Topics - #ACELing2025 Leadership Conference

1ABC. Chart Your P.A.T.H. *

This session is a call to lead with purpose, courage, and clarity. Through personal stories, lived experiences, and a simple framework, you’ll be invited to reconnect with your deeper “why,” lead in alignment with your values, and build spaces where both you and those around you can truly thrive. Rooted in authenticity and community, this session will include time for reflection and discussion. You will leave not only inspired, but ready to act with intention and impact.

2A. Climbing the corporate ladder as an AANHPI professional *

Explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by AANHPI professionals as they navigate the corporate ladder throughout their career. This session will highlight strategies for overcoming barriers, building influence, and advancing careers while honoring cultural identity. Learn how to leverage strengths, develop leadership skills, and create meaningful impact in the workplace.

2B. Building a Business in a Hybrid World: What Works, What Doesn’t **

As remote and hybrid work become the norm, how can small business owners and entrepreneurs adapt to attract talent, retain clients, and build culture? This session explores low-cost tools, time-tested strategies, and lessons learned from leaders managing distributed teams and customers.

2C. The Evolving Leader in the Age of AI *

In an era of constant change and AI disruption, effective leadership requires adaptability, empathy, and a focus on purposeful execution. In this interactive session, Roger shares a practical framework to build resiliency, cultivate an other-centered mindset, and lead with clarity. Drawing from real-world insights, he offers actionable strategies to help leaders navigate uncertainty, empower teams, and thrive in a rapidly evolving environment.

3A. Cross-Generational Leadership: Building Cohesion Across Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z **

With multiple generations shaping today’s workplace, leaders must foster collaboration across age groups. This discussion focuses on bridging generational gaps through mentorship, communication, and inclusive leadership. Discover practical approaches to harnessing the strengths of every generation to drive innovation, mutual respect, and team cohesion in rapidly evolving work environments.

3B. Brand You – Growing Your Personal Brand to Grow Your Business *

Whether you're a founder, freelancer, or corporate professional, your personal brand is your most valuable asset. Learn how to position yourself with purpose, create trust across digital platforms, and turn authentic engagement into business opportunities.

3C. ACELerate Confidence: Reclaiming Voice, Power & Presence **

This candid and empowering panel brings together accomplished women leaders to explore the challenges of imposter syndrome—how it manifests, why it persists, and how to rise above it. Through personal stories and practical strategies, panelists will share how they’ve reclaimed their confidence, navigated self-doubt, and redefined their sense of belonging in spaces where they once felt invisible. Attendees will leave with tools to silence their inner critic and lead with authenticity, courage, and conviction.

4A. Slay in Color – Restorative Leadership for a Purpose-Driven Future *

This interactive workshop introduces a restorative leadership framework that blends emotional well-being with organizational impact. Inspired by the Slay in Color journal, participants will engage in mindfulness practices, guided prompts, and intentional reflection to reconnect with their purpose. Designed for leaders navigating constant change, the session offers practical tools to step away from urgency culture, cultivate inner clarity, and lead with creativity and intention in today’s complex, purpose-driven world.

4B. Leveling Up Through Mentorship: Real Stories, Real Growth **

Mentorship can be a game-changer at every stage of leadership. In this dynamic panel, diverse professionals share personal stories of transformation through mentorship—both as mentors and mentees. Explore how guidance, accountability, and authentic relationships unlock hidden potential and drive long-term growth. From navigating career transitions to cultivating leadership presence, this session offers actionable insights on how mentorship fosters resilience, connection, and upward mobility in today’s fast-evolving workplace.

4C. Strengthening Civic Health in Arizona through Leadership and Action **

A thriving Arizona depends on an engaged, informed, and connected community. Join leaders from the Center for the Future of Arizona and the Flinn Foundation as they share the latest data on civic engagement and discuss how leadership at every level can strengthen our state’s civic health. Discover your role in shaping a more inclusive, collaborative future—and leave with clear actions to contribute meaningfully to your community and beyond.

5A. - Coming Soon

5B. From Operator to Orchestrator: Navigating Career Pivots and Building at the Edges of Commerce ***

In this session, Dennis Yao Yu shares his journey from leading at Shopify and Firework to founding The Other Group. He’ll explore how intentional pivots unlock creativity and scale. Moderated by industry leader Bill Imada, this conversation offers tactical insights and mindset shifts for rising operators and founders alike—highlighting how to navigate inflection points, identify market whitespace, and build with impact in today’s evolving commerce landscape.

5C. Leading Through Disruption: Navigating AI, Automation, and Rapid Technological Change **

As AI, automation, and emerging technologies transform every industry, leaders must navigate disruption with vision and responsibility. This expert panel explores how to adopt innovation while empowering people, maintaining trust, and leading ethically. From reimagining roles to addressing bias and building adaptable cultures, discover how forward-thinking organizations are aligning technology with human-centered leadership to thrive in the future of work—without leaving their workforce behind.

6A. Crisis-Proof Leadership: Cultivating Resilient Teams in an Unpredictable World **

In today’s rapidly shifting landscape, effective leaders must navigate crises—from global instability to environmental disruptions—with clarity, empathy, and strategic foresight. This session will examine how to build organizational resilience by fostering psychological safety, promoting adaptive thinking, and enhancing operational agility. Attendees will gain practical tools and frameworks to lead through uncertainty while sustaining team trust, engagement, and performance.

6B. AI in Action: How Everyday Entrepreneurs Are Using AI to Work Smarter, Not Harder **
AI is no longer just for tech giants. Discover how entrepreneurs and small business leaders are using AI tools to streamline operations, enhance marketing, and boost productivity. This panel explores practical, affordable ways to integrate AI into daily workflows—while keeping authenticity and ethics top of mind. Hear real-life strategies, recommended tools, and lessons learned to help you adopt AI with confidence and purpose.

6C. Inside Out: Using Self-Awareness and Feedback to Achieve Growth *

This interactive session empowers attendees to take ownership of their personal and professional development. Through engaging discussions and exercises, participants will explore the connections between self-awareness, feedback, and growth. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and tools to transform feedback into a catalyst for learning and growth rather than a source of tension and use self-awareness to drive their own development in an ever-changing work environment.

7A. Leading with Integrity: Shaping Organizations Where People Matter **

More organizations are moving past performative efforts and working toward lasting cultural change that reflects the values of their people. This panel will explore how leaders are building workplaces where every individual feels respected, heard, and empowered to contribute fully. Learn practical approaches to strengthen leadership behaviors, operational systems, and company culture to foster trust, shared purpose, and long-term growth. Discover how leading companies are creating environments where authenticity and accountability are standard—not slogans—and where belonging is not an initiative, but a way of doing business.

7B. Fuel Your Growth with Connection *

Strong networks don’t just happen—they’re intentionally built. This interactive workshop is designed to help participants forge meaningful connections through structured icebreakers, engaging networking challenges, and breakout sessions centered around shared goals and mentorship. Whether you're looking to expand your circle, find peer support, or connect with mentors, this session offers practical tools to strengthen your personal and professional relationships in a purposeful way.

7C. How to Harness the Strengths of All Generations as Current and Future Leaders *

This interactive workshop explores how generational perspectives shape leadership. Certified generational trainer Roger will guide participants in recognizing each generation’s unique strengths, fostering collaboration across age groups, and navigating challenges with a multi-generational lens. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, attendees will gain inclusive leadership tools to build resilient, adaptable teams in today’s dynamic workplace.

8ABC.  Empowering Yourself When You Don’t Feel Empowered *

How many times do we feel like we do not have control over our career and lives? We can feel overwhelmed and helpless. With all that is happening externally, we need to figure out what is within our control. Whether it’s our health, wealth, career, community impact or our ability to navigate through this world, we need something to anchor ourselves to feel like we can navigate our own lives. Is there a way to look within ourselves to find the answers? Let’s discuss what we can actually focus on and how to create a “center” for ourselves. At the end of the session, identify 1-2 ways you can take back control of your work and life!

*    Workshop

**   Panel Discussion

*** Fireside Chat

Note: All session topics are subject to change without notice.