Welcome to Ft. Lauderdale! Please stop by the registration desk starting at 12:00 p.m. to check in.
1:00 – 1:30
Welcome, Faculty Introductions and Conference Overview
Join chair Christy Cates to meet the faculty and learn how to get the most out of your time at the conference.
1:30 – 2:30
CliftonStrengths (Part I)
Speakers: Christy Cates and Katrina Onderdonk
Strong and effective leadership requires self-awareness and continued focus. Understanding and accessing your unique “strengths” will allow you to build a clear personal leadership brand that taps into your talents. In this two-part session, we will review the philosophy behind Clifton Strengths and how your “strengths” connect to your leadership brand.
2:30 – 3:00
Refreshment Break
3:00 – 4:00
CliftonStrengths (Part II)
Speakers: Christy Cates and Katrina Onderdonk
Strong and effective leadership requires self-awareness and continued focus. Understanding and accessing your unique “strengths” will allow you to build a clear personal leadership brand that taps into your talents. In this two-part session, we will review the philosophy behind Clifton Strengths and how your “strengths” connect to your leadership brand.
4:00 – 4:15
Stretch Break
4:15 – 5:15
Survival Skills in Your New Leadership Role
Speaker: Cindy Fredrick
You’ve got the job, but you realize that it doesn’t come with a survival manual. You need to survey the political landscape, build credibility and establish rapport with your boss, colleagues, and your team in fairly short order. This session will provide guidance and insights to help you acclimate to your organization’s ecosystem and not only survive but thrive.
5:15 – 6:15
Networking Reception
Join conference faculty and your colleagues to network and unwind after Day 1. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drink tickets will be provided. Don't forget your business cards!
6:15 PM
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own OR Sign-up for small group dinner at the registration desk.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Continental Breakfast / Faculty Office Hours
9:30 – 10:30
Case Studies in Ethical Leadership
Speakers: Faculty Panel
In their dual roles as fundraisers and managers, advancement leaders must regularly confront ethical dilemmas as they navigate the complex culture of higher education. In this session the faculty will discuss real-world challenges and engage in a lively conversation replete with interactive Q&A.
10:30 – 10:45
Coffee Break
10:45 – 11:45
Promoting a Culture of Feedback
Speaker: Katrina Onderdonk
As we continue to navigate hybrid, remote and in person work arrangements, strong communication has never been more important. Balancing communicating directly while showing care and support can be challenging to achieve the desired results and retain staff. Setting clear expectations and outcomes, recognizing great work, and providing critical feedback is a skill effective leaders master. In this session, we will explore different philosophies and take the time to practice and sharpen our communication skills.
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Lunch on your own
1:15 – 2:15
Rebuilding in a Post-pandemic Work
Speaker: Annamarie Bezzerides
Remote and hybrid work, civil unrest, the great resignation, and looming economic concerns, these are just a few worries that leaders are grappling with as we re-emerge from the pandemic. The work environment is different and employee expectations have evolved. What is the biggest opportunity for positive change in the post-pandemic world? How are these changes effecting our leadership strategies and decisions? This session will delve into the challenges and opportunities of a post-pandemic workplace.
2:15 – 2:45
Refreshment Break
2:45 – 3:45
Performance Management it is All About Planning
Speaker: Faculty Panel
As the expectation for better and more effective managers in the advancement profession continues to grow, managers must embrace a robust set of tools that can actually make their jobs simpler. Directly connecting a strong planning process to your performance measures and ensuring regular review of these goals makes performance management a cake walk, drives ROI, and increases employee engagement. In this session we will discuss component of strong performance management and metrics.
3:45 – 4:00
Stretch Break
4:00 – 5:00
Understanding the Systemic Issues of Identity, Justice, Inclusion and Belonging
Speaker:Rob Henry
The concept of inclusion in the workplace is a bedrock throughout many of our advancement programs. While an incredible amount of work has been done, the results have been limited. We continue to struggle with diverse talent pools, low retention rates and a lack of belonging for diverse communities. In this session, we will explore how our profession much focus on systemic issues and avoid outdated DEI terminology, useless action-focused inclusion plans and non-effective steering groups. By creating a systemic strategy for individuals of different lived experiences, you will position your organization as a thought leader in identity, justice, inclusion and belonging.
5:00
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own OR Sign-up for small group dinners at the registration desk.
Hear from Dexter Bailey, Jr., Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations at The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) about his pathway to leadership, lessons learned along the way, and his thoughts on what it means to be a leader during turbulent times. Opportunities for Q&A will be provided so please bring your questions.
10:30 – 10:45
Coffee Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
Speakers: Faculty Panel
Participate in an interactive, moderated panel, which will cover details to consider as you plan your next steps. The conference faculty will return to CliftonStrenths results and share advice and tips to help you achieve your goals. Plenty of opportunity for Q&A will be provided. This session will help attendees consolidate and implement what they’ve learned at the conference and reflect upon their next steps.
