About this Event
You got the seat. Now what?
For many professionals, getting access to the room is only the beginning.
The next challenge is learning how to navigate that room.
Join the Young Professionals Network of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts for The Seat at the Table: Beyond Access — Belonging, Influence & Opportunity, a candid professional-development conversation about what happens after you get the opportunity.
This conversation is for professionals who are thinking seriously about not only where they are going in their careers, but how they want to lead once they get there.
Beyond access
We’ll explore questions including:
- What does it really mean to have a “seat at the table”?
- Can you have access and advancement without truly belonging?
- How do you build influence when you are new to a room or organization?
- What workplace dynamics do professionals often have to learn the hard way?
- How do mentorship, sponsorship, relationships, and political capital affect advancement?
- How can professionals advocate for themselves without losing authenticity?
- What responsibility comes with gaining influence?
- How do we use our access to create opportunities for others?
Expect a practical, candid conversation about career advancement, belonging, leadership, relationships, and influence.
Featuring Dr. Calvin Hill
Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence & Belonging, University of Massachusetts Boston
Dr. Calvin Hill joins YPN-ULEM for a candid conversation on leadership, belonging, influence, and opportunity in professional spaces.
Drawing on his experience in higher education and organizational leadership, he’ll explore what it takes to move beyond simply having access to a room to building credibility, influencing decisions, strengthening relationships, and creating opportunities for others.
Additional featured guest to be announced.
This conversation is for you if you are:
- Navigating the early or middle stages of your career
- Moving into management or leadership
- Trying to build greater influence within your organization
- Learning how to navigate workplace culture and politics
- Looking for mentorship, sponsorship, or stronger professional relationships
- Thinking about how to advocate for yourself and others
- Interested in leadership, professional development, and career advancement
- Looking to connect with other ambitious young professionals in Greater Boston
You do not have to be a YPN member to attend.
Event Details
Date: October 21, 2026
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM ET
Location: HYBRID
Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, 88 Warren St., Boston, MA 02119
Free to attend. Registration required.
The seat is only the beginning.
What you do once you get there matters.
Join us for an evening of honest conversation, professional connection, and practical insight into belonging, influence, opportunity, and leadership.
Reserve your spot today.
Event venue & nearby stays
Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM), 88 Warren Street, Boston, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.