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In-Person Breakout Sessions

These interactive breakout sessions are often the highlight of the Summit for in-person attendees.
Step into a smaller, more dynamic setting where you can engage directly with speakers, exchange ideas with other leaders,
and walk away with practical tools you can apply immediately.

Breakouts are available exclusively for in-person attendees and will repeat during both the morning and afternoon breakout blocks—so you can choose the sessions that match your biggest leadership challenges right now.

In these sessions, you’ll strengthen skills like:

Psychological Safety – create teams where people speak up, share ideas, and innovate
Story-Driven Leadership – inspire and motivate your team with powerful communication
Emotional Intelligence – lead with awareness, clarity, and better decision-making
Confidence + Influence – lead with courage, connection, and credibility
1 Hour Breakout • In-Person Only

Leading with Inspiration: Story-Driven Leadership

Your Story Is Your Superpower as a Leader. Learn a proven storytelling framework to inspire, connect, and motivate your team—turning your leadership into a message that moves people to action.

Great leaders don’t just manage; they inspire. In this dynamic breakout session, you’ll master a storytelling framework to craft and share your leadership story with clarity, connection, and impact. Walk away ready to engage your team, spark motivation, and make your leadership memorable—because the right story can move people to action.

Aaron Miller headshot
AARON MILLER • Vice President of LeadingBetter™ & the Leadership Louisville Center Aaron Miller is a dynamic leader blending community impact with a knack for storytelling and engagement. As Vice President, he oversees award-winning programs that strengthen leadership and connect generations. A former radio host, city council member, and nonprofit innovator, Aaron continues to shape Louisville through board service, mentorship, and community leadership.
1 Hour Breakout • In-Person Only

Leading with Purpose: Creating a Psychologically Safe Team

Unlock fearless communication and ignite innovation. Learn how to build psychological safety so every voice is heard, ideas flourish, and teams perform at their highest potential.

This workshop will show participants how to create environments where feedback flows freely and innovation thrives. You’ll learn how to foster psychological safety so team members can speak up, share ideas, and voice concerns without fear of judgment or repercussions—then leave with practical strategies to build trust, encourage open dialogue, and strengthen team performance through fearless communication.

Donald L. Woolridge, Sr. headshot
DONALD L. WOOLRIDGE, SR. • Director of Leadership Development, Leadership Louisville | Lead Facilitator, LeadingBetter™ Donald L. Woolridge, Sr. is a seasoned leadership development executive with 30+ years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and civic sectors. He has held senior HR and talent roles with Fortune 500 companies and is Founder & CEO of D&E Consulting LLC, providing executive coaching and organizational development solutions.
1 Hour Breakout • In-Person Only

Leading with EQ: Emotional Intelligence in a Changing World

Lead smarter in a world powered by emerging technologies and volatile change. Strengthen emotional intelligence and self-awareness to spot blind spots, make better decisions, and navigate new tools with confidence and impact.

The world of work is changing, and leadership needs to adapt. Explore how EQ sharpens awareness of blind spots and biases, helping you provide better inputs and interpret outputs more effectively. Learn how context-driven thinking and self-awareness can prevent costly mistakes and make your interactions with today’s workforce tools (A.I. and other emerging technologies) smarter, safer, and more productive.

Heather Yerrid headshot
HEATHER YERRID • Founder of Self-cessful™ | Speaker & Coach Heather Yerrid empowers leaders to lead with unshakable confidence. She is a nationally recognized speaker and credentialed coach; her thought leadership, featured in Forbes, explores the psychological dynamics that shape communication, leadership, and business performance.
1 Hour Breakout • In-Person Only

Rise: Leading with Confidence, Courage, and Connection

Rise above barriers and amplify your influence. Learn strategies to lead with authenticity, build key influence skills, and consistently deliver results—strengthening your career growth and your organization’s success.

This high-energy, interactive session shares proven strategies to help women leaders rise above barriers, amplify their influence, and consistently deliver results. Participants will learn how embracing an authentic leadership style and building key influence skills can fuel career advancement while also strengthening their teams and organizations.

Lisa Zangari headshot
LISA ZANGARI • Executive Coach in Residence, LeadingBetter™ Lisa Zangari is a powerhouse in leadership and innovation. As Executive Coach in Residence at LeadingBetter, she helps leaders transform culture and performance—drawing on experience with Fortune 500 companies and global leadership programs. A sought-after speaker and community advocate, Lisa inspires growth, creativity, and impact wherever she leads.

 

Join Us at the 2026 LeadingBetter™ Summit

One powerful day.
World-class thought leadership.
Actionable insight you can use immediately.

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