Course Overview: Career development and financial decision-making are inseparable. From selecting a major to negotiating a salary, from retraining after displacement to preparing for retirement, every career decision has a financial impact. Yet many career professionals receive little to no formal preparation in discussing money, compensation, return on investment, or long-term financial impact with their clients.This 7-session online, self-paced course equips career development professionals with the knowledge, tools, and skills to integrate financial literacy and career facilitation.
In addition, participants will explore how financial literacy strengthens career outcomes, supports economic mobility, and enhances client decision-making across the lifespan. The course provides a high-level but practical understanding of essential financial education topics, grounded in real-world application for career practitioners.
This course is ideal for professionals working in:
- Higher education
- Workforce development and re-entry programs
- K–12 school
- Human resources and talent development
- Private career coaching and consulting
- Apprenticeship and training programs
Learning Objectives:
Explain why financial literacy is essential to effective career development practice.
Analyze how career decisions influence short- and long-term financial outcomes.
Guide clients in evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of education and training pathways.
Support clients in understanding total compensation, job offers, and salary negotiation.
Discuss cost-of-living, wage categories, and economic mobility in career conversations.
Address financial transitions, employment models, and income variability.
Integrate financial literacy tools and frameworks into career development services ethically and confidently.
Your Instructor: Lakeisha Mathews, Ed.D, GCDF, FCDI, CPRW, CPCC, CCSP, CSNS
Lakeisha Mathews, Ed.D, is Director of the Career and Internship Center at the University of Baltimore and is also the owner of Right Resumes & Career Coaching, a career development business focused on providing professional documents, career coaching and training for mid-level and mid-management professionals in a variety of industries. Her areas of expertise include proactive career engagement, career development, career services, and DEIBA.
Dr. Mathews holds several industry certifications including Certified Career Coach, Certified Resume Writer, Certified Career Services Specialist, and Executive Career Coach among other designations. She is also a Certified Salary Negotiation Specialist and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Specialist. She holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership & Innovation from Wilmington University, a M.S. in Human Resource Development from Towson University and a B.A. in Communication from the University of Maryland College Park.
Lakeisha is committed to the field of career development and served as President of the National Career Development Association from 2022-2023. Her presidency focused on advocating for access to career development around the world and took her to Taiwan, Canada, Egypt and Italy. Dr. Mathews is also a Past-President of the Maryland Career Development Association and in 2016, Lakeisha co-authored a chapter in the book Find Your Fit, published by the Association of Talent Development.
Dr. Mathews and written numerous blogs and newsletter articles for publications around the world including Canada and Japan. She has been quoted and featured in national publications including the Chronicle of Higher Education. In addition, she wrote the prefaces for two NCDA monographs – Career Coaching: Fundamentals, Applications, and Future Directions and Designing and Implementing Career Interventions.
Lakeisha is a native of Baltimore, MD and seeks to give back to the greater Baltimore community by serving on non-profit boards and supporting workforce programs. Of most importance is Dr. Mathew’s client-centered approach to career coaching. Hearing success stories continue to be the favorite part of her job as a Higher Education Administrator, Educator and Career Coach!
