Keynote Speakers
Finding the Roots of Leadership
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Professor, Filmmaker, Author
In an era of constant change and disruption, learning and development professionals are seeking ways to enhance their own leadership capabilities. Join us for a keynote session featuring the esteemed Henry Louis Gates Jr., an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, cultural critic, and literary scholar.
Professor Gates will draw from his groundbreaking series, “Finding Your Roots,” to explore the profound connections between genealogy, genetics, and the impact of history on our lives today. Gates will share his favorite moments from the series, including the appearances of remarkable figures such as late Congressman John Lewis. By examining their ancestral narratives, we will gain profound insights into the qualities, experiences, and historical forces that shaped their leadership journeys.
This transformative keynote will empower you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery and personal growth as a leader, giving you a deeper understanding of your unique strengths, perspectives, and potential. You will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped to navigate the complexities of leadership in an ever-changing world.
Sponsored by
Embrace the Shake: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities
Phil Hansen
Multimedia Artist, Speaker, Author, Innovator
As leaders in the ever-evolving landscape of organizational learning, our ability to navigate challenges and discover innovative solutions is paramount for the long-term success of our work. Phil Hansen redefined his limitations when faced with a career-ending tremor in his drawing hand; learning leaders can learn to similarly perceive challenges as opportunities for growth and creativity. By embracing our unique constraints, we can tap into our internal resources to unlock our teams’ and organization’s potential.
Join us for this impactful opening keynote, where we will explore how to cultivate creativity within limitations, empowering you to look inward for solutions and inspiration. Through captivating visuals and live interactive art, we will challenge preconceived notions, activate your creative capacity, and unveil fresh perspectives on the tasks at hand. As learning and development leaders, these insights will enable you to approach your work with renewed vision and usher in success through innovative approaches.
Inspiring Impact: Maximizing Potential through Learning
Deborah Roberts
Senior National Affairs Correspondent, ABC News Contributing Anchor, ABC 20/20 and New York Times Best-Selling Author
One of the most influential factors in the evolution of learners, be it children or adults, is the role of a dedicated, inspiring teacher. As learning and development leaders, we strive to replicate this impact within our organizations. The challenge in this goal often lies in recognizing and emphasizing the vital contributions of these educational leaders, understanding their profound influence on learners, and adapting the insights to shape corporate learning environments.
In the closing keynote for Learning 2023, Deborah Roberts, acclaimed ABC News journalist and author of Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life, presents an insightful exploration of the transformative power of educators, drawing from her rich collection of essays from influential figures. Roberts illuminates the immeasurable influence teachers exert on shaping individuals, sparking a deeper understanding of how their methods can be translated into corporate learning strategies. By underlining the real-life success stories, she ignites a profound conversation exploring how we as learning leaders can harness these lessons to develop high-impact learning environments and support our teams to reach their utmost potential.
The Magic of Innovation & Imagination
Keelan Leyser
Magician, Mentalist, Digital Illusionist, and Optical Illusion Expert
In today’s data-driven world, learning and development leaders face the challenge of data as the primary driver of business decisions. If unchecked, this dependency can sideline the power of imagination and innovation and hinder the full potential of creativity and 3-D thinking.
In this highly entertaining keynote, renowned digital illusionist and futurist Keelan Leyser will lead you on an extraordinary journey to unlock your untapped creative potential. By drawing parallels between the world of magic and the realm of learning, Keelan will demonstrate how thinking like a magician can ignite a spark of innovation and accelerate creativity. Through highly interactive presentations, you will explore practical techniques to enhance your imaginative thinking while avoiding the fear of making mistakes.
This captivating keynote will leave you with a newfound understanding of the power of imagination, and provide inspiration to harness this power to drive innovation and creativity in your work.