Workshops
Friday, October 3, 2025
Keynote Presentation: 8 am
The Leadership Playbook: A Fireside Chat on Leadership in the Military as well as College Football's Biggest Stage
Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff and former superintendent of United States Air Force Academy
Location: Armstrong Student Center, Wilks Theater
Session 1: 9:15-11 am
World Affairs in The Local Community - Awareness and Involvement
Key Leader: Michelle Glandorf, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Location: Marcum 108-110
Mitigating Strategies for Global Conflicts and Challenges
Key Leader: Sunny J. Singh, Ph.D., chief of staff; Central Intelligence Agency; Office of CTO
This workshop looks to solve the growing impact of cyber threats on organizations, communities, and national security. Participants will explore the role of leaders in building cyber awareness, fostering digital resilience, and guiding teams through complex challenges. Through case studies, interactive discussion, and practical strategies, attendees will gain tools to strengthen decision-making, manage risk, and lead confidently in an interconnected digital world.
Location: Marcum 154
Overcoming Division at the Local Level
Key Leader: Local leaders from Oxford, Ohio
This workshop addresses the challenges of polarization and community divides, focusing on practical leadership approaches to foster unity and trust. Participants will examine real-world case studies, practice strategies for dialogue and collaboration, and develop skills to bridge differences, strengthen relationships, and create resilient communities rooted in shared purpose.
Location: Marcum 158
Beyond: “It Was Amazing!”, Articulating Your Study Abroad Experience
Key Leader: Rich Kurtzman, founder and executive director at Barcelona Study Abroad Experience (SAE); author and speaker
Drawing on his recent book Like a Fish in Water: How to Grow Abroad when You Go Abroad, Richard Kurtzman will facilitate activities that will help students articulate the leadership skills they gained during their study abroad experience. Students will be better able to identify and describe the personal and professional growth they experienced and how that translates into a valuable and marketable skill set. Participants will receive a copy of Kurtzman's book during the session.
Presented by Miami University’s Global Initiatives and Education Abroad
Location: Marcum 180/184
Keynote Presentation: Noon
From Community to Crisis: Leadership, Compassion, and Crisis Management
Stephanie Byrd ’81, regional chief executive of the American Red Cross for Central and Southern Ohio Region
Session 2: 1:15-3 pm
Global Career Competencies: Leading in an Interconnected World
Key Leader: Alexis Andrews, assistant director for Global Career Development
This workshop equips participants with the skills needed to thrive as leaders in a rapidly globalizing workplace. Through interactive activities and case studies, attendees will explore core competencies such as cultural intelligence, adaptability, collaboration across borders, and ethical decision-making. Participants will leave with practical strategies to apply global leadership skills in their careers and communities.
Location: Marcum 108/110
The Next Mission: Developing Political Leaders from Youth and Military Communities
Key Leader: Rep. Warren Davidson, Ohio 8 Congressional District
This workshop explores pathways for preparing the next generation of political leaders, with a focus on youth and those with military experience. Participants will examine the values, skills, and perspectives these communities bring to public service, and practice strategies for translating leadership, teamwork, and resilience into civic engagement. Attendees will leave with tools to mentor, empower, and support emerging leaders committed to strengthening democracy.
Location: Marcum 154
Solving the Challenge of Low Voter Participation: Leadership Strategies from the League Of Women Voters
Key Leader: Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio
This workshop examines problems in regards to increasing civic engagement and voter turnout. Drawing on the experience of the League of Women Voters, participants will explore leadership strategies for education, outreach, and advocacy that strengthen democratic participation. Attendees will gain practical tools to mobilize communities, build trust, and inspire informed, active voters.
Location: Marcum 158
How Can Leaders Strengthen Community Impact Through Civic Engagement and Leadership?
Key Leader: Rajani Menon, Civic Engagement and Leadership, Women's Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
This workshop explores the challenges of civic engagement in building stronger, more resilient communities. Participants will learn strategies for fostering trust, mobilizing diverse stakeholders, and leading initiatives that drive meaningful local impact. Through dialogue and case studies, attendees will gain tools to translate leadership into lasting civic change.
Location: Marcum 180/184
Session 3: 3:15-5 pm
How Can Leaders Mobilize Resources and Partnerships to Fight Human Trafficking?
Key Leader: Mary Kate Waggoner, anti-human trafficking victim advocate
Location: Marcum 108/110
Leadership in Healthcare: Meeting Patient Needs While Supporting Staff and Advancing Practice
Key Leader: Tiffany Mattingly, MSN, RN
This workshop explores the complex balance healthcare leaders face in delivering excellent patient care while supporting staff and driving innovation. Participants will examine strategies to foster resilience, reduce burnout, and promote collaboration across teams. Through case studies and discussion, attendees will gain tools to lead with compassion, strengthen patient outcomes, and advance healthcare practice.
Location: Marcum 154
How Can Leaders Leverage Partnerships to Strengthen Teams and Communities?
Key Leader: Lacy Ekert, chief partnership officer for the Cincinnati Bengals
With an outstanding work history in multiple sport businesses (Topgolf, CBS Sports, BSE Global), Lacy oversees all of the commercial business for the Bengals organization when it comes to partnerships and premium. Specifically, that means managing partnership sales and partnership marketing, activation and account management.
Location: Marcum 158
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Keynote Presentation: 9 am
Leadership, Diplomacy, Culture, and U.S.-Japan Relations
Hajime “Jimmy” Kishimori, Japanese consul general (Detroit)
Location: Farmer School of Business, Room 1000
Session 1: 10:15 am-Noon
Leading Through Impact
Key Leader: Angela Meleca, chief advocate officer, Meleca Creative Advisors; former Director of Creative Ohio
In the dynamic world of arts and design, effective leadership is defined not just by what you create, but by the tangible impact you make on your audience, your team, and your community. This workshop is designed for creative professionals who want to move beyond traditional project management and become influential leaders who inspire and drive meaningful change.
Presented by the Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Program, College of Creative Arts
Location: FSB 024
Who Owns the AIRSPACE?
Key Leader: Lt. Col. Tim Webb
As the world increasingly relies on drones for military, commercial, and private use, there has been a dramatic increase in drone incursions in restricted airspace. This conversation will highlight incidents in military and commercial airspace, define airspace authorities (or lack thereof), and provide opportunities for participants to brainstorm effective ways to protect restricted airspace, while also encourage further exploration in the sky.
Location: FSB 026
Solving the Challenge of Modern Supply Chains: Leadership Strategies for Effective Logistics
Key Leaders: Yao Jin, interim chair and Neil R. Anderson endowed associate professor; Tom Mobley, assistant lecturer
In this workshop, we will explore what it takes to match the needs of the individual with the needs of a business at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent. With the increasing deployment of technology tools such as agentic AI, it may seem that talent — particularly at the entry level — will be increasingly taking a backseat to lines of code and algorithms. Through this workshop, participants will better understand what aspects of human talent, which serve as the building block of any business's competitive success, remain irreplaceable.
Location: FSB 027
Session 2: 12:45-2:30 pm
Leadership at the Crossroads: Coordinating Military and Diplomatic Efforts on the World Stage
Key Leader: Major General Gordan Pavlovic, head of operations directorate (J-3), Serbian Armed Forces General Staff
In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, no single tool can solve the globe’s most pressing challenges. Whether responding to humanitarian crises, countering state-sponsored threats, or stabilizing post-conflict regions, effective leadership requires a seamless integration of military and diplomatic power. This workshop is designed for leaders who find themselves at this critical crossroads, where the success of a mission depends on the ability to coordinate across these two distinct cultures.
Solving the Challenge of International Leadership: Integrating Military Strategy and Diplomatic Engagement
Key Leader: Lieutenant General Zoltan Mihócza, head of the Hungary Reserve Forces
In an increasingly complex and volatile global landscape, effective international leadership is defined by the ability to seamlessly integrate military strategy and diplomatic engagement. No single approach can solve the world's most pressing challenges, from geopolitical crises to humanitarian emergencies. This workshop is designed for leaders in government, military, and diplomatic sectors who need to move beyond siloed thinking and build a unified, comprehensive approach to global affairs.
Navigating the Cyber Frontier: Harnessing AI to Mitigate Risks and Enhance Security
Key Leader: Joseph Nwankpa, Endres Associate Professor and FSB Director of Cybersecurity Initiatives; Fadel Megahed, Professor and Raymond E. Glos Professor in Business
The digital world is a new frontier, and the pace of cyber threats is accelerating faster than ever. As malicious actors weaponize artificial intelligence to launch more sophisticated attacks, security leaders must harness the same technology to build a more resilient defense. This workshop is designed for cybersecurity professionals and business leaders who want to leverage the power of AI to get ahead of the curve, not just react to it.
Leadership in Education through Innovation: How Entrepreneurship Changes Outcomes for Students
Key Leaders: Kevin Kushman, Joyce Barnes Farmer guest professor; Brian Schultz, professor and Virginia Todd memorial scholar of curriculum studies
The traditional model of education is being challenged. To prepare students for a rapidly changing world, leaders in education must think like entrepreneurs, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and problem-solving. This workshop is for school administrators, teachers, district leaders and students interested in innovative education who want to move beyond conventional methods to create learning environments that empower students to become creators, not just consumers, of knowledge.
Presented by the College of Education, Health, and Society
Location: FSB 028
Air Force ROTC Detachment 640
