Mental health influences one's ability to work productively and cope with the stresses of daily living. A healthy psychological state is central to performance for a knowledge worker. For if one's mind is occupied by anxious thoughts, there is less space available for critical thinking and problem-solving.  The COVID-19 pandemic intensified an already demanding profession. As business leaders, we were thrust into an increasingly complex and ambiguous regulatory environment. While at home, we had new daily stressors- many of which we never experienced before. To thrive in this new world, we all need to learn how to tend to our state of mind. As we do, we will see an increasingly positive impact on our bottom line.

Leadership is a Performance Art dives into the two seemingly different worlds of directing theatrical productions and being a leader in the corporate world. As a professional who has worked in a variety of technology and non-tech companies in the Silicon Valley, I found my degree in theatre was a differentiator and my secret power to success. In this session, I will share the steps I take to create an outstanding theatrical production and how I applied these same techniques to help multiple companies create game changing events and, in some cases, build multi-million-dollar companies.

Speaking up is difficult for many. However, it is an essential skill that is key to improved wellness, confidence, team building, and ultimately retention. Join Crystal Cooke, Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, Chair of the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion to not only learn techniques to more effectively address difficult topics in the workplace but also to become more aware of how colleagues are impacted by "innocent" conversations.

The workforce model has changed and managing your team - whether hybrid, remote, or some combination of both – has its own set of unique opportunities and challenges. Join panelists Denise Dettingmeijer, Jody Grunden, and Dixie McCurley as they share actionable solutions and insights into managing your remote/hybrid team. From creating meaningful connections to leveraging technology, you will be sure to walk away with tangible strategies that will help you lead your team with confidence and intention!

Your business isn't looking for any business, you're looking for the BEST clients. And those clients are ready to invest a premium price for your premium service or product. But just because they are willing (and able) to pay doesn't mean you should rush through the sales process. That's the fastest way of losing the client forever. 

Learn the fatal errors inexperienced businesses and entrepreneurs are making all the time in their sales cycles, and don't even know it. Companies such as Xerox and American Express have always been able to close the premium-priced deals and are market leaders for a reason. Learn the secrets of sales from someone who mastered their sales processes and is now YOUR secret sales weapon.

At the end of the day, when presented with an invitation or a challenge, each of us as human beings has a fundamental question - what's in it for me?

When tasked with the idea of creating gender-equitable and inclusive workplaces, men often overvalue what it is they might lose and undervalue what it is they stand to gain from this transformation.

Rather than writing off the question as being selfish or self-centered - embracing that it's something we all ask allows us to make progress on the answer, ultimately breaking down the barriers for us all.

Join us to hear what's at stake for men in the workplaces that work for everyone.

Women accounted for all of the losses when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. 1 in 5 women left the workforce for caregiving reasons - maybe you were even one of them. Financial feminism is the only way for women to truly be free and by leveraging the four foundations of financial feminism we can understand what individuals, companies, and countries should do to build an economy that supports and empowers women to ultimately close the wealth gap. 

The author of Good Guys and Athena Rising makes the business case for male engagement in gender equality while integrating why it is good for women, men and the organization. Starting with the fundamentals of excellent allyship across gender and showing what great allies do, he discusses topics related to developing awareness, everyday interactions at work, professional relationships at work, disrupting status quo bias, and advocacy. He integrates a focus on specific challenges and opportunities that allies may encounter in the workplace and makes the case for how better cross-gender allyship skills translate to other marginalized groups in the workplace.