Subject to change. All sessions take place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN. Please note that times listed here reflect the local Central time zone.
Monday, Oct. 21
Day one of THRIVE Live takes place 1:30–6 p.m.
1:30–1:55 p.m.
Welcome and Kick Off
1:55–3 p.m.
Opening Keynote Presentation
I Quit So You Don’t Have to: Life and Leadership Lessons I Wish I Had Known Sooner
Shelley Paxton, author, speaker, and chief soul officer
With burnout, attrition, and disengagement still dominating headlines and impacting bottom lines, Paxton’s guidance is the essential roadmap for redefining success in a way that’s more energizing; less exhausting; and, ultimately, fueling a greater ROI. She shares lessons from her own journey—from chief marketing officer of Harley-Davidson to chief soul officer on a mission to help more of us live success-FULL (not success-EMPTY) lives.
Paxton is passionate about paying forward what she’s learned so every leader (at every level) can show up more powerfully for themselves and others. Her provocative questions and actionable insights are inspiring audiences to champion change in their lives, companies, and the world. Buckle up for an experience that will leave you uplifted, in motion, and ready to maximize your impact.
3–4:15 p.m.
Roundtable Discussions
Network with your THRIVE peers in small groups to discuss themes from keynoter Shelley Paxton’s presentation, as well as topics on the agenda for the rest of the THRIVE program. Move around the room to make valuable connections and discuss the important challenges and successes in your career with other THRIVE attendees.
4:15–4:30 p.m.
Break
4:30–4:45 p.m.
Changemaker Speed Talk With Eliza Harrison Smith
Details coming soon.
4:50–5:50 p.m.
THRIVEx Presentations
Back by popular demand for its second year—the ASA women in leadership interest group launched THRIVEx, a speaker incubator program. Women who aspire to become public speakers and share ideas, strategies, or perspectives with the THRIVE Live audience were invited to submit an application in May 2024. Of the more than 30 applications, three standouts were selected by the ASA women in leadership interest group council.
Words Matter: Transform Your Life and Accomplish Everything You Desire
Ziba Alizadeh, Vice President, health care solutions, Employbridge
Words, when spoken with passion and conviction, have the power to change humanity’s belief systems. They can easily lift you up or break you down. So let’s choose our words wisely.
The universal law of attraction is simple: what you put out there and what you expect will come right back to you. During this talk, Ziba Alizadeh will pull from her both her personal and professional experiences—sharing how words and the law of attraction can be used to achieve the best results in life and business.
Emotional Literacy in the Workplace
Erika Diaz, Founder and Creator, Honestly Mental LLC
Antonio Damasio once said, “We are not thinking machines. We are feeling machines that think.” This quote highlights how human nature is deeply rooted in emotions; we are inherently social and feeling beings. So what is emotional literacy, and how does it differ from emotional intelligence?
Emotional literacy involves recognizing, understanding, and effectively managing emotions—both your own and others’. It's about having the skill to identify emotions, navigate difficult conversations, and empower teams to enhance productivity and satisfaction. By developing emotional literacy, leaders can cultivate a more engaged and satisfied workforce. However, this requires more than mere intention—it demands genuine effort and commitment. In this talk, Erika Diaz will delve into what emotional literacy entails, its importance and advantages, and the potential pitfalls of neglecting it.
Celebrating Failures
Monica Maralit, Senior Vice President, PSG Global Solutions
Celebrating failures can help us grow and discover more about ourselves. Instead of seeing failure as something to be ashamed of, we can look at it as part of the journey toward success. Embracing patience, staying graceful in tough times, and shifting how we see setbacks help us handle challenges and thrive with strength. In the end, celebrating our failures turns them into opportunities for learning and personal growth.
5:50–6 p.m.
Closing Remarks
6–7:30 p.m.
Networking Reception Featuring Singer-Songwriter Eliza Harrison Smith
Join your fellow THRIVE Live attendees for a lively and connection-laden reception. Sip a glass of your favorite beverage while swaying to the music of Eliza Harrison Smith, an indie-pop singer and songwriter with a mesmerizing talent. Her music combines infectious melodies, introspective lyrics, and breezy indie-pop production—all tied together by her airy, emotive vocals.
Sponsored by Bullhorn
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Day two of THRIVE Live takes place 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
8–8:30 a.m.
Day 2 Welcome, Kick Off, and Breakfast
8:30–9:15 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
Unleash Your Potential
Molly Fletcher, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and former sports agent
Drawing on her experience as a trailblazing sports agent, Fletcher shares a five-step approach for personal growth and leadership. Her message will equip attendees with strategies to reshape their mindset, foster curiosity, prioritize authentic connections, build resilience, and embrace boldness. In a world obsessed with fleeting success, Fletcher offers a compelling framework for pursuing your goals unapologetically without compromising what matters most.
9:20–10:05 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
Speaking the Unspoken: Strategies for Navigating Tacit Rules in the Workplace
Ella F. Washington, Ph.D., CEO, Ellavate Solutions
As an organizational psychologist and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) expert, Washington has worked with organizations and leaders across industries in developing and executing impactful DEI strategies. With her latest book, Unspoken: A Guide to Cracking the Hidden Corporate Code, Washington unpacks the unspoken rules of the workplace that all professionals—especially underrepresented groups—must navigate for career success. Her session will equip leaders with tools and tactics for navigating the common “if you know, you know” cultures that keep some professionals in the margins. Throughout the session, Washington will highlight key unspoken rules of the workplace, provide best practices for navigating them, and arm attendees with strategies to build up their career playbooks for achieving professional goals.
10:05–10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15–10:35 a.m.
Changemaker Speed Talk: Getting Sh*t Done: Modern Leadership to Deliver at a New Scale
Christine Sandman Stone, CEO and founder, Deliver at Scale
It’s not you—modern leadership is different now: Our strategies are agile, and often our teams are hybrid. Come learn about the No. 1 thing you can do as a leader to get results and growth, then join for the workshop to dive deeper into modern leadership tactics.
10:40–11 a.m.
Changemaker Speed Talk: Leadership Communication: Leveraging AI to Role Practice and Strengthen Coaching Skills
Karla Dougherty, principal, Butler Street
During this 10-minute talk, Dougherty will focus on how communication impacts relationships and the importance of communicating intentionally in a diverse workforce. She will also touch on how you can leverage technology to develop and enhance communication and coaching skills by role-practicing scenarios with ChatGPT.
11:10–11:50 a.m.
Fireside Chat With Susan Packard: Why IQ and EQ Aren’t Enough Anymore
Susan Packard, co-founder and former COO, HGTV
Joyce Russell, president, Adecco Group US Foundation
Join Susan Packard, co-founder and former chief operating officer of HGTV, and Joyce Russell, president of the Adecco Group US Foundation, as they discuss emotional intelligence (EQ) and adversity quotient (AQ)—an emerging skill set that hiring professionals are looking for. AQ is the ability to face and overcome difficult situations. Hear their personal stories, the challenges they overcame, what they learned, and how it made them more authentic and emotionally fit leaders.
12 noon–1 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1–2 p.m.
Breakout Sessions: Choose one of two concurrent sessions.
Breakout Session: Focused for Executives
Getting Sh*t Done: Modern Leadership to Deliver at a New Scale
Christine Sandman Stone, CEO and founder, Deliver at Scale
Real talk and practical advice about how to deliver at a new scale. The modern workplace is different—our strategies are agile, and many times our teams are hybrid. Learn practical ways to build executive teams and managers who deliver results and get the best from their employees.
You will leave with
- A single-page visual you can use to guide your direct reports (and others) on the team’s work, priorities, and top goals
- An understanding of the top three tools for hybrid/remote team management
- Knowledge of a lightweight, rapid tool to manage when you have more work than time
- Confidence that you have new ideas that will make a difference right away
Hear from award-winning author and speaker Christine Sandman Stone, author of The Modern Management Mentor.
Breakout Session for Emerging Leaders
Lost in Translation: Leadership Communication
Karla Dougherty, principal, Butler Street
In a world where every word counts, yet often gets lost in translation, understanding the nuances of communication becomes a pivotal skill for leaders. Join Karla Dougherty, a seasoned staffing executive who is also certified in John C. Maxwell leadership, to dive into the art of communication, emphasizing the humorous mishaps and misunderstandings that arise from cultural and linguistic differences in the business world. Drawing from her rich experience in adapting to the English language and American culture, she reveals how these challenges served as a unique classroom for mastering the art of effective communication. Her speech is packed with laughter-inducing anecdotes and eye-opening insights, providing a fresh perspective on how leaders can enhance their communication skills in a diverse workplace.
Three Key Learnings:
- Embracing the Missteps: Learn how to navigate and embrace communication blunders with grace. These missteps can serve as powerful teaching moments, highlighting the importance of clarity, patience, and the willingness to learn from errors in our interactions.
- Humor as a Bridge: Discover how humor can be a strategic tool in bridging cultural and linguistic divides, fostering a more cohesive and motivated team environment. Humor not only alleviates tension but also humanizes leadership, facilitating stronger, more genuine connections.
- Cultural Sensitivity in Communication: Gain insights into the critical role of cultural awareness in effective leadership communication. Understanding and acknowledging the diverse backgrounds of your team can lead to more inclusive, empathetic, and effective leadership practices.
This breakout session promises not just to entertain but also to equip you with practical strategies for improving communication skills. Through her humorous tales and the lessons learned from them, Dougherty aims to inspire leaders to foster an environment where every voice is heard and understood, regardless of the language they speak.
2:15–3 p.m.
Closing Keynote Presentation
Hard-Won Wisdom
Fawn Germer, best-selling author, four-time Pulitzer-nominated journalist, adventurer, risk-taker, leader
That negative voice inside your head? It’s making you unhappy and it’s holding you back. Join best-selling author Fawn Germer to learn how to liberate the inner gremlins that whisper doubt inside of you. Embrace your authentic and imperfect self, then use that empowered version of you to leap (rather than inch) into your dreams. Do you dare to take the risks that make your heart race? When you explore the unknown, you find that the view from the edge is breathtaking. Germer shows that life isn’t about waiting; it’s about living.
3–3:05 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Sarah Senges at 703-253-2042.
