All Topics in Chicago

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  The Case for Kindness: Leadership’s Secret Ingredient to Success

  Marie Genevieve Pawlak, CEO, Prime Alchemy a division of Planning101 Group

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Self-Improvement

  What if kindness were put on trial? In today's fast-paced world, does it really pay to be kind in leadership? How does kindness contribute to success and organizational health? MORE >

  In this insightful and humorous talk, we’ll explore what it truly means to be kind and how kindness can transform your leadership approach. We’ll delve into the tangible benefits of kindness, debunk myths, and highlight real-world examples of kind leadership driving success.

  Join us to learn:

  The compelling case for kindness in leadership: why it matters and how it pays off.
  How kindness can enhance team dynamics, boost morale, and improve productivity.
  Practical strategies to incorporate kindness into your leadership style without compromising on results.
  Stories of leaders who have harnessed the power of kindness to achieve remarkable outcomes.
  By the end of this session, you’ll understand why kindness is not just a nice-to-have but a must-have in today’s competitive business environment. You’ll leave with actionable insights to infuse kindness into your leadership and create a more positive, productive workplace.

  Discover how being kind can be your secret ingredient to lasting success!

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  Murder by Meeting: Reviving the Workplace One Meeting at a Time

  Marie Genevieve Pawlak, CEO, Prime Alchemy a division of Planning101 Group

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Life is too short to be killed by meetings! Whether virtual or in-person, meetings should be an opportunity to connect, learn, encourage, and get things done. So, how do you make your meetings better for everyone? MORE >

  In this fun and engaging talk, we'll dive into the seven ways people unknowingly sabotage meetings and, more importantly, how to stop them. You will laugh, cry, and maybe even admit that you’ve been guilty of a few meeting crimes yourself. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

  Join us to discover:

  The seven deadly meeting sins that drain energy and productivity.
  Practical tips to transform your meetings into productive, engaging sessions.
  Techniques to foster better communication and collaboration, whether virtual or in-person.
  Real-life examples of meeting makeovers that have led to remarkable results.

  By the end of this session, you'll walk away with a clear action plan to make your next meeting not just good but great. Say goodbye to boring, ineffective meetings and hello to a more vibrant, productive workplace!

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  The Alchemy of Motivation: Elevating Workplace Performance

  Marie Genevieve Pawlak, CEO, Prime Alchemy a division of Planning101 Group

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Are you ready to transform your workplace and inspire your team to achieve peak performance? Join us for a fun and enlightening session on "The Alchemy of Motivation," where we'll dive deep into the science of what truly drives us to do our best work. Discover the secrets behind creating a motivating culture, practical strategies for leaders, and how to foster a sense of purpose and autonomy in your team. MORE >

  In this engaging and interactive talk, you'll learn:

  The latest research on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and why it matters.
  How to build a workplace culture that motivates and inspires.
  Real-world examples of successful motivation strategies from top companies.
  Techniques to sustain long-term motivation and track engagement.

  Through storytelling and hands-on exercises, you'll leave with actionable insights and tools to elevate your team's performance and create a fulfilling work environment. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to turn motivation into your team's superpower!

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  The Power of “Both/And” in an “Either/Or” World (Employee Focus)

  Anthony Bolden and Charles Cammack, Co-founders, BridgeWork LLC

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Sustained success is determined by an individual's ability to bridge any set of competing ideas, perspectives, or priorities. Through this interactive and thought provoking talk, Anthony and Charles will provide practical tools on how to “do Bridgework.” MORE >

  BridgeWork is a professional development training method that is designed to help individuals within the workforce and really life in general, become professionally ambidextrous - embracing the realities of both/and instead of either/or. Participants will learn how to bridge common workplace and personal divides and forge critical connections in every area of their life.

  By the end of this talk, your group will understand that seemingly competing goals can coexist and gain tools to navigate the tension when feeling the pressure to choose an either/or.

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  The Power of “Both/And” in an “Either/Or” World (Employer Focus)

  Anthony Bolden and Charles Cammack, Co-founders, BridgeWork LLC

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  As a society we are in the midst of a workforce crisis that often posits that you can either prioritize your company's fiscal success or the development and subsequent happiness of your employees. At BridgeWork we believe that both can be true simultaneously. MORE >

  We believe that the key to a thriving organizational culture lies in the balanced development of its members. Through this interactive and thought provoking talk, Anthony and Charles will provide practical tools on how to maximize your employees experience through focusing on four areas of your organization: hiring, onboarding, professional development, and off-boarding.

  By the end of this talk, your group will understand that seemingly competing goals (the prioritization of company vs. employee) cannot only coexist when feeling the pressure to choose an either/or, but your organization will be better for it in the long run.

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  Rearchitecting Work: POSSIBILITY PARTNERS UNLEASHING POTENTIAL

  Dianne M. Michels, HR Possibility Partner, Author, Rearchitecting Work Speaker, possibilitypartners.org

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  A Blueprint for "Unlocking the Power of Human Resources to Unleash the Potential of Human Beings" . . . enabling organizations to set bold goals that can be achieved with more PREDICTABILITY, INNOVATION, and EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT! MORE >

  Learn about the key paradigm shifts that provide the foundation for the changes in conditions, relationships, cultural norms, and leadership approaches that can transform people's relationship to work from a burden to survive to a possibility to thrive . . . while producing results that meet or exceed revenue, profitability, and growth goals of the enterprise.

  You will be introduced to the 10 design principles that support the paradigm shifting changes in assumptions, beliefs, and behavioral practices that enable people to go beyond learning new skills to expanding their adaptability, flexibility, resiliency, and self-directedness in a world that is increasingly more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

  The 10 design principles include:
  Ch. 1 Alignment between HR and the CEO
  Ch. 2 Unlocking the Power of HR to Unleash the Potential Within Your Workplace
  Ch. 3 The Power of Possibility - "There are no mistakes; only possibilities" Tina Fey
  Ch. 4 Leadership Beliefs and Behaviors that model mutual respect, trust, transparency . . .
  Ch. 5 Inspiring Ownership for Results vs. Holding People Accountable
  Ch. 6 Igniting Results: Expressing Our Value vs. Proving Our Worth
  Ch. 7 Participating, Contributing, Self-Expressing vs. Checking Off Our To Do Lists - "Only do what your heart tells you." Princess Diana
  Ch. 8 Celebrating Diversity as a Competitive Edge!
  Ch. 9 Recruiting: Creating Raving Fans - "Transforming often dreaded interview interrogations into life-affirming conversations.
  Ch. 10 Communications: Creating Psychological Safety so People can Speak Candidly With One Another Regardless of the Hierarchy -
  "Relationships determine the quality of our lives, and conversations determine the quality of our relationships."

  Can be presented virtually via ZOOM.

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  Women and Investing – Financial Strategies for Women Today

  Ted Buckley, Mooney Lyons Financial Services

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Financial

  Financial Strategies for Women Today: Every woman, single or married, widowed or divorced — needs to plan ahead for personal and financial security. Women today have careers, start businesses, run households, raise children, and help aging parents. The workshop is designed to help you strengthen your financial future. I’ll have specific information for women who face divorce or widowhood, as well as many other concerns that could directly affect your family’s finances. The presentation offers sound, practical strategies that you can use immediately. MORE >

  We will focus on six key action items designed to help you:
  • Get your financial house in order - Prepare for the unexpected
  • Put your money to work by investing
  • Build a healthy nest egg for retirement
  • Face financial hardship
  • Understand your Social Security options
  • Address estate and legacy issues

  Workbook that contains a wealth of information, including exercises that are designed to help you assess your current situation.

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  How Tax Planning Changes Through Four Stages of Retirement

  Ted Buckley, Mooney Lyons Financial Services

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Financial

  Do you know how tax planning changes through different stages of retirement? In retirement, your tax rate may vary widely over the years based on the timing and order in which you use different sources of money to pay for expenses. It is important to apply the tax code in an organized and efficient way. Learn how to create a retirement tax strategy. MORE >

  You will learn:
  • The critical tax questions to answer before retirement.
  • The surprises that often make retirement more expensive.
  • The four stages of retirement and important tax actions in each stage, including tricky IRA challenges.
  • Mistakes to avoid when it comes to investments, health care, and estate planning.

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  “Reduce Stress in your Workforce: Unleashing the Power of Child Care Benefits for Enhanced Productivity and Engagement”

  Diane Moca, Child Care Benefits Expert / Working Mother / Television Personality, MomSub

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Do you have employees who arrive late, leave early, feel distracted, miss work, or even leave their position entirely because they struggle to find child care that fits their working life? Your organization can explore the burgeoning trend of child care benefits in the workplace and the transformative impact they wield on both employers and employees from increased retention and recruitment to improved job satisfaction and work-life balance. Discover how companies embracing this trend are not only fostering a more supportive work environment but also reaping significant rewards in terms of employee productivity and mental well-being. MORE >

  With more employers than ever prioritizing benefits that help employees struggling in and outside of work, it's time for your organization to learn the secrets to unlocking the full potential of your workforce through innovative child care benefits.

  Speaker Diane Moca understands the problem as a working mother who faced the common struggle of navigating the maze of child care options, only to spend her first four years of motherhood trying 12 different alternatives from daycare to neighborhood babysitters to agency placements before landing on the right care provider for her career and life.

  In this enlightening session, Diane details the myriad benefits that arise when employers provide resources to assist their workforce in finding, arranging, managing, and financing child care solutions. From full-day care or before- and after-school options to summer-only arrangements or evening and weekend care, this presentation explores how catering to diverse needs yields tangible advantages.

  Learn how such initiatives lead to reduced absenteeism for employees who have access to backup options when their regular provider is unavailable. Discover how employees experience greater peace of mind knowing their children are well-cared for and how their enhanced work-life balance translates into heightened job satisfaction and productivity, driving overall organizational success.

  Moreover, Diane delves into how companies offering comprehensive child care benefits enjoy increased retention rates and become magnets for top talent during recruitment. By prioritizing the well-being of employees' families, these organizations create a culture of loyalty and commitment that reverberates throughout the entire workforce.

  Finally, Diane explains the different programs available for employers, from subscriptions for child care referral platforms to contributions to offset the cost of care. You will learn how to revolutionize your workplace and propel your company toward a brighter, more prosperous future.

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  Getting Started With NIST 800-171 or CMMC Compliance

  Christopher Higgins, Cyber Security Analyst, CCS Technology Group

  Did you find out you need to be NIST 800-171 or CMMC compliance? We'll break down the process of understanding and implementing these frameworks, providing an in-depth overview of the controls required and the timeline for achieving compliance. From assessing your organization's current cybersecurity practices to identifying specific requirements and addressing potential gaps, our presentation will guide you through the essential steps necessary for compliance. We'll also explore the timeline for implementation, offering practical insights and strategies for streamlining the compliance journey. Don't miss out on this invaluable opportunity to gain clarity and confidence in your approach to NIST 800-171 or CMMC compliance. MORE >

  Presentation would be a great fit for any manufacturing trade group or association, that supports the Defense Department supply chain.

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