As businesses navigate rapid changes across talent management, technology, and the broader economy, leaders must reimagine how they build and sustain resilient organizations. With the growing need to balance stakeholder expectations, consumer demands, and workforce priorities, leaders must make sound decisions that minimize polarization while driving sustainable success.

This panel brings together leaders from corporate, healthtech, education, and the nonprofit sectors to discuss change management and explore how companies can build adaptive systems—across business strategy, operations, and culture. Attendees will come away from this session with the tools needed to mitigate risk, enhance stakeholder relationships, and foster long-term organizational success in an ever-evolving and sometimes turbulent landscape.

Moderator: Reena Patel (Global Managing Partner and Practice Leader, Yardstick Consulting | DSG Global)

Panelist: Quincy Weatherspoon (Vice President & GM of Point of Care Solutions, Flatiron Health)

Panelist: Jessica Hardeman (Global Head, Attraction, Engagement, & Culture, Indeed)

Panelist: Ernest Adams (Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Ford Motor Company)

Panelist: Colleen Echohawk (Interim Executive Director, Seattle Indian Services Commission)

In times of uncertainty, employees turn to their leaders for guidance, trust, and the reassurance needed to navigate through challenges. In this fireside chat, retired Lieutenant General and Chief of People for the U.S. Army Tom Seamands (Senior Principal, McChrystal Group) will share battlefield- and boardroom-tested leadership strategies to help executives build trust under pressure, foster alignment in high-stakes environments, and drive resilience across their teams.

Former U.S. Army Captain Aileen K. Alexander (CEO, DSG Global) will facilitate the conversation, drawing out Tom’s insights on leadership principles that translate from military command to corporate success—including transparency, adaptability, and a culture of purpose and belonging. Attendees will walk away with proven frameworks to lead with clarity and confidence, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

Speaker: Tom Seamands (Senior Principal, McChrystal Group)
Moderator: Aileen K. Alexander (Chief Executive Officer, DSG Global)

Traditional leadership has prioritized logic at the expense of emotional intelligence, but in polarized times, logic is no longer enough. Rajkumari Neogy, a pioneer in workplace neuroscience, offers a groundbreaking perspective on how leaders can utilize the overlooked power of right-brain leadership skills—tactical empathy, resilience, and emotional regulation—to transform workplace tension and toxicity into an opportunity for authentic team-building, which in turn can drive organizational progress.

This session will dive into the true cost of unresolved conflict, the role of psychological safety, and actionable strategies for cultivating emotional maturity in your workplace. Neogy will offer a roadmap for alchemizing conflict into collaboration, and leading confidently and compassionately in even the most challenging climates.

Speaker: Rajkumari Neogy (Chief Executive Officer, iBelong)

Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all, contrary to popular belief. In this interactive session, Laura Barnard—Founder of BREAKTHRU and Author of Leadership Types—will guide attendees through BREAKTHRU’s proprietary framework designed to uncover and celebrate individual leadership styles.

Grounded in psychology, strategic management, and inclusive practices, BREAKTHRU’s approach redefines leadership through the lens of authenticity, empathy, and human-centered growth. This session offers a powerful introduction to BREAKTHRU’s services, which support organizations in building resilient, high-performing teams by aligning leadership development with each person’s core strengths.

Speaker: Laura Barnard (Founder, BREAKTHRU Brands)

In today’s complex business environment, leaders face immense pressure to “do the right thing.” Ira Bedzow, an ethicist from Emory University, challenges this notion, emphasizing that the “right” decision is context dependent, where leaders must account not only for various sets of stakeholders but also for the company’s goals and hierarchy of values.

In this session, Ira will guide participants through an eight-step decision-making framework, equipping them with the tools to navigate tough ethical challenges with confidence, especially when competing values are at play. Using hypothetical situations submitted by attendees, Ira will demonstrate how to use this framework for ethical decision-making, with a focus on maintaining alignment within internal corporate culture

Speaker: Ira Bedzow (Executive Director of the Emory Purpose Project, Emory University)

Companies are currently under immense pressure to drive growth while navigating an increasingly complex workforce and marketplace. With the U.S. projected to become majority non-white by 2045 and global markets evolving rapidly, businesses that fail to adapt will fall behind.

Chris Brooks, a seasoned Venture Capitalist, will apply lessons from venture capital—where diverse entrepreneurs are proving the financial upside of fresh perspectives—to highlight how embracing diversity can help businesses unlock innovation, tap into new markets, and build more resilient organizations. Through real-world case studies and data-driven insights, attendees will learn how to cultivate innovative thinking within their teams, and drive profitability and long-term success through meaningful inclusion initiatives.

Speaker: Dr. Chris Brooks (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Clarendon Capital Ventures)

How do you push forward when the world—and your stakeholders—push back? Join Aaron Craig Mitchell as he unpacks the mindset, strategy, and networks needed to turn barriers into breakthroughs and create meaningful impact.

In this lightning session, Aaron will provide insightful strategies for managing stakeholder resistance, mobilizing your network to drive change, and developing the mental toughness needed to lead in resistant environments. Whether you’re a leader, innovator, or stakeholder yourself, this session will equip you with practical strategies to push forward—even when the odds are stacked against you.

Speaker:  Aaron Craig Mitchell (Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Craig Mitchell Enterprises)

As legal challenges and shifting regulations continue to reshape corporate DEI efforts, leaders must adapt without losing sight of their long-term impact. In this dynamic session, legal expert David Glasgow will break down the evolving legal landscape, providing essential context, risk-mitigation strategies, and a foundational legal education to help organizations navigate uncertainty with confidence and clarity.
Through a mix of keynote presentation, fireside conversation with DSG Global’s Ralph E. Tavares, Jr., and interactive Q&A, this extended session will equip attendees with practical strategies to align DEI initiatives with legal realities while maintaining authenticity and effectiveness. Whether responding to external pressures, reassessing risk, or rebranding DEI efforts for sustained success, attendees will walk away with actionable tools to future-proof their strategy in a rapidly changing environment.

Speaker: David Glasgow (Executive Director, Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging)

Moderator: Ralph E. Tavares, Jr. (Senior Vice President of People and Culture, Storbeck Search | DSG Global)

Haleh Liza Gafori—acclaimed poet, translator, and musician—will weave together poetry, storytelling, and moments of song in a multi-dimensional, thought-provoking session designed to inspire leaders navigating an increasingly polarized world. Drawing from her celebrated translations of Rumi, she will illuminate themes of unity, resilience, and transformation, demonstrating how art can foster connection and provide clarity in uncertain times.

Through her unique blend of artistic mediums and a brief Q&A session, Gafori will offer a powerful perspective on camaraderie, collaboration, and compassion. Her session will underscore why empathy and our shared humanity are not just ideals, but essential tools for progress, encouraging leaders to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

Speaker: Haleh Liza Gafori (Vocalist, Poet, Educator)

In an era that feels increasingly fragmented, stories hold the unique power to unite people, transcend boundaries, and inspire change. Former CNN journalist Kim Bui Barnett is experienced in activating the transformative power of storytelling to bridge divides—an essential skill in a time when language and labels are under intense scrutiny.

For this session, attendees will have a chance to reflect on their brand narrative and learn how to activate the human side of storytelling to shift perspectives, foster empathy, and reach diverse audiences. Through an intimate fireside chat with esteemed former CNN journalist and her colleague, Slma Shelbayah, the two will offer insights on how to leverage inclusive narratives to move past polarization and create lasting connections of impact in the world.

Speaker: Slma Shelbayah (Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Shelbayah Consulting)
Speaker: Kim Bui Barnett (Vice President of Special Projects, CNN)