Power Skills for Career Growth

How to Bring the Real You to Work: Authenticity, Connection, and Identity

Overview

How to Bring the Real You to Work explores the power of authenticity for building your career, forming strong relationships and supporting a genuine sense of belonging at work. Through personal dialogue and expert insight, it covers how to nurture self-development, tune into your multiple identities, read your surroundings and practise self-reflection, so you can treat your authentic self as a career strength.

This is an official Harvard Online course, featuring faculty from the Harvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences and delivered on Harvard Online's learning platform. IPMC International handles your registration, payment and local support, then enrols you on the course. It is offered on demand, so you can start whenever suits you and learn at your own pace, and the microcredential and certificate details are set out below.

LengthOn-demand
CommitmentAbout 2.5 hours
FormatSelf-guided online
Faculty fromHarvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences

What you'll learn

The course is built around three practical themes:

  • Authenticity and self-expression: reflect on a career path that feels true to you, strengthen your ability to express yourself at work, and feel empowered to bring your real self into professional settings.
  • Relationships and support networks: build deeper, more supportive relationships with peers and mentors, and navigate challenges such as imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
  • Enhancing workplace culture: amplify respect and understanding around you, helping others feel valued and able to contribute as themselves.

Course syllabus

The course is taught by Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. in conversation with actor and singer Cynthia Erivo, and is organised into three short modules. There are no prerequisites.

The Many Components of Identity

Understand identity as the mix of characteristics, experiences and social affiliations that shape a sense of self, distinguish external labels from internal attributes, and recognise the tension between individual identity and the "work identity" adopted to fit professional norms.

Imposed Identity in the Workplace

See how the brain's "us versus them" instinct can lead to generalisations and bias, and use active listening, note-taking and curiosity to interrupt cycles of self-doubt.

Preserving Authenticity at Work

Build meaningful professional relationships by being proactive and generous, use empathy to resolve tension while staying true to your values, and set intentional limits that protect your grounded self and long-term productivity.

Faculty

Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Your instructor. An Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, journalist, literary scholar and cultural critic, he is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, and host of Finding Your Roots on PBS.

The course also features insights from Cynthia Erivo, the Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, songwriter and activist known for roles including Celie in The Color Purple, Harriet Tubman in Harriet and Elphaba in Wicked. Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Who it's for

This is an introductory course for anyone who wants to show up more fully and confidently at work, from graduates and early-career professionals to experienced managers and team leaders. No prior study is required. It suits professionals and organisations who want a globally recognised Harvard Online credential to build practical skills.

Your certificate

The course includes a microcredential that recognises your completion of the material. It sits within Harvard Online's Power Skills for Career Growth series, and you earn a full Certificate of Completion once you finish any five of the seven courses in that series. Certificates are issued by Harvard Online, and you can add the credential to your CV and LinkedIn.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost through IPMC?

The course fee is confirmed on enquiry and put in writing before payment.

How do I pay?

Pay IPMC securely by debit/credit card in UAE Dirhams (UAE) or by UPI, card or net banking in Indian Rupees (India).

Is the certificate really from Harvard Online?

Yes. The course is delivered by Harvard Online and the microcredential and Certificate of Completion are issued by Harvard Online.

How long do I have to complete the course?

It is offered on demand and you have 90 days from enrolment to work through the roughly 2.5 hours of material at your own pace.

Will I interact with Cynthia Erivo?

No. The guest segments were pre-recorded to share perspective on the topics; there are no live sessions or additional interactions planned.

When does it start?

This is a self-paced, on-demand Harvard Online course, so you can start anytime and learn at your own pace. Enquire and we'll get you enrolled.

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