Lake Forest Center for Leadership

The journey is never linear — we Bloom, we Burn, and we Breakthrough. In this keynote, Matt Sernaker will share the unique duality of his career and how his work in hospitality and entertainment has enabled him to craft impactful experiences for both audiences and employees.

From Balance to Breakthrough

Engagement &amp; Culture

Leadership

talent development

employee experience

well-being

CHIE2025

emotional intelligence

matt.sernaker

organizational culture

resilience

work-life balance

Personal Development

Leadership Journey

Leadership Insights

engagement strategy

breakthrough leadership

practical wisdom

culture design

BARYONS

By 2030, AI, automation, and data will shape every decision, workflow, and talent strategy—but as this provocative keynote demonstrated, Culture will remain the true, non-replicable driver of performance. This high-energy session, featuring a mystery co-emcee from the AI future, challenged senior HR, Talent Development, and L&amp;D leaders to rethink the organizational model they are building today.

The core message was a powerful strategic call-to-action: The winners of the next decade will be the organizations that solve the human equation behind AI integration.
<h3>The Strategic Questions Leaders Must Answer:</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>What is the New Meaning of "Flourishing"? The keynote used future "what-if" scenarios to ask a fundamental question: In a world where AI handles most cognitive tasks, how do we define and measure human flourishing? The challenge is to make the "good life" accessible to all employees, ensuring work remains a source of purpose, not just output.</li>
 	<li>Building a Culture for the "Unknown": Leaders were pushed to design cultures that thrive on ambiguity, asking: What kind of leadership is required when your most significant competitor—or even a potential new product—doesn't exist yet? The answer lies in fostering psychological safety and prioritizing curiosity over certainty.</li>
 	<li>From Skills to Strategic Conversation: The session highlighted that the future role of the executive is not just to manage people, but to orchestrate high-quality conversations and collaborative problem-solving. This means building a cultural architecture where talent development accelerates both emotional intelligence and strategic discernment.</li>
</ul>
This keynote provided a critical perspective on the organizations we must build today to ensure that by 2030, our culture is a source of sustainable competitive advantage, not a barrier to an AI-driven future.

How Will Culture Drive Performance in 2030 | A Look Ahead: Where AI, Culture, and Performance Intersect

future of work

Future of Work

Change Management

leadership development

Talent Strategy

Culture Change

psychological safety

workforce planning

competitive advantage

AI integration

Strategic HR

Ethical AI

michael.hruska

aaron.bare

performance driver

human flourishing

strategic discernment

cognitive tasks

high quality conversations

collaborative problem solving

organizational model

ELE Group, LLC

This session pulled back the curtain on why coaching strategies often stall at scale—and what it really takes to make coaching work in today’s organizations.

We’ve long relied on formal coaching programs designed for senior leaders, but those high-investment, executive-level programs don’t reflect how people actually grow across today’s cross-functional, constantly shifting teams. In this ELE roundtable, a panel of seasoned talent leaders unpacked the shift from “Big C” coaching (exclusive, executive-level engagements) to “little c” coaching—the micro-behaviors that build—or break—trust, clarity, and momentum across teams.

But here’s the friction: not every manager wants to coach. Some aren’t ready. And the systems they operate in often make coaching nearly impossible. Through interactive debate and candid reflection, we explored a more uncomfortable—but necessary—question: not whether coaching is valuable (we all agree it is), but whether the way companies are currently investing in it is truly working. The heart of the debate wasn’t about whether coaching is good or bad—it was whether it’s worth it to keep pouring resources into high-touch programs at the top, when the real opportunity might lie elsewhere.
<blockquote data-start="720" data-end="800">
“Leadership is in itself a profession that we lay over people doing other things.” -- <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/nicole-defalco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicole DeFalco</a>.
</blockquote>
Too often, we promote high performers into leadership roles and assume coaching will follow. But delivering results and growing others aren’t the same skillset—and without intrinsic motivation, even great managers may struggle to coach well.
Here are key takeaways that sparked conversation:

<h3 data-start="1420" data-end="1441">💡 Key Takeaways:</h3>
<ul data-start="1442" data-end="1916">
 	<li data-start="1442" data-end="1514">
Big C vs. little c Coaching – Not all coaching is created equal.
</li>
 	<li data-start="1515" data-end="1615">
Coaching ≠ Performance Review – There’s tension when your coach also rates your performance.
</li>
 	<li data-start="1616" data-end="1704">
AI as a Coaching Ally – Coaching avatars and GPT-based mentors are already here.
</li>
 	<li data-start="1705" data-end="1821">
Managers Aren’t Always the Answer – Maybe people don’t just leave managers. Maybe they leave broken systems.
</li>
 	<li data-start="1822" data-end="1916">
Coaching Requires Want-To, Not Just Know-How – Without motivation, training won’t stick.
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="1918" data-end="1942">✅ Practical Actions:</h3>
<ul data-start="1943" data-end="2248">
 	<li data-start="1943" data-end="2009">
Introduce the Big C/little c coaching language in your org
</li>
 	<li data-start="2010" data-end="2076">
Screen leaders for EQ and coaching aptitude, not just role
</li>
 	<li data-start="2077" data-end="2123">
Embed coaching moments into daily work
</li>
 	<li data-start="2124" data-end="2184">
Pilot AI coaching tools to complement human feedback
</li>
 	<li data-start="2185" data-end="2248">
Reassess where manager investment is driving actual value
</li>
</ul>
Let’s reframe what scalable, empowered coaching really looks like. How are you evolving coaching in your organization? Share with us on ELE <a href="https://www.ele.llc/idea-exchange" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idea Exchange</a>.

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The Shift from Formal to Empowered: Innovative Coaching as the New Learning Paradigm

Digital &amp; AI

dirk.tussing

jane.shlaes

performance management

Coaching

post-mortem analysis

employee engagement

ruben.contreras

lean learning

workforce transition

learning and development

yolanda.mangram

brian.gold

amy.leschkekahle

HR leadership

AI in HR

lauren.marder

diana.anderson

executive coaching

organizational learning

team communication

knowledge sharing

innovation culture

Reflective Leadership

Coaching Culture

sheryl.smikle

nicole.defalco

laura.sandera

adam.walleser

scalable learning

people managers

coaching at scale

workplace coaching

Get Control

Session Focus: Uncover ways to navigate the return to office while maintaining hybrid flexibility and future-ready teams.
Explore the shifting paradigms of the workplace with a focus on hybrid models and AI-driven strategies in our upcoming roundtable. A focal point of our discussion will be a company's recent policy mandating employees to be in-office two days a week, highlighting various managerial approaches to scheduling these days.

<blockquote>✅ Adapting to Hybrid Work
✅ Importance of IQ+EQ+TQ
✅ Leveraging Technology and GenAI</blockquote>
This session provided valuable insights into mastering hybrid work strategies and highlighted the urgent need for HR leaders to step up as enablers of success in this evolving environment. Hybrid work is no longer a temporary adjustment—it’s the new normal. Yet, the skills needed to thrive in this model are often overlooked.

<blockquote>"Only 21% of workers and 28% of managers have been trained to succeed in hybrid work—a massive gap HR must address." -- <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/lauren-marder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lauren Marder</a></blockquote>
Here are three key takeaways from the discussion:

1️⃣ Upskilling for Hybrid Competence
HR must close the training gap by equipping employees and leaders with skills tailored to hybrid environments, including virtual engagement, digital collaboration, and inclusive practices.

2️⃣ Intentional Leadership
Leading in a hybrid model requires a focus on psychological safety, inclusivity, and managing diverse preferences. Training leaders to embrace intentional practices can significantly boost team performance and morale.

3️⃣ Leveraging Digital Tools
Encouraging employees to explore and master digital tools within their "technosphere" can unlock new efficiencies. HR can empower teams by promoting self-sufficiency and continuous learning in digital spaces.

Hybrid work presents both challenges and opportunities. By addressing these gaps, HR leaders can transform hybrid environments into thriving ecosystems that boost engagement, productivity, and retention. What steps are you taking to support your teams in this space?

Mastering Hybrid Strategies for People Success

richard.busby

deborah.lenchard

edward.desrosiers

talent management

learning &amp; development

shelley.smith

reskilling

rahul.sharma

ann.brownell

inclusive leadership

workplace culture

HR strategies

workplace innovation

generative AI

mike.song

hybrid work

operational efficiency

AI-driven strategies

technology integration

managerial approaches

workplace adaptation

employee preferences

return to work

tanya.tatera

Zurich North America

getAbstract

In today’s fast-paced work environment, learning can no longer be confined to traditional methods. To upskill your workforce effectively, it's time to think outside the box. This session provided senior HR talent leaders with actionable insights on redefining learning strategies to address the evolving needs of the modern workforce.

The discussion highlighted the importance of focusing on "durable skills" like emotional intelligence and adaptability, which remain critical over time. Unlike technical skills that often have a limited shelf life, these capabilities form the foundation of a resilient and future-ready workforce.

Key takeaways for senior HR talent leaders:
<ol>
 	<li>Time constraints require creative solutions: Zurich’s “Day of Learning” strategy increased engagement by 150% by breaking down annual learning weeks into quarterly, themed sessions aligned with data-driven insights.</li>
 	<li>Leadership engagement is critical: Involving leaders as content creators and advocates ensures alignment with business goals and fosters organizational buy-in for learning initiatives.</li>
 	<li>Personalization enhances impact: Tools like GetAbstract’s curated content and AI-driven learning ecosystems empower employees to find relevant, role-specific training in the flow of work.</li>
 	<li>Balance technology with timeless skills: While technology accelerates learning, durable human skills like self-reflection and emotional intelligence remain the foundation of resilient, adaptable teams.</li>
 	<li>Data drives relevancy: Using LMS analytics, industry trends, and HRBP feedback ensures training addresses real-time needs while fostering a culture of continuous development.</li>
</ol>
As we navigate an era of rapid change and increasing complexity, senior HR leaders must prioritize learning strategies that meet immediate challenges while cultivating the durable skills necessary for long-term success.

Here are a few examples you can read more:
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://hub.getabstract.com/miab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Meeting-in-a-Box</a></li>
 	<li class="ql-indent-1">FUNCTIONAL SKILL: <a href="https://hub.getabstract.com/miab-learning-at-speed" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MIAB - Learning at Speed</a></li>
 	<li class="ql-indent-1">TECHNICAL SKILL: <a href="https://hub.getabstract.com/miab-openai-ceo-on-gpt-4-chatgpt-and-the-future-of-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MIAB - OpenAI CEO on GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the Future of AI</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.bookclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bookclubs</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.getabstract.com/en/ask-getabstract" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI-based Learning Experiences – Start with a question</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://knowledgebase.elblearning.com/what-can-jeopardy-be-used-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Games and Gamification for Training – JEOPARDY!</a></li>
</ul>

Learning Outside the Box for Upskilling: Fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement and Agile Development

upskilling

chris.olson

geovanny.andino

denis.sternberg

workforce development

continuous learning

maryann.kennedy

CHIE2024

durable skills

skills strategy

Professional Growth

future workforce

Session Focus: Uncover ways to navigate the return to office while maintaining hybrid flexibility and future-ready teams.
Explore the shifting paradigms of the workplace with a focus on hybrid models and AI-driven strategies in our upcoming roundtable. A focal point of our discussion will be a company's recent policy mandating employees to be in-office two days a week, highlighting various managerial approaches to scheduling these days.

<blockquote>✅ Adapting to Hybrid Work
✅ Importance of IQ+EQ+TQ
✅ Leveraging Technology and GenAI</blockquote>
We will examine how companies are adapting to hybrid work, the critical role of emotional intelligence in managing such transitions, and the strategic use of technology and generative AI to enhance productivity and engagement.
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-41068" src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TQ-IQ-EQ-equals-SUCCESS.png" alt="SUCCESS when IQ + EQ + TQ" width="265" height="148" />
This session will offer HR leaders insights into balancing operational needs with employee preferences and showcase successful strategies for navigating the future of work.
ELE produces this Learning Circle: Reskilling Talent Development.

ELE's <a title="ELE's Idea Exchange" href="/idea-exchange/">Idea Exchange</a>: Collaborate online with your peers.

single-event

Your Teams

Learning Circles

Complimentary

online event

complimentary event

10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times: Coaching Your Team Through Immense Change and Challenge by Tom Ziglar  is a guide for leaders navigating through periods of significant change and uncertainty. The book emphasizes the importance of developing and embodying key virtues to effectively lead teams during disruptive times. These virtues include:
<ol>
 	<li>Integrity: Building trust through honest and ethical behavior.</li>
 	<li>Humility: Recognizing one's limitations and valuing the contributions of others.</li>
 	<li>Empathy: Understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of team members.</li>
 	<li>Resilience: Maintaining strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.</li>
 	<li>Vision: Providing a clear and inspiring direction for the team.</li>
 	<li>Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and decisions.</li>
 	<li>Discipline: Maintaining focus and consistency in efforts.</li>
 	<li>Courage: Facing challenges head-on and making tough decisions.</li>
 	<li>Generosity: Sharing knowledge, time, and resources to support others.</li>
 	<li>Love: Leading with compassion and genuine care for team members.</li>
</ol>
The book provides practical strategies and real-world examples to help leaders cultivate these virtues. It emphasizes the role of coaching in developing these traits within teams, fostering an environment of growth and resilience. By embracing these virtues, leaders can guide their teams through immense change and challenge, achieving success and stability in uncertain times.

10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times: Coaching Your Team Through Immense Change and Challenge

leadership

coaching

corinne@innovatingresults.com

team-building

julian.malnak

nancy.dome

marty.murrillo

organizational change

patricia.ouzounian

Strategic Leadership

crisis management

adaptive leadership

Professional Development

leadership virtues

coaching skills

resilient leadership

leadership challenges

innovation leadership

katrina.nordquist

Four years ago, I wrote CARE to Win with one mission — to help people-first leaders scale human-centered, high-performing teams through the simple, science-backed habits of Clarity, Autonomy, Relationships, and Equity.

A great deal has changed over the past four years. What began as a framework rooted in empathy, neuroscience, and lived leadership experience has evolved through thousands of hours in the field, where training, listening, failing, learning, and growing alongside leaders in organizations worldwide have taken place.

This revised edition of The CARE Equation brings those hard-earned insights to the forefront. It’s not just a refresh. It’s a reflection of what it takes to be an unforgettable leader in today’s increasingly complex workplace.

Since that first edition, CARE has grown far beyond a book:
✅ Registered Clarity, Autonomy, Relationships, and Equity® as a trademark.
✅ Built a full suite of leadership development programs grounded in CARE for all levels of leaders.
✅ Partnered with clients who’ve won Brandon Hall Awards, implementing CARE within their organizations.
✅ Created validated CARE Assessments with measurable ROI and real-world case studies.
✅ Earned major contracts with globally recognized brands, transforming their leaders and culture through CARE.
✅ Designed and delivered transformative keynotes that bring people-first leadership to life, building culture champions from the ground up.

We’ve learned a lot over the past four years, from the science of trust and psychological safety to the realities of leading in hybrid, high-change, tech-driven environments. Every one of those lessons is now woven into this revised edition, available globally for the first time.

CARE to Win delves deeply into the real work of leadership by focusing on what matters most, people.

💡 Manage your biases. Learn how to recognize and interrupt the invisible patterns that erode trust and limit performance. Better self-awareness = better leadership.
💡 Build psychological safety. Discover how to lead teams that speak up, challenge ideas, and thrive, even under pressure.
💡 Act on insight. Access simple, practical frameworks and real-world stories that make it easy to turn “aha” moments into daily leadership habits.

This isn’t theory, it’s what we’ve seen work in the trenches with leaders across industries and continents.

I couldn’t be prouder of what this movement has become, or more excited to share what’s next.

Care to Win: The 4 Leadership Habits to Build High-Performing Teams (Revised Edition)

alex.draper

angie.zeigler

servant leadership

cultural transformation

CARE model

coaching and mentoring

HR Strategy

Innovation Management

corporate values

team performance

Talent Retention

High Performing Teams

compassionate leadership

leadership habits

angela.howard

This New York Times bestseller and business classic has been fully updated for a world where skilled communication is more important than ever.

The book that revolutionized business communications has been updated for today’s workplace. Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversation―especially difficult ones―leads to the results you want. Written in an engaging and witty style, it teaches readers how to be persuasive rather than abrasive, how to get back to productive dialogue when others blow up or clam up, and it offers powerful skills for mastering high-stakes conversations, regardless of the topic or person.

This new edition addresses issues that have arisen in recent years. You’ll learn how to:
<ul>
 	<li>Respond when someone initiates aCrucial Conversationwith you</li>
 	<li>Identify and address the lag time between identifying a problem and discussing it</li>
 	<li>Communicate more effectively across digital mediums</li>
</ul>
When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, you have three choices: Avoid a crucial conversation and suffer the consequences; handle the conversation poorly and suffer the consequences; or apply the lessons and strategies of Crucial Conversations and improve relationships and results.Whether they take place at work or at home, with your coworkers or your spouse, Crucial Conversations have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. With the skills you learn in this book, you'll never have to worry about the outcome of a Crucial Conversation again.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

heather.tunison

keri.kersten

communication skills

decision making

Effective Communication

jen.crabb

matthew.huston

workplace relationships

team collaboration

holly.r.pyatt

terresa.bubbers

catherine.hebel

Feedback is intended to be a powerful tool to inspire personal growth by suggesting improvement in behavior or performance. Yet, it often falls short of its intended purpose, leaving individuals trapped in a cycle of seeking more feedback while triggering stress due to their innate threat response systems.

Dynamic Dialogues delves into the principles and modalities of feedback, exposing the conflict between how it works in theory versus the reality of these conversations. This book reveals the flaws inherent in traditional feedback methods and explores the limitations they impose on our ability to evolve. Instead of inspiring self-reflection, conventional feedback often leads to defensiveness and missed opportunities for growth.

The author takes you on a journey through the feedback experience, shedding light on the neuroscience behind how our brains respond to feedback and offering innovative strategies to navigate the flaws of feedback. You are invited to adopt a more human-centered approach, embracing the power of empathetic inquiry and perspective exchange to enable you to navigate challenging feedback conversations with confidence and skill.

This book equips you with the tools to transform feedback into a stimulus for personal and professional development. Discover how to engage your rational thinking, reduce negative consequences, and cultivate dynamic dialogues that foster growth and understanding. Whether you're a manager seeking to inspire your team, a coach guiding individuals toward their goals, or someone eager to improve their own feedback experience, this book will empower you tap into the full power of feedback.

Dynamic Dialogues: A Human-Centered Approach to Navigate the Flaws of Feedback

mike.kester

melissa.versino

dialogue

soft-skills

brady.bair

Human-Centered Approach

Workplace Dynamics

Constructive Criticism

Interpersonal Skills

Conflict Resolution

owen.burns

dan.kwong

Unresolved conflict is workplace kryptonite. Learn how to develop the mindset and skills to defuse disagreements, overcome division, and turn conflict into an opportunity for growth.

Unresolved workplace conflict wastes time, increases stress, and negatively affects business outcomes. But conflict isn’t the problem, mismanagement is.

Leaders unintentionally mismanage conflict when they fall into patterns of what Marlene Chism calls “the Three As:” aggression, avoidance, and appeasing. “These coping mechanisms are ways human beings avoid the emotions that come with conflict, but in the end it’s all avoidance,” says Chism. In this book she shows how to fearlessly deal with conflict head-on by expanding your conflict capacity.

Conflict capacity is a combination of three elements. The foundation is the Inner Game—the leader’s self-awareness, values, discernment, and emotional integrity. The Outer Game is the skills, tools, and communication techniques built on that foundation. Finally, there’s Culture—the visible and invisible structures around you that can encourage or discourage conflict.

Chism offers exercises, examples, and expert guidance on developing all three elements. Leaders will discover techniques to increase leadership clarity, identify obstacles, and reduce resistance. They’ll develop powerful skills for dealing with high-conflict people and for initiating, engaging in, and staying with difficult conversations.

Readers will learn that when they see conflict as a teacher, courageously face it, and continually work on transforming themselves, they can get the resolution they are seeking. They can change minds.

From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading

Personal Growth

Management Strategies

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