2026 Conference Speakers

Tools for the Trades

Thursday, September 17
2:30 p.m.
This session introduces a fresh, practical approach to leadership through the lens of “challenging the process,” inspired by The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner. Participants receive a symbolic leadership toolbelt filled with familiar tools of the trades, each paired with equity, diversity, and inclusion concepts. In small groups, they’ll use these tools to navigate real-world scenarios, sparking dialogue, reflection, and confidence to act when something feels off. Participants leave with tangible leadership resources, new perspectives, and a reminder that sometimes effective leadership means pausing to “measure twice—even if you still cut three or four times.”