Join us on Wednesday, August 12, 2026
PROGRAM AGENDA
8:30 AM 9:30 AM 9:45 AM
10:30 AM
10:50 AM
Registration & Vendor Showcase
Welcome Remarks
Building Without a Playbook: How to Lead, Decide, and Grow When there is No Clear Roadmap
Quick Break
Unlocking Feedback – Transform Critique Into Your Career Catalyst
Managing Up: How to Advocate for Yourself and Your Work
12:00 PM
1:30 PM 2:30 PM 1:00 PM 11:20 AM
Lunch
Say It Like a Leader: Navigating Tough Workplace Conversations
The Last Word: A Recipe for Meaningful Connections
Happy Hour & Vendor Showcase
Session One: Building Without a Playbook: How to Lead, Decide, and Grow When there is No Clear Roadmap
Presented by Maisha Beard-Johnson, Coordinator of Business Asset Development, Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment
What do you do when there’s no clear roadmap, and you’re still expected to figure it out? Whether you’re leading a team or simply navigating your own career, today’s workplace often requires you to make decisions, take initiative, and move forward without clear direction.
This session will explore how to build confidence, create structure where none exists, and grow in your role, even if you don’t have a formal leadership title You’ll walk away with practical ways to navigate ambiguity, make smart decisions, and turn uncertainty into momentum.
Key Takeaways:
Simple frameworks for making confident decisions, even without all the answers
How to take initiative and create clarity when expectations are unclear
Ways to build trust and influence, regardless of your title
Strategies to stay grounded, adaptable, and forward-moving in uncertain situations
Session Two: Unlocking Feedback –Transform Critique Into Your Career Catalyst
Feedback can be one of the most powerful tools for growth, if you know how to use it. Whether it’s formal reviews, offhand comments, or constructive criticism, this session will help you reframe feedback as a catalyst for your career. Designed for professionals at any stage, you’ll learn how to confidently receive, interpret, and apply feedback in a way that builds your skills, strengthens relationships, and accelerates your development.
Key Takeaways:
How to receive feedback without getting defensive, and turn it into action
Techniques for askin lps you grow
Ways to identify pat rs most
Strategies to use fee career momentum
Session Three: Managing Up: How to Advocate for Yourself and Your Work
Your success isn’t just about doing great work, it’s about making sure the right people see and understand it. Whether you’re looking for more opportunities, clearer direction, or recognition, managing up is a critical skill at any stage of your career. This session will show attendees how to build strong relationships with managers, communicate their value, and proactively shape their growth, without feeling awkward or selfpromotional.
Key Takeaways:
How to communicate yo resonates with your ma Strategies to build trust early in your career
Ways to advocate for op
Practical tips to increas recognized
Session Four: Say It Like a Leader: Navigating Tough Workplace Conversations
Difficult conversations are part of every career, but how you handle them can set you apart. Whether you’re addressing conflict, setting boundaries, giving feedback, or advocating for yourself, this session will help you communicate with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn practical tools to navigate tough workplace conversations in a way that builds trust, strengthens relationships, and positions you as a leader - no matter your title.
Key Takeaways:
Frameworks for approaching difficult conversations with confidence and professionalism
How to clearly express your perspective while staying collaborative and solutions-focused
Techniques for managing emotions yours and others’ in high-stakes without
Session Five: The Last Word: A Recipe for Meaningful Connections
Presented by Herb Escher, President, Dale Carnegie WNY
What do legendary networkers and unforgettable cocktails have in common? They aren't just thrown together, they’re intentional, perfectly balanced, and leave you wanting a second round
This high-spirited interactive session uses a cocktail-inspired 'recipe' to help you mix meaningful interactions into top-shelf connections.
The 3-Step Blend:
Step 1: Shake Up Your Comfort Zone - The best flavors happen when you break the ice. We’re pushing past the "safe" stuff to find the bold opportunities waiting on the other side of the room
Step 2: The "Show Up" Words - Showing up is just the base, it’s how you show up that provides the proof. Learn to bring a presence that’s smooth, potent, and impossible to ignore.
Step 3: The Conversation Stack - A great drink has layers; a great chat has depth Master the art of active listening and "stacking" your questions to create a conversation that actually sticks.
When the right ‘ingredients’ come together, the result isn't just a "nice to meet you" - it’s a lasting impression. Come for the cocktail-inspired vibes, stay for the career-changing spirit. Let’s make sure your professional reputation is the one everyone's talking about the next morning.
