Free Business Topics in Chicago

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  • Keys to High Performing Finance Teams

    Diane Davidson, Finance Transformation Leader, Clever Fox, LLC

    If I asked what your finance department does for your business, most would say: Taxes, Pay Bills, and Reports. These answers are all accurate, but this is only one aspect of a high-performing finance team. High-performing finance teams guide businesses in their decision-making. MORE >

    High-performing finance teams are viewed as thought leaders and analyze deal/strategies to make sure the company achieves their goals. In my 12 years of consulting, I have worked on transforming finance departments that are underperforming to high-performing teams that help jump start the company. I want to share how to identify underperformance and the path to a cohesive, high-performing team.
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  • Transitioning from Full-Time Employment to Entrepreneurship: Making the Leap with Confidence

    Kyle Bennett, Financial Coach, Prosperity Launch, LLC

    Are you ready to embark on the exciting journey from full-time employment to entrepreneurship, but seeking guidance and confidence in taking the leap? In this comprehensive presentation, we'll begin with Kyle's personal insights into supporting professionals like you on their entrepreneurship journey. We'll delve into assessing your readiness for entrepreneurship, providing practical self-reflection exercises and addressing common fears associated with this significant change. MORE >

    Discover the importance of developing a transition plan, setting clear goals, and securing your financial foundation with expert advice on budgeting, savings, and funding options. We'll also explore the emotional side of career change, offering coping strategies and support systems to help you thrive.

    Throughout the presentation, Kyle will mirror his professional yet friendly communication style, providing clear insights and actionable steps. By the end, you'll be equipped with the tools, resources, and confidence to make a successful transition into entrepreneurship. Don't miss this opportunity to embrace change with confidence and clarity. Join us and take that leap towards a prosperous entrepreneurial future.

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  • How To Map A Business Process

    Robert Starinsky, MBA, MS, CCP, ASBC, Principal, Tradewinds Group, Inc.

    Getting things done in your business can be like walking through a minefield. Getting things done can be a struggle, for you, your employees and worse, for your customers. Mapping out processes and customer journeys can help you to streamline operations, cut out delays, reduce or eliminate miscommunications, reduce costs and clarify roles, responsibilities and expectations in your quest to delight the customer. MORE >

    Process mapping is an extremely natural and visual way to document how your business (should) works, which is especially helpful for complex and infrequent processes and in your training of new hires.

    Your presenter will introduce you to an easy to follow technique called The Process Walk (TM) that will help you to understand your processes. This technique relies on Microsoft Office based process mapping techniques using nouns and verbs to describe your business processes in both narrative (SIPOC) and visual (UPN) formats.

    Don’t leave your business processes to chance. Document your processes to insure that you have the right people doing the right jobs in the right way EVERY time!

    This educational presentation provides practical guidance for business leaders and managers who want to improve how business gets done every day.

    This presentation is available virtually to audiences across the country, or locally on an in-person basis.

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  • Preliminary Blocking and Tackling to Start a Debt or Equity Capital Raise

    Barrett Willich, CFO, Bear & Kenmore LLC

    In this presentation, we will do a quick introduction to things to think about and how to start preparing when you are ready to raise debt or equity capital. After this presentation, you will have a better idea of advisors to connect with as well as tasks your internal team can start preparing. We will also walk you through the key milestones of a process. MORE >

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  • What is the difference between a CFO and a Bookkeeper?

    Barrett Willich, CFO, Bear & Kenmore LLC

    Are you not getting the financial insights you feel you need to run your business efficiently? It could be because you are working with a bookkeeper, controller, or accountant, and not a CFO. A CFO looks at the business implications of financial decisions and makes recommendations on how to become more profitable. Bookkeepers, controllers, and accountants help keep the accounting correct, but rarely dig deeper into business implications. In this presentation, we will walk you through the key differences so you can determine who you need on your team. MORE >

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  • Six Sigma and Finance Intersections

    Diane Davidson, Finance Transformation Leader, Clever Fox, LLC

    As a practitioner with a Six Sigma Green Belt, I am seeing demand for Six Sigma principles being used in the Finance industry. Six Sigma is typically viewed as a tool only used for Supply Chain, Logistics or Operations. Finance organizations are using Six Sigma principles such as Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen Events to bring standardization and efficiencies to their business processes. MORE >

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  • Generation Z (Zoomers) in the Workplace

    Mary Erlain, President, Peak Development Strategies

    We have taken a generation and placed them in a boat, we gave them no navigation system, no map, no destination, and no plan. We set them in an ocean filled with icebergs and sharks and told them to figure it out. Based on the new book, The Zoomers Book, the presentation addresses the fact that this generation is "not wrong, just different" and how to navigate them and encourage them in our workplace. We offer hope and a plan that is further explained in the future book The Zoomer Project. So if you are confused about how to help this future generation and truly want to help them become the productive individuals they can be, then this presentation is for you. The first step in helping someone is to learn who they are and not rely on assumptions. MORE >

    Whether you are a solo business owner, a large company, or any point in between, we will change how you view your business world (and maybe help you on the home front too).
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  • Empowering the Multi-Generational Workforce

    Mary Erlain, President, Peak Development Strategies

    Much has changed since 2020. Our generations have changed dramatically. One entire generation has retired, and another one has joined in more significant numbers. MORE >

    We work in a diverse workplace. Diversity can drive business growth if you empower your workforce to use their own unique gifts and values. The challenges organizations struggle with are finding ways to do just that, empowering their staff. Learn ways to help bridge the differences between staff members of different generations. Understand how we can be (without intention) enabling the problem instead of being part of the solution.
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  • Murder by Meeting

    Marie Genevieve Pawlak, Managing Principal , Prime Alchemy a division of Planning101 Group

    Life is too short to be killed by meeting!
    Meetings should be an opportunity to connect, learn, encourage, and get things done. So how do you make your meetings better for everyone when you have to do them virtually or in person? This talk will review the six ways people have tried to kill others in meetings and how to stop them. You will laugh, cry, and admit that you have been attempting to destroy your co-workers. In the end, you will walk out with an action plan on how to make your next virtual meeting a great meeting. MORE >

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  • The Carrot and Stick are Obsolete – How to Deploy the Right Employee Incentives in Today’s Business Environment

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

    Are your incentive programs delivering desired results? Incentives work, but you must get them right to positively impact performance and avoid wasting time and money. MORE >

    The traditional approach to improving workplace behavior was often characterized by a “lady-or-the-tiger” experience which ignored that employees are motivated in different ways and underestimated the importance of connecting personal meaning to what they do.

    This VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON presentation will reveal best practices any business can and should do to ensure employee incentive programs are working properly. Attendees will come away with knowledge and tips concerning:
    • Why incentives are a tactic, not the strategy
    • Commitment and support of leaders
    • Choosing right incentive structure
    • Audience selection
    • Goal setting
    • Communicating what, who, how, and why
    • Avoiding element of chance
    • Choosing the right recognition and rewards
    • Keeping it fresh and appealing

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