The October Oakland Virtual Roundtable will feature Kate BonDurant who will present:

"Own Your Onboarding: How to Lead Your First 90 Days Like a Project Manager"

Most onboarding programs are treated like passive experiences — a calendar of meetings, a welcome packet, and a hope that everything will fall into place. But for project managers, the first 90 days aren’t just a ramp-up period — they’re your first high-stakes project.

In this talk, we’ll explore how to apply the principles of project ownership to your own onboarding. You’ll learn why orientation and onboarding are not the same thing, how to avoid the New Hire Trust Trap, and how to reframe your goals to build trust, credibility, and traction from day one.

We’ll cover how to align expectations with stakeholders (your manager and team), manage ambiguity, and self-scope your work before you're officially handed the reins. Whether you’re stepping into your first PM role or transitioning into a new organization, this session will show you how to approach your first 30/60/90 days with the same strategic thinking you bring to every project.

Name of Speaker:

Kate BonDurant

Speaker Bio:

Kate BonDurant is an educator, program manager, and onboarding specialist who specializes in building internship programs and onboarding strategies that actually work. After leading intern program development for a global design company, she earned her PMP certification and served on the Board of PMI-SVC as VP of Marketing.

Kate combines her practical, systems-oriented lens to product development, focusing on real-world implementation, not vague advice. Through curriculum design, manager training, and career mentorship, she helps create smoother transitions for new hires and stronger pipelines for organizations.

Kate is the author of The Design Internship Handbook and the founder of The Intern Mentor, where she works with students, educators, and companies to bridge the gap between school and employment. She can follow her on LinkedIn and Substack.