Category Archives: Meetings-2025

Belong First, Bounce Forward:  
The Secret to Productivity Most Leaders Overlook      

KPIs are great—until your team starts performing for the numbers and not for the mission.

If you’ve ever wondered why your most intelligent people shut down during change, here’s the reason: they feel unsafe and do not lack skills.

In this candid and refreshing session, international speaker and leadership challenges strategist Srijata Bhatnagar explains why belonging—not pressure—fuels real productivity, especially when setbacks strike (and let’s be honest, they always do).

Expect to learn:

• Why belonging is your team’s secret productivity hack—and how to build it
• How to spot hidden signs of disengagement before performance dips
• What resilient leaders do differently when everything hits the fan
• Simple shifts to create a speak-up, mess-up, bounce-back culture
• And how to systematically build safety and belonging for high productivity

Don’t miss this if you’re an OD professional, people leader, or culture nerd ready to ditch checkbox leadership and build real human-centered performance.

Come curious; leave equipped with tools and maybe even share a laugh!
                    

Speaker:  Srijata Bhatnagar    {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 8:  (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 2 days before meeting to all who register.

Speaker BIO:

Srijata Bhatnagar is a Leadership Challenges Strategist, international keynote speaker, advisor, and the author of two books—Setback Leadership and SOAR. She collaborates with C-suite leaders and organizations to turn setbacks into leadership superpowers.

Through her signature Setback SOP framework, she helps leaders transition from “Why me?” to “Wow, it’s me!” — with clarity, confidence, and a touch of laughter.

She has inspired over 50,000 leaders in more than 11 countries — and once transformed a career-threatening failure into a standing ovation. Ask her how!

Where OD Meets AI:  
Creating Systems That Enhance Human Potential  

Will AI Actually Solve Your Problems? (Spoiler: Not if your culture and processes are already struggling!)

Somewhere between DIY prompt crafting and billion-dollar AI platforms lies a practical sweet spot for organizations like yours. But the real question is:

How can Human-AI collaboration become truly Effective, not just Efficient?

Join us to discover:

• What human-centered AI implementation actually looks like in practice
• The 6 Grand Challenges of building AI systems that enhance human potential
• The 3 or 4 or 5 irreplaceable human capabilities that AI can’t replicate
• Why you might need to understand Agentic AI and AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) (and what these even mean !?)

By the way, there is much to be revealed about both the positive and negative impacts of AI on our work and our world— and these impacts are unfolding at exponential speed! Buckle up Fellow Travelers!!

Please join our DFW OD Network meeting on April 10th as Terri A G Adkisson and Peter Jay Sorenson guide us through an interactive exploration of Human-Centered AI that actually works for your organization and its people.
                    

Speakers:  Terri Adkisson and Pete Sorenson   {see BIOs below} 

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

Schedule for Thursday Evening April 10:  (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 2 days before meeting to all who register.

Speaker BIOs:

As an external Chief Clarity Officer and problem solver for CEOs and boards, Terri Adkisson cuts through confusion in companies. With 30 years of experience, she spots opportunities others miss and turns complex problems into clear plans. Terri helps businesses see what’s holding them back and shows them how to move forward.

Terri’s current expertise in AI focuses on how small and mid-sized organizations can strategically deploy AI for outcomes that are more effective, less risky, and more profitable.

Based in Dallas, Texas, she holds an BBA in MIS, an MBA from UT Austin, and is a co-author of two books on virtual facilitation. Terri has worked with organizations in over 20 industries.

Pete Sorenson is an organization design and organization development consultant. In the last decade he has worked on issues around how knowledge work and the advent of new technology, including artificial intelligence, is making organizations messy.

Of late, he is working on how Human Centered Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) is influencing or will be influencing teams, organizations, ecosystems, societies, and empires. Pete is curious and puzzled about what is going on in the world and strives to keep a learning mindset.

Pete has a Bachelor’s Degree in the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Sciences from the University of Washington and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University.

Thinking From Across the Room:
  How Values Affect Decisions & Buy-In    

Transform Your Communication Impact: Join Us March 13th!

What if you could decode someone’s communication preferences in just 90 seconds?  Discover how at our upcoming DFW OD Network meeting, led by certified facilitator Susan K Younger.

Every project’s success hinges on getting people aligned and engaged – why do carefully crafted messages often miss their mark? Even with strong leadership support of a vision, projects can falter when communication breaks down. The key lies in understanding how values and perspectives shape the way people receive and process information through their unique lens of their own values and experiences.

In this transformative session, you will explore:

• The scientifically validated B.A.N.K.® Methodology that revolutionizes how we understand and adapt to different communication styles.
• Practical techniques to blend neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and leadership psychology for maximum influence.
• How to create genuine connections by aligning your message with others’ intrinsic motivators and decision-making patterns

Whether you are leading change initiatives, managing teams, or seeking to enhance your influence, this session will provide valuable insights into creating meaningful connections that drive results.

Join us March 13th to elevate your communications expertise and expand your influence!
                   

Speaker:  Susan K. Younger  {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 13:  (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 2 days before meeting to all who register.

Speaker BIO:

Susan K. Younger has experience in architecture, retail management, and consulting. In 1980 as director and DVP of store design and construction she coordinated the expansion of a department store. Later she learned valuable lessons in OD, and leadership as the chain battled takeover attempts and eventually bankruptcy.

Adapting to change while consulting in architecture, she became a licensed massage therapist in 1998. Susan saw the deep connection between how structures and systems function in the human body and business to create well-being.

Introduced to B.A.N.K.® methodology in 2015 Susan began integrating personality science and utilizing Codebreaker Technologies’ AI tools in 2019. She empowers businesses and individuals to navigate challenges and thrive with her expertise bridging differences, unlocking perspectives, improving communications and creating lasting relationships.

As of February 2025 she launched Whomanitarianism™ as a framework to address who we are, interacting respectfully daily with others. (Website)

Love & Leadership: Our Next Frontier

From the birth of civilization to the modern day, history has seen many types of leaders and leadership classification systems.

One recurring theme may be labeled the autocratic-democratic distinction. At this extreme end, we see the tyrannical despot who rules by fear.

At the other end, we see the benevolent and generous guardian who inspires with love. This panel on “Love and Leadership” dives deeply into the latter approach.

Each of the panelists brings depth of knowledge and experience as modern research and practice has yielded new insights on how to lead with love.

This session of the Dallas Fort-Worth OD Network will be conducted like a symposium. Following an initial break-out for networking, a moderator will introduce a discussant and panel.

Each panelist will present their viewpoints and the discussant will provide a framework for discussion and review. The session will end with Questions and Answers with the audience.

Please join us on February 13 (“Valentines-Day-Eve”) as we experience this increasingly important leadership approach.

Panel:    {see BIOs below} 

• Dr. Frances Baldwin, Principle consultant at Designed Wisdom, Inc, author, adjuct professor BGSU
• Dr. Fiona Beddoes-Jones, Chartered Psychologist and Chief Executive of The Cognitive Fitness Consultancy, author of The Corporate Love Model
• Dr. Joel Bennett, CEO, Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems
• Dr. Steve Cady, Professor of Management, Director of Doctorate in OD&C at BGSU; author; speaker
• Dr. David Fearon, Award-winning thought leader, author, scholar-practitioner and conversationalist probing the nature of Practice, Practice? Podcaster!
• Rick Gage, Executive Director of the Center for a Loving Workplace (CLW)

Moderator:  Kristina Eiting, General Manager Asphalt Owens Corning, Doctoral student, Organization Development and Change, Bowling Green State University

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

Schedule for Thursday Evening February 13:  (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 2 days before meeting to all who register.

Panel BIOs:

Dr. Frances Baldwin is an experienced executive coach certified by the Gestalt Center for Organization Development and Change. She has developed resilient leadership in city government and petrochemical companies. After 13 years at Exxon, she launched Designed Wisdom Consulting. With 48 years of experience, she helps women lead their lives from within. Her clients include nuclear energy, aerospace, government, and education sectors.

Dr. Fiona Beddoes-Jones is an organizational and people development specialist with expertise in leadership, team development, emotional intelligence, and executive coaching.  As a UK Chartered Psychologist, she developed the concept of ‘cognitive fitness’ at work. Her doctoral research focuses on Authentic Leadership, and she has created five psychometric tools. She has also authored four books on leadership and relationships, and is an academic Fellow at the University of Birkbeck, supervising the Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology.

Joel Bennett, PhD, is President of Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS), specializing in wellness and e-learning technologies. Since 1985, OWLS programs have reached 250,000 workers. He developed “Team Awareness” and “Team Resilience,” recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Health. Bennett earned his degrees from SUNY Purchase and UT-Austin. Visit organizationalwellness.com and presencequest.life for more.

Steven H. Cady, PhD, is a Professor of Management & Organizational Development and founding Director of the Doctoral Program in Organization Development & Change at Bowling Green State University. He has authored over 30 publications and books, including “The Change Handbook.” Dr. Cady has served on various editorial and organizational boards and founded NEXUS4change. He holds a PhD from Florida State University and an MBA and BSBA from the University of Central Florida. He lives with his partner Jacque and their sons on a farm in Ohio. (Website)

Dr. David Fearon is an Emeritus Professor of Management and Organizational Behavior from Central Connecticut State University. After retiring, he joined with Peter B. Vaill to produce the Practice? Podcast and co-author On Practice as a Way of Being. Upon Professor Vaill’s death, Fearon continued the podcast with nearly 300 episodes with 250 practitioners in various fields. Made widely available in social media, Dr. Fearon’s podcasting and appearances on other podcasts and virtual seminars have grown his reputation as “that Practice fellow”.

Rick Gage is the Executive Director of the Center for a Loving Workplace (CLW).  Per Rick, workplace suffering takes a toll on employees and families, costing organizations greatly. However, focusing on workplace culture can lead to high performance. For over a decade, my passions have been Compassion & Mindfulness @ Work. Recently, I’ve focused on “Connectedness” – fostering community and personal growth. My career includes working with top global companies and climbing to Vice President. Sabbaticals helped me redefine my work approach, now centered on connectedness and joy.

Moderator:  Kristina Eiting     As General Manager Asphalt for Owens Corning, Kristina brings more than 25 years of industry experience in various leadership roles. She earned her BS from California University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Bluffton University. She sits on several nonprofit boards and is pursuing her doctorate in Organization Development and Change at Bowling Green State University where she is focused on the impact of love in leadership.

Virtuous Leadership:  
The Elusive and Oft-Neglected Role of
Character in Leadership Development  

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Virtuous Leadership as an approach to leadership development and practice. This presentation and discussion will explore the unique perspective brought by a focus on virtues in leaders.

We’ll specifically explore the models of virtuous leadership created by two contemporary scholars: Alex Havard, founder of the Virtuous Leadership Institute in Europe and the US, and author of Virtuous Leadership: An Agenda for Personal Excellence (3^rd edition, 2022); and Dr. Andrew V. Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business at Catholic University of America, and author of SuperHabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life (2024).

From this foundation, we’ll consider the role that virtue has played in other leadership models including Servant Leadership (Greenleaf, 1971), Transformational Leadership (Burns, 1978), and Heart-Centered Leadership (Steinbrecher & Bennett, 2003, 2014, 2022).

Please join us on January 9 as we begin the new year with this timely topic.  Bring your own examples as well as your questions, ideas and suggestions as we discuss the role of virtues in leadership development.                

Speaker:  Dr. Ben Dilla   {see BIO below} 
         
(Please join our LinkedIn Group if you haven’t yet done so, and comment on the discussions.)

Schedule for Thursday Evening January 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:

Our presenter, Dr. Ben Dilla, has been enamored with the study, practice, and teaching of leadership since he took the first course on leadership as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. Graduating with a BS in Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, he later attended graduate school in Industrial & Organizational Psychology at Purdue University, earning his MS and PhD.

Ben taught graduate level courses in organizational sciences at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH, and the undergraduate leadership course at the Air Force Academy during his Air Force career, in addition to working as an aircraft maintenance officer, personnel scientific analyst, and personnel officer. In his corporate career, Ben continued teaching leadership, management, and organizational behavior as an adjunct for several universities while working as a Senior Consultant for Personnel Decisions International (now Korn Ferry) and Director of Leadership and Organization Development at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital.

Ben became an adjunct instructor in 2014 and a full-time Affiliate Assistant Professor in 2017 for the Gupta College of Business at The University of Dallas.  He also provides executive coaching, leadership training, and HR consulting through his own practice, Bold Leader Development (BLD LLC).