Like most business leaders, I have been checking in with my team members more frequently lately, making sure everyone is healthy and engaged while we are all working remotely. On a recent call, a member of my team who is a mother of young children shared that she was using some of the time while her child focused on schoolwork to work toward her own learning goals. I was impressed, not only by how she was using her time to learn something new, but also that she was also modeling the value of learning to her child.

Whether you are a parent learning alongside your child; a professional who has "found" time now that you are not commuting to an office; or just in need of a break to do something different for personal wellness, this period of remote work creates some unique opportunities to invest in developing our careers and ourselves.

Taking the time to focus on development by building industry knowledge can have lasting career benefits. As the leader of LOMA's Professional Development programs, I have had the opportunity to connect with many industry professionals who have developed their industry acumen by earning professional designations. Students who have completed these challenging industry programs say their educational achievement has helped them with credibility, confidence and overall self-esteem.