Conference Content

WLC’s programming content features multi-faceted subject matter: insights and examples that inspire personal growth and empowerment offered by accomplished women leaders in many walks of life and renowned motivational speakers; skills, practices and strategies for leadership development and career advancement taught by experts, facilitators and career coaches; techniques for personal development (such as health maintenance, financial management, work-life balance, etc.); community engagement; and networking among conference participants who share a passion to lead in business, family and their communities.

The conference format includes keynote speeches and panel discussions at large-group sessions, (please link to speaker page) small-group workshops and networking opportunities.

Our small-group workshops are organized based on levels of leadership development which approximate beginning, emerging and advanced leadership programming. Please review our Leadership Tracks for a more detailed description of our programming model. Our 2018 Workshops for each Leadership Track will be added in the coming weeks.

LEADERSHIP TRACKS

EMERGING LEADER TRACK

As an entry-level to mid-level supervisor, manager or administrator, you already supervise individual projects but you need guidance to take your career to the next step.

The Emerging Leader Track will help you:

  • Enhance your leadership skills
  • Gain new skills to help you grow professionally and personally
  • Expand your network through the peers, directors and executives you will meet
  • Get inspired!

2018 EMERGING LEADER EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

Presented by Las Vegas Billboards

Educational Session I
Power of Expectations with Sandra McDowell Monday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3rd Floor - Room 311
Is your glass full or half empty? It depends on your expectations. Research has shown that what we expect a situation to be like (positive or negative) plays a huge role in what we focus on, what we hear and, ultimately, what transpires. This concept isn’t new to us. We learned it a long time ago when our mothers read to us from “The Little Engine that Could” and we heard those words, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”  This concept is known as self-efficacy; believing you can succeed impacts your ability to succeed. Within this session, Sandra will share thoughts on how to foster a growth mindset to support the achievement of goals. 

Educational Session I
Use the Good China with Star Bobatoon
Monday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
2nd Floor - Room 207 – 209
We are all endowed with gifts, talents and abilities that are uniquely ours. Unfortunately, we don’t always recognize our value or understand the positive impact we can make on the world. Stop resisting, ignoring and hiding your gifts. Learn the mindset and the skills to embrace your inner light and be the STAR you were born to be. 

Educational Session II
The Too Much Tour with Jackie Fabulous and Kelsey Humphreys
Monday, August 27 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 311
This motivational comedy duo is a LOT, and they’re done apologizing for it. They will inspire you and encourage women that have been told they’re “just a little too…” They will get you laughing, help embrace your “too muchness”, find your fabulous and provide actionable takeaways on how to go further, faster and have more fun than ever in work and life.

Educational Session III
Winning When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Courtney Clark
Tuesday, August 28 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
3rd Floor – 311
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how hard you work, your plans just… DON’T work. Courtney has proven techniques to help you deal with life’s inevitable detours with humor, resilience and tenacity. Courtney helps audiences learn where internal resilience comes from and how to get it, how to let go of “the plan” and find perspective even in the most stressful situations.

Educational Session IV
Drive vs Confidence with Sheri Riley
Tuesday, August 28 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 311
Has drive taken you to high levels of success and your confidence has been lost along the
way? Are you ready to stop spending 100% of your time on 10% of who you are?
Are you ready to expand your personal and professional growth, increase your productivity,
while creating more bandwidth and margin in your life? Are you ready to not only reach your goals but live in a constant state of peace and power while doing it? My “9 Principles of Exponential Living” helps celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, high achievers and all around busy people, like YOU, to not only have career success but a good life.

EMERGING EXECUTIVE TRACK

As a director or executive director, you’ve mastered your area of expertise and successfully lead a team. Now you need to identify growth opportunities for you, your projects and your employees.

The Emerging Executive Track will:

  • Enrich your already substantial network of peers, mentors and sponsors.
  • Teach new skills, such as “The Art of Persuasion” or how to articulate points-of-view and persuade others, including higher-level leadership.
  • Allow you to share and learn best practices with senior level professionals.
  • Provide a platform for discovering strategies and tools to elevate your career to the C-suite.

2018 EMERGING EXECUTIVE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

Presented by Vegas PBS

Education Session I
A Proven Roadmap to Achieve Your Next Level Success with Sharon Melnick, Ph.D.
Monday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 309
From Pigeon Holed to Promoted! A Proven Roadmap to Achieve Your Next Level – Sharon guides you through a personal strategic roadmap to get to your next level. You’ll learn how to create the perception in the mind of your decision- makers that you are ‘ready now’ for the next level, and how to get a “yes” when you ask for expanded responsibility or a new role.  Women who go through this session have a remarkable rate of promotions afterward.

Educational Session II
The Art of Accelerated Resilience™ with Courtney Clark
Monday, August 27 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 310
In today’s competitive world, there’s no time to recover from our challenges and setbacks in leisurely fashion, Accelerated Resilience™ is the answer. The proven scientific strategies from Courtney’s new book, “The Successful Struggle,” will have you and your employees managing change, chaos, conflict and life’s other challenges in the fastest, most productive way possible.

Educational Session II
Live Your Power with Sheri Riley
Monday, August 27 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2nd Floor – Room 207-209
Has drive taken you to high levels of success and your confidence has been lost along the
way? Are you ready to stop spending 100% of your time on 10% of who you are?
Are you ready to expand your personal and professional growth, increase your productivity,
while creating more bandwidth and margin in your life? Are you ready to not only reach your goals but live in a constant state of peace and power while doing it? My “9 Principles of Exponential Living” helps celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, high achievers, and all around busy people, like YOU, to not only have career success but a good life.

Educational Session III
Understanding, Embracing and Integrating ALL of You! Welcome to Your Inner Committee with Julie Chesley, Ph.D.
Tuesday, August 28 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
3rd Floor – Room 310
Have you ever been in a heated conversation with a colleague and wondered “who is that talking? It’s certainly not the friend that I know.”  Or maybe, it was you. “I have no idea where that came from – I was just so bossy.”  We all have aspects of ourselves that sometimes show up and “take over” for better or for worse.  Without integration, “General Julie” shows up and wants to overly control things, or sometimes “Perfection Patty” dominates causing work and re-work and additional re-work…you get the drift.  These less integrated aspects of ourselves are members of our inner committee.  Only by recognizing, understanding and embracing them, can our wise, clear and compassionate self be present.  This workshop will briefly present the foundations and background models supporting this work (Egan and Lahl, 2012; Siegel, 2010; Schwartz, 1995; Stone & Stone, 1989), followed by interactive exercises where participants will have a chance to identify and name their most obvious inner committee members, and conclude by discussing the benefits of deeper awareness for personal and professional growth.  Workshop Takeaways: “Meet” and identify a few of your most prominent committee members and understand how your wise self can embrace and begin to integrate ALL of you for your best performance

Educational Session III
Empowering Yourself to Empower Others with Gillian M. Pinchevsky, Ph.D.
Tuesday, August 28 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
2nd Floor – Room 207 – 209
Dr. Pinchevsky will discuss what harassment against women means for all of us, as well as focus on how each of us can do something about sexual harassment, regardless of where we are in our careers and education. Central to this discussion is how to appropriately respond to disclosures of interpersonal harassment, whether they occur in a professional or personal setting. By equipping ourselves with the knowledge about how to best support others and the motivation to make a difference, our responses can have a profound impact on the people around us.

Education Session VI
Understanding Weird People with Steve Thomas
Tuesday, August 28 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 309
Leading your team to sustained success has never been more important. In addition to client challenges, you must also manage differing personalities and the difficulties that technology can impose on personal relationships. The common thread to achieving success in all these areas is connection. In this unconventional session, Steve will teach you how to understand what makes people so different as well as how to navigate through the complexities of human weirdness. Taking it another step further, you’ll also learn simple ways to serve and lead your team effectively, and how to get everyone to take on a leadership role. You’re sure to leave with new insight on what leadership truly is and how you can make profound impact with your most valuable resource – your people.

Educational Session VI
A Rising Tide: Modeling Positive Conflict Communication with Jennifer Guthrie, Ph.D.
Tuesday, August 28 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2nd Floor – Room 207 – 209
Conflict is an inevitable part of life, and how we handle conflict can have tremendously positive or negative effects. Dr. Guthrie will explain how we can recognize positive or negative conflict environments and how we can model positive conflict communication. Although we cannot control others’ behaviors, we can control ours. Thus, this talk aims to empower leaders to provide a ripple effect to promote a more positive climate.

EXECUTIVE TRACK

You already possess high levels of influence in your company and often determine policies and procedures as a vice president and above. At this point in your career, you know you will never stop learning.

The Executive Track will:

  • Give you access to high-level leaders.
  • Allow you to grow your network while sharing your knowledge and expertise.
  • Expose you to a rich pool of talented and skilled professionals.
  • Provide you with an opportunity to continue learning new skills which is critical to your growth and ultimate success.

2018 EXECUTIVE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

Presented by Greenspun Media Group

Educational Session I
Awaken Your Inner Champion with Deborah Gardner
Monday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 310
As a successful leader in a highly competitive world, having goals is just not enough to succeed. And, when dealing with every facet of your chaotic life, whether in business or personal, very decision you make says something about you. No matter what role you have as a leader, interactively experience and share with others on how you will awaken your inner champion. Learn newly effective skills; i.e. gender communication, negotiating, going commando and more.

Educational Session II
A Proven Roadmap to Achieve Your Next Level Success with Sharon Melnick, Ph.D.
Monday, August 27 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 309
From Pigeon Holed to Promoted! A Proven Roadmap to Achieve Your Next Level – Sharon guides you through a personal strategic roadmap to get to your next level. You learn how to create the perception in the mind of your decision makers you are ‘ready now’ for the next level, and how to get a “yes” when you ask for expanded responsibility or a new role.  Women who go through this session have a remarkable rate of promotions afterward.

Educational Seminar III
The Neuroscience of Leadership: Leading with the Brain in Mind with Sandra McDowell
Tuesday, August 28 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
3rd Floor – Room 309
Neuroscience has revealed many new insights into human nature and behavior over the past decade. Surprisingly, the implications of this new research are particularly relevant for organizational leaders. It is now clear that human behavior doesn’t always work the way many leaders think it does; neuroscience, and a new discipline called neuroleadership helps explain why many leadership efforts and organizational change initiatives are unsuccessful. In this illuminating session, participants will learn about the conditions which support and derail leadership intentions, along with strategies to support effective leadership and sustainable change.

Educational Session IV
Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave & How to Keep Them Longer with Cara Silletto
Tuesday, August 28 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 310
While some of today’s workforce is made up of deep-rooted, dependable staff, a larger number of positions are now a revolving door of turnover. Learn how to slow this revolving door and maximize the time you have with employees.

WLC Interactive Workshops

Presented by Diageo

Interactive Workshop I
A Rising Tide: Modeling Positive Conflict Communication with Jennifer Guthrie, Ph.D.
Monday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 308
Conflict is an inevitable part of life, and how we handle conflict can have tremendously positive or negative effects. Dr. Guthrie will explain how we can recognize positive or negative conflict environments and how we can model positive conflict communication. Although we cannot control others’ behaviors, we can control ours. Thus, this talk aims to empower leaders to provide a ripple effect to promote a more positive climate. 

Interactive Workshop II
Empowering Yourself to Empower Others with Gillian M. Pinchevsky, Ph.D.
Monday, August 27 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 308
Dr. Pinchevsky will discuss what harassment against women means for all of us, as well as focus on how each of us can do something about sexual harassment, regardless of where we are in our careers and education. Central to this discussion is how to appropriately respond to disclosures of interpersonal harassment, whether they occur in a professional or personal setting. By equipping ourselves with the knowledge about how to best support others and the motivation to make a difference, our responses can have a profound impact on the people around us.

Interactive Workshop III
Intentional Leadership with Katherine Twells
Monday, August 27 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 306 – 307 
All strategy begins with a vision, and personal strategy is no different. For those who approach leadership in service to others, there are times when we forget that self-leadership is the first step. When we have clarity of who we are, what we stand for and what we offer to others we can work from a place of true authenticity. Investing in a clear intention for our leadership and our lives allows us to operate with a personal compass that keeps us on the road we desire to travel. Far from being selfish, self-leadership guides us on the most power path and allows us to use our gifts for the greatest good.

Interactive Workshop IV
Building Connections with Tanja Hollander
Tuesday, August 28 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
3rd Floor – Room 308
Tanja Hollander is an artist known for her series “Are You Really My Friend?”, which is a study on friendship in the present day. In 2011, Tanja set out to differentiate the actual from the virtual by photographing all 626 of her Facebook friends. Since then, she has traveled across the globe, setting up in-person meetings in her friends’ homes to discover the ways in which friendship is defined, and how permission is granted into one’s private — yet also very public — online life. Through this project, the artist has been able to take the virtual out of friendship and learned to say “yes” to new experiences. This amazing adventure sparked a new artistic trajectory for Tanja. In this workshop, Tanja will explore some best practices: building stronger connections, mastering active listening, and utilizing storytelling to enrich both professional and personal relationships.

Interactive Workshop V
Owning Your Too Muchness – Be Big, Be Bold! with Jackie Fabulous and Kelsey Humphreys
Tuesday, August 28 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 308
This motivational comedy duo is a LOT, and they’re done apologizing for it. They will inspire you and encourage women that have been told they’re “just a little too…” They will get you laughing, help embrace their “too muchness”, find their fabulous and provide actionable takeaways on how to go further, faster and have more fun than ever in work and life.

Interactive Workshop VI
Networking Etiquette Workshop with Greg Chase
Tuesday, August 28 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 306 - 307
In this workshop session you will learning how to network effectively, remove the awkwardness of meeting new people, and build your public speaking confidence. The workshop is design as a fun and creative, experiential learning experience that will certainly leave you inspired and motivated to put yourself “out there” and engage in a potential new world of stronger and more meaningful connections.

Coaching Education Session
Accelerating Development through Coaching with Tracy Sinclair
Monday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3rd Floor – Room 306 – 307
Tuesday, August 28 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
3rd Floor – Room 306 – 307
A growing number of individuals and organizations are moving away from traditional paradigms for training and development in favor of building coaching cultures that offer the opportunity to enhance their performance and achieve their goals. Industry research indicates that this shift is paying off. It is clear that individuals continue to raise their awareness and understanding of coaching with tremendous result. For organizations with strong coaching cultures, studies point to higher employee engagement and revenues than peer organizations without strong coaching cultures. This global movement is being driven by a profession that is led by and consists of 70% women. Join Tracy Sinclair, corporate executive and board level coach, PCC, and Chair of the Global Board of Directors for the International Coach Federation, as we explore the growth and potential coaching offers individuals and organizations alike.

NEW THIS YEAR: The WLC Coaching Corner

Sponsored by Coaching By Wendy, Wendy Preyssler PCC, Executive and Leadership Coach & International Coach Federation

By Appointment Monday and Tuesday
Marquee Ballroom near Registration
As the purpose of WLC is to promote women’s personal and professional development and advancement, this year we are pleased to offer onsite complimentary Executive Coaching Experience. Participants will have access to the highest level of credentialed coaches providing you with a live and personalized coaching session.

As defined by the International Coach Federation, “Coaching is a thought-provoking and creative process that will inspire you to maximize your personal and professional potential.”  A coach partners with you by asking powerful questions, providing a sounding board, reflecting observations, and identifying blind spots, where you may be getting in your own way, to provide new perspectives that enable you to create lasting change.

During your Executive Coaching Experience, you may choose to address a goal such as:

  • Career advancement
  • Managing work/life balance
  • Improving communications/relationships
  • Increasing self-confidence
  • Being more effective
  • Maximizing potential

To maximize the effectiveness of the Executive Coaching Experience, we recommend participants arrive with one clear objective as well as being open to collaborate with your coach and consider new perspectives.