Leadercast
Leadercast is the world’s largest one-day leadership conference, broadcast live from Atlanta and simulcast to hundreds of locations around the world on May 5. This year marks the 17th year of the annual leadership conference and the fifth year the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce has been part of hosting the event locally at First Baptist Church.
“Leadercast complements our commitment to leadership development efforts for the Chamber,” Nancy Neal, Chamber vice president for communications, explained. “Much like our Leadership Cleveland program and other programs that focus on growth and development, this conference will impact leaders across Cleveland and Bradley County.”
Review for Leadercast:
The theme of this year’s conference is “Powered by Purpose.” Purpose is what defines us, drives us and empowers us; it is the glue for an organization and the fuel for an individual. Today’s organization cannot rely on old practices. A new organization is emerging, and at the center of its driving force is the igniting power of purpose.
Why is purpose important for organizations today?
Companies with ideals of improving people’s lives at the center of all they do outperform others by 400 percent.
More than 70 percent of people consider an organization’s environmental and/or social impact when deciding where to work.
Employees who feel they are working toward a good cause show increased productivity by up to 30 percent.
People who are able to make a social or an environmental impact on the job are more satisfied by a 2:1 ratio.
The Leadercast conference will allow attendees to discover the steps they can take to uncover their purpose, to reconnect to their organization’s “why,” to attract and engage the right people for their efforts, and to thrive as a team. Key speakers, with purpose-driven leadership, will inspire the more than 300 people who attend locally and the more than 100,000 people who will attend the event live in Atlanta or at hundreds of other simulcast locations in more than 20 countries.
Among the keynote speakers this year are
Andy Stanley—Leadership author and communicator
Henry Cloud—Acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist and best-selling author
Tyler Perry—Director, playwright, screenwriter, producer, actor, author and entrepreneur
Daniel Pink—Behavioral science expert, best-selling author and host of Crowd Control
Molly Fletcher—Former top sports agent and author
Suzy Welch—Author, TV commentator and business journalist
Jess Ekstrom—CEO of Headbands of Hope
“Through such noted speakers and proven leaders, this will be an opportunity to re-examine what defines us, drives us and empowers us,” Ms. Neal said.
Wendy Hughes, CFO and marketing director for Hughes and Associates, is passionate about the value of Leadercast in bringing people together and equipping them to become better leaders, managers, community members and employees.
“We love Leadercast and have been involved for years,” said Ms. Hughes. “We started out attending the event in Atlanta and taking key people in our office for the weekend. We found it to be a great resource for motivation in the workplace.
“Just like I think we need spiritual renewal in our personal lives, I think it is beneficial to have renewal in our business lives as well. Anything we can do to inspire and encourage our people to become a better version of who they are is a welcome thing.
“Leadercast offers a variety of motivational speakers that speak to a multitude of personality types. This event helps you network with like-minded folks who also want to improve their performance or outlook.”
Hughes and Associates has been a lead sponsor for the local Leadercast simulcast since 2014 and always finds the speakers especially inspiring.
“There are many resources available to choose from [at Leadercast]—books, CDs, individual speakers or the yearlong, ongoing resource center through Leadercast. . . . You will find no lack of sources for inspiration,” said Ms. Hughes.
Specifically she noted, “From Andy Stanley to Peyton Manning, I could not write fast enough to record their thought-provoking and inspirational words last year.”
For aspiring leaders or for those who need to be motivated afresh, she stressed, “If you are personally looking for a nudge or you are already in a leadership position, you will want to look at this event. It may afford you just the thing that moves you in the right direction to becoming whatever it is you desire to become or motivates your team to be more effective.”
Ms. Hughes concluded, “I would highly recommend this event for business owners and individuals alike. . . . From top to bottom, this is well worth the time and money you will invest.”
Sponsorship packages are available for Leadercast, including presenting and lead sponsorships that provide a company with onstage commercial time and exhibit space at the event along with a corporate table for eight.
Limited corporate tables of eight are available for $600. Floor seats are available at $79 per seat; stadium seats are $69. Educator discounts include tables of eight for $550 and stadium seats for $59.
To purchase a ticket, visit the Chamber’s events calendar, www.clevelandchamber.com. Call the office at 472-6587 to reserve a sponsorship or for more information. Chamber members may use admission credits based on their tiered investment if available.
Table display for Hughes and Associates, a Leadercast lead sponsor