Schedule at a Glance

Leadership Summit 

February 20 - 22, 2025 

Chicago, Illinois

In Person Schedule - Leadership Summit 2025

Listed Times are in Central Standard Time

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Thursday, February 20, 2025
 
Time
Session
Speakers
In Person/Virtual
Details
 
7:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Breakfast
 
 
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome and Plenary: Transforming Culture: Creating a New E.R.A.

Join us for an inspiring keynote address designed to transform your leadership approach and team dynamics. This session will delve into the essential elements of fostering a high-performance culture, starting with the promotion of a feedback-rich environment that values constructive dialogue. Discover the critical importance of energy dynamics in the workplace and how to harness positive energy to drive team success. We will also explore the fundamental need to build a foundation of respect within your team, ensuring that every member feels valued and empowered. Finally, learn how to cultivate accountability in both leaders and team members, creating a cohesive and responsible team that consistently achieves its goals. This keynote is packed with actionable insights and strategies to elevate your leadership and inspire your team to reach new heights.

Dr. Maria Church, Trish Kordas, Mae L. Sinclair, MBA
 
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
 
 
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cohort Sessions (Impact, Edge, Academy)

Impact

  • Change Leadership workshop rotation 1 
  • Strategy planning workshop rotation 1 
  • Culture workshop rotation 1 

Academy 

Edge

  • Chapter 8: Leading Change
 
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
 
 
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Cohort Sessions (Impact, Edge, Academy)

Impact

  • Change Leadership workshop rotation 2 
  • Strategy planning workshop rotation 2 
  • Culture workshop rotation 2

Academy 

Edge

  • Chapter 8: Leading Change
 
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Break
 
 
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Impact Cohort Report Outs
 
 
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Edge and Academy Cohort Sessions

Academy

Edge

  • Strategic Planning Exercise   Public Speaking Exercise 
 
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Reception and Supplier Networking
 
Friday, February 21, 2025
 
Time
Session
Speakers
In Person/Virtual
Details
 
7:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Breakfast
 
 
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Plenary - Transforming Culture: Infusing Accountability and Engagement

Join us for an enlightening keynote address that redefines personal accountability and its impact on team and organizational success. This session begins by addressing the "What's In It For Me" (WIIFM) aspect of personal accountability, helping individuals understand the personal and professional benefits of taking ownership of their actions. We will tackle the challenge of reducing "victim" behaviors, empowering participants to shift their mindset towards proactive problem-solving. Learn to see situations more clearly by using your "accountability glasses," a metaphor for maintaining a perspective focused on responsibility and constructive outcomes. The keynote will also delve into the critical concepts of engagement, exploring how involvement and motivation are key drivers of performance. Finally, we will introduce and develop impactful engagement strategies that leaders can implement to foster a motivated, accountable, and high-performing team. This keynote is designed to provide you with the tools and insights needed to cultivate a culture of accountability and engagement within your organization.

Dr. Maria Church, Trish Kordas, Mae L. Sinclair, MBA
 
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
 
 
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cohort Sessions (Impact, Edge, Academy)

Impact

  • Change Leadership workshop rotation 3
  • Strategy planning workshop rotation 3
  • Culture workshop rotation 3

Academy

Edge

  • Chapter 9: Conflict Resolution
 
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
 
 
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Cohort Sessions (Impact, Edge, Academy)
  • Impact and Edge Combined Session
  • Academy
 
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Break
 
 
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cohort Sessions (Impact, Edge, Academy)

Impact

  • Rockstar panel discussion

Academy

Edge

  • Chapter 9: Conflict Resolution
 
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Dinner on your own or join Dutch dinner parties
 
Saturday, February 22, 2025
 
Time
Session
Speakers
In Person/Virtual
Details
 
7:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Breakfast
 
 
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Final Individual Cohort Sessions (Impact, Edge, Academy)

Impact

  • The Transformer Challenge

Academy

Edge

  • Chapter 10: Coaching and Mentoring 
 
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Break
 
 
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Plenary and Closing - Transforming Culture: Leading with Love

Leading with Love is a bold and transformative approach that requires courage and commitment. In many organizations today, fear has taken hold, paralyzing leaders, stifling innovation, eroding loyalty, and diminishing productivity. This keynote session provides an insightful overview of the principles of Love-Based Leadership and presents compelling evidence of its success across various organizational contexts. Participants will be inspired to confront and understand the destructive impact of workplace fear. Replacing fear with a love-based culture is not for the faint of heart. The most arduous journey many will take is the 18” from the head to the heart. This is not a session of kittens, puppies, and rainbows, instead, it equips leaders with actionable strategies to influence, motivate, and retain employees. Attendees will gain practical and tactical solutions to foster sustainable, innovative workplace cultures that thrive on trust, respect, and genuine care. Join us to embark on this transformative journey and lead your organization with love and resilience.

Dr. Maria Church, Trish Kordas, Mae L. Sinclair, MBA

Dr. Maria Church

CEO, Government Leadership Solutions

Dr. Maria Church, CEO of Government Leadership Solutions specializes in organizational culture design, change agility, strategic off-site facilitation, and leadership development based on her 25-year career with local government, Fortune 500, non-profits, and academia. Maria holds a doctorate of management degree in organizational leadership and currently teaches for several universities.

Dr. Church is the author of Love-Based Leadership: Transform Your Life with Meaning and Abundance, the upcoming book A Course in Excellence: 21 Spiritual Lessons on Leadership, Love, and Miracles, and co-author of best-selling book, Answering the Call, has started a movement to revolutionize the workplace with a shift from fear to love.

She has been featured on radio shows, television interviews, and in magazines. Maria writes a weekly newspaper column on leadership and hosts an online leadership series, Dr. Maria TV. Splitting her time between Scottsdale and the canyons of Southern Arizona, Maria continues to work with high-performing organizations and is working on her next book.

Trish Kordas

Chief Strategy Officer, Consultant, Coach, Trainer

Trish Kordas is a proven Human Resource Executive with over 20 years of progressive experience. She has a true passion for driving positive company culture through enhancing the employee experience. Her mantra is #GivePlaySlay, and she lives this out any chance she gets. She believes that when teams serve their community, put the fun in everything they do, and are dedicated to doing it exceptionally, they succeed. From Strategic Planning and Succession Management to Policy creation and Employee Relations, she possesses the breadth of expertise needed to help cultures thrive. She has an enthusiasm for developing talent and creating flourishing cultures where people want to Be, Grow, and Stay! 

Mae L. Sinclair, MBA

Consultant, Coach, Trainer

Mae is an exceptional executive with vast experience in Organizational Development and Training, Leadership Development, DE&I, Employee Relations, and Strategic Planning. As a successful leader in both public and private sectors, Mae has been recognized for her expertise in design and development of learning solutions that improve decision-making, increase customer service, performance management, and business results. She is also passionate about finding a good deal, an “ultimate thrifter” who ventures to small towns to support the small business owners. 

Dr. Maria Church

CEO, Government Leadership Solutions

Dr. Maria Church, CEO of Government Leadership Solutions specializes in organizational culture design, change agility, strategic off-site facilitation, and leadership development based on her 25-year career with local government, Fortune 500, non-profits, and academia. Maria holds a doctorate of management degree in organizational leadership and currently teaches for several universities.

Dr. Church is the author of Love-Based Leadership: Transform Your Life with Meaning and Abundance, the upcoming book A Course in Excellence: 21 Spiritual Lessons on Leadership, Love, and Miracles, and co-author of best-selling book, Answering the Call, has started a movement to revolutionize the workplace with a shift from fear to love.

She has been featured on radio shows, television interviews, and in magazines. Maria writes a weekly newspaper column on leadership and hosts an online leadership series, Dr. Maria TV. Splitting her time between Scottsdale and the canyons of Southern Arizona, Maria continues to work with high-performing organizations and is working on her next book.

Trish Kordas

Chief Strategy Officer, Consultant, Coach, Trainer

Trish Kordas is a proven Human Resource Executive with over 20 years of progressive experience. She has a true passion for driving positive company culture through enhancing the employee experience. Her mantra is #GivePlaySlay, and she lives this out any chance she gets. She believes that when teams serve their community, put the fun in everything they do, and are dedicated to doing it exceptionally, they succeed. From Strategic Planning and Succession Management to Policy creation and Employee Relations, she possesses the breadth of expertise needed to help cultures thrive. She has an enthusiasm for developing talent and creating flourishing cultures where people want to Be, Grow, and Stay! 

Mae L. Sinclair, MBA

Consultant, Coach, Trainer

Mae is an exceptional executive with vast experience in Organizational Development and Training, Leadership Development, DE&I, Employee Relations, and Strategic Planning. As a successful leader in both public and private sectors, Mae has been recognized for her expertise in design and development of learning solutions that improve decision-making, increase customer service, performance management, and business results. She is also passionate about finding a good deal, an “ultimate thrifter” who ventures to small towns to support the small business owners. 

Dr. Maria Church

CEO, Government Leadership Solutions

Dr. Maria Church, CEO of Government Leadership Solutions specializes in organizational culture design, change agility, strategic off-site facilitation, and leadership development based on her 25-year career with local government, Fortune 500, non-profits, and academia. Maria holds a doctorate of management degree in organizational leadership and currently teaches for several universities.

Dr. Church is the author of Love-Based Leadership: Transform Your Life with Meaning and Abundance, the upcoming book A Course in Excellence: 21 Spiritual Lessons on Leadership, Love, and Miracles, and co-author of best-selling book, Answering the Call, has started a movement to revolutionize the workplace with a shift from fear to love.

She has been featured on radio shows, television interviews, and in magazines. Maria writes a weekly newspaper column on leadership and hosts an online leadership series, Dr. Maria TV. Splitting her time between Scottsdale and the canyons of Southern Arizona, Maria continues to work with high-performing organizations and is working on her next book.

Trish Kordas

Chief Strategy Officer, Consultant, Coach, Trainer

Trish Kordas is a proven Human Resource Executive with over 20 years of progressive experience. She has a true passion for driving positive company culture through enhancing the employee experience. Her mantra is #GivePlaySlay, and she lives this out any chance she gets. She believes that when teams serve their community, put the fun in everything they do, and are dedicated to doing it exceptionally, they succeed. From Strategic Planning and Succession Management to Policy creation and Employee Relations, she possesses the breadth of expertise needed to help cultures thrive. She has an enthusiasm for developing talent and creating flourishing cultures where people want to Be, Grow, and Stay! 

Mae L. Sinclair, MBA

Consultant, Coach, Trainer

Mae is an exceptional executive with vast experience in Organizational Development and Training, Leadership Development, DE&I, Employee Relations, and Strategic Planning. As a successful leader in both public and private sectors, Mae has been recognized for her expertise in design and development of learning solutions that improve decision-making, increase customer service, performance management, and business results. She is also passionate about finding a good deal, an “ultimate thrifter” who ventures to small towns to support the small business owners. 

Schedule is subject to change.