Being Agile in a Fragile World: Annual Conference Chair’s Vision for 2025 Page Annual Conference

By: Linda Rutherford, 2025 Page Annual Conference Chair

In a time marked by volatility, fragmentation, and rapid transformation, what does it truly mean to lead?

That’s the question we’re exploring at the 2025 Page Annual Conference, and it’s what inspired this year’s theme:

Being Agile in a Fragile World: Transformative Leadership from the Global Stage to Your Own Resiliency.

As Chair of this year’s event, my goal was simple: to create an experience that feels timely, practical, and deeply human. We know the world is more complex and uncertain than ever, and so is the evolving job of the Chief Communications Officer. That’s why we’ve designed an agenda that not only tackles the macro forces shaping our organizations but also supports you personally as a leader navigating it all.

Here’s how we’ve structured our time together:

Sunday: Big Picture Thinking

We’ll open the aperture wide, offering a clear-eyed view of the global landscape. From economic instability and geopolitical risk to the erosion of trust in institutions. You’ll hear from leaders like Alan Murray, founding president of the WSJ Leadership Institute, and cybersecurity and tech experts working to defend brands in an era of deep disruption and mistrust.

Monday: Navigating Organizational Complexity

The second day narrows in on how we lead within our organizations through polarization, restructuring, and shifting expectations. We’ll hear from leaders like Rev. Peter Johnson, who stood beside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Toyota’s Julie Hamp on navigating polarization with principle. We’ll unpack new research on the impact of division in the workplace, dive into modern measurement strategies and the latest on Page’s benchmarking framework project, and connect through interactive sessions, including one of my favorites: speed conversations that help you meet more peers in one hour than you might all year.

Tuesday: Personal Leadership & Resilience

We close by turning the focus inward. How do you stay centered, resilient, and clear-headed when everything around you is in flux? Through powerful stories and reflections from leaders like Charlotte Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Ron DeFeo at American Airlines, we’ll explore how to lead in real time—while protecting your energy, your values, and your impact.

This isn’t just a conference. It’s a space to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with a community that understands your world. You’ll leave with more than insights, you’ll leave with a game plan, a support system, and new energy to lead what’s next.

We know you have a lot of opportunities to choose from. This is why I hope you’ll choose Page.

Join us in Dallas, September 28–30. I can’t wait to see you there.