HDI WCNY Annual Leadership Conference - Empowering Leadership

Please join us on October 18, 2024,  for our annual leadership conference. This year, we are focusing on Empowering Leadership to elevate and showcase your VALUE at every level!

We have an amazing lineup of panel representatives and keynote speakers who will leave you captivated and empowered. We will be focusing on networking, hiring, ethics, and of course, we are talking about AI!

Register today for yourself or purchase a table for your team! We cannot wait to see you there! 

Tentative Event Schedule (subject to change):

• 8:30-9:00- Doors Open
• 9:00-9:15- Introduction, Networking & Raffles
• 9:15-10:00- Mastering the Art of Networking - Liz Bunger 
  • _{Break: 10:00-10:15}
• 10:15-11:15- The Hiring Landscape and You! - Ashley George
  • _{Break: 11:15-11:30}
• 11:15-12:15- Lunch Break / Vendor Showcase
• 12:15-1:15- Your Career is YOURS-Building your brand - Matt Beren
  • _{Break/Raffles: 1:15-1:30}
• 1:30-2:30- AI Panel Discussion: Ethics, Use Cases, Where Are We going? 
  • Toby Brown
  • Brian Piper
  • Quinn Karley
  • Matt Beran
  • _{Break/Raffles: 1:15-1:30}
• 2:45-3:45- Everything is Awesome: Michael Compton 
• 3:45-4:00- Closing remarks / Final Raffles

Speaker Profiles:

 Everything is Awesome

In this session, we will explore the critical role of motivation in leadership, from both the perspective of motivating teams and embracing self-motivation. Attendees will engage in practical applications and reflections on how to inspire and energize those they lead, while also focusing on their own motivation to prevent burnout. We will highlight the importance of self-care as a cornerstone of sustainable leadership, offering strategies for maintaining personal well-being while guiding others.

Additionally, this session will introduce the concept of followership and its essential connection to effective leadership, combating burnout, and motivation. Participants will gain insights into how successful leaders often adopt motivation through their ability to follow their teams in a leadership position. By redefining leadership as a dynamic balance between leading and following, we will provide actionable takeaways that leaders can implement to create more cohesive and motivated teams.

This session is designed to be engaging and somewhat interactive, leaving the audience with renewed energy, fresh perspectives, and practical tools for leading and motivating with empathy and purpose. We will hopefully laugh, learn, and leave feeling motivated.

 Your Career is YOURS: Building Your Brand

Service and Support is not only a great way to get your foot in the door to your interests, it is also a pathway to a long and rewarding career! Trying to take your career in a specific direction? Does work make you feel the way you want to feel?

This presentation will push you to explore new ways of achieving your life goals and leverage your current role to get you there. We will discuss ways to communicate your value and avoid some of the challenges that may arise as you build your life.

Takeaways

• Finding value and fun in your work
• Visualizing your strengths, values and career
• How to know you should keep your job

 The Hiring Landscape and You!

In this session, attendees can expect to take a deep dive into themselves! There is no better way to get a better perspective of the current hiring landscape without reflecting on your journey. What got you here? What does it mean to be a leader today? And, how has your socialization of leadership informed the way you work, lead and measure success?

The hiring landscape is changing, and it’s important that we change with it. Through dialogue and reflections, we’ll redefine the way we interpret value. We’ll redefine the way we learn. We’ll redefine the way we lead and engage with others. We’ll redefine the way we leverage our technology. We’ll challenge the cycle!

• Cycle of socialization and its impact on leadership and hiring
• Creating and showcasing value in an AI generative world
• Personal and professional ownership

 Mastering the Art of Networking: Building Connections for Success

In today's competitive landscape, the ability to network effectively is a crucial skill for professional success. In this dynamic session we delve into the art of networking and explore strategies for building meaningful connections that drive career advancement and business growth. From cultivating rapport to leveraging digital platforms, you will gain practical insights into establishing and nurturing valuable professional relationships. We will walk you through interactive discussions and actionable tips, helping you learn how to navigate networking with confidence. Whether you're a seasoned networker or just starting out, this session offers invaluable guidance for mastering the art of networking and unlocking doors to new possibilities in your personal and professional life.