About the Event

Agenda

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

In today’s rapidly changing world, agile leadership is imperative. Our time together will explore how leaders can navigate complexity, build resiliency and lead transformational change. Most importantly you’ll leave with practical tools and strategies tailored to your role, empowering you to tackle the most pressing challenges facing your organization.

Welcome and Opening Interaction

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

Kelli ParsonsChair, Page, Global CEO, Hill & Knowlton
Linda Rutherford2025 Annual Conference Chair, Advisor, Southwest Airlines

A VUCA World (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity)

3:45 – 4:30 p.m.

Alan MurrayFounding President, WSJ Leadership Institute

Truth, Trust and Tech: Defending the Brands We Love

4:30 – 5:15 p.m

Misinformation, cyber threats, and data privacy concerns are making trust more fragile than ever, putting brands at risk. This session will explore how leaders can navigate these challenges with agility—safeguarding brand integrity while fostering trust and resilience. You’ll hear how organizations like Project Liberty are working to combat misinformation, including their bid to acquire TikTok and return data privacy control to the people. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your brand’s credibility and navigate today’s complex digital landscape. 

Brian WrozekUniversity of Texas at Dallas Cybersecurity Professor; former Forrester Principal Analyst on Security and Risk; and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Closing Remarks

5:15 – 5:20 p.m.

New Member Reception

5:45 – 6:15 p.m.

Member Reception

6:15 – 7:15 p.m

Awards Dinner

7:15 – 9:15 p.m.

Networking Breakfast

7:30 – 8:15 a.m.

Opening Remarks and Interaction

8:15 – 8:45 a.m.

Linda Rutherford2025 Annual Conference Chair, Advisor, Southwest Airlines

Navigating Global Divides: Fostering Dialogue and Understanding

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

Polarization poses a critical threat to business leaders, and this challenge intensifies when business issues like climate, technology, and public health are framed with weaponized language—such as “climate crisis,” “regulatory overreach,” and “privacy invasion”—deepening divides and harming advocates on all sides. This panel will explore how leaders can shift these narratives and facilitate constructive dialogue—keeping in mind that “it’s not what people say, it’s what people hear.” Panelists will share strategies to communicate effectively, navigate complexity, and lead with resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.

Effects of Polarization on Business: A Table-Driven Member Conversation

10:20 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.

Immediately following the previous session, Bob Feldman will invite you to turn to the members at your table to build on the panel's insights. This is your chance to share stories, discuss strategies that have proven effective (and those that haven't), and provide valuable feedback to each other. The goal: for you to emerge with pragmatic information you can use to make a difference within your organizations.

Morning Break

11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Slido Interaction

11:30 - 11:40 a.m.

Networking Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Annual Business Meeting

2:15 – 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon Break

3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Interactive Exercise or Breakouts

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Mind the Gap: Building and Leading Teams in Ways that Resonate with a New Generation

4:30 – 5:15 p.m.

The leadership approaches that worked in the past don’t always resonate with the next generation of talent. As Gen Z and Millennials reshape workplace expectations, how can today’s leaders foster engagement, growth, and resilience while also evolving their own leadership styles? This panel will explore how to cultivate truly agile, multigenerational teams by embracing new perspectives, reciprocal leadership, and modern development strategies. They will share real-world examples of what’s working, where the challenges lie, and how emerging leaders are shaping the future of leadership itself. 

Closing Remarks

5:15 – 5:20 p.m.

Reception

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Dinner

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Networking Breakfast

8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

Welcome and Interaction

8:45 – 9:20 a.m.

Leadership in Real Time: Putting on Your Own Oxygen Mask First

9:20 – 10:05 a.m.

In a world that demands constant agility, leaders must prioritize their own resilience to effectively guide others. Burnout is real, and the pressures of “always on” leadership can take a toll both personally and professionally. This session will explore strategies for sustaining energy, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset while navigating rapid change. Through candid conversations and real-world experiences, panelists will share their approaches to maintaining balance, strengthening leadership resilience, and fostering long-term success in an accelerated environment.

Resiliency Out of Permacrisis

10:05 - 10:50 a.m.

In an era of permacrisis—where overlapping crises challenge every facet of our lives and organizations—leaders must go beyond simply reacting to adversity and build lasting resilience. This session will explore how to navigate ongoing volatility with agility, strength, and strategic foresight. Panelists will share their approaches to sustaining resilience—not just as a coping mechanism, but as a catalyst for transformational leadership.  

Morning Break

10:50– 11:20 a.m.

 

Resiliency into Results “Download” Closing Interaction

11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

 In our age of constant crisis, leaders must possess a unique blend of resilience, adaptability, and empathy. We'll delve into strategies that empower leaders to navigate ambiguity, embrace problem-solving to lead innovation, build trust and inspire a result culture.

Closing Keynote

11:50 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.

Closing Remarks

12:35 – 12:45 p.m.

Linda Rutherford2025 Annual Conference Chair, Advisor, Southwest Airlines

Networking Lunch

12:45 – 1:45 p.m.