Free Business Topics in Chicago

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  • Brand Succession: The Marketing Playbook for Family Businesses in Transition

    Jennifer Fortney, Founder, Cascade Communications

    Your family business survived the hard part — building something worth passing down or selling. But when leadership transitions to the next generation or new owner, most companies keep the old brand out of loyalty to the founder. That loyalty can quietly work against the new leadership's vision, credibility, and growth as well as the direction of the company. MORE >

    Jennifer Fortney draws on 25+ years of brand and PR strategy to walk family business owners and next-generation leaders through the marketing blind spots that emerge during generational transition — and what to do about them.

    You'll learn:

    • the five warning signs your legacy brand is holding new leadership and the company back
    • a practical framework for honoring your history while building the future
    • and how to reposition your story for the customers, markets and key stakeholders

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  • Own the Interview: Preparation That Reduces Anxiety

    Rosie Zilinskas, Keynote Speaker | Certified High-Performance Coach, No Woman Left Behind

    Interviews do not have to feel overwhelming. This hands-on session gives you a practical system to prepare for any interview and show up feeling calmer, clearer, and more in control. The session also introduces free AI tools like ChatGPT for ongoing interview practice. No tech experience needed. Whether you are changing careers, preparing for a promotion, or navigating an unexpected job search, you will leave with a clear plan and renewed self-assurance. MORE >

    What attendees will walk away with:
    ~ How to build a Story Vault of accomplishments so you have clear, structured examples ready for any question
    ~ Confidence-building opening phrases to start strong and command attention
    ~ Three strategies for responding when you are unsure how to answer a question, so you never freeze or go blank
    ~ How to create a 90-Day Plan that signals readiness and forward thinking to a hiring manager
    ~ A simple pre-interview routine to manage nerves and stay grounded on interview day
    ~ Access to a custom AI interview practice coach for continued preparation after the session

    Ideal for:
    ~ Job seekers at any career stage
    ~ Career changers and professionals reentering the workforce
    ~ Mid-career professionals preparing for internal interviews or promotions
    ~ Anyone who feels anxious or underprepared walking into interviews
    ~ Libraries, workforce development programs, community organizations, and corporate learning events

    Presented by Rosie Zilinskas, a Certified High Performance Coach and former Executive Vice President who has sat on both sides of the interview table during 30+ years of corporate leadership at AIG Private Client Group.

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  • 5 Secrets of Businesses That Actually Thrive (Not Just Survive)

    Amanda Wittenborn, Owner, Amanda Creation Inc.

    Why do some businesses seem to grow with ease while others constantly struggle to stay afloat?
    In this uplifting and practical keynote, Amanda Wittenborn, founder of a multi-million-dollar creative brand, reveals the five hidden factors that separate thriving entrepreneurs from the ones just trying to get by. MORE >

    After losing her business twice—and rebuilding stronger each time—Amanda discovered that lasting success isn’t about luck, trends, or working harder. It’s about mastering five timeless principles that every thriving business has in common.

    With her signature blend of real-world honesty and contagious optimism, Amanda helps audiences uncover what’s really holding them back and shows them how to create momentum, confidence, and clarity in their business again.

    Attendees will learn how to:
    ✅ Identify and focus on the work that actually drives growth
    ✅ Harness mindset and energy as tools for strategic success
    ✅ Build simple systems that support (not suffocate) creativity
    ✅ Stay grounded and resilient when plans fall apart
    ✅ Lead with purpose, authenticity, and joy

    Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or leader in transition, this talk will inspire you to stop surviving—and start truly thriving.

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  • Generation Z (Zoomers) in the Workplace

    Mary Erlain, President, Peak Development Strategies

    The workplace has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, driven by two seismic shifts: the pandemic and the generational turnover in the workforce. MORE >

    Time has seemed to fly by, bringing with it a wave of change that many of us barely registered. A new generation has quietly entered the workplace, but have we truly acknowledged their arrival?

    For many, the answer is no—and for a good reason. Gen Z stepped into their professional roles during a time of unprecedented disruption. Remote work and virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom replaced traditional onboarding experiences, making their entry less noticeable but no less impactful.

    Their influence on organizations has been significant, though often misunderstood. This book, The Zoomers: Our Next Generational Wave in the Workplace, aims to change that. It offers an insightful and constructive perspective on Gen Z, challenging stereotypes and providing a deeper understanding of their values, behaviors, and expectations.

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  • Leading with Emotional Intelligence

    Nicole Caley, MBA, APM, ARM, APSC, President & Founder, Payables Solutions Partners, LLC

    If you have made the critical decision to take on the role of a leader, and you want to be great at it – it requires an in-depth look at yourself and a practice of self-awareness on all levels, personally and professionally. This is the starting point of emotional intelligence. While the definition might seem simple, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is understanding and managing yourself and also understanding and managing others, the application of emotional intelligence continues to be a challenge. MORE >

    Join me as we learn why EQ is critical to your success and take away the tools that will teach you that leading from the heart might just be the best thing you can do!
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  • Read the Room: Frameworks for Multigenerational Communication

    Gabby Rosely, Consultant, Gabby Rosely LLC

    The US workforce is the most age-diverse it's ever been, with Gen Z now outnumbering Boomers for the first time. Yet most teams are still struggling with the same old generational friction.
    I'm gonna be real with you: generational cohorts are just the starting point. MORE >

    You're not actually going to walk around asking coworkers their age so you can put them in a box. That would be weird. If you know someone’s age but still make assumptions about them, the point is totally missed.

    The POINT is: learning about how worldviews & values are shaped, how to ask the right questions, read the room, and connect with people who think completely differently than you do. This keynote / workshop gives you the tools to do that - with your team, with strangers, with prospective clients - so you stop second-guessing yourself and start building actual trust.

    “Staying in Your Own Lane DOESN’T work in Business” moves beyond tired stereotypes to unlock what actually motivates Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.

    What You'll Experience:
    - Understand the real values and communication preferences driving each generation
    - Interactive exercises that build empathy and reveal hidden strengths
    - Practice the conversations you've been avoiding, like, giving feedback, addressing conflict, motivating people who seem checked out
    - Leave with a personalized strategy to connect authentically with every team member

    The real result? You stop tiptoeing. Your team stops living on islands. You build the kind of trust that makes people actually want to work together. Generational differences become your greatest advantage.

    Why me? I'm a Gen Z leader who managed teams across all four major generations at age 21. I also totally face-planted at first, thinking I could "stay in my lane," do things my way, and it'd all work out. Spoiler: it didn't. I had to learn this stuff the hard way, in the face of everyone doubting me because of my age. (Trained by Gallup-certified Strength Advisors & MetaPerformance Institute, but honestly, the real credential is that I've lived both sides.).

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  • Business Improvement Einstein’s Way – How Einstein’s Three Rules of Work Can Help a Business Succeed

    Mark James, Founder & President, Performance Advisors Group, Inc.

    Albert Einstein once said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Einstein believed you have to think about things differently and three rules, inspired by his work, provide us with the means do so. No one knows what will happen in the future. But, following these rules can get your business ready for whatever does. Attendees will come away with practical ways to use Einstein’s three rules of work to: MORE >

    - Fix performance barriers
    - Discover opportunities amidst difficulty
    - Make two truths of human behavior your ally
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  • China’s Wealth

    Bill Liu, President, NaviAsia Advisors

    In 2016, China surpassed US and become the country with the most billionaires in the world. Beijing overtook NYC as the city with the most billionaires (819) in the world.

    China's wealth created great opportunities for the world. Will the trend continue as China eventually replace US as the largest economy in the world? MORE >

    This presentation will guide you through the rising Chinese wealth and its impact on US leading you to rethink the future of US - China relationship. Bill LIu has been the Executive Director of North America for Hurun Report, the authority on China's wealth. Bill will present the firsthand research conducted by Hurun Report.
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  • You Make the Difference

    Dr. Jeff Van Meter, The Human Leader

    You don't have the team you thought you did? Neither did I for many years until I finally discovered the secret to forming the team I always dreamed of. I'll tell you what you need to do for you to get your dream team too.

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  • Women in Leadership

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    In the United States today, women make up half of the workforce. Unfortunately for women, their male colleagues are promoted at a much higher rate. Women offer great work ethnics, and bring something different from men to the workforce, but many times it goes unnoticed. In this workshop, you will learn about how organizations can develop women leaders, about the benefits of women in organizations, as well as advancements for the future of women. You will learn how women in the workplace cannot only benefit the women themselves, but also the organization. MORE >

    Through this engaging, enlightening, and empowering discussion of Women in Leadership, the audience will learn how women are changing the workforce. The discussion helps participants gain a new perspective on the workforce, and uncover the benefits that come from hiring and promoting women to higher positions.

    Presentation Objectives:
    • Discuss the leadership gap between men and women
    • Learn about women in various powerful positions
    • Discuss different traits associated with women in management
    • Understand the different barriers facing women in leadership positions
    • Learn about the benefits of having women in the workforce

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