Atlantic University: How We Invest in Growth
Professional development at Atlantic isn’t a perk. It’s how we do our work.
The best service a firm can offer its clients comes from the people doing the work. That belief is the foundation of Atlantic University, our professional development and education system. It is built on a simple idea: when we invest in our people, we deliver better work for the clients who trust us.
Atlantic University is a firm-wide commitment organized around five pillars: Grow, Connect, Know, Explore, and Lead.
Grow
Growth starts with resources. Every member of our team has an annual professional development budget to spend on the learning that matters most to them, whether that’s a conference, a certification, a course, or something less conventional. Alongside that budget, we hold a regular cadence of Lunch & Learn sessions. The message is simple: we invest in you, and we invest alongside you.
Connect
Some of the most valuable learning happens between people. Our structured six-month mentorship program pairs mentees with mentors and develops both. Mentees gain guidance and perspective, while mentors sharpen their own skills in coaching, communication, and leadership. It’s growth through relationships, not just resources.
Know
Staying excellent at a craft requires staying current. The Know pillar covers technical knowledge, licensure support, industry trends, and continuing education. Whether someone is preparing for an exam, tracking changes in codes and standards, or learning about the latest developments in the industry, we want them to have what they need to excel.
Explore
Most of us spend our days in one corner of the profession. Explore gives our team intentional exposure to parts of the profession, the firm, or the industry they don’t encounter day to day. It’s available at every career stage, because curiosity doesn’t have a seniority requirement, and a wider view makes for better collaborators and better problem-solvers.
Lead
At Atlantic, leadership is not a title. It’s a practice. The Lead pillar offers opportunities to lead projects, people, and initiatives, starting now, wherever someone is in their career. Leading early builds the confidence and judgment that tomorrow’s leaders need.
Learning That Looks Beyond Today
We are constantly seeking learning opportunities that are relevant to our current practices, and we pay just as much attention to knowledge that opens doors to other markets, technologies, tools, and ways of working. The industry keeps evolving, and we would rather help shape that change than react to it. Staying curious about what’s next lets us serve today’s clients well while preparing for the opportunities ahead.
Much of that learning happens right here at home. Our internal Lunch & Learns are led by members of our own staff, who share what they know, what they’ve tried, and what they’ve learned along the way. These sessions are built around collaborative discussion. Questions, debate, and fresh ideas are part of the point, and they often spark conversations that carry back into project work.
Why It Matters
We invest in our employees’ continuing education because it is the surest way to keep bringing our clients the best service possible. Teams that keep learning bring sharper thinking, broader perspective, and stronger solutions to every project. For the people who work here, it means a career with room to grow, and a firm that is committed to helping them get there.
That’s Atlantic University. We’ll use this blog to share more about the programs, the people, and the lessons behind it. Check back for stories from our team, highlights from Lunch & Learns, and a closer look at each of the five pillars.
