EMERGE Conference 2021

2021 EMERGE Set for Tuesday, March 9th
Although the delivery method may be different for the EMERGE Conference presented by Forcht Bank on Tuesday, March 9th, a full-day of virtual programming will engage our region’s emerging leaders, providing community education and professional development on a variety of topics through dynamic speakers and panel discussions, as well as fun activities like morning exercise and an after-party to conclude the day.

JUSTIN PATTON

Headlining this year’s conference will be keynote speaker and award-winning author, Justin Patton, who took the stage a couple of years ago as our opening speaker at EMERGE. During his presentation, entitled YOUR ROADMAP TO TRUST, Patton will guide participants through the four crucial elements of trust, the #1 trait that erodes trust, and how to apply those concepts in your life for better relationships and influence. Trust is your most important competitive advantage, and the best leaders use their presence to earn and keep others’ trust.

DENISE HAMILTON

The opening keynote features nationally recognized diversity and inclusion speaker Denise Hamilton, who will present on How to Be an ALLY at Work. In any organization, there are challenges and opportunities surrounding inclusion. The best just has to be brought out of you. In this talk, participants will be challenged to excavate the underlying beliefs that shape their strongly-held opinions around race and intersectionality. Together, Denise will help participants identify shared values and develop a framework for incorporating different perspectives. The goal of this deep-dive conversation is to harness differences within teams to generate creative and innovative solutions to move others to optimal performance. By aligning your teams, especially leadership, Denise helps you create a path to competitive excellence, improved morale and increase retention.

2021 EMERGE Sessions:

Lisa Zangari

Lisa Zangari, Vice President at the Leadership Louisville Center and an executive coach, will lead a session called Unlocking Collective Genius & Innovation at Work. Innovation is a critical leadership competency for success and survival in the 21st century. Developing your innovation skills and the right behaviors can give you a competitive advantage in an uncertain future. In this high-energy, high-impact session you will develop the mindset, behaviors and skills of an innovator and walk away with a practical approach for breakthrough thinking.

Creative Business Practices During Crazy Times explores how our local, regional, and national communities have realized tremendous change over the past 12 months. These changes have affected how we work, how we interact with others, and how we function as a society. This interactive session provides real world examples of how leaders of various industries in our community have pivoted their businesses and careers during this crazy time. This interactive session also provides predictions of what additional changes we might expect in the near future, as well as how best to continually adapt to maximize success in this volatile time.

Achieving Equity and Inclusivity in Community Engagement session will dive in to how equitable community engagement has the power to build a shared understanding of the facts and forces that shape Lexington. As we continue to reckon with systemic racial injustices and the impacts both nationally and locally, we must prioritize meaningful and inclusive dialogue to ensure community initiatives truly reflect what our fellow citizens want and need. This dynamic session will feature conversation with local leaders about what successful community engagement should include and take a deeper look at the journey of two neighborhood projects which have made Lexington a better city for us all.