Popular Speaking Topics

---

 Abstract

Creativity is the work of a lone genius. Creative answers appear like a flash of lightning. Creative work is reserved for artists.

WRONG!

All executive leaders need creativity for innovation, trouble-shooting, and supporting customers. Creative problem-solving relies on experimentation, learning, and process methods. Individuals and organizations can nurture creative work in traditional shared office spaces and in hybrid models with dispersed teams. 

As work environments transition and transform through AI, organizations must adapt their innovation processes. Creativity requires a degree of spontaneity and team members must share nascent ideas to nurture and grow them. However, spontaneous creativity has suffered from lack of interactions among people and there is a real concern that AI disadvantages the human perspective. 

Learning Objectives

1. You will learn how to engage all team members in creative, collaborative work regardless of distance or space.

2. You will learn how to implement a process to drive enhanced creativity and problem-solving at all levels of the organization.

3. You will learn how to select simple tools that support collaboration and productivity to improve the change management in organizations.

Outline

· Three myths of creativity

· Why creativity and innovation are important to managing organizational change

· Building the climate for creativity

· Process steps to enhance idea generation and problem-solving

· How to select simple tools to improve collaborative thinking

 Abstract

Over the past few years, many organizations that manufacture tangible products have attempted Agile approaches for new product development. Unfortunately, many of these processes fail to deliver the expected results in speed-to-market and flexibility. Yet, returning to a full waterfall process remains bureaucratic and intractable with remote and virtual teams. The solution is a hybrid agile-waterfall process. 

In this session, we will identify various processes and systems for new product development (NPD). You will learn about two approaches to hybrid product development that can enhance the culture of innovation in your organization. We will provide examples of companies that adopted different processes to add flexibility while minimizing risk. Comparing and contrasting a non-profit using WAGILE Product Development and a manufacturer using Lean NPD, you will understand how culture and risk tolerance impact the choice of an effective product development process.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand risk in innovation from a perspective of requirements uncertainty and technical uncertainty

2. Identify different hybrid Agile-waterfall approaches to new product development

3. Compare and contrast two organizations design of NPD systems based on risk tolerance and culture

Outline

• Why do Innovation and Product Development matter?

• Typical Project Management (PM) processes for New Product Development (NPD)

• Hybrid Waterfall-Agile approaches and case studies

• Need to Evolve

 Abstract

If you have ever lived with or worked with another human being, you know that successful and rewarding relationships are built on give and take. Yet many of us face difficult, potentially destructive, relationships at work or at home. The behavior and impact of just one toxic team member can destroy a work environment. 

Leaders must identify the patterns of destructive people and learn strategies to protect their teams in order to advance goals in a healthy, constructive, and creative workplace. Similarly, each individual can learn to recognize red flags in toxic personal relationships, strategies to place healthy protective boundaries, and walk away when necessary.

These are tough and emotional topics. We recommend this workshop for leaders and individuals in small groups to allow vulnerability and authenticity. Active learning and participation yield new perspectives to bring sanity and stability back into your life. UPWARD teaches you to Understand toxic relationships, practice Prayer or meditation in discernment, Walk Away when necessary, Reflect, and Decide on future actions.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify difficult versus toxic relationships

2. Understand the physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts of toxic relationships

3. Develop a customized strategy to address toxic relationships

Outline

· What are the red flags in toxic relationships?

· Setting boundaries for yourself

· Working through grief and loss 

· Restoring identity and trust

· The path forward