🚀 Leading with Heart and History: Lessons from Our Latest LEAD Class Day

What a dynamic and insightful day it was for our class! Our latest session was packed with high-impact lessons, practical strategies, and the valuable presence of alumni and current participants who continue to champion our mission. The energy in the room, expertly managed by Terri, ensured that every moment was focused on maximizing our collective growth as leaders.

The Critical Role of Emotional Intelligence

 

Our core focus for the entire morning was Leading with Emotional Intelligence, a topic of paramount importance in today’s professional landscape. Expertly facilitated by Kathy Sullivan of Talent Principles LLC, the session had us dive deep into the fundamental components of Emotional Intelligence. We explored how self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management are not just “soft skills,” but crucial determinants of effective leadership. The most impactful part was learning precisely how a high EI directly correlates to better decision-making, smoother conflict resolution, and stronger team motivation—proving that leading with heart is leading with efficacy.

A huge thank you goes out to Betsy Letterly with Hospice of the Western Reserve for sponsoring a delightful breakfast break, featuring delicious donuts from Circles on the Square, ensuring we were energized and ready for the second half of the morning session.

An Inspiring Mid-Day Alumni Spotlight

 

Lunch provided more than just a refueling break; it was a special moment to connect with the program’s strong history. The delicious meal, provided by the class-favorite Eclectic Edibles, was generously sponsored by Luke Engineering. We were truly honored to have Meg Bates, President of Luke Engineering and an alumna of the inaugural 2021 LEAD Institute, join us for the day. Her presence highlighted the lasting value, success, and deep community spirit fostered by the program.

Mastering Self: The Comfort Zone Challenge

 

After lunch, Terri guided us through a pivotal session dedicated to Manage Self: Experiment Beyond Your Comfort Zone. This concept is simple yet powerful: true personal and professional growth only happens at the edge of competence. We spent time discussing practical ways to identify our current comfort zones and how to intentionally seek out “stretch assignments” or new perspectives to expand our skills and resilience. The takeaway was clear: leadership requires calculated risk-taking for meaningful development.

Navigating the Multi-Generational Workplace

 

The final, high-energy session of the day focused on the complexities and opportunities of Multi-Generational Leadership. Terri was joined by alumna Tina Thomas Lewin, Corporate Controller of the Will Burt Company, who provided an invaluable practitioner’s perspective. To bring the concepts to life, the session included an incredible generational panel planned by

Natalie Joyce (LEAD 2025) and Piper Morgan (LEAD 2024 & Signature 2025). This panel featured 1-2 members representing each generation, including three ladies who represented the Baby Boomer and Traditionalist generations, alongside program members Lori Wilkinson (Signature Class of 2025) and Jenny Young (Signature Class of 2026, and LEAD Institute Class of 2022). The panel worked through common workplace scenarios to directly demonstrate the differences and similarities in how various generations view the workplace, offering powerful, real-world strategies for understanding and leveraging a diverse workforce.

Conclusion

 

Yesterday was a testament to the commitment of our entire class to continuous growth. From the crucial development of emotional intelligence to the practical strategies for managing ourselves and a diverse workforce, we are leaving this session better equipped to step into our roles as impactful leaders. Thank you again to all our facilitators, sponsors, and inspiring alumni, current participants, and panel guests for making this a truly memorable and impactful day!