The Multigenerational Advantage:    Leveraging EACH for Success!  

Have you ever timed buying a pizza so that you could stack the most coupons to get that sweet deal? Maybe it’s 20% off on Tuesdays, the local paper gave you a 5% resident’s discount, and you have a Free Delivery coupon from your child’s school. What was $21.95 (not including tax and delivery fees) is now only $14!

What if we were able to cherry-pick the best that each generation present in the workforce has to offer, embed those values into the processes and ways of working, and create a truly, highly effective company?

As a Zillennial, I stand at the intersection of Millennials and Gen Z, witnessing the profound impact that the youngest generation is having on the workforce. In this discussion, we’ll explore how Gen Z’s unique values and expectations are reshaping the definition of a “successful” company and what organizations may need to do to remain relevant and competitive in the future.

Our goal for this session is to engage in co-creation in what the tactics and strategies of OD-professionals may be during the imminent transition of leadership from Baby Boomers to Gen X and Millennials. How can we implement innovative organizational design? How can organizations adapt to meet the changing needs? And how can we ensure that the wisdom and experience of previous generations are not lost in that process?

Please join us on May 9 to stack the generational deck and leverage each for success!

Speaker:  Tristan Martinez     {see Bio below} 

         
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening May 9:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIO:

Tristan Martinez is an Organizational Design Consultant who specializes in Human-Centered Design Thinking and Behavioral Analysis. She holds an undergraduate degree in Organizational Development from the University of North Texas and has earned multiple certifications, including Project Management Professional and Prosci Change Practitioner.

Throughout her time in the military, Tristan focused on developing the leadership capabilities of individuals and fostering a culture of transformational leadership that has influenced today’s Naval leaders. As a lifelong learner, Tristan believes the more she learns, the more she realizes how much there is to know. She has a true dedication for helping organizations achieve meaningful change that is beneficial for their most valuable assets – the people.

Linking OD and AI:  
Exploring Proactive Digital Transformations  

The words “AI” quickly grabbed the world’s attention last November with the launch of large language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. While artificial intelligence has been present for many years, Generative AI has sparked intense interest and focus in utilizing these technologies throughout our organizations. Our role as OD Practitioners and Consultants hinges on understanding how to apply Human-Centered AI concepts to the design and deployment of these technologies.

This month’s conversation is not aimed at orienting participants to the technology, but rather, developing our collective understanding in becoming proactive in advancing the quality of human life and the business performance these technologies may provide our organizations.

Please join us on March 14 for this timely topic!

Speakers:  Bert Painter and Tristan Martinez     {see Bios below} 

         
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening March 14:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Speaker BIOs:  

Bert Painter is an independent consulting social scientist and documentary filmmaker who has facilitated participative design of work organizations with employers, unions, and communities across Canada and internationally since 1970. Current consulting work involves digital transformation of manufacturing processes and organization in a multi-national pulp and paper company. Of prior significance was a National Science Foundation-funded study of virtual organization of multi-institutional Research & Development, with findings published in a 2016 edition of an International Journal for Team Performance Management.

As a filmmaker, Bert has produced over 20 documentaries on innovative workplaces in North America, including “Engineering for Commitment”, the history of socio-technical design of work in North America. Meanwhile, a new film series on The Future of Work is in development.

Tristan Martinez is an Organizational Design Consultant who specializes in Human-Centered Design Thinking and Behavioral Analysis. She holds an undergraduate degree in Organizational Development from the University of North Texas and has earned multiple certifications, including Project Management Professional and Prosci Change Practitioner.

Throughout her time in the military, Tristan focused on developing the leadership capabilities of individuals and fostering a culture of transformational leadership that has influenced today’s Naval leaders. As a lifelong learner, Tristan believes the more she learns, the more she realizes how much there is to know. She has a true dedication for helping organizations achieve meaningful change that is beneficial for their most valuable assets – the people.

Internal & External 
Communities of Practice:
State of the Art  

What are today’s best practices for vibrant Communities of Practice?

The last few years have seen communities of all types shift from primarily in-person to primarily virtual.  More recently we’ve seen a mix of virtual, hybrid, and too many in-person opportunities for any one person’s calendar.  In our October session we will:

• Explore current CoP best practices
• Consider the impact of psychological safety and other factors on participation
• Use an interactive case study to look at implications for ourselves

Please join us on October 12 for some introspection and inspiration!

Facilitator:  Terri Adkisson      {see Bio below}          

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening October 12:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

Facilitator BIO  —  Terri Adkisson

Terri Adkisson is a fractional executive and business consultant, specializing in strategy, operations, innovation, and taming complexity. She holds an MBA from UT Austin, is a co-author of two books on virtual facilitation, and has worked with organizations in over 20 industries. Terri helps people see things that aren’t there yet but should be, resulting in profitable innovation and change.  www.TerriAdkisson.com

The Power of OD —
Pioneers & Luminaries    

The Pepperdine University MSOD Alumni network has created a platform called “The Power of OD“, whose goal is to bring together like-minded agents of change who are passionate about transforming people, leaders, organizations, and communities. By offering compelling and freely shared content, they seek to mobilize dialogue and authentic connections that enable us to make an impactful difference in the world.

Our May 12 DFW OD Network session offers both a powerful introduction to the field of OD and a great overview of the diverse leadership that has helped OD thrive for the past 20 years. Whether you are new to the field or just need a fun refresher, the work of the Pepperdine Pioneers and Luminaries initiative will enhance your understanding of significant OD thought leadership, and also look to the future of OD.
         
Presenters:  Charlotte Law and Jeb Bates (Pepperdine MSOD Alumni)   
{See full BIOs below}      
     
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening May 12:  (CT)    
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

PRESENTER BIOs:   
 
Charlotte Law is an experienced organization development consultant, international seminar leader, and professional coach.  She is the founder of High Impact Training & Coaching Systems, a Phoenix-based firm working with individuals and companies to achieve outstanding results. Her unique approach combines strategic planning, executive consulting, group learning focused on skill development and concept integration, and one-on-one support and accountability coaching of individual employees.

Jonathan ‘Jeb’ Bates is the founder of ThoughtAction LLC, a global talent optimization, executive development and team alignment firm based in Massachusetts. A graduate of the Pepperdine University MSOD program and ICF certified coach, Jeb consults with senior leaders in organizations to implement intentional people strategies that drive their business strategies. You can reach Jeb at jbates@thoughtaction.com.

For more information about the Pepperdine initiative see:    https://www.ThePowerofOD.org/about

Return to Work: The New Normal 
 (and Tug-of-War between Organizations & Employees) 

Join us for a lively discussion on how organizations are bringing people back to work, in a hybrid or still yet to be defined environment.

Learn first-hand from leaders who are currently involved in designing pathways to bring people back into the traditional or evolving workplace.

We look forward to your participation in this highly interactive session where attendees will have a chance to discuss their point of view on the challenges faced by organizations and by employees as a part of this emerging process.

Please join us on July 8 to add your perspectives as we explore how people should be preparing themselves for a successful transition (or assimilation) into the new ‘hybrid’ workplaces of the future

Facilitator:  Pallavi Ridout   {See full BIO below}

Schedule for Thursday Evening July 8:    (CDT) 
   –  6:45  Virtual setup and Networking
   –  7:00  Announcements / Intros  
   –  7:15  Program Begins Promptly    
   –  8:45  Closing and Wrap Up
   –  9:00  Program Ends

Zoom Link to Join Virtual Meeting will be sent to all who register.

FACILITATOR BIO:  
 
Pallavi Ridout  is an Executive Coach, facilitator, speaker and OD consultant.  For the past 16 years she has worked in leadership roles within the OD and Talent Management functions for global organizations. During this time she coached several hundred executives and helped employees and teams perform at their peak at organizations such as ICANN and Warner Bros.

She is currently writing a book inspired by her life changing decision to embark on a journey of “living a life of no regrets”.  On this journey she decided to quit her successful corporate career to prioritize family, pursue her passion for motivational speaking, and inspire others.

Annual Networking/Social Meeting
and “Gold Elephant Book Exchange”

Meeting Goals:
 – Connect: get to know one another better – personally & professionally
  – Learn: share knowledge informally during the book exchange
  – Enjoy: fellowship + creative responses (and humor) of the game

Please bring a gift-wrapped book that is meaningful to you — perhaps a book from your own library to ‘pay it forward’ or one from a second hand bookstore. Don’t spend a lot of money – it’s the thought that counts!

The game will be similar to a traditional white elephant gift exchange — each person in turn will unwrap a book or ‘steal’ one that someone else has already opened. Unlike ‘white elephants’ (which are often useless), the books are ‘gold elephants’ that will contain some unique nuggets of wisdom when opened (or stolen) by the right recipient! Discovering those golden nuggets will be part of the game as people talk about the books they give (and the ones they get)!

Handout/Procedure for the ‘Gold Elephant Book Exchange’

Presenter / Facilitator: Jim Jameson

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening:
–  6:30  Intros / Networking / Food
–  7:00  Announcements / Program
–  8:45  Closing and evaluation

Meeting Location:  

University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room *
   Campus: 1845 East Northgate Drive,    Irving, TX 75062     (972-721-5000)

Cost:   No charge for members ($60/year).  $10 for guests.

Facilitator BIO:      
Jim Jameson is currently “semi-retired” from his various consulting roles and is exploring new avenues.  His professional mission has been to improve the success rate of technology adoption projects, working mainly in the areas of Business Analysis, Change Management, Collaboration, and Knowledge Management.  He believes that focusing on the people side of technology change is the key to improving ROI on transformational ‘IT solutions’.

Jim earned an MS degree in Information Systems and post-grad certificate in Knowledge Management, both from George Washington University in DC.

Programming & Brainstorming for 2020!  

(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)  

Schedule for Thursday Evening:
–  6:00  Pre-meeting  (for org improvement)
–  7:00  Networking / Food / Intros
–  7:15   Announcements / Program
–  8:45  Closing and evaluation 

Meeting Location:  

University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room *
   Campus: 1845 East Northgate Drive,    Irving, TX 75062     (972-721-5000)

Facilitator BIO:

Logan Renfrow is a global corporate development professional with strong entrepreneurial leadership skills and the proven ability to develop and apply strategic insight. He spent five years in China and Singapore successfully managing organizational change and growth initiatives for an international manufacturer of electrical power systems for the shipbuilding and oil and gas industries.

Logan is currently working for a Dallas-based firm providing cross-cultural training programs where he develops the material for individual and group sessions, oversees the company’s global network of trainers, and advises clients on Chinese business culture. He received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and completed his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University.

OD SOUND BITES
(TEDx-Style Presentations)   

Schedule for Thursday Evening:
–  6:30  Networking / Food / Intros 
–  7:00  Announcements / Program
–  8:45  Closing and evaluation 

Meeting Location:  

University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room *
   Campus: 1845 East Northgate Drive,    Irving, TX 75062     (972-721-5000)

BIOs:  

Pallavi Ridout is an Executive Coach, facilitator, speaker and OD consultant.  For the past 16 years she has worked in leadership roles within the OD and Talent Management functions for global organizations. During this time she coached several hundred executives and helped employees and teams perform at their peak at organizations such as ICANN and Warner Bros. She is currently writing a book inspired by her life changing decision to embark on a journey of “living a life without regret”.  On this journey she decided to quit her successful corporate career to prioritize family, pursue her passion for motivational speaking, and inspire others.

Peter Jay Sorenson, CMC®  is an independent strategic organization design and change management consultant, coach, social entrepreneur, university instructor, and ethicist.  His professional focus is to collaborate on and discover and create the next generation of organization design technology that can match the speed of change and disruption in this volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, (VUCA) digitally fueled world. (And on developing the next generation of organization designers that will make this world work from a values, effectiveness, and efficiency points of view.)   Personally his focus has been on using innovation to create economic and social self-reliance for individuals, families, and organizations in both the developing and developed world.

Dr. Ben Dilla is a business professor at the University of Dallas and an executive coach, trainer, and consultant through his own company, Bold Leader Development. His career as an Industrial & Organizational Psychologist included working as a behavioral scientist in the US Air Force, as a leadership development consultant for Personnel Decisions International (PDI, now Korn Ferry), and in OD & Training leadership roles for several companies in the DFW area. As a coach, he often works with accomplished technical professionals who want to develop and improve their leadership and influence skills, which led him to promote a strengths-based approach to the skills of Emotional Intelligence.

Lara Azcona, MBA is a Prosci certified change practitioner.  She has implemented change management across global organizations including technology and organizational changes at National Semiconductor and process change at Ernst & Young.  Strengthened by her experience in the educational field her goal is to make necessary change in the workplace an exciting prospect rather than a dreaded reality.

Jim Jameson is a semi-retired Consultant.  His work is mainly in the areas of Change Management, Collaboration, KM, and Communications. He believes that focusing on the people side of technology change is the key to improving ROI on transformational ‘IT solutions’.  Before focusing on OD Jim’s original background was in Engineering and Information Technology, mostly in the Oil & Gas industry.

Joel Bennett, Ph.D., is president of Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm that specializes in evidence-based wellness, resilience, mental well-being, and catalyzing healthy work cultures from the inside out.  He first delivered stress-management programming in 1985, and OWLS programs have since reached close to 250,000 workers across the United States and abroad.  Dr. Bennett is the author of over 30 peer-reviewed research articles, and he has authored/ co-authored five books.

Moderator:  Nancy Dixon is a thought leader in the field of Knowledge Management.  Her recent research and consulting has focused on increasing the engagement and productivity of remote teams. She has written eight books as well as over 50 articles that focus on how organizations learn.  Her latest thinking is on her blog, “Conversation Matters” at www.nancydixonblog.com.

Embrace Strengths to Make an Impact    

Schedule for Thursday Evening:
–  6:30  Networking / Food / Intros 
–  7:00  Announcements / Program
–  8:45  Closing and evaluation 

Meeting Location:  

University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room *
   Campus: 1845 East Northgate Drive,    Irving, TX 75062     (972-721-5000)

Speaker BIO: Brandy Schade     

Brandy Schade is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach who has coached 1000+ professionals and facilitated 70+ workshops across industries, within 15+ business units and in 15+ countries.

You can find her Gallup coaching profile here: Brandy Schade  –  Or connect with Brandy on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandyschade/.

Goal:  An evening full of personal and professional development and growth!

We Suck at Designing & Changing Organizations!
Can Design Thinking Help Us Do Better? 

Schedule for Thursday Evening:
–  6:30  Networking / Food / Intros 
–  7:00  Announcements / Program
–  8:45  Closing and evaluation 

Meeting Location:  

University of Dallas – SB Hall, Serafy Special Events Room *
   Campus: 1845 East Northgate Drive,    Irving, TX 75062     (972-721-5000)

Speaker BIO: Peter Jay Sorenson, CMC®   strategicorganizationdesign.com 

We currently live in a digitally fueled, volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, (VUCA) world of organizations.

Pete’s focus is to collaborate on, discover, and create the next generation of organization design technology that can match the speed of change and disruption we are experiencing.

He is also focused on developing the next generation of organization designers that will make this world work from a values, effectiveness, and efficiency point of view.

He is known for his ability to see the big picture, make sense of messes, and lead teams to resolve complex issues.  He relates well to people from all stations of life, speaks frankly, and has a practical eye for getting things done.

He currently serves as the President of the Socio-Technical Systems Roundtable Stewards Team and is an Adjunct Lecturer of Engineering in the Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University.

In his consulting Pete’s clients come from the High Tech, Healthcare, Energy, Government, and Not-for-Profit Sectors. He has also been deeply involved in humanitarian initiatives in the developing world that focus on entrepreneurship and microfinance.