GAYLORD NATIONAL RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER NATIONAL HARBOR, MD | OCTOBER 1-2, 2025
Program Sponsors
MICHAEL C. HYTER
CEO, The Executive Leadership Council
Dear MLMS Participant,
Welcome to the 31st Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS), a professional leadership development experience to help prepare high-potential, mid-level managers and executives for global leadership responsibilities. Here at the MLMS, you will be introduced to leadership skills, professional relationship strategies, and career advice to help you thrive in a dynamic and rapidly changing global business environment.
The MLMS is just one of several leadership development initiatives that The ELC’s Institute for Leadership Development & Research provides. Each experience creates a better understanding of what is required for sustained success and what you must do to apply and leverage your skills to maximize your career.
The MLMS is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, partners who understand the importance of the ongoing development of a pipeline of inclusive business talent to drive future corporate success. We thank them for their continued support. While you are here, be sure to take the time to meet new people and build your professional and personal networks. We are confident you will find the 2025 MLMS experience an encounter that will benefit your leadership development for years to come.
AUDREY TAYLOR
Chief Academy Officer, The Executive Leadership Council
Welcome to our 31st Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS) hosted by The ELC’s Institute for Leadership Development. You have taken an important step on your journey to leadership excellence.
The Executive Leadership Council (the “ELC”) has been dedicated to opening channels of opportunity since 1986, with a strong and significant commitment to enhancing inclusive leadership within the corporate landscape. Our long-time logo includes the words “The Power of Inclusive Leadership” and we stand by its value in driving professional, personal and business performance.
The ELC membership is dedicated to building a diverse leadership pipeline and opening channels of opportunity for the advancement of inclusive professionals. The ELC Institute is committed to leadership development for corporate professionals at all career stages emphasizing education, inclusive leadership, cutting-edge research, personalized coaching, and preparation for executive roles, including the C-suite and corporate board positions.
To maximize the benefits of the experiences and sessions we have planned for you over the next two days, take some time to review this program book and the event app. You will want to take advantage of the exposure and visibility opportunities presented by this exceptional gathering of successful corporate executives providing the insights, knowledge, and skills necessary for a competitive global workforce. You are now part of The ELC family, and we look forward to engaging with you and contributing to your overall success. Please be sure to take the time to meet as many of your fellow participants as well as the executives taking an interest in your future. Expand your network and have a wonderful experience.
WELCOME FROM FIDELITY CHARITABLE
Fidelity Charitable is honored to partner with The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) to welcome you to the Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS).
For more than three decades, The ELC has built pathways for diverse leaders to thrive. MLMS continues to be a powerful platform for advancing professional development, cultivating networks, and preparing the next generation of executives. At Fidelity Charitable, we share this commitment to creating opportunities that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and expand access to leadership.
Our work is centered on unlocking the full potential of philanthropy to drive meaningful change. Just as The ELC invests in the promise of its participants, Fidelity Charitable seeks to invest in the promise of a more inclusive and equitable future. We believe that when diverse perspectives and talents are valued, organizations and communities alike are stronger and better prepared for long-term success.
This week, you are joining a legacy of leaders who are shaping industries, breaking barriers, and inspiring progress. We encourage you to fully engage in the learning, networking, and growth that this symposium offers. The knowledge and relationships you build here will not only impact your career journey, but also the organizations and communities you serve.
On behalf of Fidelity Charitable, welcome. We celebrate your achievements, support your aspirations, and look forward to the leadership impact you will make.
VIRTUAL SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
9:30 A.M. WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
Inspire Stage
10:00 A.M. . . . . . PITCH & PERSIST: The Playbook for Fearless Corporate Game Changers featuring Arian Simone Inspire Stage
11:00 A.M. BREAK
11:30 A.M. FROM SCRIPT TO SCALE: Will Packer on Leading with Vision and Voice
Inspire Stage
12:30 P.M. BREAK
1:00 P.M. . . . . . . LEADING WITH IMPACT: INCLUSION, INFLUENCE, AND THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP featuring Adrianne Smith, Chief Inclusion and Impact Officer, Fleishman Hillard
11:00 A.M. . . . . . THE PRACTICE OF CREATIVE LEADERSHIP: CHALLENGE YOUR FEAR, TO FUEL INNOVATION featuring Jovian Zayne, Founder and CEO, On Purpose Movement Premium Virtual Stage
12:00 P.M. DATA, DISCIPLINE & DISRUPTION FOR NEXT LEVEL LEADERS featuring Dr. Randal Pinkett
Inspire Stage
1:00 P.M. BREAK
1:15 P.M. . . . . . . LEAD LIKE YOU MEAN IT: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite featuring Laysha Ward
Inspire Stage
2:15 P.M. CLOSING
Premium Virtual Stage
Leading with Impact: Inclusion, Influence, and the Future of Leadership
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 1:00-1:45 PM
Join Adrianne Smith, Chief Inclusion and Impact Officer at FleishmanHillard and founder of the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective, for an intimate conversation on building platforms that elevate underrepresented voices and create lasting business impact. She’ll share defining moments from her career, lessons on using emotional intelligence to navigate tough challenges, and practical advice for leaders looking to expand their influence and prepare for a future that is more diverse, interconnected, and driven by technology.
Unlocking the Power of Sponsorship to Accelerate Your Career
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 3:00-3:45 PM
In this candid and practical session, Donna Wilson draws on 30 years of corporate experience to share why sponsorship — not just hard work — is the key to reaching your career goals. Participants will learn how to recognize when a sponsor is paying attention, build and manage sponsor relationships, and leverage those connections to open doors and accelerate growth. Donna will also tackle common misconceptions about sponsorship, explain how to navigate corporate culture without compromising your values, and offer actionable strategies you can apply immediately to get noticed, earn trust, and position yourself for your next opportunity.
The Practice of Creative Leadership: Challenge your Fear, to Fuel Innovation with Jovian Zayne
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 11:00-11:45 AM
Leaders often face resistance and self-doubt when bringing new ideas to life. This session helps leaders break free from fear, perfectionism, and procrastination to unlock disciplined creativity. Participants will learn practical tools to confidently lead with courage and inspire innovation within themselves and across their teams.
Inspire Stage
Pitch and Persist: The Playbook for Fearless Corporate Game-Changers featuring Arian Simone
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 10:00-11:00 A.M.
Arian Simone—serial entrepreneur and Fearless Fund co-founder—shares how she rebounded from cash crunches, bias, and headline-making litigation to keep funding bold ideas. Translating her venture-capital playbook into corporate language, she shows professionals how to craft data-driven business cases that win executive sponsorship. Simone reveals how leveraging diversity as a market advantage and building cross-functional coalitions turns colleagues into invested allies. You’ll leave with a resilience toolkit to flip every “no” into momentum and champion breakthrough initiatives inside your organization.
From Script to Scale: Will Packer on Leading with Vision and Voice
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 11:30 A.M. –12:30 P.M.
From Hollywood hitmaker to cultural architect, Will Packer has built an empire by telling stories others overlooked—and doing it on his own terms. In this conversation, Packer breaks down how visionary thinking, strategic risk-taking, and authentic storytelling build influence across industries. He’ll share insights on brand leadership, building creative coalitions, and scaling ideas that resonate with global audiences. Expect a rare blend of business acumen, cultural insight, and unapologetic ambition designed to inspire leaders who want to produce impact at scale.
Data, Discipline & Disruption for Next Level Leaders
featuring Dr. Randal Pinkett
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 12:00-1:00 P.M.
Dr. Randal Pinkett—award-winning entrepreneur, scholar, author and tech innovator—unpacks how equity-centered leadership drives better performance, stronger teams, and smarter strategy. Drawing on his experiences leading multimillion-dollar enterprises and advising Fortune 500 clients, Pinkett explores how data, discipline, and disruption intersect to shape inclusive success. This is a session for leaders who want to lead with rigor and legacy, not just intention.
Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite featuring Laysha Ward
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 1:15-2:15 P.M.
Join Laysha Ward for a candid conversation on what it really takes to lead with purpose, clarity, and conviction in today’s evolving business landscape. Drawing insights from her new book Lead Like You Mean It, Ward shares the leadership lessons that matter most—especially for those who want to lead with impact, not just intention. This fireside chat explores how authenticity, equity, and influence intersect at the executive level. Expect to leave inspired, challenged, and equipped to lead like you mean it.
Activate Stage
Let’s Get Connected Live! with Sherhara Burrell
EPISODE 1
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 2:00-3:00 P.M.
Meet the ELC and meet your fellow participants! Get ready for a high-energy, game show-style experience where leadership meets live community engagement. With live audience interaction and prizes, Let’s Get Connected Live is an immersive and interactive experience. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, or simply get inspired, this is where your next level begins. Build meaningful connections with fellow professionals in an environment designed for authentic conversations, collaboration, and community.
Get an inside look at the ELC’s mission to shape inclusive leadership across industries.
Lights. Leadership. Legacy. The stage is yours!
ABC’s of PromptingHow to Get the Most out of Your AI Tools
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 4:00-5:00 P.M.
You’ve seen the lists—”100 AI tools to boost productivity.” But here’s the real secret: It’s not the tool. It’s the prompt.
In this hands-on session, Cliff Worley, Head of Portfolio Marketing at Kapor Capital, will show you how to move beyond copy-paste prompts and into the world of strategic prompting—where you can get AI to think like you, write like you, and even work like your best employee.
You’ll walk away with:
• A simple but powerful prompting framework you can use across any tool (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and more)
• Real-world examples of advanced prompts that unlock next-level results
If you’ve ever felt stuck staring at a blinking cursor in ChatGPT, this session will make prompting so easy it feels like magic.
Let’s Get Connected Live! with Sherhara
Burrell
EPISODE 2
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 8:30-9:30 A.M.
Meet the ELC and meet your fellow participants! Get ready for a high-energy, game showstyle experience where leadership meets live community engagement. With live audience interaction and prizes, Let’s Get Connected Live is an immersive and interactive experience. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, or simply get inspired, this is where your next level begins.
Build meaningful connections with fellow professionals in an environment designed for authentic conversations, collaboration, and community.
Get an inside look at the ELC’s mission to shape inclusive leadership across industries.
Lights. Leadership. Legacy. The stage is yours!
Top AI Tools for Impact
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 10:00-11:00 A.M.
There are over 30,000 AI tools out there. Most of them are noise. A few are lethal.
In this fast-paced session, Cliff Worley—Head of Portfolio Marketing at Kapor Capital and one of the most trusted voices in AI for business—cuts through the hype to deliver the tools that actually work.
You’ll get the definitive shortlist of the top AI tools for 2025:
• Tools that make you faster
• Tools that make you smarter
• Tools that make you look like you have a 10-person team behind you
Each tool shared isn’t just cool—it’s been vetted, tested, and proven to get results. Whether you’re in marketing, operations, leadership, or creative work, these tools will give you an edge most professionals don’t even know exists.
Every AI tool you learn in this session is a career cheat code.
Because the people who know how to use the right tools? They’re not replaceable—they’re unstoppable.
Breakout Sessions
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 2:00-3:00
Mic Drop Moments: Speak Up and Spark Change
PRESENTED BY AMAZON
Summit Breakout Room
Many talented professionals struggle to get their ideas heard in rooms where decisions are made. This session empowers you to break through that barrier—covering how to assert your opinions with poise, handle interruptions or pushback, and make your presence felt even when you feel like the only one in the room. You’ll come away with techniques to communicate confidently in a high-stakes environment, advocate for yourself and others, and use your voice as an instrument of positive change.
Strategy Implementation for Organizational Impact
PRESENTED BY BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB
Momentum Breakout Room
In this session, mid-level managers will explore the critical role they play in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their teams and across the organization. Learn actionable strategies to implement DEI initiatives that go beyond check-the-box efforts, from building inclusive policies to identifying and disrupting bias in systems and decision-making. You’ll gain tools to foster belonging, promote equity, and drive measurable impact—while strengthening your leadership attitude to champion change with clarity, courage, and consistency.
The Boardroom Buzz: Presentation Skills
that Resonate with C-Suite Audiences
PRESENTED BY SYNCHRONY
Catalyst Breakout Room
Moving into executive ranks requires more than hard work—it requires business savvy and the ability to communicate in terms the C-suite understands. In this session, you’ll learn how to frame your ideas with financial and strategic context, linking your projects to the bigger picture and bottom line. Gain tips on translating your expertise into the language of ROI and strategy, so you earn credibility with senior leaders and position yourself for that seat at the table.
Breakout Sessions
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 4:00-5:00
People, Performance, Profit, the Manager’s Balancing Act,
PRESENTED BY THE ELC
Summit Breakout Room
Mid-level managers play a pivotal role in translating organizational strategy into team outcomes, while also supporting people through the pressures of change and growth. This session will help you master the balancing act: connecting business acumen with empathy, and performance with purpose. You’ll learn how to interpret financial insights with clarity, create impact with influence, and lead with a people-first mindset that achieves sustainable results.
Converting Mentors to Sponsors:
Building Advocacy Networks
PRESENTED BY BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB
Momentum Breakout Room
In this session, discover how to evolve mentor relationships into active sponsorship and career advocacy that drives visibility, opportunity, and growth. Learn how to identify and cultivate a strong network of advocates who are willing to speak your name in rooms you haven’t entered yet. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to build influence, strengthen professional alliances, and position yourself for advancement within your organization and beyond.
Mastering Metrics that Matter
PRESENTED BY HILTON
Catalyst Breakout Room
Every executive needs to speak the language of profit and loss. This fireside chat explores the critical data and financial metrics that drive business performance, including gross margin and ROI. Learn how to make data-driven decisions that impact the bottom line even if you’re not a finance professional.
Breakout Sessions
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 8:30-9:30
People, Performance, Profit, the Manager’s Balancing Act
PRESENTED BY THE ELC
Summit Breakout Room
Mid-level managers play a pivotal role in translating organizational strategy into team outcomes, while also supporting people through the pressures of change and growth. This session will help you master the balancing act: connecting business acumen with empathy, and performance with purpose. You’ll learn how to interpret financial insights with clarity, create impact with influence, and lead with a people-first mindset that achieves sustainable results.
Effective Risk Taking: The Art of Calculated Risk: A Journey to Confidence
PRESENTED BY THE ELC
Momentum Breakout Room
Have you ever regretted not standing up for something you felt strongly about? Or not speaking up when you knew your words would make a difference? Have you ever worried about embarrassing yourself by acting on an idea others might reject?
All of these questions describe risk-taking opportunities. Taking a risk means stepping into a situation where the consequences of your decisions and actions are uncertain and there is some possibility of loss or adversity. It requires a willingness to operate outside of your comfort zone and experiment with new ways of doing things. Many of us are reluctant to pursue opportunities that could result in significant company growth because of the risks involved. In this program, you will learn how to take risks with confidence by preparing yourself to take on an opportunity, assessing its consequences, and managing the results.
Leading Through the Storm: Executive Strategies for Navigating Unprecedented Change
PRESENTED BY THE ELC
Catalyst Breakout Room
In an era of constant disruption - from AI transformation to remote work evolution - today’s executives must master the art of leading change while simultaneously maintaining organizational and/ or department stability. In this interactive workshop, Dr. Peter James aims to equip both executives and leaders with practical frameworks and tools to drive successful transformations, build resilient teams, and turn uncertainty into a competitive advantage.
Breakout Sessions
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 10:00-11:00
From Ideas to Impact, Innovation for Emerging Leaders
PRESENTED BY AMGEN
Summit Breakout Room
Innovative thinking is a prized leadership asset, allowing you to turn creative ideas into tangible results. In this fireside chat, we’ll discuss how to identify opportunities for innovation in your role and take calculated risks that align with strategic goals. You will take away methods for pitching new initiatives, overcoming resistance to change, and demonstrating the business value of your bold ideas.
Turn Empathy into Executive Edge
PRESENTED BY WALMART
Momentum Breakout Room
In a high-performing environment, empathy is not a weakness but a strategic advantage. This fireside chat will discuss how understanding your team’s perspectives and needs can strengthen relationships and drive collaboration. You’ll discover how practicing empathy as a leader builds trust, enhances your credibility, and empowers you to influence outcomes across the organization.
The Sixth Sense: Strategies for Effective Social Awareness
PRESENTED BY CISCO
Catalyst Breakout Room
Great leaders can “read the room” and sense unspoken dynamics in any meeting or team. In this fireside chat, you’ll learn how to sharpen your social awareness and empathy to better understand colleagues from all backgrounds. The discussion will provide tips on adjusting your communication style, building rapport across diverse groups, and creating an atmosphere of trust and inclusivity through emotional intelligence.
Did you enjoy all that MLMS 2025 had to offer? Stay connected and be the first to hear about what’s in store for 2026. From exclusive updates to early access and special announcements, our email list ensures you won’t miss a thing. Subscribe today and keep the momentum going! For group registration or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Institute@elcinfo.com.