Myra Sack is the author of "Fifty-Seven Fridays: Losing Our Daughter Finding Our Way," and founder of E-Motion, Inc.,  a nonprofit organization created to support community, movement and ritual to enhance coping and resilience. Myra's life changed when her older daughter, Havi, was diagnose﻿d with a fatal neurodegenerative disease in December 2019. Havi died on January 20, 2021 of Tay-Sachs disease. E-Motion evolved out of a new way of living with the most difficult reality, blending Myra's lived experience and knowledge as a certified Compassionate Bereavement Care provider with her lifelong identity as an athlete and career in social impact. 

Myra holds an MBA in Social Impact from Boston University, and graduated with a B.A. cum laude from Dartmouth College, where she captained the women's soccer team and earned All-America honors. She has devoted over a dozen years to youth serving nonprofits, including serving as Chief Program and Strategy Officer at Squashbusters, Inc. and leading program development across Latin America for Soccer Without Borders. 

A writer, speaker, and activist, Myra serves on the Board of the Courageous Parents Network and lives in Boston, MA with her husband Matt, their second daughter, Kaia, and son Ezra. Her writing has appeared in numerous national outlets including the Boston Globe Spotlight, Today.com, and Upworthy.



This is a class about how to show up. It is about how to support, sustain, and connect with one another in a real and authentic way. Whether and how we choose to do this will determine the fate of our humanity. 

This is a facilitated conversation on how we can do better by grieving people as colleagues, neighbors, friends, family members, and fellow human beings. We will discuss the danger of the dominant narrative of avoiding, minimizing, or colonizing people’s emotions as it relates to traumatic loss, as well as the cognitive, emotional, physiological, and economic costs of this approach. Finally, there will be a series of recommendations for becoming a grief-literate, and grief-compassionate culture of beings, and the profound and lasting impact those practices can have on people who have suffered from loss.

This discussion will be led by a bereaved mother, Compassionate Care Bereavement Certified facilitator, and an experienced non-profit leader who has spent the last dozen years working alongside communities that experience a disproportionate amount of trauma. She leads the conversation by sharing the impact that grieving the loss of her daughter, Havi, has on her approach to showing up.

Community Leader + Certified Bereavement Facilitator 

How to Show Up for Humans who Need Support (PSA - It's Everyone)

Showing Up

Monica D. Livingston is a dynamic Performance Coach
with Limitless Minds, a global mindset company
founded by DJ Edison, the late Trevor Moawad, Harry
Wilson, and Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson. A
leadership expert and Culture Coach, Monica partners
with organizations navigating change, disruption, and
high-pressure environments to strengthen mindset,
elevate communication, reset culture, and develop
leaders and sales teams who balance empathy with
execution to drive results for Electives.io
Beyond her core roles, Monica partners with respected
organizations including the Positive Coaching Alliance,
The Center for Teacher Effectiveness, Shapiro
Negotiation Institute, Google Sales Academy, and the
Maryland Business Roundtable for Education. Her
impact extends nationwide as a sought-after
motivational speaker and esteemed Professor at
American University in Washington, D.C.
A captivating storyteller on stage and on air, Monica
reaches global audiences through her internationally
broadcast podcast, where she brings humor, insight,
and authenticity as both host and guest—leaving every
audience entertained, informed, and inspired. 


Who is Family? What makes a Family? Join Monica as she shares her stories, struggles, and lessons learned from both creating family and becoming and being a parent to three very different kids (now mostly adults) in the context of an inter-racial, lesbian relationship. You will hear about her sensitive and creative cisgender, hetero son, her fabulously queer and brilliant trans child, and her loving, capable, and stubborn cisgender, bi daughter.

Society continually changes, and the concept of family changes with it. Monica will take you on a brief journey through the evolution and expansion of Family.
Based on the idea that all humans are hardwired for social connection--it is a biological need and our strongest desire--Monica will challenge you to think about your own family connections and invite a robust discussion around ways we can all expand and strengthen our family ties. As always, Monica's focus is on healthy relationships; in this case offering ways to enhance our capacities to respond to the ever-changing dynamics of human relationships.

Educator, Business Owner, Speaker & Athlete

What makes a Family!

The Modern Family

Sophie Riegel is a best-selling author, speaker, ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and mental health advocate who collaborates with top organizations like Netflix and Target to improve intergenerational relationships and mental well-being. By 21, she had published three books and delivered a TED Talk. Now, as the Gen Z columnist for Psychology Today, she inspires audiences worldwide through her coaching, workshops, and keynotes, all while running a successful six-figure thrift reselling business.

Parenting can be both rewarding and challenging, especially when it comes to understanding and addressing anxiety in your children and teenagers. If you've ever felt uncertain, frustrated, or even lost while trying to have conversations about their mental well-being, this course is designed just for you. 

In "When Your Help Isn't Helping," you will learn how to navigate the complexities of discussing anxiety and mental health with your kids and teens. We will discuss why your current way of helping might actually be hurting, and what kind of help is truly effective. We will also talk about the difference between regular anxiety and a mental illness, and when to seek professional help. Whether you're intimately familiar with anxiety or just beginning to explore its nuances, this course offers practical strategies, relatable insights, and guidance to foster open and constructive communication.


Author + Youth Mental Health Advocate

How to Talk to Your Kids and Teens about Anxiety and Mental Health

When Your Help Isn't Helping

My first career spanned two decades working in a circus, where I learned how to engage an audience as a performer, a director, a producer, and an executive. During this time, I learned how to effectively lead an incredibly diverse team including lion tamers, acrobats, magicians, bartenders, and accountants in a high-pressure, 365-day operation that performed over 500 shows a year… with 65 horses.

Using the learning model applied in the circus, I began my current vocation with a three-year apprenticeship in consulting with the dynamic and insightful duo behind Alexander Carrillo Consulting. With their support and encouragement, I achieved award-winning participation in the Greater Tucson Leadership program, which inspired me to obtain a master’s degree in leadership and organizational development and start my own business supporting leaders.

My life’s mission is to help leaders step confidently into their unique place under the spotlight. So, I engage in collaborative work with big-thinking leaders who want to make an impact in their world. When facilitating groups, I employ my deep understanding of the fundamental needs of audiences to create experiences that are fun, engaging, memorable, and productive.

We all play various and competing roles, which can often leave us feeling overwhelmed and off-balance. In this Elective, you’ll learn to juggle the myriad “hats” you wear with skill and confidence by:
Naming your hats
Setting aside the ones that don’t serve you 
Focusing your energy on the hats that matter most
This Elective introduces the Ringmaster's Model for Successful Hat Juggling: a framework to evaluate the competing priorities in your life. Are you in the Zone of Productive Challenge? The Zone of Unsustainability? What do you need to do to avoid Burnout? What does it look like for you to visit the Zone of Recovery?

By identifying the various hats you wear, you'll develop awareness of which are most important and which cause the biggest headaches. From there we'll establish ways of managing the more difficult roles and centering the most important ones. At the end of this workshop, you'll have clear action steps that will give you a greater sense of control in your life and work.

Circus Performer + Leader, turned Leadership Coach

Overcommitted? Overwhelmed? Learn to identify and streamline your many commitments

Juggling Hats

Joanna Lohman is a force of nature in the world of women’s soccer and a subject-matter expert on impact leadership and performance. A 16-year professional athlete and one of only 270 women in history to have worn the coveted U.S. Women’s National Team jersey, Joanna has racked up 9 USWNT caps and led the U-21 USWNT to multiple international trophies as team captain. At Penn State, she made 101 appearances with 41 goals, garnered Big Ten Player of the Year honors, became a Herman Trophy finalist, and earned the distinction of Four-Time Academic All-American. Her professional club career saw her become the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired, capturing fans’ hearts across 52 appearances and 6 goals.

Yet Joanna’s triumphs extend well beyond the pitch. Revered for her staunch advocacy of equal pay based on performance, she embodies the values of courage, fairness, and resilience—showing the world that true leadership demands both passion and principle. She now brings her hard-won insights to boardrooms, keynote stages, and classrooms alike, serving on the Yale School of Management’s Experience Leaders Initiative Advisory Board and empowering individuals to push boundaries, amplify their impact, build cohesive teams, and deliver elite results under pressure. From championing authenticity in sports to forging high-impact strategies for corporate team performance, Joanna Lohman exemplifies what it means to be a game-changer in every sense of the word.


Every organization leaves a legacy — whether intentional or accidental.

Legacy is not built through slogans or short-term wins. It is shaped by the standards we uphold, the inequities we address, and the systems we strengthen for those who follow.

Drawing from her experience as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team during the historic movement for equal pay and as the author of "Raising Tomorrow's Champions", Joanna Lohman examines how high-performing teams can drive structural change while sustaining excellence. This workshop explores how influence operates inside institutions, how culture evolves, and how leaders can balance performance demands with principled progress.

Participants will reflect on how to use their credibility and voice not only to advance personally, but to leave their environment stronger than they found it.

True legacy is measured by what improves because you were there.



US Women Soccer Athlete

Creating Enduring Impact Through Courageous Leadership

 Legacy That Lasts

Cindy Pierce is a parenting expert, sexuality educator, comic storyteller and author of three books, including Sexploitation: Helping Kids Develop Healthy Sexuality in a Porn-Driven World. Combining comic storytelling and 18 years of research, Cindy informs, educates and motivates people to reconsider their social habits online and off. Cindy and her husband, Bruce Lingelbach have three adult children and run Pierce’s Inn in Etna, NH. 

This course will inspire parents to step into conversation with their kids about time spent on devices and provide guidance on how to set boundaries that benefit the whole family. 

It won’t be long before young kids have access to the internet or have a friend who tells them all about what they found online. Through ongoing conversations, parents and other anchoring adults can help kids navigate the onslaught of cultural messaging online and develop discernment about what they consume. 

Most kids are surprisingly relieved to have clear boundaries and guidance on how to manage the relentless pressure to engage online. As soon as kids can read, there is pressure to know certain things or be watching certain shows or videos. When kids gain more access to devices, the pressure quickly ramps up for them to participate in banter, gaming, group chats, sexting, comment threads, social drama and constant availability.

Parenting Expert, Sexuality Educator, Comic Storyteller and Author

How Parents Can Guide Children (of All Ages) to Become Conscious Consumers

Parenting in the Digital Age

Tameka brings a unique perspective to youth entrepreneurship. In 2013, she was appointed by President Obama to lead the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration. In that capacity, she was responsible for an appropriated budget of more than $160M to advance entrepreneurship programs across the nation. 

In 2017, Tameka launched the podcast, Raising Entrepreneurs a Parent's Guide to Raising Kids with an Entrepreneurial Mindset.  She produced more than 80 episodes which featured parents, youth, and thought leaders sharing ideas about fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in young people.  In 2018 she founded the Montgomery County Children's Business Fair which is a one day event designed to expose young people to entrepreneurship.

Tameka is the founder and CEO of Core Strategy Partners, a stakeholder experience firm focused on helping leaders collect valuable insights to make smarter decision and engage more effectively with key stakeholders, customers, clients, and employees.

A mother to three boys, Tameka understands the important role parents play in helping kids develop an entrepeneurial mindset.  With her three boys, she has observed what happens when kids are given experiences in entrepreneurship. They discover and explore their interests and talents, become problem solvers, and learn to tackle problems that matter most to them.

Tameka is passionate about equipping families and communities with tools and resources to foster an entrepreneurial mindset within young people. She believes that while not every kid will choose to be an entrepreneur, every kid needs to learn how to think like one.


How do we raise self-reliant kids who have initiative, are resilient, and can be problem solvers? Kids who have the skills and the courage to step outside of their comfort zone and take advantage of what life has to offer? All skills that will not only help them live out their potential and lead fulfilling lives, but these are also skills that are necessary for our rapidly changing world. To prepare our kids, we must raise them to think and act entrepreneurially; encourage them to approach the world with entrepreneurial mindset.

I've interviewed dozens of parents, young entrepreneurs, thought leaders and experts. In this course I will share strategies that I have learned from them and from my own experience raising three very different boys. These are all strategies that I believe all parents should be doing.

During the course, you'll not only hear about my personal experience as a parent, but also from one of my sons as he shares his experience and thoughts about being challenged to think and act entrepreneurially.

Host of the Raising Entrepreneurs Podcast

How to Foster Entrepreneurial Mindset

Raising Entrepreneurs

Ashley Mitchell is a dynamic leader working at the intersection of wellness, culture, and social impact. With a unique ability to bridge corporate, nonprofit, and community spaces, she helps organizations and individuals foster a sense of belonging and well-being, creating lasting change.

A dedicated movement coach, Ashley understands the deep connection between mindset and motion. She is the co-founder of The Courage Campaign, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing high-quality wellness programming to K-12 students and educators in Title 1 schools. She also cohosts Conversations in Courage, a bi-monthly podcast that explores fear, transformation, and justice-driven change. 

As a mother, entrepreneur, and change-maker, she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to every space she enters. Her approach is bold, compassionate, and deeply rooted in action. She believes that true transformation happens not just in conversations but in the steps we take afterward, and she’s committed to walking that path with those ready to create meaningful impact.



This workshop reframes self-care as a capacity-building practice rather than a checklist, luxury, or personal failing. Designed for people navigating high demands, constant responsibility, and systemic pressure, it offers a realistic approach to caring for yourself without opting out of the world.

Instead of quick fixes or productivity-driven wellness, we explore how stress, boundaries, nervous system patterns, and cultural expectations shape how we care for ourselves, and why so many self-care strategies don’t stick. Participants will leave with practical tools, shared language, and a clearer understanding of what sustainable care actually looks like in real life.

This is self-care that supports resilience, clarity, and long-term well-being, personally and collectively.

Co-Founder of The Courage Campaign & Fitness Equity Advocate

What Self-Care Really Looks Like 

Filling Your Cup

Katharine Manning is the President of Blackbird DC, which provides training and coaching on empathy at work, particularly in challenging times when it matters most. She is the author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job. She has advised organizations on working with those in trauma for more than twenty-five years, including fifteen years at the Justice Department, where she advised on cases like Madoff, the Boston Marathon bombing, and the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Prior to her government service, she was an attorney in private practice representing Fortune 500 companies in class actions, insurance, and media cases. She teaches at American University and in the Masters in Trauma-Informed Leadership Program at Dominican University, and is a graduate of Smith College and the University of Virginia School of Law.

From the pandemic to racial violence to political upheaval and more, stress is the air we're breathing here in the 2020s. We are experiencing it ourselves, and are surrounded by others who are struggling, as well. In fact, 83% of U.S. workers report suffering from work-related stress, and a quarter say that work is the number one stressor in their lives. 

When we fail to manage our stress, it can affect our mental and physical health, our relationships, and our success at work. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to manage stress effectively. Burnout and compassion fatigue can creep in slowly and may not be easy to recognize. In this session, learn to identify the signs of burnout and ways to prevent it, including both daily commitments to self-care and greater life shifts for more balance and control.

Participants said they were grateful for the "concrete strategies that I can apply in my professional and personal life" and the "awareness that I am not alone in my stress." "We have heard from several of our teams how centering and inspiring they found [this training] during a very difficult season."

Trauma-Informed Leadership Professor, and former Justice Dept. Trauma Advisor

Supporting Yourself as You Support Others

Burnout and Resilience

Caroline Tanis is recognized for her innovative approach to financial planning, particularly in helping high-earning families chart pathways to their ideal lifestyles. By fostering a collaborative environment, she tailors financial strategies that are as unique as her clients' goals, paving a clear path from their present financial state to their aspirations. Caroline's expertise spans estate planning, retirement strategies, trusts, and investment planning.
 
Her comprehensive services ensure that each facet of her clients' financial health is meticulously managed, offering peace of mind and a clear strategy for the future. This holistic approach sets her apart in the financial planning field.

Beyond her practice, Caroline hosts "The Wealth Cafe" on YouTube and LinkedIn, where she shares her insights and enhances financial literacy. She also conducts workshops for companies, continually pursuing her passion for empowering others with financial knowledge. 

Caroline holds both an MBA and the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation, underscoring her commitment to informed and thoughtful financial guidance. She is a 2x best-selling author and has been featured in USA Today, Yahoo Finance, Morningstar, NerdWallet, and more.

In the "Raising Financially Savvy Kids" workshop, participants will gain practical tools and insights to guide children toward financial literacy. Designed for parents, grandparents, and caregivers, this interactive session explores how to explain money concepts to kids, teach them about budgeting and money management, and engage them in age-appropriate activities to practice earning. Each section is tailored to different age groups, ensuring the material is relevant and understandable. 

Participants will also discuss the importance of prioritizing their own financial education, creating a supportive environment for financial learning at home. This workshop places emphasis on understanding money as a tool, helping children develop skills for financial well-being and independence in the future. Attendees will leave with strategies to foster a household where talking about money is open and encouraged, laying a strong foundation for the next generation. Whether you're just starting out on this journey or looking to enhance your existing knowledge, this course offers valuable insights for anyone committed to raising financially savvy children.

Financial Planner for Everyone

Building a Strong Financial Foundation for Your Children’s Future

Raising Financially-Savvy Kids

National Caregivers Month

Alejandro is a formerly-undocumented immigrant, poet, writer, and educator from Colima, Mexico, now living in New Mexico. He is the 2021 Mexican National Poetry Slam Champion, he is a two-time National Poetry Slam Semi-Finalist (US), multiple time TEDx Speaker/Performer, and Emmy-nominated poet. He was featured in TIME Magazine as one of 80 Mexican artists shaping contemporary Mexican culture.

Poetry As The Means We Need, means our words, our stories; and the way we tell those stories, can lead to transformational change - collective and/or individually. It can also lead to a sense of power, a sense of belonging, and being enough, and that who we are, where we come from are not things that should confine us but rather can propel us forward. That is the intent of this Elective: to explore, examine, and elevate the power of our story through poetry.

In this Elective, internationally recognized spoken-word poet, Alejandro, will share his personal immigration story to the United States through compelling poetry-storytelling filled with humor, power, and resilience. Participants will not merely be listeners but will also engage in writing their own story through carefully guided poetry prompts and exercises led by Alejandro. Participants will walk out with a “new” sense of their own story and the power of their own journey.

Mexican National Poetry Slam Champion

Storytelling As Power

Poetry As The Means We Need

Hi, I’m Lizi! I was born in Mexico City on November 20th, the day of the Mexican Revolution—a fact that undeniably shaped my character and approach to life. This unique start instilled a spirit of resilience, persistence, and a continuous drive to challenge the status quo. My innate curiosity to understand society's underlying rules, messages, and expectations has fueled my passion for studying and working with people, particularly minorities and women.

At 18, I boldly decided to immigrate to Israel for freedom and independence to live an authentic life. This move was a significant challenge, requiring me to learn a new culture, language, and traditions. It was the first time I questioned my identity and embraced my Latinidad. 
This journey of self-discovery and personal growth significantly strengthened my sense of belonging and identity.

When I emigrated to the United States years later, I found myself, for the second time, embracing my cultural background as an asset and strength rather than a limitation. My journey and passion for understanding human behavior led me to become a Certified Coach and eventually a Master Coach, the highest level of Coaching internationally. In 2014, I became certified in Brené Brown's methodologies, becoming a facilitator and trainer. Living through the transformative impact of her research on my life, I translated Brené’s curricula into Spanish. I dedicated myself to sharing this and other research with Latinx communities across the US and the world, supporting them on their journeys of owning their stories and finding their truth.

With over 20 years of experience, I help individuals, teams, and organizations enhance their effectiveness, impact, and cohesion. My work centers on assisting clients to connect with their authentic voices, passions, and skills, boosting their confidence and enabling them to thrive. I specialize in coaching individuals and teams from diverse cultural backgrounds, emphasizing belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What truly brings me joy is witnessing my clients' transformation. It's a powerful reminder of the impact we can have on each other's lives. For me, coaching is a deeply personal journey built on trust and respect, holding space for individuals to be authentic and have a meaningful, positive, and successful experience.
My global work experience includes collaborating with international organizations and NGOs to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity within the Latinx community and other minority groups. I have facilitated workshops and lectures in the US, Mexico, Spain, Israel, Singapore, Colombia, and beyond, always ensuring that the content is culturally aligned and engaging for everyone involved.


Explore the rich tapestry of Latino culture in "Latino Proverbs: Our Cultural Sass." This engaging 90-minute online workshop delves into the profound meanings and cultural significance behind traditional Latino proverbs, revealing the values, beliefs, and shared experiences of Latino communities.

Proverbs are brief, often metaphorical sayings that encapsulate the wisdom of a culture. In Latino communities, proverbs are a cherished form of oral tradition passed down through generations. They serve as a means of teaching important life lessons, imparting values, and providing guidance in a memorable and relatable way. By examining these proverbs, we gain insight into the collective psyche, priorities, and worldview of Latino people.

The workshop highlights how these sayings resonate across generations, connecting the past to the present and fostering deeper cultural understanding. Latino proverbs address universal themes such as family, resilience, respect, and community, making their messages relevant and accessible to a broad audience. These proverbs reflect the richness of Latino cultural identity and offer a unique perspective on navigating life's challenges and triumphs.

With a focus on "Building Bridges Through Traditional Wisdom," this inclusive workshop encourages reflection on universal themes and their relevance in today's diverse workplaces. Whether you're new to Latino culture or seeking to deepen your cultural knowledge, this workshop offers a meaningful exploration that celebrates diversity and promotes thoughtful dialogue. Join us for an illuminating journey into the heart of Latino proverbs.

Coach and Leader

Building Bridges Through Traditional Wisdom

Latino Proverbs: Our Cultural Sass

Jenny Vazquez-Newsum is a leadership facilitator and author with a long-time interest in leadership stemming all the way back to serving as a 5th grade elementary school elected official. As a biracial Black/Latinx woman, the leadership journey has been bumpy, invigorating, challenging, and a life's work. 

As the former Vice President of Leadership Training and Programs at Coro Southern California, Jenny has worked with 500+ leaders across 200+ organizations ranging from established executives at large corporations to early career professionals beginning their leadership journeys -- witnessing the untapped capacities that exist across all stages in career paths.

Interested in digging deeper into the limitations of current leadership rhetoric and bringing in the voices of the often-unrecognized leadership contributions of marginalized leaders, Jenny launched Untapped Leaders to create a space for those contributions to be named, validated, and amplified. Jenny knows that we all have aspects of ourselves that are untapped, and Is eager to help us find them.

Jenny holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, an M.P.A from New York University, and an Ed.D from the University of California - Los Angeles.

Current narratives surrounding Imposter Syndrome place the onus of work on the individual, often with people of color and women suffering from its detriments. The rhetoric centers on advice for those experiencing Imposter Syndrome on overcoming those feelings of inadequacy without the necessary interrogation of the systems that cultivate their presence. This session digs deeper into the phenomenon of Imposter Syndrome that affects many of us to better identify its source (hint: it's not you). As a result, we'll explore strategies to more effectively navigate moments when those feelings surface at work, but also discuss how companies can build workplace cultures and environments that mitigate those internal experiences.

Founder of Untapped Leaders

Deceiving Narratives and Systemic Solutions

Dispelling Imposter Syndrome

Stephanie Castellanos is a national facilitator, justice & equity strategist, and the founder of Uproot Talent – an award-winning social impact boutique talent advising and executive search firm that specializes in hiring and keeping leadership who mirror and reflect the people they serve. 

Her commitment to co-creating equity in the workplace stems from her experiences as the daughter of immigrants and a single mom, the granddaughter to a Bracero, navigating higher-education as the first-person in her family to graduate from high school, two decades of grassroots organizing, and growing up as a kid from Inglewood, CA.

Her experiences include leading the talent, DEI&J, and recruitment strategy for multiple start-up organizations – including founding a multi-sector grassroots coalition dedicated to recruiting and retaining teachers of color and matching over 600 leaders (90% identify as people of the global majority) to nonprofits, foundations, public school districts, and child welfare agencies across the country. As the creator of WOKESHOP®, she’s also facilitated over 1,000 un/relearning experiences alongside over 23,000 participants since 2015.

Stephanie’s expertise goes beyond the “professional” realm. 

She’s organized thousands of community members to become the first U.S. city to defeat Walmart’s expansion while in high school, spent countless hours preparing her neighbors & family for interviews growing up, and co-founded a standing mentorship program (CAMBIO Academy) for girls of color while a Sociology and Urban Planning & Regional Studies student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

It’s this lived experience that Stephanie centers and uplifts in all she does. 

For the first time ever, we now have five generations in the workforce. Nearly two-thirds of U.S.-based employees said that Covid-19 caused them to reflect on their purpose in life. And Millennials were 3x more likely than others to say they were reevaluating the type of work they do because of the pandemic. 

Building common ground and shared purpose is a core component of building bridges between generations. This one-hour collaborative learning experience is meant to dig into exactly that – shared purpose, common misconceptions, and strategies & best practices for building bridges between and among generations.

Questions for exploration: 
1. What are the cues, trends, patterns, and the “language” of my generation? 
2. In what ways am I experiencing other generations in my company? What indicators am I seeing/observing that tell me this? 
3. What are some key strategies and best practices that I can implement to build bridges across generations on my team? 


Talent + Leadership Expert; Decolonizing Educator. 

With 5 generations in the workplace, how are we building intentional connections?

Building Connections x Generations

Navigating the high-pressure world of professional sports, Carlos has honed his expertise as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with a specialized focus on developing the mental acuity of elite athletes from the MLB, NBA, MLS, and NHL over the last five years. He is deeply committed to unlocking the potential of each individual by emphasizing the importance of cultivating mental skills that are essential for peak performance.

Carlos's approach is centered on heightening awareness of these critical skills and guiding performers from various disciplines in establishing routines and strategies to leverage them for success. His dedication to mental skill development is coupled with a rich understanding of the challenges high-caliber athletes face. Carlos brings a wealth of practical experience to his role as an educator, underpinned by his professional credentials in mental performance consultancy.

High performing athletes, those that are in the top 1% in their respective domains, rely on strategies to continuously perform at that level.  Strategies to manage stress, to make decisions, to perform under pressure.  In this Elective, students will learn the frameworks and “non-negotiables” these high performers use to get to and stay at the top of their game, and these strategies can enable learners in their day to day lives. 

Mental Performance Consultant

How Elite Athletes achieve more, and how you can too 

Thriving Under Pressure

Kris Derek Hechevarria is a Cuban American teaching artist who was born and raised in Miami Florida.  He moved to Chicago to volunteer with Pritzker College Prep through AmeriCorps’ Project YES.  This experience led Hechevarria to receive his MA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  In 2013 Hechevarria was invited to be the founding art teacher for Wolcott College Prep, an independent high school for college bound students with learning disabilities.  There he developed a conceptual art curriculum that promoted critical thinking and material exploration. Hechevarria has developed programming for The Chicago Architecture Biennale, The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art: Chicago, National Museum of Mexican Art, National Veterans Art Museum, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, CAPE, Arquetopia and the Smart Museum.  He is currently a lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.


Latinos make up 18% of the U.S. population, yet the term “Latino/e’/x’” encompasses a spectrum of cultures, histories, and lived experiences. This course invites participants to explore the complexity of the Latine’ diaspora through the lens of contemporary art.  Studying contemporary Latine’ art is a helpful tool  for understanding the evolving landscape of Latine’ cultures in the United States. Participants will gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the diverse perspectives shaping Latine’ life and culture today.

Artist and Educator

Exploring Identity, Culture, and Narrative Through the Eyes of Latine’ Artists

 Latine’ Identity & Art

Susana J. Ferradás, Ph.D. has over twenty years of experience in the behavioral health field as a clinician, consultant, educator, and mentor. In her various leadership and consultative roles, Dr. Ferradás has a proven track record of creating a culture of change and innovation through effectively working with multi-disciplinary teams, utilizing data and technological resources, integrating the latest research, and employing strong interpersonal communication skills.

As a seasoned clinician with wide-ranging assessment experience, she has extensive experience working within strength-based, cultural frameworks to reduce barriers to healthcare. She is also a tireless advocate, working to engage individuals and systems to reduce mental health stigma, particularly for those who have been marginalized. Her overall commitment to being an empowering agent is the cornerstone of her work.

In 2016, she joined the Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center as a Staff Psychologist and Coordinator of Services for Latinx students. In 2022, she became the Center's Associate Director of Training. She also leads the Counseling Center Advisory Board (CCAB), which promotes mental health awareness on campus and informs the Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Dr. Ferradás received her Ph.D. from Howard University’s APA-accredited Counseling Psychology program in Washington, D.C. She completed her doctoral residency at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. She obtained her Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Secondary Education from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Her clinical, research, and teaching interests include social justice and advocacy, multiculturalism, and cross-cultural adjustment and identity development.

In her free time, Dr. Ferradás enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and dancing.

This course highlights the history and context of the development of Hispanic Heritage Month and why it is important to center the lives and accomplishments of Hispanics. The class further covers the countless ways the Hispanic community has contributed to the fabric of America through their artistry, inventions, and economic investments.

Clinician, Consultant, Educator + Mentor

Celebrating the Contributions of the Hispanic Diaspora

Hispanic Heritage Month

Maresa Friedman is a skilled strategist & facilitator helping businesses and human-brands build their companies, cultures and brand reputations online.

With a background running Global Operations for a Business Intelligence & Advanced Analytics compay, Maresa launched her own Strategy Firm Executive Cat Herder, working with the C-Suite to help them identify gaps in their leadership and global intiatives that often require intense work on leadership structure, culture change, employer branding and communication.  

As a Latinx & Pacific islander, Maresa's focus and passion is getting executives to understand the cross cultural nuances that affect their business ecosystems- and to help them architect and market those changes internally.

As a seasoned speaker for companies like Google & Wix.com - Maresa has been contracted by global firms to help lead facilitations and workshops that help indentify organizational blindspots that need improvement.  With a non-judgemental and playful style of teaching she has had the pleasure of working with comapies like Accelerate Performance, Workplace Learning & Performance Group and The Center for Respectful Leadership. 

When she isn't on the road for client work, Maresa teaches a Social Media Marketing Intensive for the University of San Diego and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at the City of San Diego Sponsored incubator for Underserved and LMI Entrepreneurs: Connect All.

In this course, employees will explore and come away with an understanding of the following: 
Understanding & Learning more about the LatinX worker (We aren’t all the same)
Identify the Impact on building or earning Respect with others
How the Neuroscience of Respect affects your work ecosystem now
What are Respectful Do’s & How To Do them Regularly
Plan & Practice ways to build, maintain and keep Respect
Develop and action plan to increase respect-building behaviors

Strategist, Facilitator & Executive Coach

LatinX Edition

Creating Cultures of Respect

Ivellisse Morales is an award-winning entrepreneur who brings a decade of experience in using marketing as a force for good—for brands of all sizes from inside major creative agencies like IDEO and Ogilvy and nonprofits like Year Up. She’s a conscious and creative human who comes alive when she uses her skills for social change. Ivellisse is a teacher, a speaker, poet and writer who’s been recognized and featured by ADCOLOR, Adweek, Time Magazine, The 3% Conference and the PR Club’s Bell Ringer Awards. In 2018, she stepped out as the visionary behind bombilla (bohm-bee-yah), a branding & design agency for social change based in Oakland, CA. Bombilla (lightbulb in Spanish) is fueled by a national network of diverse creatives who conspire with systems-changing organizations to make the world brighter. Find out more www.bombilla.co. 

Every year, we celebrate the culture and contributions of Latinos / Latinx / Hispanics in the United States during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15).  It’s a nationwide moment to not only recognize the myriad of ways Latinos have positively impacted this country, but to also learn history and heritage.

There are 62 million people in the United States who identify as Latino/Latinx/Hispanic with connections to more than 30 countries in Latin America. From the arts and science to government, business, sports and entertainment, Latinos touch all corners of this country and in more languages than one.

In this Elective, we will both celebrate and learn Latino heritage and history with fiesta and facts.
Participants will walk away with:
Deeper understanding of why and how we celebrate this Hispanic Heritage Month
Clarity on the nuances of the Latino/Latinx/Hispanic culture and identity
A brief understanding of the historical context of Latin America
Tips on how to be a better ally to the community
This Elective is ideal for leaders and contributors of all levels who are curious and seek to deepen their understanding of Latino heritage and culture.

Award-winning entrepreneur + Creative for Good 

Celebrating Latino/Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month

Fiesta & Facts: 

Humans have an inherent need for love, belonging, and connection. From a young age, we learn the behaviors, values, and expectations necessary to be part of our community, often at the expense of living authentically. For the Latinx community in the U.S., this journey involves navigating the complexities of assimilation while striving to maintain a connection to cultural roots. Many find themselves living a dual life, expending significant energy and resources to fit in at work and other life situations, while feeling inadequate and disconnected from their heritage.
In "Your Latinidad, Your Superpower," we will explore the challenges and opportunities that come with embracing your Latinidad. Participants will delve into how cultural identity can be a source of strength and power, rather than an obstacle or limitation. By living authentically and allowing others to do the same, regardless of differences in background, race, culture, and color, we can unlock greater personal and professional potential. This approach enhances team collaboration, boosts creativity, and fosters a more inclusive and psychologically safe environment.
Join me in this eye-opening session to discover how, as humans, we share much more in common than we often realize. Embracing each individual’s uniqueness can be a source of resilience and inspiration, illuminating our paths and those of the people around us.


Transforming Cultural Pride into Personal and Professional Success

Your Latinidad - Your Superpower 

Jay is an award-winning speaker and consultant with over 25 years of experience in building high-performance organizations. Renowned for his dynamic storytelling and practical methodologies, Jay captivates audiences by sharing real-world experiences that inspire action and drive results.

Drawing from his background as a former US Army Intelligence Officer with global leadership roles and as a corporate executive, Jay brings deep expertise in behavioral science, team dynamics, and transformational leadership. He leverages his C.L.E.A.R.™ methodology to accelerate performance and maximize organizational impact by focusing on culture development, leadership empowerment, and employee engagement.

Jay’s insights and strategies are designed to equip leaders and teams with the tools they need to cultivate high-performing teams and achieve exceptional results in today’s competitive landscape.

From the battlefield to the boardroom, veterans bring more than experience. They bring purpose, grit, and a deep commitment to mission and team. This powerful session invites you to see the workplace through a new lens, recognizing how military service shapes extraordinary leadership, adaptability, and innovation. Whether you're a veteran navigating your next chapter or a team member seeking to champion your colleagues, you’ll walk away with a renewed appreciation for the value veterans bring and the role we all play in creating an inclusive, high-performance culture where every background is an asset.

Turn Around Leadership Expert

Empower Your Organization with the Strengths of Military Leadership

From the Battlefield to Boardroom

Jason's journey began with the discipline and precision of military service in the US Army, which transitioned into the structured thinking required in strategy consulting at McKinsey & Company. This unique combination of experiences has equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership dynamics and the importance of clear communication. Now, as a dedicated CEO coach, he focuses on guiding leaders to recognize their potential and communicate consciously within their teams.

His approach stems from a lifetime commitment to studying leadership and personal development, with the conviction that conscious leadership is the key to creating meaningful change. Jason's method is rooted in self-awareness and the ability to inspire trust and connection among team members.

Alongside his practical experience, Jason's formal qualifications and MBA from Yale University enhance his ability to support and uplift aspiring leaders. He stands ready to share his insights and strategies to help others build a foundation of effective and mindful leadership.

What makes the military one of the most effective organizations in the world? And what can today’s leaders learn from those lessons? In Frontline Leadership Lessons, Jason shares personal stories from his deployment to Afghanistan, where he witnessed firsthand how military teams achieve extraordinary cohesion, resilience, and clarity under pressure. He contrasts those experiences with his later years in consulting, where even top-performing firms struggled with the same challenges leaders everywhere face: aligning teams, creating accountability, and building lasting trust.

This session explores three structural differences that make frontline leadership so powerful. First, the military motivates through a shared purpose and unshakable clarity of mission. Second, accountability isn’t top-down but built into empowered ownership at every level. And third, trust is forged through relentless training, rituals, and shared adversity—creating teams that truly have each other’s backs.

In 60 minutes, participants will not just hear stories, but gain practical ways to adapt these principles to their own leadership. Expect candid insights, actionable tools, and the chance to reflect on what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and trust in any environment.

Executive coach

What military service teaches us about people leadership and high-performing teams

Frontline Leadership Lessons

Dan Cnossen was raised on a fifth-generation family farm in Topeka, Kansas. After successfully completing SEAL qualification training in 2003, he deployed numerous times in support of global special operations. As a SEAL platoon commander, he was severely injured in 2009 in Afghanistan, resulting in the amputation of both legs above the knees. Turning to sport for recovery, Cnossen began training full-time for the U.S. Paralympic ski team in 2011 as a cross-country skier and biathlete. He has since competed for Team USA in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games and is the first male athlete to win a gold medal for the United States in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing with precision shooting. Cnossen holds a bachelor of science degree in English from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a master’s in theological studies from the Harvard Divinity School.

In this moving and personal session, Former Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Dan Cnossen will tell the story of the midnight mission in Afghanistan that changed his life forever. Dan Cnossen is now a gold medal-winning Paralympian in cross country skiing and will provide an in-depth perspective of what it means to be a disabled veteran and elite athlete. Dan will share his truth of trying to access care, and tell the story about how he has to balance what is "provided" for him, and the gaps that exist in order to feel fulfilled in life and to thrive in his sport. In this session participants will learn some basics like the distinction between active duty and veteran status, but will also get insight into the complex experience of navigating work and life post service, and post traumatic injury.

Gold Medal Paralympian & Former  SEAL Platoon Commander

Challenges in Accessing Health Care

Taking Care of Our Veterans

Zoe is a retired Commander from the U.S. Navy and played a pivotal role in the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, helping to shape a more inclusive military environment. Specializing in workplace inclusion and interpersonal communication skills, Zoe brings practical experience from her leadership roles and dedicated advocacy.

Zoe has served on various influential boards, including the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, the U.S. WWI Centennial Commission, and the California Veterans Board. She has also contributed her insights to organizations like Vets in Tech and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

With substantial experience as a facilitator and executive coach, Zoe is committed to fostering inclusive workplaces and enhancing communication strategies. Her background in military leadership and advocacy equips her with a unique perspective and practical knowledge to guide others effectively.


In this class, participants will gain insight into why veteran inclusion is a personal and significant topic. Recognize and appreciate the contributions of veterans and the families of service members in the audience.

Participants will also challenge assumptions about veterans by addressing common myths, discussing shared common values, and understanding demographic statistics. This class will also discuss best practices for making veterans feel included, along with things to avoid and explore the concept of intersectionality. Identify tangible actions you can take as a colleague, leader, and company to support veteran inclusion.


Join us for the Veteran Inclusion Workshop to build a more inclusive workplace and better support our veterans.


Veteran and Inclusion Expert

Welcoming Environments for Veterans

Veteran Inclusion Workshop

FORGE TRUST, SOLVE CHALLENGES, LEAD

Robin is a Best-Selling Author, Professional Speaker, Trainer, Executive Coach, Podcast Host, Marine Corps Officer, and retired FBI Special Agent / Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. Robin has taken his life's work of Recruiting Spies, Leading Marines, and Behavioral Assessment and created his unique Interpersonal Communication Strategies for Success.  Since 2010, Robin has been working with corporations, entrepreneurs, military, and law enforcement in their pursuit of Forging Trust, Solving Challenges, and Leading. Whether it is newly promoted leaders, executives, sales teams, or customer relations, Robin has crafted his People Formula for quick measurable results and maximum success.

The Military Leader 
Although Robin always aspired to become a great leader, he realized from his time at the United States Naval Academy and in the United States Marine Corps that leadership was much more than just telling people what to do: a great leader uses interpersonal skills to inspire action, rather than demand the compliance of others.

The Spy Catcher
Upon entering service as an FBI Special Agent in 1997, Robin began his journey as a counterintelligence specialist and behaviorist in the agency's efforts to thwart the efforts of our country's greatest adversaries. Serving in New York City, Norfolk VA, FBI Headquarters, Quantico VA, and Fredericksburg VA, Robin received advanced training and experience in the area of social psychology and the practical application of the science behind relationship development and trust, ultimately leading the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Program.

The Behavioral Analysis Expert
Robin has built his highly effective tools for all aspects and stages of interpersonal communication and relationship development. Robin has combined all these tools and techniques and created a one-of-a-kind formula for success with people. Today, Robin is a recognized expert, author, and gifted lecturer in the art of interpersonal communication, relationship building and Trust. These skills are used every day in leadership, sales, human resources, and all aspects of life, both business and personal.

Marine Corps Boot Camp is a life changing event for the veterans who persevered through the challenge. The ability to Build Teams, Inspire Commitment, and Lead Organizations to Innovative Solutions are achievable when you put Service above Self --- as we do in the Marines.

Join Robin, a Naval Academy Graduate, Veteran Marine Corps Officer of Parris Island, and retired Chief of the FBI Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program for this interactive Elective. Together, we will unlock the Soft-Skills of USMC Boot Camp that were forged in a Crucible of Hard Truths.

Topics Covered: 
- The Dichotomy of Self vs Others 
- What the Marine Corps teaches us about Inclusion and a diverse workforce
- What it means to put Mission First, People Always

Retired FBI Special Agent & Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program

Lessons Learned from Marine Corps Boot Camp, Parris Island

Service Above Self

Dr. Brian H. Williams is an Air Force veteran, trauma surgeon, and nationally recognized expert in gun violence prevention, health equity, health policy, and racial justice. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida, did his surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and trauma/critical fellowship at Grady Memorial Hospital. Dr. Williams is a former professor of surgery who has served on the faculty at UT Southwestern and the University of Chicago. 

On July 7, 2016, Dr. Williams led the Parkland Hospital team that treated seven ambushed Dallas police officers. His impassioned response to the tragedy thrust him into the national spotlight, sparking his political advocacy. He was subsequently appointed Chair of the Dallas Citizens Police Review Board, and served as Special Advisor for Health Equity for Dallas County during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Williams served as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation health policy fellow at the National Academy of Medicine where he worked with congressional leaders to help craft the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022–the most significant gun safety legislation in a generation. One year later, he launched his campaign to become the first trauma surgeon elected to Congress. Leading gun safety organizations Brady PAC and GIFFORDS endorsed Dr. Williams, and he received the inaugural GIFFORDS Champion Award in recognition of his career working to end the epidemic of gun violence. His first campaign ad, "Relentless," was featured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Deadline White House, and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.

Dr. Williams lives in East Dallas with his wife and daughter where he continues to advocate for safe and healthy communities free of gun violence and systemic inequity. When not caring for patients, he maintains an active schedule as an author, speaker, lecturer, opinion writer, and commentator for national news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC. His bestselling memoir, "The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence," and How We Heal, is available anywhere books are sold.

On July 7, 2016, a sniper ambushed 14 police officers at a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Dallas. Seven officers were rushed to Parkland Hospital for lifesaving treatment, where Dr. Brian H. Williams was on duty. Despite the best efforts of Dr. Williams and his team could not save three of the officers. The tragedy spurred him to seek solutions to violence and promote healing beyond the walls of the hospital.

"Transformational Leadership: Lessons From The Bodies Keep Coming" is an inspiring lecture by Dr. Brian H. Williams, who brings a wealth of experience as a trauma surgeon, Air Force veteran, former congressional candidate, and bestselling author of The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches From A Black Trauma Surgeon On Racism, Violence, And How We Heal. Dr. Williams offers a unique perspective on leadership, drawing from his time in the military, the intense world of trauma surgery, and his foray into politics.

This lecture is perfect for leaders looking to enhance their leadership style and cultivate a more engaged and productive team. Dr. Williams will explore the core principles of transformational leadership, providing real-world examples and practical insights. You'll leave equipped with the tools to foster success within your organization. By attending, you'll feel empowered to reach their full potential and contribute to a collective vision, enabling you to transform yourself and the world around you.

Trauma Surgeon, Author and former US Air Force Officer 

Lessons From 'The Bodies Keep Coming'

Transformational Leadership 

Nay is the Head of Strategic Planning and North America Retail Strategy at Manulife Wealth and Asset Management.  He leveraged the tenacity he developed growing up as a first-generation immigrant and the values instilled in him in the US military to build a successful career. 

Though he didn't learn to speak English until his teen years, Nay worked with nuclear missiles, managed a defense satellite launch, and integrated operations for John Hanock Vitality (the most innovative life insurance product in decades). Nay holds a Master of Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is certified in Business Analytics. 

Experience Summary

Twelve Years in Financial Services
Business and Corporate Strategy
Internal Management Consulting
Business Transformation
Project and Program Management
M&A and Post-Merger Integration
Six years in the US Air Force
Managed DMSP-19 Satellite Launch Integrations
Nuclear Missile Crew Commander
ICBM Instructor

We all have shortcomings and disadvantages. Learn how one refugee’s determination allowed him to overcome the odds. Though he didn’t speak English until his teenage years, he led US Military’s nuclear operations and managed US Air Force satellite launch integrations.

Later in life, he decided to pivot away from the military career. Again, he faced challenges associated with starting over and having no corporate experience. His determination allowed him to land gainful employment. The values he developed while he served in the military helped him excel regularly and secure a senior leadership role well ahead of his peers.

Business professionals and leaders at all levels could benefit from this Elective. You will learn both challenges faced by first-generation immigrants as well as those leaving the service to join the civilian workforce. Further, you will better understand what drives your veteran and immigrant colleagues. You may also see job candidates with military experience in a new light. And lastly, you may also find ways to turn your disadvantages to fuel your success!

Note: This could be an Elective focused on the immigration experience/lens, first generation Asian American experience for AAPI month, or focused on the military experience depending on the audience and goals of the team/company.

US Air Force Veteran, First Generation Immigrant, + Strategy + Business Expert

How a refugee from Burma led US nuclear operations and became a strategy executive

Disadvantage as Fuel for Success

In this course, Paralympic gold medalist Dan Cnossen tells two stories where he was pushed to the limit of what he thought he could endure. The first story comes from one episode in the infamous Hell Week training to become a Navy SEAL. How do you persevere through an onslaught of self-doubt? The second story involves his combat injury, the subsequent amputation of both legs, and some of the lessons learned going through this difficult episode. The purpose of this class is to provide the audience with methods for approaching demanding situations in life that push us to our breaking point. 

Principles of mental toughness and perseverance

Resilience

Veterans Day is November 11 

Dr. Sharon Asonganyi, PhD, MPH, known as Dr. Shar, stands at the forefront of innovative learning and development with over 15 years of experience as an International Psychologist specializing in creating equitable and inclusive systems. At Electives, she harnesses her expertise in multicultural research to craft applied practices that enhance organizational effectiveness, focusing on equity and inclusion. Her global impact spans across continents, including work in Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa, Germany, and Kenya, bringing a wealth of international insight to her role as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) specialist. Dr. Shar’s methodology transcends traditional knowledge-based training, advocating for DEI strategies that lead to substantial, transformative outcomes.

With a comprehensive background in public health interventions and a commitment to lifelong learning, Dr. Shar integrates research, trend analysis, and best practices into impactful organizational operations, program development, and training curricula. Her work not only improves capacity building and technical assistance for a diverse range of organizations but also embeds a culture of curiosity, authenticity, and accountability. As a first-generation Ph.D. graduate and 1.5-generation immigrant from Cameroon, Dr. Shar embodies the journey of occupying meaningful spaces in the world, driven by her favorite exploratory questions: "What if...", "How might we..." and "Why not...".

We live in a globally interdependent world. All of us have a cultural lens which colors how we see, experience, and interact with others. It is a mental operating software of  our normal. How we talk to and listen to each other matters especially in the workspace. It has a strong influence on many outcomes for teams such as productivity, problem-solving, and creativity. People from different cultures have unique ways of relating, communicating, and collaborating with others at work. This course invites you to consider the intercultural dynamics that are present in a global workforce that can enhance or hinder cohesive and innovative teamwork. Throughout this highly interactive learning experience, participants will strengthen their human connection skills across cultural diversity as they unlock the value of intercultural understanding in a shared virtual space. Teams that acknowledge and leverage cultural differences understand that innovation and creativity can be present at significant choice points at work. When we learn to gather perspective, get curious, see differently, and lean on collective wisdom, the possibilities of what is created are limitless. Reimagining and rethinking how we leverage cultural diversity can be fun and fulfilling.
Participants will
Virtually travel the globe to understand cultural dimensions and how it shapes possibilities for culturally diverse teams
Learn the benefits and challenges of cultural diversity in workspaces using an intercultural framework
Engage in interactive activities to spark curiosity and deep connections with others to better communicate across cultures
Practice intercultural sensitivity skills and strategies to bridge across difference

International Psychologist & Multicultural Expert

Cultivating a global mindset in a multicultural work environment

Art of Connecting Across Cultures

Maya Hu-Chan is a globally recognized keynote speaker, author, leadership educator, and Master Certified Coach.  She specializes in cross-cultural management, global leadership, diversity and inclusion.

Ranked Top Leadership Coaches of 2021, Top 8 Global Solutions Thinkers by Thinkers50, World Top 30 Leadership Gurus, and Top 100 Thought Leaders in Management & Leadership, Maya has worked with thousands of leaders from major corporations throughout the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Maya partners with organizations to build leadership capabilities to enable profound growth and change, aligned with business and personal goals.  Maya’s ability to significantly advance the leadership effectiveness of executives has led to important and measurable results.

Her latest book “Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust” is an Amazon #1 Best Seller (Berrett-Koehler). Her book “Global Leadership: The Next Generation” was Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge book.  She is also a contributing author of 14 business books and a columnist for INC.com.

Prior to her consulting career, Maya was an anchor for the China Broadcasting Company in Taiwan, and served as the CEO of a non-profit organization in California.  Maya has lectured at the Brookings Institution, University of California, San Diego, University of Chicago, University of Southern California, and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Born and raised in Taiwan, Maya is fluent in Chinese and English.  She earned her M.A. from University of Pennsylvania and B.A. from National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Maya lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their triplets.  She enjoys yoga, hiking, and traveling.

Working across cultures can be fun and interesting, but it can be confusing, challenging and even risky!  

Our business landscape is changing rapidly as the market place becomes more global and workforce more diverse.  As leaders, what we say, or not say, how we act, behave, and interact with others can directly impact our business, our relationships and our success.

Today’s leaders must be able to develop cultural agility, demonstrate adaptability, and build positive relationships with business associates across cultures, geography and time zones.

In this interactive and thought provoking session, author and executive coach Maya Hu-Chan will present common cross cultural challenges and offer practical and creative solutions to overcome cross cultural challenges and navigate the complex and diverse global business environment.

Cross-Cultural Management Expert

Working Effectively Across Cultures

Cultural Agility

Nigel Darius is a seasoned educator, storyteller, and creative professional who excels in making learning an engaging and transformative experience. With a career spanning over a decade, Nigel has dedicated his work to helping individuals and organizations flourish by delivering content that’s both educational and entertaining. His unique teaching style combines dynamic methods with powerful storytelling techniques, ensuring that information resonates deeply with audiences of all sizes. Whether speaking to a boardroom of executives or a large auditorium of individuals, Nigel’s ability to translate complex topics into digestible, captivating lessons is both exceptional and unique.

As an acclaimed author, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor, Nigel has taught across the U.S. and internationally. He specializes in fostering human connection, elevating empathy, and exploring the importance of identity. Nigel’s sessions are highly interactive, tapping into each participant’s unique learning style while encouraging critical thinking and dialogue.

Working with Nigel is more than just a learning experience—it’s an authentic connection. At his core, Nigel is someone who thrives on building genuine relationships and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. His natural curiosity and love for deep conversations shape his approach to everything he does. Nigel desires to bring warmth, empathy, and a sense of playfulness into every environment, leaving a lasting sense of belonging.

In this immersive workshop, participants will explore how identity, heritage, and personal history influence and enrich us. Through interactive discussions, multimedia storytelling, and reflective exercises, Letters from My Lineage guides its audience on a journey into the “samples” of their past—those formative experiences, cultural touch-points, and family stories that uniquely shape their approach to leadership.

This session begins by exploring how music, cultural identity, and inherited family values impact our perceptions of success, influence, and interpersonal dynamics. Drawing on insights from musical sampling, participants will identify the parts of their lineage that influence their choices, interactions, and vision, equipping them to lead with heightened authenticity and purpose.

Educator and Storyteller

An exploration and appreciation of individual and collective culture. 

Letters from My Lineage

Stephanie Castellanos is a talent & equity strategist who specializes in building diverse teams and decolonizing the workplace. Her commitment to racial equity stems from her lived experiences navigating higher education and the workplace as the first in her family to graduate from high school and college, as the daughter of immigrants and a single mom, granddaughter of a Bracero, and as a product of Inglewood, California. 

She serves as a trusted advisor to CEOs, leads executive searches, and coaches talent from diverse backgrounds. As the Founder of WOKESHOP and the Purpose Hustle Network, Stephanie has facilitated over 1,000 workshops and has reached over 20,000 youth, young professionals, and parents of color in 28 states. 

Prior to this, she's served as the Head of Talent, Recruitment and HR for schools, a national nonprofit focused on disrupting and innovating the child welfare system, and proudly, as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Coalition for Diverse Educators -- a grassroots organization tackling systemic challenges in increasing teacher diversity across California. 

I’m an Executive/Leadership Coach and Facilitator who has been coaching, training, and facilitating for over 10 years in Greater Boston. I specialize in the Solution-Focused Method, Radical Candor, and DEI with “low-trust, high-heterogeneity” groups---people that are not necessarily predisposed to agree. Genuine transformation is hard work, so I use humor, unconventional examples, and a strong emphasis on interactivity and experiential learning to connect with people.

I started my career in behavioral health, designing and running the training department for the largest Black Community Service Agency in Massachusetts; Children’s Services of Roxbury. It was my job to help overworked, underpaid people make decisions that would alter the course of people’s lives, and helping leaders work their way through those situations turned out to be my calling. Since then, I‘ve worked with leaders from all sectors, and helped their organizations progress on issues like diversity, equity and inclusion, mission alignment, strategic planning, and conflict resolution. I currently run YW’s LeadBostonprogram and Genuity’s cohort. I teach Nonprofit Leadership and Community Engagement at the Harvard Extension School, I design and run the Federal Reserve’s Leaders for Equitable Local Economies program, and I coached MBA students at the Harvard Business School before that. I’ve also coached executives nationally for Root Cause, and I’m one of the recommended Executive Coaches for the Barr Foundation’s Fellowship.

What connects all of my work is change: helping people achieve the solutions they want, by changing the way they do things. It’s amazing how quickly momentum can build---a change in perspective leads to a change in behavior, leads to a change in results. Helping folks generate those results is what I love to do.

This is a dynamic talk about Race and Identity in America, how it's changed over time, and what it’s like growing up half and half during an intergenerational culture war over civil rights.
Not a lecture; stories, humor, anecdotes, history, and lots of participation will give a new insight on how America’s unwritten Race rules shape our perspectives, coming from a DEI expert’s experience navigating a race-conscious country while existing in a racial “no-man’s land”.

Executive Coach + Facilitator 

...About Race In America

What Growing Up Mixed Teaches You..

Cindy Chiang Halvorsen (she/her) is the founder of Carving Dragons LLC, a Leadership Coaching practice. Cindy's passion for developing high impact teams and creating work cultures where everyone can thrive led her to become a Certified Professional Diversity Coach.

During the day, Cindy is an Executive Sales Coach for Google, helping to unlock the potential of thousands of digital media sellers by building their confidence and overcoming their fears. She previously led high revenue growth sales teams. Before switching to the tech industry, Cindy spent 11 years in Brand Management for large Consumer Packaged Goods companies. Her work is recognized by several Cannes Lions, an Emmy Nomination, and AdWeek Media plan of the year.

Cindy and her husband, Ernie, raced around the world on CBS’s Reality TV Show, The Amazing Race: Season 19. Traveling through 9 countries and competing against 10 other teams, Ernie and Cindy crossed the finish line first to win the $1 million prize. They have been featured on Live! with Kelly, People Magazine, Us Weekly and more.

Through the lens of her experience on TV and the intersection of her own corporate experience, she has spoken at large and small corporate events and facilitated workshops on topics including: Resilience, Intercultural Leadership, The Asian American Experience and Creating Inclusive Work Groups. Cindy is passionate about helping individuals step into their own power and feel a sense of belonging - not just striving to fit in.

Cindy holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati where she graduated at the top of her class, a recipient of the Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence and the Homecoming Queen.

Cindy lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband and 3 young sons. They love to travel around the world, exploring different cultures and expanding their mindsets.

Many workplace programs fail to make real progress on Inclusion and Belonging. Why? Because change starts at the individual level. We have to understand and appreciate what makes us feel like we belong, before we can create a place where everyone belongs.

In this interactive Elective, I invite participants to dive deeper into the nuanced work of understanding culture and how it influences the ways in which we work. We’ll learn about the elements of cultural identity and how they show up in the workplace. Then, we’ll uncover our own hidden stories about culture. By the end of this Elective, I hope participants will lead with a little more self-awareness and a little more curiosity about others around us. We will ultimately create the conditions for deeper connections with others: partners, coworkers and the broader community.

Winner of the Amazing Race, and Googler

Create an Inclusive Culture by Understanding how our Identity impacts the way we work

Unpacking Cultural Identity

Jeremy Solomons is a global sojourner, whose professional mission is to train and coach current and future leaders to maximize their potential by knowing who they are, crafting a bold vision for the future and communicating clearly and inclusively with those around them. This mission is based on Jeremy's own experience of working full-time for six large multinational organizations - including Citibank, JP Morgan, Reuters and the World Bank – and living for extended periods in nine countries on four continents. Jeremy was born in England where he studied French at the University of Oxford; he spent 30 years in the USA, mostly in New York City, Santa Fe and Austin; and he is now happily based in Kigali, with his Rwandan wife and their brand, new baby boy, Max Tedubu.

The only thing worse than getting harsh criticism from your manager is getting none at all, especially when you are far away from them. As human beings, we all need constructive feedback on a regular basis in order to correct our mistakes, build on our strengths and remain both motivated and connected with our work and workmates, especially when we are working remotely.

This highly engaging and practical Elective will help participants clarify the differences between the 'necessary evil' of annual, formal performance reviews and the many benefits of more regular, informal feedback. Leaners will come away with an understanding of the nuances and complexities of giving and receiving feedback when people are very different and/or far away and will be able to go beyond the now-outdated and unhelpful concepts of 'negative and positive feedback'.  Employees will learn and practice how to give (and receive) informal feedback - in a safe, supportive environment, with immediate constructive feedback - with subordinates, peers and even remote bosses.

Global Coach, Facilitator, and Writer

Boosting engagement and performance in people different or far from you

Giving Feedback Across Cultures 

Dr. Priya Nalkur is the President of the RoundTable Institute. As a teacher, coach and facilitator, she is deeply committed to amplifying the voices of new and seasoned leaders who want to broaden their influence and contribution to the world. Her unique approach seeks to awaken the unconscious potential and wisdom of leaders and teams. A psychologist by training, Priya brings her facility with psychological and communications theory to her students in a bold, fun, smart, and memorable way to model what influence and authenticity look like. She’s got lots of stories to tell about helping her clients overcome the odds and find their most authentic (and effective!) way to lead. 

For over 17 years, Priya has coached and taught senior leaders at technology, pharmaceutical, and financial firms around the world, and has worked with leaders in oil and gas, media & entertainment, biotechnology, research & development, non-profit, academia, and professional services. She has designed and delivered top-rated online and in-person courses for many companies, including one of the most highly rated courses on Managing Conflict at Work. Priya is a highly sought-after coach, having diversified her range to include performance coaching, diversity & inclusion coaching, team coaching, and group & peer-to-peer coaching. She is certified in many psychological instruments, and is laser focused on furthering her training and knowledge in coaching and facilitation. 

Priya studied Communications & Social Policy in her post-doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania; completed her Doctorate in Human Development & Psychology at Harvard University; her Masters in Education at Harvard University; her Masters in Public Health at Yale University; and her Bachelors in Physical Education at Western University. She is a Certified Co-Active Coach. 

Unconscious biases subtly influence our perceptions, actions, and decisions in everyday life. In this class, we will explore the fundamentals of identifying and understanding these hidden biases. We will talk about how and why unconscious biases are formed, how they impact societal and workplace interactions, and the strategies for mitigating their effects.

Attendees will learn about why unconscious bias exists and how to recognize their own biases and develop effective approaches to support more inclusive environments. Whether in professional settings or personal interactions, the skills gained in this class aim to enhance awareness and promote positive change. 

This course is ideal for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of diversity and inclusion, improve their interpersonal relations, and contribute to building more equitable communities. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer path towards personal growth and better decision-making through reduced bias influence. Join us to take a proactive step towards inclusivity and self-awareness.


Teacher, Coach & Facilitator

Navigating Difference and Bias in the Workplace

Unconscious Bias Basics

Julian Damore is a seasoned People Operations professional and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) advocate who has worked in both startups and large organizations in the finance, cybersecurity, and marketing operations sectors.

After years of struggling with their gender identity, Julian came out as transgender at the age of 24. Transitioning in the workplace came with extensive challenges, and through this experience, they developed a commitment to educating others about the nuances of gender identity, the importance of pronouns, and inclusive language in the workplace and beyond. Through sharing their story with others, Julian has also discovered a talent for workshop design and facilitation.

Julian identifies as both queer and non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. In their free time, they enjoy long-distance backpacking and spending time with their partner and rescue dog.

More than one in four transgender people report having lost a job due to transphobia and bias, and more than three-fourths have experienced some form of discrimination at work. This workshop is meant to provide an introductory educational overview on how to be an ally by supporting transgender and non-binary individuals in the workplace. 


DEI Advocate + People Ops Professional

An Introduction to Transgender Inclusion

Why Pronouns Matter

Delroy Waugh works with leaders and organizations who are committed to doing the tough work of creating inclusion and equity to solve difficult people problems. He gets excited to tackle issues related to talent acquisition, people development, employee management, change management, and ADIBE (access, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity). Delroy thrives when helping individuals and teams find and unleash their superpowers through customized coaching, mentoring, training, and facilitating.

After a successful but brief experience in sales, Delroy shifted to running a leadership development program aimed at helping organizations identify and develop future leaders. Through this experience, Waugh's love for people management and servant leadership was nurtured. While working in this space, he also became heavily interested in and engaged with D&I initiatives and developed a deep passion for driving change in organizations through this work.

In the last seven years, Delroy has worked with organizations in various sectors to provide resources and lead impactful discussions that drive positive changes in employee engagement, soft-skill development, and organizational cultural alignment. Currently, he is pursuing his MBA at Crummer School of Business at Rollins College, leading diversity consulting at ADIBE Collaborative, and helping Helix Genomics Inc. identify the best talent to help achieve its mission.

If you're looking for someone to help you think strategically about people problems and energize people around working towards a shared mission, Delroy is your person! 

This interactive training session dives into how our identities interact to create privilege that may shape our workplace experiences. Learners will explore the effects of intersecting identities, how they impact opportunities, advantages and disadvantages, and discuss how they can use intersectionality to build more inclusive environments in the workplace.

We’ll establish "group norms" to create a brave and safe space for this discussion to thrive, but this session is not meant for new learners. At least an introductory understanding of diversity and inclusion topics, including power, privilege, intersectionality, and equity, is required to fully participate in this session.

Global Collaboration