2023 Women’s Leadership Forum Program

Courageous Cultures: Building Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates

Organizations are barraged with problems, every day, and sometimes it’s easier to take the path of least resistance. People don’t speak up, they procrastinate on decisions, or don’t try new ideas…possibly because of a fear to failure.

What would happen if every member of your team, your company, and most importantly, YOU, came to work focused on finding solutions and creating better results?

Based off groundbreaking new research in innovation and problem solving, Karin Hurt, human-centered leadership expert, will share her expertise and tools for leaders like you, to build more creative and solutions-oriented teams. You’ll explore the root causes of FOSU (fear of speaking up) and techniques to turn you and your team’s fears and frustration into innovation. You’ll learn practical techniques to tap into the best ideas of every team member, solve important problems, and have more confidence and competence positioning the ideas of you and your team.

Be inspired to own your strengths and contribute on a deeper level. Be the courageous leader you want to be!

Learner Outcomes:

• Gain easy-to-use tools and techniques to empower solutions-thinking and customer-focused problem solving
• Get a clear understanding of what’s blocking everyday innovation for you and your teams
• Eliminate FOSU (Fear of Speaking Up) by learning communication strategies that encourage deeper dialogue up, down and sideways
• Develop a plan you can use right away

Presenter: Karin Hurt, Founder and CEO, Let’s Grow Leaders

The Energy of Thought: Own Your Focus

Penny Zenker is The Focusologist. This session will highlight the focus of crisis that we have or currently have been in and help you escape the scarcity cycle of doing more, always being on, having that fear of missing out or struggling to please others. The struggle for control is universal and has led to greater stress, disconnection, and overwhelm.

Penny will share her 3 step RESET Practice to help you own your personal power and as a result be more conscious about your choices, more purposeful about your actions and more intentional about your results. Challenge yourself to think differently, push past limitations and own your focus.

Learner Outcomes:

• Learn how to live by the 80/20 rule to focus on what’s most important
• Avoid emotional hijacking and improve decision making
• Understand how to open up to new perspectives and maintain perspective during challenging times
• Utilize 4 questions that will challenge your biases and your current focus to do better.

Presenter: Penny Zenker, CEO, Author and Focusologist, Smart Moves Coaching

Life in the Fast Lane: Get Off the Block and Go!

As the world continues to move at high speeds, it’s hard to keep up. More and more it feels like our lives have turned into a grueling race toward a finish line we never reach. And no matter how fast we go, there never seems to be enough time to accomplish our goals or purpose in life.

Whether working in a male-dominated industry, being a full-time mom, a student, a business owner or employee, you most likely want to find a way to make life in the fast lane easier. The truth is, there is no magical spell that will make things easier. So, what’s a woman to do?

Hear the stories of successful women, from all walks of life, as Deborah Gardner share their wisdom and straight up advice. Plus, there is an added splash of our speaker’s very own experiences working in the corporate world to swimming competitively in the fast lane.

High achievers understand that the foundation of success is about what you do now rather than later. And, sometimes, you just need to dive in and swim. So, what are you waiting for? Be resilient, streamline your focus, kick butt and get off the block and GO!

Learner Outcomes:

• Power up your confidence with 3 actionable strategies for business and in life
• Learn how to invest in yourself while being a role model of choice
• Participate for greater results that will have you say… I got this!

Presenter: Deborah Gardner, CMP, DG International, Author, Speaker & Competitive Performance Expert