Jack and Patti Phillips, ROI Institute, Inc. 
Thursday, August 29
1:00 pm Arizona Time

Your organization's success requires the appropriate level of investing in people projects, and projects. Investments with the greatest impact are often those that address organizational culture, employee engagement, leadership development, and change and future readiness. This powerful session will kick off the AHCCCS- ATD WFD Executive Leadership Accelerator Series by addressing the importance of these key intangibles and how to ensure your organization’s investments and efforts in them pays off in terms that matter most.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Examine your organization’s approach to investing in people.

• Explain the importance of investing in organization culture, employee engagement, leadership development, and change and future readiness.

• Plan next steps to align investments in people with the needs of the organization.

Devin C. Hughes
Thursday, September 5
10:00 am Arizona Time

It is vital that individuals feel valued for their contributions and have a strong sense of connection and community to engage, perform, and stay in an organization. Leaders must build these environments even when their plates are already full. This session will offer research-backed strategies for building an inclusive mindset, implementing best practices, and creating a work environment where people are compelled to join, stay, and feel like they belong. Learn to foster a culture of appreciation, mentorship, and connection and drive real impact for your people and your organization. Gain actionable strategies for fostering a sense of belonging, recognizing employees with meaning, and investing in their development to create authentic connections in an in-person, remote, or hybrid workplace.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Understand the specific actions necessary to create a culture of connection and belonging.

• Appreciate your unique role and the unique role of your team in creating places of belonging and encouraging authentic connections.

• Access the latest research to understand workforce trends and what it means for employees to be connected.

Eric M. Bailey
Thursday, September 12
10:00 am Arizona Time

It is not news that the world is changing, but the rate of change is increasing exponentially. There are two abilities that are strong predictors of success into the future: 1. The ability to adapt to and lead change; 2. The ability to communicate with and understand others. This session will explore the brain science of why people have such a hard time understanding one another and how that brain science is linked to our natural resistance to change. This highly engaging session will provide thought-provoking insights and takeaways to improve your leadership communication.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Understand the difference between perception and reality.

• Recognize why people misunderstand you.

• Be more effective in your discussions and dialogue.

• Recognize the signs of resistance to change.

Tina Robinson, WorkJoy
Thursday, September 19
10:00 am Arizona Time

According to Gallup research, up to 70 percent of challenges related to employee engagement can be attributed to managers. Whether they lead from the front or encourage from behind, leaders are role models, vision keepers, and performance coaches. But how are we investing in them—ensuring they have the guidance and growth to succeed? This session reimagines leadership development as a three-pronged strategy: Prong 1—one-to-one—investing in leaders through coaching; Prong 2—one-to-group—upskilling leaders through training; and Prong 3—one-to-all—reimagining and aligning talent processes and practices. Join this engaging session to start to create a holistic vision for leadership development in your organization—and jumpstart successful implementation.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Identify the benefits and measurable results of providing coaching for leaders.

• Describe how training supports and is supported by coaching to holistically improve leadership development.

• Identify talent development processes that influence or are influenced by leadership development.

Alexis Gonzales-Black, August Public Inc.
Thursday, September 26
1:00 pm Arizona Time

In the rapidly changing business landscape, organizations are facing significant challenges in developing and retaining talent. Workforce problems are exacerbated by demanding work conditions and process and systems that are difficult to evolve. Organizational culture plays a crucial role, with emerging challenges or market pressures widening the gap between the culture you have and the culture you need to achieve ambitious goals. This insightful session will explore actionable strategies to mitigate burnout, drive engagement, and unlock the potential of your employees.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Adopt Proactive Workforce Development Strategies: Learn how to move beyond reactive problem-solving to expand the capacity and capability of your workforce.

• Enhance Employee Engagement and Retention: Learn effective methods to boost employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, and create a supportive work environment that values and rewards hard work.

• Transform Organizational Culture: Discover how to shift from a command-and-control leadership style to one that promotes trust, collaboration, and employee empowerment, leading to sustained organizational success.

Jonathan Halls, Jonathan Halls & Associates

Jonathan Halls is an award-winning author and was recognized in 2021 by Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) as a top 100 Visionary for Education. He focuses on coaching and workshops for talent development professionals and consulting and strategic support for learning leaders. He has worked with thousands of people in some of the leading organizations around the world.