2025 WLC LIVE PROGRAM
MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS & EDUCATION SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
A Bundle Unbroken: Women and the Power of One
Cassi Chandler
Monday, September 22, 2025 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Cassi Chandler’s career is one of overcoming obstacles, breaking barriers, succeeding in difficult environments, and redefining how leaders look and act. As the FBI’s first African American female special agent assistant director – and leader of critical intelligence assignments at the FBI and Bank of America ‒ she was a trailblazer for women of all backgrounds, showing that it’s possible to break the glass ceiling and become leaders at the world’s top organizations. Women have come a long way in the workplace, but there is still progress to be made.
In this talk, Cassi looks at the continuing challenges women face today from a variety of corporate, environmental, and technology influences ‒ perpetual global disruption, the rise of global hybrid workforces, and the increasing impact of generative artificial intelligence on humans, to name a few. She walks groups through actionable strategies for addressing the challenges women face at work and inspires them to become explorers, build their individual powers, and bundle their powers together to drive positive change. Sharing real-life examples from her own experiences, she also reviews practical tactics audience members working and leading in difficult environments can implement in their professional and personal lives to tap into their unrealized levels of productivity, perseverance, and most importantly – self-belief.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore how to tap into your inner strength, perseverance and self-belief to succeed in difficult environments and forge your path forward.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Relevant to all Leadership Competencies, especially Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
Why (and How) Every Leader Should Be Networking More!
Michael Dominguez
Monday, September 22, 2025 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
DESCRIPTION:
In the 21st century networking is not just an optional task relegated to the bottom of leaders’ priority lists. No matter who you are or what your industry networking is now deemed a leader’s most valuable business strategy, a key performance indicator, a predictor of success, a career imperative ‒ to advance yourself and your organization as part of a global network for collaboration, innovation, and growth. Nowadays, networking is not simply collecting LinkedIn connections or voluminous contacts in a digital rolodex – it requires investment of meaningful, intensive effort to build bridges through deeper quality connections and relationships. There is no doubt that leaders who intentionally grow their internal and external networks have a distinct advantage, and the best leaders are always learning, honing their networking skills, and networking.
The benefits of networking only intensify the higher you ascend on the leadership level – whether you are seeking valuable intelligence about industry trends, customer dynamics or new innovations; enhancing your support system; building your personal brand and influence; or eyeing your next career opportunity in hidden job markets. This talk by Michael Dominguez, one of the most dynamic networkers on the American business scene today, will help you boost your networking power. Regardless of your networking history, if you desire to elevate your networking skills and increase your influence inside and outside of your organization, this talk will have valuable gems for you!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine techniques employed by successful networkers.
Help you assess your current networking skills to identify strengths and gaps.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Continuous Learning & Development
Choosing Self-Confidence & Finding Your Superpower
Lisa Sun
Monday, September 22, 2025 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
“Whatever you do, do it with confidence,” American writer Elbert Hubbard once said. Few admonitions are more true for leaders – at all levels. Self-confidence is the sina qua non of successful leadership, whether it is persuasive communication, assertive decision- making, inspiration of team trust and confidence, or reputation for credibility and respect from others. Although self-confidence may come naturally to some, it is elusive and episodic for many leaders.
Through her personal journey and quantitative research, Lisa will explore, with honesty and humor, the lifelong struggle between self-consciousness and self-confidence, the forces that hold us back, and the process for tapping into our unique internal gifts as the foundation for a mindset of self-belief and self-confidence. Lisa surveys different confidence personalities, offering real takeaways for personal and professional growth. Lisa’s talk will ultimately help us uncover our own confidence language and its impact, and learn how to use them to navigate life’s challenges and amplify our success.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine practical techniques for building the vital leadership skill of self-confidence.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Promotes Wellness; relevant to all Leadership Competencies, particularly Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
Middle-Level Leaders – The Unsung Heroes of Company Success
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
MODERATOR: Anne Leets, CEO, The Leets Consortium
ROUNDTABLE: ‒ Christina Diener, Disney, Digital Marketing & Client Partnerships
‒ Veronica Jamriska, Edwards Lifesciences, Supply Chain Operations
‒ Monica Pleasant, Medtronic, Human Resource
‒ Michelle Vielledent, Redbull, Sales & Training
DESCRIPTION:
Middle-level leaders – who oversee 90% of the American workforce – are uniquely positioned in organizations to drive organizational success. A recent McKinsey & Co. article observed that “[m]iddle managers are the heart of your company … at the center of the action” – because “[w]ithout their ability to connect and integrate people and tasks, an organization can cease to function effectively.” The authors then counseled companies: “Stop thinking of middle management as a way station. Instead, make it a destination.”
Mid-level leaders have the most responsibility – strategy execution through daily operations, peak performance, budgets, decision-making, constant communication, team engagement and motivation, talent development and retention, compliance, culture, change adaptation, innovation, balancing executive expectations – and manage the most resources in their respective departments/functions. However, too often they face the most limitations to be able to perform their jobs – too few resources, too little training and development, too little guidance and support, too little empowerment to exercise the authority necessary to do their jobs, too much stress! And when things go awry, the stark reality is they are the easy target caught in the middle, frequently saddled with too much of the blame, and among the first to be cut in downsizing and layoffs.
For all these reasons, middle-level leaders in America are facing unprecedented challenges, dissatisfaction and burn out – many analysts assert of crisis proportions! It is time we take stock, recognize, and applaud mid-level leaders for the invaluable service and dedication they invest daily in the success of their organizations. This frank roundtable discussion is designed to highlight the role mid-level leaders play every day; identify the critical competencies needed for success; offer ideas to overcome challenges and setbacks; and share insightful strategies to navigate the realities of “career pathing.”
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Learn about the role of the middle-level leader in an organization and the competencies required for success in this position.
Consider career paths for middle-level leaders.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Relevant to all Leadership Competencies
Mastering Good Sleep: The Elixir for Good Health
Chris Johnson
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
DESCRIPTION:
The power of quality, or “good,” sleep – in the right amount – for our overall health cannot be overstated. As one of the three pillars of health, sleep is crucial for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, brain function, mood stability, disease mitigation, stronger immune system, and quality of life. Yet, despite increased awareness of the importance of good sleep, in today’s America sleep has become a precious commodity, with a growing number of people experiencing sleep difficulties.
While recent polls show a majority of US adults aren’t getting enough sleep and are experiencing frequent stress (such as Gallup (2024)), other reports have gone further to suggest that in 2025, sleep health in America is in a crisis state, with a significant number of Americans not getting enough sleep, experiencing sleep disorders, and/or struggling with sleep-related anxiety.
Guest speaker Chris Johnson – Founder of On-Target Living and acclaimed speaker, author, and thought leader on health as a critical element of leadership and sustainable success ‒ will discuss with us common reasons why we don’t get enough good sleep; what happens when we don’t get enough good sleep; what we can do to promote more and better sleep; and when we should seek professional help for sleep dysfunction.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Underscore the importance of quality sleep to physical and mental health, overall well-being, and effective leadership.
Explain what happens when we don’t get enough good sleep.
Explore techniques for promoting more and better sleep.
Consider when we should seek professional help for sleep dysfunction.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Promotes Wellness and is relevant to all Leadership Competencies
CHANGE RESILIENCE
Kath Koschel
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
DESTINATION:
Change is a reality for all people and all organizations – and comes at us in many ways. But history shows that only a small number of strategies to effectuate or manage change succeed. Company teams will enable it or obstruct it. Kath knows what it takes to support change in an organization. Having experienced and overcome life-altering change events in both her personal and professional life, Kath now helps organizations around the world to adapt to change, using a proven framework of gratitude, perspective, and kindness. Kath will provide actionable takeaways for us to push progress forward in the now and into the future by overcoming resistance to change, managing the change process, finding opportunity and choice in change, and adopting a mindset of resilience in the face of challenge.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Analyze techniques for leadership of organizational change, using the values of gratitude and kindness as drivers.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
LIVE CONFERENCE TRACKS & EDUCATION SESSIONS
EMERGING LEADER TRACK
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An Emerging Leader has less than 10 years of career experience. She/he may be an individual contributor who aspires to be in a leadership position but hasn’t quite achieved that level yet. Or she/he may already supervise individual projects and/or people as a Team Leader, or as an entry-level to mid-level Supervisor, Manager, or Administrator.
An Emerging Leader has the closest proximity to team members and is typically deeply connected to organizational operations. Her/his responsibilities are likely focused within one functional area (such as sales, marketing, finance, human resources, etc.) and center on supervising a team or department and fostering a positive work environment on a daily basis – ensuring effective management of workflows; achievement of specified tasks, assignments, or goals; process control; problem-solving; and guidance and feedback to team members to promote a healthy team dynamic.
The Emerging Leader serves as a point of contact between the team and higher-level managers – often mid-level managers, to whom she/he communicates progress updates, team issues or concerns, and with whom she/he collaborates on problem resolution, process improvements, and operational efficiency.
At this career stage, an Emerging Leader is typically working to develop all aspects of her/his leadership skills.
TRACK LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the fundamental, universal, and enduring traits of effective leadership, focusing on how leaders use their knowledge and expertise to engage the strengths of their team members to achieve and sustain successful business results or outcomes for their organizations.
Understand the meaning of strategic career navigation and its importance to participants’ long-term success goals.
Learn how to formulate and convey your individual business value and leadership brand.
Help upgrade your leadership skills and gain new skills.
Expand your network through peer colleagues, such as team leaders, supervisors, and managers.
FWLE’s LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: All courses in this track support one or more of FWLE’s identified core leadership competencies:
Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
Builds Relationships & Coalitions
Business Acumen & Business Judgment
Continuous Learning & Development
Develops Others to Build Talent
Effective Communication with All Levels
Excellence in Results Through Others
Integrity
Promotes Wellness
Sets Vision & Direction
Social Responsibility
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 1
Option 1: Building Your “Career Go-Bag”
Makeda Brown
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Participants will be introduced to the concept of Leading NOW’s 21st century definition of leadership: Using the greatness in you to engage the greatness in others in order to achieve and sustain extraordinary business outcomes. This hands-on workshop will explore the concept of Career Navigation – what it is and why it is important to manage strategically from the early stages of one’s career. Participants will complete the first of their career essentials – a Career Navigation Guide and Self-Assessment, and will be instructed on how to activate these successfully both at the WLC and beyond. In the modern professional world, career agility and adaptability are key to success. You need to be prepared for unexpected career twists and turns. A “Career Go Bag” provides you with a toolkit packed with skills, knowledge, and resources you can readily deploy when charting your next moves on your career journey.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand Leading NOW’s definition of leadership.
Understand the core skills and competencies essential to effective leadership.
Understand the concept of career navigation – what it is and why it is important to manage strategically from the early stages of one’s career.
Assess where you are in your leadership development trajectory and determine your short-term and long-term focus.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Excellence in Results Through Others; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 2: Workplace Wellness/Work-Life Harmony
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Well-being is foundational to leadership and high-performing organizations. The more leadership responsibilities you assume, the greater the need to maintain your mental and physical health for your leadership effectiveness – for reduced stress, improved energy and cognitive function, enhanced problem-solving and lower risk of burnout. Just as important, it’s your job as a leader to set the important example of prioritizing well-being for your teammates and others to follow – especially in today’s times of increasing employee demands for acknowledgment and support of their well-being. Good self-care requires ongoing work-life integration. This does not mandate a perfect 50/50 balance between your work obligations and personal life commitments. Rather, it envisions a sustainable, healthy lifestyle that allows you to excel in your leadership career while leading a fulfilling personal life. In this session participants will learn how to identify stressors, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care without compromising professional performance. With insights from research on well-being and productivity, this session provides you with tools to create a healthier, more harmonious approach to work and life.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the linkage between physical and mental well-being for leaders and all team members to a positive and healthy work environment that boosts engagement, morale, productivity, and retention.
Learn how to identify your own stressors and recognize the signs of stress in yourself and your team members.
Explore strategies for work-life integration that prioritize wellbeing for yourself and your team members and workplace achievement.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Promotes Wellness; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 3: Communication and Listening
Courtney Burton
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
The ability to communicate effectively, both with team members across the organization and with external stakeholders, is one of a leader’s most critical skills ‒ essential to clear thinking, building trust and respect with others, and fostering inclusive sharing of ideas and problem solving by teams. This session will explore techniques for conveying clear, accurate and concise information to a multitude of audiences in ways that maximize audience understanding and engagement in the message. Because communication is a two-way street, the discussion will also focus on the powerful skill of active listening ‒ to understand recipients of the message and promote quality exchange of ideas.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Focus on methods for delivering effective communications, oral and written, that are clear and easy to understand, correct/accurate and honest, coherent, concise, adapted to different audiences and situations.
Impart techniques for active listening to team members and others in your organization to understand the perspective of others, read their emotions, and acknowledge their ideas.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Excellence in Results Through Others
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 2
Option 1: Developing Your Leadership Brand
Alana Hill
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Having your defined Leadership Brand Statement is essential to defining and projecting your leadership identity – it is a concise declaration of your unique qualities and style, your values, your leadership philosophy, and how you want others to perceive you. In short, it conveys what you stand for as a leader and how you envision your impact on others. It can make a huge difference in your ability to stay focused on track as you progress and realize your career vision. In this hands-on workshop participants will explore tools to help them develop their Leadership Brand Statement and then craft their own statement.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Learn what a professional Leadership Brand Statement is and why it is necessary for your career.
Provide participants with a hands-on opportunity to develop their next Career Go- Bag essential: their own Leadership Brand Statement.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 2: Networking 101
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Leaders achieve success for themselves and their organizations not only through their own abilities and knowledge but also through their relationships with others. As you build your career, networking will play a major role in how you exchange information, new ideas, and resources in doing your job; meet new people with different backgrounds, skills, and perspectives; meet mentors; and learn of new jobs and professional opportunities. The people in your network can give you career advice, insight into a new role or industry, or connect you to someone at an employer for whom you want to work. This interactive session will guide participants through five (5) key steps to building a successful business network.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Help participants develop a strategic understanding of networks and why they matter for career and leadership development.
Learn five (5) key steps in developing the skills necessary for a high-quality business network.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 3: Leadership Unlocked: Thriving at Every Career Level
Makeda Brown
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Leadership is not just a destination – it’s a journey that evolves at every stage of your career. This session explores the key success factors for transitioning from individual contributor to manager of people, and explores the most essential career competencies at every stage. Participants will also probe the breakthrough skills and relationships required to excel in middle management and prepare for executive-level leadership. Through practical insights and actionable strategies, this session provides a roadmap for cultivating leadership skills that grow alongside your career, empowering you to make an impact at every level.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Inspire Emerging Leaders to consider their potential for higher-level leadership roles and associated leadership development paths.
Promote a mindset about leadership career planning as an intentional continuous growth process, informed by accurate information about the key skills required at the major levels of leadership.
Explore the concept of personalized career mapping.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Continuous Learning & Development; Excellence in Results Through Others
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 3
Option 1: Introduction to Business Acumen
Courtney Burton
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
To enhance your success in the business world business acumen is a must have. Business acumen refers to the ability to effectively and often rapidly assess situations and challenges that arise and achieve the best outcome for your organization, based on an understanding of its operating model, finances, and strategic goals. A leader with business acumen truly understands how her/his organization works and how to execute strategy to drive the key success metrics for the business. This interactive session will examine the skills essential to building a disciplined approach to analyzing business problems and the criteria used to make informed decisions to resolve them. Participants will also be taught the fundamentals of formulating a business plan.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Probe the meaning of business acumen and its associated skills.
Learn how to formulate a business plan.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Transcending Gender Stereotypes in Your Career
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
There are many hurdles aspiring professionals must clear to move from individual contributor up to senior leadership roles. For women in the workplace there is the added complexity of Gender Dynamics—the mindsets many leaders have that differentiate between men and women based on gender and how those mindsets, when translated into stereotyping and other adverse behaviors, can derail an aspiring woman’s path forward. Participants will learn how to navigate the five (5) gender dynamics most frequently encountered by women in the workplace (as reported in Leading NOW’s research among managers around the globe)—by learning what such behaviors are, how to identify whether such dynamics are impacting your day-to-day job performance or career goals, and how to mitigate the scenarios with their leader(s). Participants – whether women leaders on the receiving end of such behaviors or male allies who witness such interactions ‒ will take away tips for effectively, calmly and firmly dealing with these common gender dynamics in the workplace.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Familiarize participants with gender-based stereotyping and other adverse behaviors frequently encountered by women leaders in the workplace that may be detrimental to their job performance and careers.
Equip participants – including women leaders who are subjected to such conduct and male allies who may witness such – with appropriate responses to gender stereotyping and related adverse behaviors.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Social Responsibility
Option 3: The Bottom Line: Fundamentals of Finance
Alana Hill
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Financial knowledge and solid money management skills are important for all managers ‒ not only financial professionals ‒ to promote success for yourself as an individual and your organization. This session equips Emerging Leaders with the essentials of financial literacy to better understand the big financial picture of how organizations make and manage money. Participants will explore key financial concepts such as revenue, income, types of expenses, profit, and cash flow; how budgets at the basic departmental/business unit level roll up into a Profit & Loss Statement; and how your and your team’s department role and budget management connect to your organization’s overall financial measurements. Financial skills can also give you a competitive advantage in advancing to your next position. Through relatable examples and interactive activities, participants will gain the confidence to interpret financial information and make informed decisions in your team’s work that align with the goals of your organization and its success.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Familiarize participants with basic financial concepts and terminology used by organizations to manage their money and measure their financial performance.
Demonstrate how individual department/business unit budgets aggregate up to an organization’s Profit & Loss position.
Promote a better understanding of the role of the participant’s department/unit work and budget – and decisions at that level – in the big picture of the organization’s accomplishment of its overall business and financial goals.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 4
Option 1: Developing Strong Workplace Relationships
Alison Coniglaro-Hubbard
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
To position yourself for success early in your career, it is vital to develop positive workplace relationships with your teammates, your department, your manager, and others within your organization. Successful leaders cultivate strong connections in workplace relationships to foster engagement and morale, promote teamwork, collaboration, and productivity, and cultivate trust that influences others to achieve their shared vision, mission, and goals, and ultimately organizational success. This has taken on even greater importance in the hybrid work environment, where remote work arrangements have changed how people relate to each other. Building supportive workplace relationships will also facilitate your career goals and your achievements in each role you attain along the way. Participants in this interactive session will learn the critical skill of engaging others, how to develop and maintain high-quality relationships with your peers and your manager, and how to strengthen interpersonal ties across department boundaries and technology-based communication channels.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Probe the importance of building and maintaining positive workplace relationships.
Learn the techniques of building productive business relationships in day-to-day interactions.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Develops Others to Build Talent
Option 2: The Building Blocks of Strategy
Alana Hill
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
As an early-career professional you should understand the role of strategy as your organization’s roadmap for achieving its vision and long-term goals successfully. While you are not expected to master the intricacies of strategic management, as an early manager you should develop a foundational understanding of the overall strategy process, including the importance of strategic thinking and analysis of alternative potential paths in determining overall direction for your organization; the need to translate resulting strategic plans and metrics into actionable steps; and the importance of progress tracking and necessary adjustments. Most importantly, participants in this session will learn how to connect their and their team’s work to the organization’s broader business goals, analyze key drivers of success, and identify opportunities for their own individual impact. Through practical examples and interactive discussions, this session helps participants build the mindset and skills to think strategically, contribute meaningfully to their organization’s success, and establish a basis for future leadership roles.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Promote a basic understanding of the role of strategy and the overall strategic planning and measuring process in achieving an organization’s vision and success.
Help participants understand what strategic thinking encompasses.
Help participants learn how to connect their work to their organization’s business goals and key success drivers, thus enhancing their sense of their own and their team’s organizational purpose.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Sets Vision & Direction; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 3: Conflict Management
Quendrida Whitmore
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Workplace conflict is inevitable considering the different personalities, goals, ideas, and styles in our workplaces, regardless of how intensive leadership efforts may be to cultivate a respectful, positive culture. Unresolved conflict acts as a silent killer of team harmony and productivity. Therefore, conflict must and can be managed and resolved promptly and equitably to foster stable, resilient teams. Participants in this session will probe the frequent causes of interpersonal conflict and emotional triggers, as well as factors that can escalate conflict to more serious levels. The session will explore the techniques and skills leaders must employ to critically evaluate, defuse, and hopefully resolve conflict situations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Identify the most frequent causes and triggers of workplace conflict.
Outline the techniques that are most often effective in resolving conflict situations.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Develops Others to Build Talent
EMERGING EXECUTIVE TRACK
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An Emerging Executive is a middle-level leader with more than 10 years of career experience. Titles may include Manager, Senior Manager, Regional Manager, or Director.
The Emerging Executive focuses on translating her/his organization’s strategies or initiatives into actionable plans she/he executes with teams she/he manages within her/his specific department, sector, or function to accomplish goals or project milestones. She/he may interface with other departments or units to ensure the smooth, efficient flow of functional or cross-functional operations within a specific domain. This position may control budgets, develop business plans, and make decisions with a span of control reaching across sizeable revenue, geography, or project scope. An Emerging Executive usually leads a team of direct reports who are managers of people.
Although she/he may have influence on strategy development for her/his department or business unit(s), the Emerging Executive demonstrates success by hands-on management and team leadership to implement strategies, oversee work performance, and make necessary adjustments to keep operations on track and achieve objectives within her/his specific functional area.
At this career stage, having mastered one or more areas of technical expertise and personal leadership skills, the Emerging Executive seeks growth opportunities to stretch her/his work scope of responsibility and achieve high quality outcomes by mobilizing and leading multiple teams or units.
TRACK LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore more deeply the many dimensions of business acumen and strategy development and execution, and the differences in business acumen expectations for mid-level vs. higher-level leaders.
Examine the critical skills required for mid-level leaders to demonstrate their ability to lead larger and/or more complex units or functions to advance to higher-level roles.
Help you more effectively communicate as a confident, competent, and trustworthy leader and better project your leadership brand.
Understand how to expand your network by cultivating and using external relationships to achieve strategic business goals.
FWLE’s LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: All courses in this track support one or more of FWLE’s identified core leadership competencies:
Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
Builds Relationships & Coalitions
Business Acumen & Business Judgment
Continuous Learning & Development
Develops Others to Build Talent
Effective Communication with All Levels
Excellence in Results Through Others
Integrity
Promotes Wellness
Sets Vision & Direction
Social Responsibility
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 1
Option 1: The 9 Critical Differentiators of Executive vs. Mid-Level Leadership
Quendrida Whitmore
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Middle-level leaders form the backbone of organizations as the critical link between first-level leaders and executives/officers. Middle managers transmit information up, down and across organizations, and wield enormous influence on the success or failure of organization-wide initiatives and operations. However, if middle-management is not your career destination ‒ and you aspire to executive leadership ‒ there are distinct capabilities, mindsets, and behaviors that you must master to move into senior positions. Leading NOW’s research identified the 9 critical differentiators that distinguish the capabilities, mindsets and behaviors of executive leadership from middle-leaders. This session will define these essential qualities, assist you in evaluating the gaps in your development through your executive readiness assessment, and share strategies for accelerating your leadership progression.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the nine (9) critical capabilities, mindsets, and behaviors expected of executive leaders that mid-level leaders must master for advancement.
Help participants identify gaps in their executive development through their readiness assessment.
Evaluate strategies for developing essential executive competencies.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Sets Vision & Direction; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Industry Connections: Building Strategic Relationships for Long-Term Success
Alana Hill
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Strategic professional relationships are key to long-term success – they can contribute to your knowledge and skills; provide emotional and professional support; and open the door to new opportunities. But building strong relationships requires more than exchanging business cards. This interactive session combines facilitated networking breakouts by functional group ‒ such as sales, HR, and finance ‒ with structured exercises to help participants create meaningful connections. Participants will explore how to find mentors, make contacts with individuals at other companies within their industry, and apply the concept of reciprocity to build mutually beneficial relationships. With a spotlight on actionable strategies, this session empowers participants to elevate their professional network and unlock new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the importance of building relationships and networks in their industry beyond the participant’s employer organization.
Learn and practice techniques for initiating, developing, and leveraging mutually beneficial relationships, including the concept of reciprocity.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 2
Option 1: Driving Competitive Advantage: How Mid-Level Managers Fuel Organizational Success
Courtney Burton
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Competitive advantage isn’t just masterminded in the boardroom – it’s driven by strategic decisions made at every level of an organization, especially mid-level leaders. Their role as the bridge between top leadership and the workforce uniquely positions them to play a pivotal role in driving organizational success. Not only do they translate executive strategy into actionable work plans and oversee efficient, timely execution in daily operations to achieve goals – but as the conduit for information flow and collaboration up, down, and across the organization, they can initiate productivity and process improvements; influence strategy; promote employee wellbeing and shape company culture because of their workforce proximity; and pioneer organizational change. In short, mid-level leaders can be the MVPS who make the difference between the success or failure of organizational strategy initiatives.
This session will explore how organizations achieve advantage over competitors, and how the decisions and actions of mid-level leaders on such critical determinants as resource allocation, process improvements, and team performance contribute to operational excellence and innovation. Through practical exercises participants will learn actionable techniques to align their work with organizational goals and make a lasting impact on their company’s competitive edge.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the factors that give organizations an advantage over their competitors and drive success, especially in for-profit markets.
Examine how the role of mid-level leaders in strategy execution and other aspects of their jobs impact the ability of their organizations to achieve competitive advantage and success.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Succeeding Under Pressure and Navigating Constant Change
Quendrida Whitmore
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Accelerating change and growing complexity in today’s interconnected global economy have increased the demands on businesses and their leaders to adapt ‒ under high- intensity pressure within significantly compressed time frames. The strain on mid-level leaders during disruption and uncertainty are especially acute, since their positions at the crossroads between executive leadership and the frontline workforce require that they manage up and down simultaneously. On the one hand, they must translate shifting strategy and conflicting priorities into constantly adaptive team actions, while managing changing executive expectations — on the other hand, they must balance the impacts of shifting demands on employee productivity, engagement and morale, while mediating employee frustrations and supporting their needs — all while maintaining steady composure and professionalism. In this session participants will focus on steps Emerging Executives can take to build resilience in the face of the pressures they, their teams, and their organizations experience through today’s constant state of flux.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine steps mid-level leaders can take to navigate the pressures they, their teams, and their organizations experience through constant change.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Promotes Wellness
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 3
Option 1: Pulling Back the Financial Curtain
Quendrida Whitmore
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Finance is integral to all organizations, whether for-profit, non-profit, government, etc. As a vital player in your organization’s mission success, every mid-level leader must understand her/his organization’s finances to effectively lead her/his teams, align her/his operations with executive strategy and financial plans, and contribute to strategic decision-making. At a minimum this basic aspect of business acumen includes developing and managing budgets, interpreting financial statements, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), and making informed financial decisions consistent with your organization’s financial goals. Moreover, in tandem with grasping the financial impact of your decisions on your teams and organization, you should be able to effectively communicate your organization’s financial goals and performance to your team members, senior leadership, and other stakeholders. This session will cover basic financial terminology and teach participants how to read and interpret the three (3) key financial statements: the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, and the Cash Flow Statement – which when analyzed together provide a holistic view of the financial health of your organization.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand basic financial concepts and terminology.
Learn how to read and interpret three (3) key financial statements: the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, and the Cash Flow Statement.
Examine how the individual participant’s role (and that of her/his team) contributes to key business outcomes and what aspects of the organization’s performance can be controlled or influenced.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Learning Lab: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Makeda Brown
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Imposter Syndrome (“IS”) – characterized by feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and fear of being exposed as a fraud or “imposter” despite one’s professional credentials and achievements – affects a wide range of people at all levels, regardless of their background, accomplishments and success. Despite IS’s high prevalence among knowledge workers, high-achieving women and people from underrepresented or historically marginalized groups in particular register high incidence of this phenomenon. If such feelings are severe, dominate your thoughts, and allowed to persist, the phenomenon can undermine self-worth, degrade work performance, stunt professional growth due to avoidance of opportunities and fear of failure, and lead to burnout – in a nutshell, block success.
This session begins by analyzing the manifestations of the different types and causes of IS and then maps out practical 0strategies to overcome it – and own your success. Participants will learn techniques to reframe self-doubt, build resilience, and embrace their achievements. By addressing IS head-on, leaders can unlock their full potential, enhance their leadership effectiveness, and drive better business outcomes with confidence and clarity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Define Imposter Syndrome, its manifestations, and its causes.
Explore strategies for combatting Imposter Syndrome.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Promotes Wellness; Continuous Learning & Development
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 4
Option 1: Executive Communication Skills
Courtney Burton
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Effective communication is a cornerstone of executive leadership, shaping how messages are received, understood, and acted upon. This session delves into three critical aspects of executive communication. Performance focuses on delivering messages with confidence and precision to inspire action. Content emphasizes crafting clear, concise, and credible messages that align with your audience and goals, all while carefully considering context. Style explores techniques such as storytelling, solution-oriented framing, and using the language of business to connect and persuade. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, participants will leave equipped to communicate with impact and elevate their leadership influence.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Underscore the critical importance of effective communications to leaders’ ability to influence and lead more effectively.
Review key elements of effective communications, focusing on the leader’s presentation and delivery; clear, compelling message content; and tailoring of communication styles and techniques to different audiences.
Explore how to use the language of business in communications with senior executives.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: : Effective Communication with All Levels; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Learning Lab: Empathy, Civility, and Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
Makeda Brown
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Great leadership isn’t just about activating the right strategy or getting the highest efficiency or best results. Leadership is above all about genuine human connection and treating others with respect, dignity, professionalism, and kindness – because relationships with team members, colleagues, and stakeholders drive all activity to achieve organizational goals. This session explores how empathy, civility, and emotional intelligence combine to empower leaders to build trust, advance collaboration, and inspire their teams to accomplish desired outcomes. Participants will learn actionable tools to navigate difficult conversations, manage emotions under pressure, and support a culture where employees ‒ regardless of background, identity, or perspective ‒ are encouraged to express their ideas and concerns without fear of judgment or retaliation, and feel heard. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, this session equips leaders to model authenticity and compassion, strengthen relationships, and drive engagement. Discover how embracing the human side of leadership can enhance both individual and organizational success!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the concepts of empathy, civility, and emotional intelligence and why they matter in leadership effectiveness.
Demonstrate practical tools for how leaders can show empathy, civility, and emotional intelligence in common interactions with team members, fellow leaders, and other stakeholders.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Excellence in Results Through Others
EXECUTIVE/OFFICER TRACK
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An Executive is a member of her/his organization’s senior leadership team and interacts routinely with the organization’s C-Suite and Board of Directors (or equivalent). An Officer is typically an executive member of the organization’s C-Suite. She/he has at least 15 years, and usually more, of career experience and leads an important, often sizeable portion of the organization. Her/his titles may include Senior Director, Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, President, or Chief Officer (such as Chief Financial Officer).
An Executive is typically responsible for leading strategy, has oversight of multiple functions or geographic regions, and controls a large budget. An Officer at the top of the organizational hierarchy is primarily involved in the overall short- and long-term direction, goals, strategies, and culture of the company, and makes or influences decisions that affect the entire company or a substantial sector of it. An Executive/Officer is expected to have a deep understanding of her/his industry, competition, and internal and external factors affecting the organization’s business performance.
An Executive/Officer must meet rigorous standards of leadership to ensure the success of her/his organization, the most prominent being strategic vision; critical and strategic thinking; decision-making rooted in business acumen and judgment; emotional intelligence; communication/presentation; subject matter expertise; collaboration; change management including resiliency with adaptability; digital and technology fluency; cross-cultural intelligence; and strategic relationship building.
As a top leader of her/his organization, an Executive/Officer is responsible for demonstrating a commitment to continual self-improvement and continuous learning throughout the organization, especially to help move her/his team of senior leaders forward strategically. An important dimension of this top-level priority is the development of talent at lower levels of the organization to pave the way for ascent of successor leaders.
Although the need for capable senior leaders never changes, the specific leadership skills essential for greatest success may fluctuate with the times. This year’s Executive/Officer track will:
Probe core leadership traits necessary to survive and grow in today’s volatile business environment, focusing on the often-overlooked dynamics of relationships, trust, and their impact on executive decision-making and career-building • sharpening your savviness about organizational politics • power negotiations with confidence • resiliency, adaptability, and the ability to thrive amid constant challenges and chaos • the heightened emotional intelligence requirements for senior leaders, especially self-awareness and self-regulation • the key role of leadership influence in inspiring, empowering, and navigating organizational change success.
Underscore the essential competencies for leading teams and organizations through change and disruption.
Examine the realities of service on boards of directors, including • the demands of board governance • group dynamics among board members • the experiences of women directors • the need for continuous director learning • the potential for director impact on and beyond her/his organization.
Grow your network of high-level leaders to help propel your career.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: All courses in this track support one or more of FWLE’s identified core leadership competencies:
Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
Builds Relationships & Coalitions
Business Acumen & Business Judgment
Continuous Learning & Development
Develops Others to Build Talent
Effective Communication with All Levels
Excellence in Results Through Others
Integrity
Promotes Wellness
Sets Vision & Direction
Social Responsibility
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 1
Option 1: Future-Proofing Your Professional Journey: Designing a Career That Transcends Titles and Withstands Turbulence
Dorothy Dowling
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Success at the senior-most levels is rarely linear, and it’s never just about performance. As women leaders ascend, the game changes. The rules become more nuanced; power dynamics intensify; and influence, not just expertise, becomes a key differentiator. In this interactive workshop, the group will explore how to future-proof your professional journey by building a career that endures beyond any one company, role, or title. When your next opportunity doesn’t arrive on schedule or arrives in disguise, how do you respond with resilience, power, and clarity?
The group will talk candidly about the unspoken challenges of senior women, and the enduring power of relationships, values, and voice as your most essential long-term investments.
Our discussion leader will examine:
how to navigate organizational politics with grace and strategy
why relational capital matters more than ever as you rise – and how to sharpen your political savvy
how executive decisions are made – on the merits of the issues and, often more importantly, on the dynamics of relationships and trust
the shift to boardroom thinking – how to speak truth to power, handle high-stakes relationships, and lead with influence when stakes are high, and visibility is global.
You’ll walk away with greater clarity about your own professional journey, new ways to interpret the organizational dynamics around you, and a deeper understanding of how to lead with purpose and presence – especially when faced with uncertainty or change.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Develop an understanding of why organizational politics matters.
Discuss interpersonal dynamics among senior leaders in organizations and practical steps for how to manage organizational politics with strategy and diplomacy to promote the goals of the organization and your individual success.
Explore the critical value of communication, strong relationships, trust, and collaboration in senior leadership dynamics, alliances, and decision-making.
Examine how to develop your career with integrity as a collaborative, forward-thinking team player and minimize any adverse effects of organizational politics.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: RESILIENCE: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive, in Today’s Changes, Challenges & Chaos!
Anne Leets
September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Organizations, teams, and individuals have been pushed to the limit by change occurring at breathtaking speed – starting with the residual impact of the global health crisis compounded by external factors such as economic turbulence, market turmoil, supply chain disruption, climate emergencies, political “noise” and crises, and domestic and international violence. Internal complexities also abound ‒ perpetual stakeholder demands for financial growth, shifting strategies and goals, diminishing resources, rapidly evolving technology imperatives, seemingly endless human resources challenges, fluctuating customer trends, etc. ‒ and are coalescing to cause heightened stress levels. Now, more than ever, we must find ways to be effective and productive while navigating disruption, working through ambiguity and uncertainty, and responding to the impacts these very real issues have on our teams. Against this backdrop “RESILIENCE” ‒ the ability to adapt, recover and evolve in adversity – has emerged as one of the most valuable competencies for leading through chaos and anxiety.
Our discussion leader will probe these subjects on this essential topic: • why resilience matters – what the data tells us • how resilient leaders “re-energize” team engagement, motivation, and retention, strengthen adaptability, and drive performance • how executive leaders can embrace and lead change, and seek growth and innovation opportunities in challenges • how executive leadership can cultivate an organizational culture that supports resilience as a core strength to face challenges with confidence • how team training and coaching can intentionally develop resilience – to enhance trust, engagement, and a growth mindset that advances productivity and peak performance.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Gain an understanding of what resilience is and why it is important for effective response to rapid changes that are internal and external to the organization.
Explore how executive leaders can foster the development of resilience throughout their organizations.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 2
Option 1: Influence: The Invisible Superpower of Modern Leaders
Anne Leets
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
As society and organizations have evolved, the paradigm for effective leadership no longer centers around the traditional hierarchical, authoritative “Command and Control” leadership model. The expectations of the modern workforce and organizations place a premium on leaders who know how to influence others – to inspire, engage and align teams around a common vision to accomplish organizational goals. Indeed, the core definition of leadership is the ability to influence and guide a group of people toward achieving a shared purpose.
The ability to influence is not a function of position or title on an organizational chart, or barking commands. Rather, it refers to a leader’s capacity to motivate, persuade, and encourage others to act in a particular direction toward a common goal, even when she/he has no formal authority over them. Research tells us that leaders by influence – who integrate emotional intelligence with business acumen – are the ones who now accelerate performance, drive innovation, lead change, and help attract and retain top talent to achieve organizational success. Our discussion leader will explore the dynamics of “influence,” the complement of skills that mark leaders by influence, and how to leverage strategic communication techniques to be heard and influence outcomes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the ability to influence as a fundamental leadership skill.
Describe what skills leaders demonstrate to exert influence.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Sets Vision & Direction
Option 2: Managing the Book on YOU!: Rewriting Your Leadership Story
Dr. Lalia Rach, Executive Managing Director, ALHI
September 22, 2025 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
You’ve worked hard in your organization over many years and have achieved the executive position – or a higher-level executive position ‒ you’ve earned. But you find others continue to see and react to “the old you” and you are not being treated in a manner commensurate with the leader you are now. It’s as though “you in your old position” continues to hang around your neck like an albatross. Sound familiar? The hard fact is, women face unique challenges in being perceived as leaders, and the challenges do not diminish when we attain senior positions. How we are perceived as women leaders impacts our credibility, influence, and status in our organizations, and must be managed at all stages of our careers, especially in higher-level positions. This session is all about why we must and how we can adapt and revise our presence and image as credible, effective senior leaders as we ascend the leadership ladder.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore practical techniques for how women leaders can cultivate positive perceptions of their leadership skills, presence, and credibility as they achieve higher-level positions.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Sets Vision and Direction
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 3
Option 1: Myths & Facts About Women in Board of Director Service
Sonita Lontoh
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Serving on corporate boards is a significant opportunity to contribute to the success of an organization and make a positive impact on its mission, employees, and shareholders. Once a rarity on boards, women have attained considerable board representation and have made substantial inroads on the director mystique rooted in male exclusivity and antiquated stereotypes about women’s suitability for board membership. But progress remains slow; barriers persist; and misconceptions about women as directors remain – among women as well as men – such as who should pursue the director role, how to prepare for it, how to obtain it, and how to be successful in it.
Our discussion will be led by a woman director who has remarkable experience as a C-level executive and board member and is a member of Extraordinary Women on Boards (“EWOB”) ‒ an organization of women directors at the most prominent companies across the world and industry sectors dedicated to advancing their governance excellence, building powerful connections, and amplifying their impact beyond the boardroom. Through her executive career experience and participation in EWOB, our guest discussion leader possesses a global perspective on the dynamics of women on boards.
This session will not be a canned presentation about how to get on a board. Beyond navigating the board selection process, our discussion leader will focus on the substance of the director role, while debunking myths surrounding women on boards. Her candid guidance will help us make informed decisions about whether a board director is the right role for us, and how we can maximize our contributions and influence as directors to help our organizations reach their best potential.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the role of directors on corporate boards and what it takes to achieve excellence in board service.
Understand the skill sets that boards are looking for these days.
Learn about the experiences of women board directors, how they navigate male-dominated board dynamics, and how they make an impact on their boards, organizations, shareholders, and communities.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 2: The Power of Negotiation: Proven Strategies for Women in Senior Leadership
Limarie Perry, EVP & CFO ALHI
September 23, 2025 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Ready to own the room and drive better outcomes at the negotiation table? This high-impact session is designed for senior women executives who want to negotiate better with greater confidence, authority, and clarity. Elevating negotiation skills can improve a leader’s ability to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, make decisions, resolve conflicts, and manage change and crisis, while enhancing the leader’s power to influence and achieve desired business results that build value for her/his organization. Mastering effective negotiation skills can be very challenging – even for high-level leaders. Discover with our discussion leader how to effectively communicate your value, balance power dynamics, and lead high-stakes conversations in negotiations – whether you’re negotiating compensation, strategic deals, crisis management, or executive-level decisions. Walk away with actionable strategies to strengthen your influence and secure what you’ve earned.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore essential skills and strategies that executive leaders can use to improve their negotiation skills.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 4
Option 1: Time for an Executive EQ Checkup!
Dr. Lalia Rach, Executive Managing Director, ALHI
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
American psychologist and author Daniel Goleman declared in his seminal article “What Makes a Leader?” (Harvard Business Review 2004) that 80%-90% of the abilities that distinguish high performers in top-level C-suite jobs can be attributed to emotional intelligence (“EQ”). Executive leaders often overlook the importance of dedicating time for an EQ check-up. It is as essential as any physical examination or abstract assessment, because EQ is a journey of continuous learning, adaptation and growth, even for senior leaders. The high stress of top-level pressures and challenges, especially amid constant volatility, can lead to shifts in behavior and characteristics that diminish essential aspects of a leader’s EQ ‒ such as empathy, motivation, self-awareness, and self-regulation – and require an EQ adjustment.
This session is an opportunity for you as a senior leader to understand why and how to conduct a realistic self-assessment and an unbiased review of your self-regulation. Regular EQ check-ups can provide unexpected benefits, not only for the leader but also for their teams. Join Lalia for a practical and thoughtful session designed to strengthen your effectiveness as a leader.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Discuss the importance for senior leaders of periodic EQ checkups monitoring their self-assessment and self-regulation.
Understand how to conduct regular EQ check-ups and make necessary adjustments.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Promotes Wellness; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 2: Future-Proofing Your Professional Journey: Designing a Career That Transcends Titles and Withstands Turbulence
Dorothy Dowling
September 23, 2025 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Success at the senior-most levels is rarely linear, and it’s never just about performance. As women leaders ascend, the game changes. The rules become more nuanced; power dynamics intensify; and influence, not just expertise, becomes a key differentiator. In this interactive workshop, the group will explore how to future-proof your professional journey by building a career that endures beyond any one company, role, or title. When your next opportunity doesn’t arrive on schedule or arrives in disguise, how do you respond with resilience, power, and clarity?
The group will talk candidly about the unspoken challenges of senior women, and the enduring power of relationships, values, and voice as your most essential long-term investments.
Our discussion leader will examine:
how to navigate organizational politics with grace and strategy
why relational capital matters more than ever as you rise – and how to sharpen your political savvy
how executive decisions are made – on the merits of the issues and, often more importantly, on the dynamics of relationships and trust
the shift to boardroom thinking – how to speak truth to power, handle high-stakes relationships, and lead with influence when stakes are high, and visibility is global.
You’ll walk away with greater clarity about your own professional journey, new ways to interpret the organizational dynamics around you, and a deeper understanding of how to lead with purpose and presence – especially when faced with uncertainty or change.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Develop an understanding of why organizational politics matters.
Discuss interpersonal dynamics among senior leaders in organizations and practical steps for how to manage organizational politics with strategy and diplomacy to promote the goals of the organization and your individual success.
Explore the critical value of communication, strong relationships, trust, and collaboration in senior leadership dynamics, alliances, and decision-making.
Examine how to develop your career with integrity as a collaborative, forward-thinking team player and minimize any adverse effects of organizational politics.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others