader, Ellen regularly counsels and consults with employers on the full range of employment issues; conducts independent investigations; provides executive coaching services; dispute resolution services; conducts training
on HR-related topics and non-profit board governance training. As a former Vice President of Sprint/CenturyLink she led Legal, Human Resources, Regulatory and Merger Integration teams. Ellen has also served on many nonprofit Boards, including current service to KC Care and NonProfit Connect. Her past service includes Chair / Executive Committee member for Avila University, Catholic Charities Northeast Kansas, Cristo Rey of Kansas City, Kansas, Notre Dame de Sion Schools, and Board member for CASA- Jackson County and
ALS- Lou Gehrigs Chapter. Ellen also draws from her experiences as an attorney with Shughart Thomson & Kilroy (now Polsinelli), executive coach, Rockhurst University adjunct professor (leadership and conflict resolution courses) and, before law school, as a registered Series 6 and 63 securities investment advisor atAmerican Century Investments. Ellen graduated from Creighton University cum laude with a B.A. in Organizational Communications and received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri-
Kansas City School of Law.
Date and Time
Friday Jul 31, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CDT
Location
RSM US LLP 4622 Pennsylvania Ave Suite 1100, Kansas City, MO 64112
Fees/Admission
$15 open to Members and Nonmembers of Nonprofit Connect.
Contact Information
Connext Board of Directors
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