Commitment, Participation & FAQs
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Who is the First-Gen Professional Collective for?
FGPC is designed for first-generation professionals who are navigating growth, responsibility, and transition in their personal and professional lives. Many participants arrive with a strong sense of care and commitment, alongside questions about pace, boundaries, identity, and sustainability.
FGPC is best suited for participants who have spent several years in their careers and are navigating increasing responsibility, complexity, or leadership expectations. While many participants have approximately six or more years of professional experience, what matters most is readiness for reflection, integration, and sustained engagement.
Who might FGPC not be the right fit?
FGPC may not be the right fit if you’re looking for quick fixes, prescriptive career advice, or a purely instructional program. The experience is reflective, relational, and practice-oriented rather than directive or performance-based.
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How is FGPC facilitated?
FGPC is facilitated by me (Lisette Garza), drawing on coaching, organizational development, and group facilitation practices. The experience blends reflection, dialogue, and practical sense-making rather than lectures or performance-based activities.
What does personal commitment look like?
FGPC invites participants into a practice of intentional engagement with themselves.
Personal commitment may include:
Setting aside time to attend live sessions whenever possible
Engaging in reflection between sessions (journaling, noticing patterns, experimenting with small shifts)
Showing up with curiosity rather than pressure to “have it all figured out”
This is not about perfection or performance. It’s about presence, honesty, and willingness to stay engaged over time, even when things feel messy or unfinished. Participants are encouraged to work within their real-life capacity and to communicate if circumstances shift.
What does communal commitment look like?
Because FGPC is a cohort-based experience, learning happens not only individually, but in relationship with others.
Communal commitment includes:
Listening generously and respectfully to others’ experiences
Offering reflection and care rather than advice or fixing
Honoring the diversity of identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences within the group
Protecting the psychological safety of the space by maintaining confidentiality and boundaries
The quality of the experience depends on shared care. We hold the container together.
What does “The Founding Circle” mean?
The Founding Circle refers to participants in the inaugural cohorts of the First-Gen Professional Collective.
As members of the Founding Circle, participants are helping shape:
The culture and tone of the collective
What feels most supportive, meaningful, and generative
How this community grows and evolves beyond the first cohort
This is an acknowledgment of stewardship, contribution, and shared authorship in the program’s early formation
In recognition of this founding participation, Founding Circle members receive:
A founding rate
Specially branded items
Lifetime access to select future programs and shared resources .
Is this coaching or therapy?
FGPC is a coaching- and facilitation-based program, not therapy. It supports reflection, growth, and meaning-making, but it does not replace mental health care or clinical support.
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What is included in the First-Gen Professional Collective?
Enrollment in FGPC includes:
Eight 2-hour live group sessions, held weekly on Zoom
Three individual 1:1 coaching sessions (60 minutes each)
A welcome packet, participant workbook, and supporting materials
Access to a private participant portal and peer learning space
An optional Capstone Practice to support integration and application
Participants in the inaugural cohorts (the Founding Circle) also receive specially branded items created for the first cohort.
What does enrollment mean?Enrollment in the First-Gen Professional Collective is finalized once the full program balance is paid or the first installment is submitted. A deposit may be used to hold a place prior to enrollment, but it does not, on its own, complete enrollment.
What does the payment plan option include?
For participants who prefer to spread payments over time, FGPC offers an installment payment option.
This option typically includes:
An initial payment to confirm enrollment
One scheduled installment, with due dates shared in advance
The installment option is intended to support planning and accessibility, not to create pressure. I encourage participants to choose the approach that feels most aligned with their financial capacity and current circumstances.
If questions come up about payment timing or logistics, I’m always happy to talk them through.
When does enrollment close?
Enrollment for each cohort closes once the cohort is full or when the program begins, whichever comes first.
Because FGPC is a cohort-based experience, late enrollments are not typically accepted after the start date.
Are payments refundable?
Because FGPC is a cohort-based experience with limited spots, payments are generally non-refundable once enrollment is finalized.
If circumstances change before the program begins, I ask that you reach out as soon as possible. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, with care and fairness in mind.
What if I need to withdraw after the program starts?
If you’re unable to continue after the program has begun, remaining installment payments may still be due. While I can’t guarantee refunds, I aim to approach these situations with thoughtfulness and transparency. Early communication is always appreciated.
Can FGPC be used for professional development or company sponsorship?
Yes. Many participants use FGPC as part of their professional development, and some seek employer sponsorship or reimbursement.
FGPC supports reflective leadership development, capacity-building, and sustainable growth, areas often aligned with organizational learning and development goals. If helpful, you’re welcome to share this brief program overview with your manager or HR partner.
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What are the cohort dates and meeting times?
FGPC is currently offering two cohorts, each meeting weekly for eight live sessions. All sessions are held live on Zoom.
Check back for new dates.What is the time commitment?
FGPC includes eight weekly live sessions (2 hours), along with reflection between sessions. While live participation is encouraged, I understand that life happens and ask participants to communicate if flexibility is needed.
Are sessions recorded?
Some portions of FGPC sessions may be recorded, while others will not be recorded, particularly when conversations involve sensitive, vulnerable, or deeply personal reflection.
I will always name when recording is on or off and ask for consent before recording any portion of a session. Not all sessions, or all parts of a session, will be captured.
While recordings may be shared with enrolled participants when appropriate, live attendance is strongly encouraged. The experience of FGPC is relational and participatory, and recordings are not intended to replace presence, engagement, or commitment to the cohort.
How are AI tools used in FGPC?
I may use select AI-supported tools to assist with program design, reflection, and sense-making, such as:
Zoom’s AI Companion to generate high-level session summaries
Transcription tools (e.g., Otter AI) to support accuracy in capturing themes
AI tools like ChatGPT to assist with program design or facilitation planning
These tools are used with intention and care, and not as substitutes for human judgment, facilitation, or relational presence.
When using AI-supported tools, I take steps to:
Limit the use of personally identifying information whenever possible
Avoid uploading names or sensitive details unnecessarily
Use outputs at an aggregate or thematic level rather than attributing content to individuals
The purpose of these tools is to support clarity, continuity, and thoughtful design—not surveillance or evaluation.
If you have questions or concerns about the use of AI tools, I welcome conversation.
What happens if I miss a session?
I understand that life happens. If you anticipate needing to miss a session, I ask that you provide as much advance notice as possible, when feasible. I also recognize that emergencies and unexpected circumstances arise, and advance notice isn’t always possible.
For any missed session, we’ll work together to create a plan to help you get back up to speed and stay connected to the learning and the group. This may include sharing relevant materials, reflections, or other supports as appropriate.
The goal is to honor individual needs while also ensuring that our shared learning community continues to flow with care and continuity.
Is there required pre-work?
FGPC does not include extensive or time-intensive pre-work. Prior to the program start, I may invite participants to complete a brief survey and prepare a short personal introduction to support connection during our first session.
During the program, I may also invite participants to complete short, optional reflection or feedback surveys after sessions. These help me understand what’s landing, make thoughtful adjustments as we go, and inform the continued development of future cohorts.
All pre-work and surveys are invitational rather than mandatory. They’re offered as opportunities to deepen reflection, support the collective experience, and help me steward the program with care.
How is psychological safety supported?
FGPC is facilitated with care, clear boundaries, and attention to group dynamics. Shared agreements around confidentiality, respect, and consent help create a space where participants can engage honestly and thoughtfully.
What happens if something feels uncomfortable?
Discomfort can be part of growth, but harm is not the goal. Participants are encouraged to take space when needed, name concerns when possible, and reach out directly if something doesn’t feel right.
What about confidentiality?
I ask all participants to treat shared stories, reflections, and experiences as confidential. What is shared in the group stays in the group.
While I can’t guarantee the actions of others, this expectation is named, reinforced, and held with care.
Can the program change?
FGPC is intentionally responsive. While the core structure and commitments remain consistent, specific content, pacing, or activities may shift to best serve the cohort. Any meaningful changes will be communicated clearly.
What happens after the cohort ends?
The cohort experience is designed to stand on its own, while also offering pathways for continued connection.
Over time, I hope to build a community platform or network for FGPC alumni to stay connected—sharing resources, learning from one another, and gathering socially in ways that feel supportive and sustainable. This may include opportunities for informal connection, shared learning, or future offerings.
To support this, I’ll maintain a contact list for FGPC alumni so I can stay in touch and share updates about related activities, gatherings, or resources. Participation in any future connection or engagement is always optional.
Founding Circle members will be among the first invited to help shape what continued connection could look like, in ways that honor interest, capacity, and choice.
Who should I contact with questions or concerns?
If questions, concerns, or circumstances come up at any point, I invite you to reach out directly. Open communication helps me improve and enhance the FGPC experience.