2024 WLC LIVE PROGRAM
MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS & EDUCATION SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
Mastering Confidence That Elevates Success
Selena Rezvani
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Much of career progress is based on how well we project our presence and self-confidence to others – our teams, our peers, our superiors. Confidence ‒ the ability to project trust in one’s self, authority, belief, and authenticity ‒ determines how we interact with others, how we promote ourselves, how we negotiate (if at all), and how much we impact our zone of influence. Lack of self-confidence can be a deal-breaker in moving ahead, even when we have the knowledge and skills to move up. We need competency and confidence to be successful!
Although most aspiring leaders know they need a confident presence, honing confidence requires more than fake it ‘til you make it platitudes. Confidence is a state of mind that can be learned and maintained by positive thinking and practice. This session, based on Selena’s guidebook, Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself, helps ambitious professionals summon their personal power by addressing three key confidence filters—mindset shifts, body language habits, and interpersonal techniques. Whether you’re dealing with intimidating people, hoping to pitch a fresh idea or better connect with others, participants will walk away ready to show up and speak up—and help others do the same.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the meaning of self-confidence and the confidence gap between men and women in the workplace.
Examine the three critical elements of building confidence – speaking like a leader in different contexts, boosting your message with body language, and taking decisive actions.
Examine effective techniques for recovery from mistakes, curveballs, and blunders.
Develop a personal action plan for implementing confidence-building strategies, including confidence-boosting goals.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Continuous Learning & Development; Develop Others to Build Talent; Excellence in Results Through Others
WBEs On the Rise: Women Entrepreneurs Roundtable
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Women-owned business enterprises, or WBEs, have become a vital force for growth of the U.S. economy. As of the outset of 2024, they represent 39.1% ‒ that is, more than 14 million – of all American businesses; employ 12.2 million workers; and generate $2.7 trillion in revenue across the U.S.* WBEs, particularly WBEs owned by women of color, came out of the pandemic stronger than they went into it.** Even more impressive is the fact that WBEs are now in all monitored industries, transcending the traditional top four of 1) personal care services (e.g., nail care, pet care); 2) professional/technical/scientific services; 3) administrative, waste management and remediation services; and 4) healthcare and social assistance.*** This exciting roundtable discussion will feature several dynamic women entrepreneurs who will tell some of the inspirational stories behind the statistics, showcasing their achievements, resilience, and innovation.
*2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report
**2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report
***State of Women-Owned Businesses in 2024, Barbara Weltman, March 19, 2024
The Bold Move: Three Simple Science-Based Steps to Move Boldly Through Change
Dr. Luana Marques
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Change is hard, and seemingly more prevalent than ever. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies throughout the world have shifted the way they work, and millions of individuals have changed jobs. On the home front, transitions in relationship status, friendships, and living situations happen multiple times throughout our lives. Each transition—even the best kind—creates stress and instability that threatens wellbeing. Moving forward requires identifying the habits that hold us back and employing skills to get where we want in life. This action-oriented presentation on The Bold Move™ empowers audience members to overcome the one common obstacle preventing them from reaching their goals so they can move boldly through change, discomfort, and stress.
This keynote address is ideal for individuals, leaders, and teams that are:
Struggling to be their best at work and at home.
Passionate about achieving their goals, but feel stuck, drained, and stressed.
Searching for proven skills to navigate change.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Learn how the biological system designed to keep us safe can increase discomfort and stress.
Identify the one common obstacle that prevents us from reaching our goals.
Understand how to turn anxiety into power by changing the way your brain processes information.
Discover your personal compass to help you navigate through the choppy waters of life.
Develop a personalized action plan to manage stress, combat avoidance, and enhance your performance.
Be inspired and empowered to make your next bold move.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Promotes Wellness; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Excellence in Results Through Others
MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
Women Presidents & CEOs Roundtable
Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
DESCRIPTION:
By popular demand FWLE has convened a group of diverse women Presidents and CEOs from a variety of industries to discuss their values, visions, career preparation, and experiences. This is a unique opportunity to hear valuable insights and guidance from women at the top of their organizations who have achieved success goals very few have!
Fireside Chat with Susan Sly, A.I. CEO, Entrepreneur, Investor, & Board Member
Thursday, September 5, 2024 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Progress has been exceedingly slow for women across the tech industry – in 2024 women comprise only 32% of the tech workforce, down from 35% in 1984, and as of 2023, the percentage of women in tech leadership roles had fallen to 28%.* The field of Artificial Intelligence – A.I. – reflects the same stark underrepresentation of women. Today, only one in five jobs in A.I. is held by a woman.** Even more bleak is the vexing lack of recognition of women’s contributions to this rapidly evolving sector.
Our guest Susan Sly is a graduate of MIT Sloan School of Management and a trailblazer in the A.I. industry, having navigated the complexities of this male-dominated field. Among other honors, she was named in 2024 as one of the top women to watch in real-time A.I., and in 2023 one of the top female A.I. entrepreneurs in North America. These milestones reflect not just her personal achievements but also the broader challenges and opportunities facing women in A.I. today. Along with her career path Susan will share with us why gender and other types of diversity can not only benefit A.I. development but is a strategic imperative to fostering innovation, mitigating bias, and building more equitable and inclusive A.I. systems.
*“Mia Shah-Dand’s Race to Bridge The AI Gender Gap For A Human-Centered World,” Hessie Jones, Forbes, March 12, 2024
**Jones, Forbes, March 12, 2024
Make the First Move: Building Trust & Igniting a Culture People Love
Justin Patton
Thursday, September 5, 2024 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Trust creates the foundation for employees and their organizations to excel, adapt, and thrive at all times in their journey through continuous change. Trust is a critical leadership competency that differentiates exceptional leaders from average, low-trust ones, and great companies from those that struggle to create positive, people-based cultures and perform successfully. As leaders our ability to build trust is how we earn credibility and respect, create experiences that engage and empower our teams, and keep our people committed to our mission and continuous success, especially during crisis. This interactive program will challenge what every leader already knows about trust and make us think differently about how we intentionally build trust with others. A workplace of trust and belonging should not be the exception. It should be the standard. The best leaders make the first move. This address is the roadmap to how to make it happen.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand why trust is a leader’s biggest competitive advantage.
Explore ways to build trust in yourself.
Learn the three fundamental factors to building high levels of trust with others.
Highlight the five attributes of toxic workplace cultures.
Explore actionable ways to build a culture of trust and belonging in your organization.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Builds Relationships and Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Excellence in Results Through Others
LIVE CONFERENCE TRACKS & EDUCATION SESSIONS
EMERGING LEADER TRACK
TRACK AUDIENCE:
This track is directed to Emerging Leaders who are focusing on foundational skills, who aspire to be a leader of others, or who are in a beginning leadership role. Over the course of this track’s education sessions, participants will be guided in understanding their “Career Go-Bag” – a collection of the nine (9) dimensions that are essential to leadership of all teams and units, regardless of the type of organization.
-
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 made it 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. The work of an Emerging Leader is likely centered within one functional area (such as sales, marketing, finance, human resources, etc.) and centers on execution of business plans and projects. 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 in order 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.
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
Building Your “Career Go-Bag”
Veena Puri & Kelly Lockwood Primus
September 4, 2024 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 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 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. Participants need to be prepared for unexpected career twists and turns. A “Career Go-Bag” acts as a toolkit packed with skills, knowledge, and resources we can readily deploy when navigating the dynamic terrain of our careers.
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: Continuous Learning & Development
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 2
Creating Your Leadership Brand and Power Statement
Alana Hill & Julia Lazzara
September 4, 2024 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Having your professional Power Statement – an articulation of the value and impact of your organizational role – and your Leadership Brand Statement are essential to defining and projecting your leadership identity. They can make a huge difference in your ability to stay focused on track and realize your career vision. In this hands-on workshop participants will draft their own Power Statement and Leadership Brand Statement.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Learn what a professional Power Statement (of the purpose and value of your role) and Leadership Brand Statement are, and why they are necessary for your career.
Provide participants with a hands-on opportunity to develop their next two Career Go-Bag essentials: their own Leadership Brand Statement and their own Power Statement.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Continuous Learning & Development
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 3
Option 1: Introduction to Business Acumen
Anne Leets
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 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: Building Resilience
Vanessa Phipps
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
There will always be change, challenges and uncertainty, but the world is experiencing disruption, problems, and crises at a frequency and scale not seen in generations, if ever. Resilience – the ability to withstand and bounce back from adversity – is more important than ever in the workplace. This interactive session explores the four factors that lead to building personal resilience: approaching work challenges with optimism; increasing emotional intelligence; embracing balance; and developing a strong support system. The combination of these four factors will help you navigate the most demanding and stressful parts of your job, and your life, without becoming rigid, losing momentum, burning out, or stalling your career progress.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the characteristics of resilient leadership.
Learn four techniques for developing personal and professional resilience.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Promotes Wellness; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 3: Developing Strong Workplace Relationships
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
To position yourself for success early in your career, it is critical to develop strong workplace relationships with your teammates, your department, your manager, and others within your organization. Successful leaders use healthy workplace relationships to work with others and cultivate trust that influences others to achieve common goals and a shared vision and mission. Building productive workplace relationships will also support your career goals and your achievements in each role along the way. Participants in this interactive session will learn the critical skill of engaging others, how to develop and maintain symbiotic relationships with your peers and your manager, and how to support strong interpersonal relationships at work.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Probe the importance of building and maintaining healthy 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
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 4
Option 1: Winning Everyday Negotiations
Daniel Stane
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Women have a bad rap for not being good negotiators – they are traditionally portrayed as having less confidence and undermining themselves by thinking they’re “not good at it.” This stereotype is based on an outmoded view of negotiations as dominating, being right, and winning at all costs. The paradigm for successful negotiations has shifted to active listening, building collaboration and rapport, and seeking smart, win-win tradeoffs. The reality is, most people engage in negotiation virtually every day, either at work, at home, and/or in general daily commerce. This interactive session will probe how women and men can develop successful negotiation skills with preparation and confidence-building in your day-to-day life.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the key role of negotiation in leading other people, building relationships, and achieving organizational objectives, regardless of leadership level.
Explore the fundamental principles and skills of effective negotiation.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Career Enablers and Derailers
Vanessa Phipps
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Navigating our careers requires that we understand the springboards that will facilitate and the impediments that will derail our career progression. Prescriptions for leadership success often focus on what to do but neglect what not to do. Many people on the road to success are tripped up by mistakes, weaknesses, or more subtle roadblocks. This interactive session will highlight common dysfunctions to avoid and teach ways to keep your career on track.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the career enablers, both actions and mindsets, that can accelerate an individual’s career success.
Explore common career and leadership derailers that can stall or stop career progression, and strategies for proactive avoidance, overcoming obstacles, and recovery after mistakes or setbacks.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Continuous Learning & Development; Builds Relationships & Coalitions
Option 3: Networking 101
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 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 to developing the skills necessary for a high-quality business network.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Continuous Learning & Development
EMERGING EXECUTIVE TRACK
TRACK AUDIENCE:
This track is directed to Emerging Executives who are currently managing others, who have some to considerable leadership experience, and who are focusing on growing their skills in order to be considered for senior leadership roles.
-
An Emerging Executive is a middle or middle-level leader with more than 10 years of career experience. Titles may include Manager, Senior Manager, Regional Manager, or Director. The work of an Emerging Executive may be concentrated in one function but typically requires significant cross-functional navigation. This position has control of budgets, develops business plans, and is a decision-maker with a span of control reaching across sizeable revenue, geography, or project scope. She/He is responsible for effective execution of initiatives and may have influence on strategy development for her/his department or business unit(s). An Emerging Executive usually leads a team of direct reports who are managers of people. At this career stage, having mastered one or more areas of technical expertise and personal leadership skills, she/he seeks growth opportunities to stretch her/his work scope of responsibility and achieve high quality outcomes by mobilizing and engaging multiple teams or units.
TRACK LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore more deeply the many dimensions of business acumen and strategy development as well as 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 organizations 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.
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
Accelerating Your Progress on the Leadership Path: 9 Critical Differentiators for Higher-level Leaders
Quendrida Whitmore
September 4, 2024 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 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, top-level leaders demonstrate a distinct set of capabilities, mindsets, and behaviors that differentiate them from middle-management – where most women get stuck. Leading NOW’s research identified nine (9) critical differentiators between higher-level leaders and middle managers the latter must master to move into executive and senior roles. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn what these are and through their own Leadership Readiness Assessment identify the gaps in their development.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the nine (9) critical capabilities, mindsets, and behaviors expected of higher-level leaders that mid-level leaders must master for advancement.
Through your own Leadership Readiness Assessment evaluate the gaps in your development with respect to these chief criteria.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others; Effective Communication with All Levels; Continuous Learning & Development
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 2
Option 1: Think Like a CEO™
Quendrida Whitmore
September 4, 2024 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, every CEO is challenged with driving the right strategies and behaviors, tracking the right results, and making the right adjustments at the right time to grow outcomes and results. As the highest-ranking executive, CEOs use vital measurements and indicators to make informed high-level strategic decisions that determine the course of their organizations. This interactive session will examine the four (4) key business outcomes that executives monitor to measure their business performance and the relationship between participants’ work and these outcomes. Participants will also learn the importance of aligning their work to achieving these key outcomes for their organizations, and how their contributions to successful results can distinguish them from other candidates for advancement.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the four (4) key business outcomes that CEOs and executives monitor to measure the success of their organizations.
Understand how participants’ work contributions drive these business outcomes and can distinguish them from others as candidates for advancement.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 2: Executive Presence
Anne Leets
September 4, 2024 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
According to Forbes, “Executive [P]resence is about your ability to inspire confidence ‒ …in your subordinates that you’re the leader they want to follow, …among peers that you’re capable and reliable and, most importantly, …among senior leaders that you have the potential for great achievements.” Leading NOW’s research shows that to inspire confidence, you must have the ability to command the attention of leaders when presenting thoughts, plans, and ideas for your organization. In this interactive session participants will explore the critical factors necessary to demonstrate the skill of Executive Presence.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Probe the meaning of Executive Presence and why strong Executive Presence is essential to accomplishing business goals and achieving the opportunities that will further your career.
Learn the critical traits necessary to demonstrate the skill of Executive Presence.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Excellence in Results Through Others; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 3: Dynamics of Leading Teams
Courtney Burton
September 4, 2024 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
A leader’s success depends on the success of her/his team, requiring that the leader relate to, effectively communicate with, motivate, and unify team members to achieve the organization’s strategic goals. In this interactive session participants will learn and practice the dynamics of interpersonal interactions with direct reports – focusing on communicating with transparency, sharing ideas and guidance, offering feedback, assessing performance, and building trust – to lead your team’s accomplishment of your organization’s goals.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine the key interpersonal skills that effective leaders employ to motivate, guide, and unify their teams and accomplish organizational goals.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Develops Others to Build Talent
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 3
Option 1: Pulling Back the Financial Curtain
Quendrida Whitmore
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Finance is integral to all organizations, whether for-profit, non-profit, government, etc. All employees must be able to understand and contribute to a discussion about the organization’s performance. Financial acumen is therefore a critical aspect of business acumen for all team members, not just team leaders. This interactive session will cover basic financial terminology and teach participants how to read and interpret three (3) key financial statements: the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, and the Cash Flow Statement. Whatever your role, you have an influence on your organization’s financial performance.
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; Continuous Learning & Development
Option 2: Learning the Business of Your Business
Alana Hill
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Understanding the crucial elements of business operations, and how they interrelate, is the foundation for delivering extraordinary outcomes such as increasing efficiency, reducing costs, increasing productivity and output, and improving revenue generation. Yet many women are not mentored on the basics of how businesses operate, or the inner workings of their own organizations, to achieve bottom-line outcomes. This interactive session will expose participants to the seven (7) areas of business operations that are vital to an organization’s short- and long-term success.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the key internal components of business operations and their importance to successful financial performance.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Excellence in Results Through Others; Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation
Option 3: Creating External Strategic Relationships
Daniel Stane
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Successful business professionals recognize the importance of strategic relationship building across their industry – outside of their employer organization – to support the performance of their organization, as well as the success of their career. Research shows that while women are good at networking, they do not sufficiently leverage those relationships to benefit their organization or their own career. Participants in this interactive discussion will learn the three (3) key elements to building and leveraging key external relationships.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the importance of building relationships and networks beyond the participant’s employer organization.
Learn the three (3) key elements to building and leveraging key external relationships.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 4
Option 1: Strategy Execution: Connecting Teams to Organizations
Veena Puri
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Middle managers are central to execution of an organization’s strategy, but successful strategy execution is one of the most challenging and underappreciated roles for rising executives. Learning to build one’s team and align their collective effort to support an organization’s strategy is an essential skill Emerging Executives must demonstrate before advancement to executive and senior leadership roles. This interactive session will show participants how to break down an organizational strategy to identify its core elements and then align these elements with their team’s work and performance measures.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Learn an approach middle-level managers can use to identify and translate the core components of top-level organizational strategy into actionable plans, processes, and metrics that can be executed by their teams.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: PIE Strategic Mentoring
Alana Hill
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Participants will learn the difference between CAKE (Supportive) and PIE (Strategic) mentoring and why successful women and men leaders receive and give PIE mentoring. Participants will leave this interactive session with practical tools for future discussions and experiences that will ensure they seek and make the most of PIE mentoring relationships and techniques to earn sponsorship.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the difference between supportive mentoring focusing on social and psychological support and strategic mentoring focusing on industry/organizational insights, strategic leadership development, and growth mindset.
Learn how to develop strategic mentorship relationships, both as mentor and mentee.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Develops Others to Build Talent
Option 3: Executive Communication Skills
Courtney Burton
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
While it is critical to understand the business of your business, it is even more critical to demonstrate your knowledge by utilizing the language of business in your communications. This requires thinking about communication differently, making a subtle shift from communicating about what you do to why the organization invests in your position and quickly connecting your work to the strategy of the organization. In this interactive session, participants will learn the key characteristics of speaking the language of organizational outcomes, providing the key skills necessary to communicate effectively with executives, senior leaders, and board members.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the importance of demonstrating your knowledge of your organization’s business through effective outcome-focused communication.
Learn how to shift communications into the language of business and the communication style preferred by senior executives.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Effective Communication with All Levels; Continuous Learning & Development
EXECUTIVE/OFFICER TRACK
TRACK AUDIENCE:
This track is directed to Executives and Officers who have established expertise in leading functional units in organizations or entire organizations, and who 1) seek higher advancement to Officer, C-Suite, or Board roles or 2) wish to enhance their knowledge base and skills in specific areas.
-
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 a member of the organization’s C-Suite. She/He has more than 10-15 years 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. She/He is responsible for leading strategy, has oversight of multiple functions or geographic regions, and controls a large budget. An Executive/Officer is expected to have a deep understanding of her/his industry, competition, and internal/external factors affecting the organization’s business performance. At this career stage she/he continues to pursue continuous learning, especially to help her/him move the organization and her/his team of senior leaders forward in strategic ways, and to promote the development of talent in others and pave the way for ascent of successor leaders.
TRACK LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Although the need for capable leaders never changes, the specific leadership skills essential for greatest success may fluctuate with the times. Focusing on “Navigating the New Leadership Landscape,” this track will explore critical leadership challenges presented by today’s dynamic marketplace and examine the primary leadership traits required to survive and grow in this climate.
Probe the core leadership traits necessary for making better executive decisions in today’s dynamic business environment, highlighting such skills as courage, confidence, adaptability, resiliency, strategic thinking, innovation, inclusion, motivation/support of all stakeholders, and growth mindset.
Underscore the essentials of leading teams and organizations through change.
Examine in-depth – through collaborative Learning Labs and Think Tanks ‒ four critical workplace issues leaders now face and forge pragmatic strategies for same that leaders can take back to their workplaces: 1) building a culture of trust, 2) intergenerational leadership, 3) risk and crisis management, and 4) boosting talent retention.
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: The C-Suite Skills That Matter Most Today
Anne Leets
September 4, 2024 12:30 p.m. – 1: 45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
In the post-COVID 19 era the world has changed, and the leadership landscape has changed with it. Although the need for capable leaders never changes, the specific leadership skills essential for greatest success may fluctuate with the unique demands of the times. The time-honored hard and soft skills that traditional C-Suite executives must possess have been augmented by a new set of skills that all executives are now required to demonstrate. This interactive session will probe the leadership traits that have emerged as must-haves to successfully lead today.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore the essential traits top leaders must demonstrate to lead their teams and organizations today, focusing on persuading and influencing others; navigating discontinuity and uncertainty; agile strategic thinking; aligning and motivating all stakeholders, and humility.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Sets Vision & Direction; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Promotes Wellness
Option 2: Learning Lab: Psychological Safety: Building a Culture of Trust
Daniel Stane
September 4, 2024 12:30 p.m. – 1: 45 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Trust is a cornerstone of successful leadership. It may sound simple, but psychological safety in the workplace is complicated. Unfortunately, it is also on the decline. With the ever-eroding trust in leadership, how will you as a leader succeed? In this interactive Learning Lab, participants will explore the attributes of psychological safety and trust at work and formulate ways they can build greater trust in their respective work environments.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Explore how leaders build trust effectively with their team members and organizations.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Develops Others to Build Talent; Promotes Wellness
DAY 1 EDUCATION SESSION 2
Option 1: How to Succeed Under Pressure While Navigating Constant Change
Veena Puri
September 4, 2024 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Accelerating change and growing complexity in today’s interconnected global economy have increased the demands on businesses and their leaders to perform and adapt under high intensity pressure and significantly compressed time frames. In this session participants will focus on four steps senior leaders can take to navigate the pressure they, their teams, and their organizations experience through constant change.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine four steps senior leaders can take to navigate the pressure 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
Option 2: Think Tank: Risk & Crisis Management
Daniel Stane
September 4, 2024 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Leading NOW’s research has identified two (2) critical areas of leading organizations that many executive leaders are ill-prepared to maneuver: Risk Management & Crisis Leadership. Crisis is inevitable, the variables being type, size and scope, duration, etc. However, effective leadership through crisis is essential to organizational stability and continuity. In this structured Think Tank, participants will be challenged with real world risk/crisis scenarios and, together with their peers, discuss the best approaches to deliver successful outcomes in these situations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Examine real-life case studies of corporate crises to understand the risks they pose to the business.
Through a collaborative process uncover opportunities that may have existed to mitigate the risks in these scenarios before the crises – and explore how the leaders should have responded to the crises.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Builds Relationships & Coalitions
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 3
Option 1: Challenges for Today’s CEOs
Veena Puri
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
As one commentator put it, “[t]oday’s CEOs are not just captains steering the ship – they are navigators in uncharted waters.” Many CEO appointees are not prepared for the complexity of the challenges or the multi-faceted approaches imperative for tackling them. Even if you are not the CEO, if you serve on the CEO’s executive team, you must understand the business challenges the CEO faces daily. In this interactive session participants will examine the realities of five key challenges confronting today’s CEOs and strategies for overcoming them: Leadership as Performance Art, Going with Your Gut, Knowing When to Step Back, Managing in a State of Flux, and Navigating Geopolitics and Political Uncertainty.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Probe five key challenges confronting today’s CEOs and strategies for overcoming them: Leadership as Performance Art, Going with Your Gut, Knowing When to Step Back, Managing in a State of Flux, and Navigating Geopolitics and Political Uncertainty.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Business Acumen & Business Judgment; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others
Option 2: Learning Lab: Intergenerational Leadership
Courtney Burton
September 5, 2024 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
There are now five (5) generations in American workforces simultaneously. Having age-diverse work teams can yield tremendous benefits for organizations, such as increased knowledge, skills, experience, and productivity. Yet, as with other types of diversity, many workplaces are ignoring generational diversity and failing to equip their leaders to engage effectively across generations. Through thought-provoking discussions and strategic exercises, participants in this interactive Learning Lab will probe the nuances of leading across generations to unlock hidden potential and drive innovation. With a spotlight on leveraging generational diversity as a catalyst for strategic advantage, participants will develop actionable strategies for aligning diverse values, perspectives, and communication styles across age-diverse team members to maximize performance and organizational outcomes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Probe the challenges of leading across age-diverse team members to unlock hidden potential and drive innovation.
Develop actionable strategies for aligning diverse values, perspectives, and communication styles across age-diverse team members that participants may use in their workplaces.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Adapts to Change & Drives Innovation; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Develops Others to Build Talent; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Social Responsibility
DAY 2 EDUCATION SESSION 4
Option 1: Creating a Culture of Accountability
Quendrida Whitmore
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Accountability lies at the heart of high-performing teams and successful organizations – it means that employees at all levels take full ownership and responsibility for their actions, decisions, and performance, without excuses, and for achievement of business outcomes. A healthy culture of accountability increases productivity, collaboration, and engagement; drives problem-solving; improves morale; and makes team members and organizations thrive. Accountability starts at the top but requires consistent strategic reinforcement by every leader demonstrating personal accountability. Participants in this interactive session will leave knowing the vital steps they must take to foster a culture of accountability, from setting clear expectations to transparent communications and relationship-building to positive reward for team members who show accountability.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand what accountability for leaders and their teams means and why it is important in leadership and organizations.
Examine techniques and practices leaders use to foster accountability as a core value and practice integral to the culture of your organization.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Integrity; Effective Communication with All Levels; Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Excellence in Results Through Others; Develops Others to Build Talent
Option 2: Think Tank: Improving the Workplace Environment for Talent Retention
Anne Leets
September 5, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Never in our history has retaining and engaging talent been more crucial – or more difficult. The APA’s (American Psychological Association) 2023 Work in America Survey found that more than one in five (22%) workers experience harm to their mental health on the job, while a 2022 study in the MIT Sloan Management Review cited toxic work cultures as the top driver of employee attrition – above job insecurity or lack of recognition for performance. This structured Think Tank discussion will guide participants through the top challenges employees face today, and spotlight best-in-class examples of organizations that are successfully engaging and retaining talent. Together with their peers participants will identify ways in which they can improve the employee experience and engagement within their own teams and organizations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the challenges today’s employees experience in the workplace.
Gain knowledge of best-in-class examples of effectively engaging and retaining talent.
Develop actionable strategies for improving employee engagement and talent retention that participants may use in their workplaces.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: Builds Relationships & Coalitions; Develop Others to Build Talent; Effective Communication with All Levels; Excellence in Results Through Others; Promotes Wellness