Educate Inspire Connect

Educate Inspire Connect

Generation W 2019

Generation W presented its signature event at the University of North Florida on Friday, April 5th, 2019.

Gen W 2019

#transformation

We’d like to thank everyone who shared the day with us, including audience members and presenters. In particular, we’d like to thank Dr. Edith Eger, the 93-year-old superwoman who reminded us of the profound lessons of life. Her words resonated with us, as did those offered by every one of our speakers.

To our partners, whose leadership underpins this work and provides for the value and values generated throughout the year, we thank and applaud you for your commitment to personal, professional, and community growth. We are grateful for the opportunity to hear your stories of transformation, to experience art in ways that left us happier and healthier, and to find the inspiration needed to become better versions of ourselves.

This annual gathering on the beautiful UNF campus has become a refueling station–a place where transformation begins but does not end.

Mark your calendars now and be sure to join us next year on April 3rd, 2020.

Program

A Transformative Leader in All of Us

Dr. Olenda Johnson, Professor of Strategic Leadership and Leader Development, U. S. Naval War College

The Future of Work

Leah Jewell, Managing Director, Career Development and Employability, Pearson

The Transformers

Sarah Beatty Buller, CEO, The Green Depot
Neha Gandhi, COO and Editor in Chief, Girlboss

Networking Break

Good Old Girls Network

Alyse Nelson, CEO, Vital Voices
Susannah Wellford, CEO & Founder, Running Start

Beyond Funny: The Healing Power of Humor

Heidi Hanna, Chief Energy Officer, Synergy

Reinvention Is a Mother

Marla Wynne Ginsburg, CEO, M. Wynne

FINDING YOUR VOICE: HOW TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Alyse Nelson, CEO, Vital Voices
Susannah Wellford, CEO & Founder, Running Start

It’s time to take your professional life to the next level! Ok, great, but how to get started and make the moves that get you where you want to be? Alyse & Susannah will show you how to share your unique story in the most impactful way, how to overcome gender-based obstacles that hold women back, and how to lead authentically. Come ready to role play and experience some great exercises designed to get you out of your comfort zone and in tune with living your best life!

DO YOU KNOW YOU? HOW TO EMBRACE THE PROCESS OF SELF AWARENESS AND LEVERAGE IT IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER

​​Dr. Wendy Borlabi, Performance Coach, Chicago Bulls

Dr. Wendy Borlabi works with elite athletes as a sports psychologist. Her work is driven by helping individuals and teams embrace the process of self-awareness and leveraging that in their life and career. In this session, Dr. Borlabi will share how to experience every moment as a part of the process as well as what recognizing the impact of discovering the shades of gray in our lives can do. Through lessons and discussion, she will provide the platform for these topics and challenges.

YOU FAILED? NOW BOUNCE BACK EVEN BETTER!

​​Pat Baxter, CEO, Smarter Emotions

What’s the best way to build resiliency? Go out and fail! Resilience takes mental and emotional work to bounce-back with positive expectation, inspired thought, optimism and actionable processes that blunt the effects of stress. Dr. Pat learned to make the mental and emotional ‘shifts’ needed to grow resilient through experiencing her own epic failures and hard-won successes; all experiences she often shares with those women leaders she coaches. In this session, you’ll learn to:

  • See failures as pivot points for growth in your life
  • Grow a ‘fan club’ that guards and grows your self-respect
  • Cultivate those elements of resilience that keep you well, productive and moving toward your goals no matter what.

TRANSFORMING YOUR NETWORK: HOW WOMEN NETWORK DIFFERENTLY, AND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT OUR OWN

​​​Ita Ekpoudom, Partner, Gingerbread Capital
Akila Raman Vaseghi, Partner, Goldman Sachs

Women and men really approach the “networking” concept quite differently. Think about it. Men often send those introductory emails on a referral from a mutual acquaintance and build the connection from there. But women often go for more thoughtful, curated introductions that give background and purpose behind the initial contact. We could call it a “quality” over “quantity” approach. So, let’s own it! Ita & Akila will help you recognize the power in that process and make your own networks broader and more impactful.

  • Dos & Dont’s for asking and providing introductions
  • Fine tuning initial personal introductions: Short, Sweet & Snappy!
  • Opportunities to practice & meet new people

THE BRAIN RECHARGE: QUICK TIPS TO TRANSFORM STRESS FOR GOOD

Dr. Heidi Hanna, Chief Energy Officer, Synergy

Let Dr. Heidi Hanna guide you in an exploration into the most valuable resource we have – human capital and the power of the brain. Based on the latest neuroscience of stress, mindfulness and motivation, Dr. Hanna will expose you to research-driven guiding principles and a simple framework for optimizing brain health and fitness. Through interactive discussions around best-practices, you’ll create a Recharge Tool-kit with specific strategies for a daily routine and team rituals to best support relationships at home and work.

  • Learn the key organizing principles of the brain and how non-conscious bias can be both a challenge and an asset
  • Understand the new science of stress including gender differences, the power of perspective, and how to automate critical self-care strategies
  • Create individual and team action plans for integrating simple daily shifts to use stress to drive performance and build health and resilience

LEVERAGING LINKEDIN

Barry Kleiman, Author, Speaker, Headhunter, Career Development Expert

Imagine your picture and name up on a marquee in the heart of Times Square alerting millions about everything you know, do, have done and want to do. For approximately $1,662,668.00 a day you can make your brand visible to the 1,500,000 people passing Times Square annually OR…You can learn to Leverage LinkedIn. Barry Kleiman has for decades assisted highly motivated individuals gain the clarity needed to build a successful personal operating system optimizing their time, energy and resources to turn the clarity into reality. During this session, Barry will help you understand how to effectively use the incredible power of LinkedIn to not only display Brand You to 600,000,000 potential viewers but also leverage your overall networking efforts.

MAKING MENTORING WORK FOR YOU…PUT IT ON STEROIDS WITH SPONSORSHIP

Melinda Wolfe, Global Head of Human Resources, GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group)
Lisa Shalett, Independent Board Director, Angel Investor and Advisor to Startups

Could you benefit from deeper, more impactful mentoring relationships? Do you know the difference between a mentor and a sponsor? Please join an interactive session on how to: make meaningful connections, understand different types of mentorship and sponsorship and build your own “board of directors” to achieve personal and professional fulfillment.

ART IS LIFE

Shawana Brooks, Arts & Culture Developer, JMS Gallery, Jacksonville Public Library
Jessica Santiago, Founder & CEO, Art Republic Global
Maria Hane, Museum of Science & History Jacksonville
Joy Young, Executive Director, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville

Women are at the heart of arts and culture and are instrumental in leadership around the nation. Our panelists are the region’s most influential art advocates and will explore the importance of art in our everyday lives.. Through insightful discussion they will share share how we all can embrace art to elevate our lives and communities. Art plays a significant role in how we see others, ourselves, and our place in the world. Prepare to be inspired by a discussion that will give you a broader perspective and fuel an increased interest in the arts.

GIVING & LEADING WOMEN

Anila Lingamneni, Vice President R&D, Renal Global Business, Baxter International, Inc.
Pamela Culpepper, Chief Human Resources Officer at Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

In their workshop, “Giving and Leading Women”, Anila and Pam will stress the importance of providing a positive network of support for women.Learn how to sponsor and lead to effect positive change on the next generation of women!

REINVENTING YOURSELF

Irene Chang Britt, Experienced Board Chair & Committee Chair

We’ve all been there – a new career, getting back into work after maternity leave, a big move. Transformation can be intimidating and confusing, even scary. In REINVENTING YOURSELF moderator Irene Chang Britt will explore the steps to identifying, refining and activating the next step in your journey. In this fast paced, interactive workshop women who have reinvented themselves – time and time again- will share how they embrace life’s changes and create new experiences filled with positivity and power. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, share ideas, and learn from a supportive, engaging group of women.

Afternoon Kick Off

Transformation Through Kindness

Dr. Edith Eger, Psychologist & Author of The Choice, Embrace the Possible

Girls, Call Us Crazy, Please!

Melanie Lawson, Anchor, WJXT
Hope Freedman, Student
ErNeisha Coleman, Student

Surprise Presentation

​Art Transformers

Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams, Founder, Narrative For Change
Adam Levine, Director & CEO, Cummer Museum
Michelle Browder, Founder & Visionary, I AM MORE THAN…
Hope McMath, Founder & Director, The Yellow House
Ashley Garner, Photographer & Video Artist

The Game Changer

​Suzy Whaley, President, PGA of America

Social Networking Reception

Hors d’ouevres prepared and served by The Perfect Pear