States and Districts have written "equity" into their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and continuous improvement plans. Yet what equity looks like in schools is still a challenge we must understand more deeply if we want those plans to go into action. How we think about authentically leading, managing relationships, and building inclusive practices at the system's level must change before we can expect different outcomes for children. I have insights into what some of the most forward-thinking industries are doing and how these proven strategies are paying off for them and will also pay off for school districts.

There is a clear difference between leaders in our country's history who have been able to reach people and those who don't. While at the same time, there are people who move up the organizational chart into leadership positions who find it more and more challenging to stay there and experience the loneliness that it brings. Why is it that some leaders can lead and have people listen and follow, while others cannot connect and are often alone? This reality has become more evident in school systems where instability is present, especially in marginalized communities. Leaders of all walks of life experience this, especially leaders who lead from a place of difference. I have insights on how to reach the people you lead from lessons learned in my leadership journey. I will also draw on some of the most influential leaders' approaches to connecting to those that they serve. You will leave with thought-provoking insights that will help you think about how you lead others and understand what people really want and need from you.

The current story of a leader has become way too familiar for leaders across the country, especially in urban centers - one that starts with a ton of excitement, "check the list" listening tours, predictable strategic planning, and unfortunate short tenures. In each of those situations, something is missing--relationships that are created, not forced. To develop sustainable leadership, there are things leaders can learn to do to build genuine relationships that will allow for coalition-building and community buy-in. Through this talk, leaders from all walks of life can learn what it takes to reach people, get them on their teams, and maintain paths toward success as the leader of their organizations.

The Warren Buffets of the world have figured something out - the power of diversifying. In his case, Buffet has diversified his financial portfolio like none other, but for some reason, we have not taken his lesson to heart the way we should in different facets of life. As education leaders, we realize we do not have all the answers even though we often are the ones who receive all of the problems. What we must realize is that those problems can be solved with a diverse set of perspectives on the solutions. We need to ask. However, before we can make that ask, we must examine our systems - how we hire, operate, and flat-out invest in people - so that we have the diversity we need to address the needs of many more. Through this talk, we will analyze practices that have led to tremendous outcomes that started with intentional systemic practices that allow the seeds of equity to grow.

The world is full of well-intended people. Every day, individuals wake up to work towards outcomes for themselves or organizations, large and small. However, our individual and collective impact is thwarted by an inability to see the complexity of the human experience inside and outside of work. We walk into work with great intentions but fall short of outcomes for specific reasons that continue to polarize us at home and work. This disconnected experience has caused a rapid cycle of workplace shifts and employee discontent, making it more challenging to retain and grow talent. Through this conversation, we will investigate the root causes for this growing phenomenon and outline steps individuals and organizations can take to assess their organization's shortcomings and take action to change people's lived experiences every day.