Skill Builder Topics 2025

AI is becoming part of everyday decision-making—but how do you ensure it’s used ethically and responsibly? This session gives women leaders and changemakers the tools to identify risks, ask better questions, and influence responsible AI practices in their organizations. Leave with practical frameworks and the confidence to lead AI conversations that protect people and align with your values.

Through real-world examples and discussion, we’ll unpack:

What “ethical” and “responsible” AI really means in plain language

The hidden risks of AI adoption—bias, surveillance, misinformation, and more

How to ask the right questions before saying yes to new tech

Strategies to push for values-aligned implementation in your organization

Why psychological safety matters in conversations around AI

Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, if you care about fairness, safety, and accountability, this session will give you the language, confidence, and tools to lead responsibly in the age of AI.

Not All Innovation Is Progress—Let’s Make Sure AI Moves Us Forward, Together.

In today’s fast-paced professional landscape, women leaders often find themselves navigating the pressures of high workloads, competing priorities, and the ever-present risk of burnout. This interactive workshop will empower attendees to redefine work-life balance, not as a rigid division of time, but as a dynamic strategy to align energy and focus with personal values. Attendees will have the opportunity to use a framework to reflect on their current balance, identify barriers to well-being, and apply the key skills: setting boundaries, growth mindset, and fostering meaningful connections. We’ll also discuss the importance managers and employees both play in cultivating a healthy work environment. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to create a sustainable, fulfilling approach to work and life, enhancing both leadership effectiveness and personal well-being.

Becoming a parent is one of life’s biggest transitions—and returning to work adds a whole new layer. Just ask anyone meeting deadlines on two hours of sleep. This phase can be challenging for new parents and the leaders and teammates who support them. So how can we balance business needs, legal requirements, and psychological safety?

This interactive session is for anyone who wants to better understand and support the transition to working parenthood. We’ll explore real challenges and how supportive workplaces can ease the return-to-work experience.

Parents will gain validation, connection, and tools to navigate re-entry—including planning checklists, advocacy tips, and lactation rights.

Leaders and teammates will leave with practical ways to build a parent-inclusive culture, support lactation needs, and stay meaningfully connected.

Support that matters starts with awareness—and action.

Do you ever feel like your accomplishments are due to luck rather than your own skills? Or, do you worry that others will eventually realize you’re not as capable as they believe you to be? You might relate more than you think to the buzzwords, Imposter Syndrome!

It shows up everywhere — in boardrooms, parenting groups, creative spaces — yet most of us struggle to recognize how it uniquely plays out in our own story. Beneath the buzzwords lies a deeper narrative, often rooted in early messages about achievement, identity, and belonging.

Designed for professionals and leaders at all levels, this session offers a space for clarity, confidence, and self-aligned leadership.

Discover how charitable giving can enrich your life, strengthen your community, and create a lasting legacy – all while maximizing financial benefits. In this interactive skill-building session, Peggy Farnworth, CPA, CFP®, CSA, will guide you through the latest opportunities for giving, including how to leverage IRA accounts and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for tax-efficient donations. Learn practical strategies to support the causes you care about, reduce your taxable income, and make the most of your financial assets. Whether you’re new to philanthropy or looking to refine your giving plan, you’ll leave empowered with actionable steps and a deeper understanding of how generosity can align with your financial goals and personal values. Join us to unlock the power of purposeful giving and make a meaningful impact – today and for generations to come.

Most of us have heard about “breaking the glass ceiling”—but what if the most limiting ceiling isn’t external at all? What if it’s internal: the stories we silently tell ourselves about our worth, our capacity, or how hard leadership must be?

In this empowering and thought-provoking session, strategist and coach Peter Svenneby invites participants to explore the invisible narratives that shape how we lead, grow, and show up in high-stakes environments. Drawing from decades of experience coaching women entrepreneurs and leaders, Peter introduces three simple but transformative distinctions—Reporting vs. Creating, Judgment vs. Awareness, and Commitment = Result—that illuminate how we unconsciously reinforce stress and struggle, and how we can shift instead toward ease, alignment, and internal authority.

The session will include an interactive coaching experience with live audience participation, offering real-world examples of how mindset shifts can immediately change outcomes. Participants will leave with a practical reflection framework to begin rewriting their internal script and cultivating a more empowered, effort-less approach to leadership.

Unlock your personal brand potential with the R.E.A.L. framework—Reputation, Engagement, Action, and Leverage. In this interactive session, Rhea Allen will guide you through building a strong reputation rooted in authenticity, engaging your network, taking consistent action, and leveraging opportunities for growth. Through guided reflection and actionable steps, you’ll leave ready to audit your online presence and take intentional steps toward a more powerful, authentic personal brand. You’ll participate in a personal brand reflection activity, receive practical homework, and walk away with a clear plan to elevate your professional image—both online and offline. Powered by Peppershock Media.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

– Apply the R.E.A.L. framework to develop your personal brand

– Understand how authenticity shapes reputation

– Learn actionable steps for engagement and consistent action

– Reflect on your current brand and set intentional goals

– Receive homework to audit and improve your online presence

– Discover how small, strategic actions can make a big impact

Coming Soon!

We all have fear; it’s part of being human. Whether your fears are related to big life decisions, new challenges you’re facing, or something else, this session will help you reframe fear and empower you to walk with it in a new way. You’ll hear stories that will give you 5 practical steps to apply in your own life and help you move toward greater growth and freedom, not hesitation and holding back. You’ll also learn about different kinds of fear, and how the fears we face can actually help point us to our calling. Whether you wrestle with fear often, or just sometimes hold back in certain areas of your life, this session will encourage you to turn your fear into fire so you can take that next step with more passion, confidence and purpose!

Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling unsettled or devalued, even though nothing overtly offensive was said? You couldn’t quite put your finger on it, yet something felt off. Chances are, micro-messages were at play.

Micro-messages are subtle, often unintentional verbal and non-verbal cues that can communicate inclusion or exclusion. These small signals, shaped by unconscious (or conscious) biases, can reinforce inequities or foster a culture of belonging. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the power of micro-messages, their impact on workplace dynamics, and how we can become more intentional in the signals we send.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and differentiate types of micro-messages, including micro-behaviors, micro-aggressions, micro-inequities, micro-affirmations, and micro-inclusions.
• Recognize the impact of micro-messages on workplace culture, relationships, and opportunities.
• Explore strategies to mitigate negative micro-messages and foster an environment of equity, respect, and inclusion.

Who Should Attend?

Women leaders, professionals, and emerging leaders who want to build more inclusive, supportive, and equitable workplaces through greater awareness and intentional communication.

Insights from Leading a Robust Well-Being Champion Network

Let’s be real: the term “influencer” gets a bad rap. But at the core, most of us want to create impact. The good news? You don’t need a title or spotlight to do it. Leadership often happens in small, powerful moments through presence, empathy, and trust. If you’re curious about how your energy impacts others, and want to grow your influence, strengthen relationships, and lead with authenticity, this session is for you.

Drawing on lessons from rallying nearly 500 volunteers to spread joy at work, I’ll share insights from leading a Well-Being Champion Network and show how anyone can shift the vibe and spark ripple effects that transform relationships, teams, and workplace culture. You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize and use the influence you already have
• Lead with empathy, presence, and authenticity
• Boost the energy and mindset in any space
• Build trust and spark meaningful collaboration

Because real change-makers aren’t always the loudest in the room, but they set the tone — and it’s often a good one.

Are you interested in learning more about Idaho’s legislative process and how to effectively advocate for issues you care about with your state legislators?

Join us for an informative 60-minute session where you’ll gain practical tips and essential insights into Idaho’s legislative landscape. This workshop is designed to equip you with the knowledge to confidently engage with lawmakers and ensure your voice is heard. Plus, you’ll have an invaluable 30-minute Q&A with Senator Wintrow, offering a direct opportunity to ask your questions and get firsthand perspectives on state advocacy.

Complex challenges don’t require complex solutions. In times of rapid change and perceived uncertainty, fear and paralysis often become default responses—disconnecting us from ourselves and others. Yet small, intentional actions and mindset shifts can empower us to take ownership as stewards of both our personal wellbeing and leadership influence.

This session explores how each of us holds the ability to influence meaningful change – within ourselves, for others, and across the communities we serve. Drawing from performance psychology research and diverse cultural perspectives, participants will receive a practical workbook of tools to turn fear into grounded action – equipping them to use uncertainty as a powerful catalyst for transformational leadership.

A step-by-step guide to starting a small business, with resources, to kick off your business journey. Whether you’re branching out or starting over in a new state, this presentation is aimed at giving you the tools and information you need to be compliant with state and federal business and tax boards/commissions in a manner that is accessible for people at all stages of business knowledge. Named after a Unikitty quote, this session takes on business with the same approach I use for everything: creativity, humor, an open-mind and a willingness to fail.

Leadership today requires more than strategy — it requires humanity. In this dynamic, laughter-filled session, leaders will experience how the foundational rules of improvisation can help them show up more confidently, respond more thoughtfully, and communicate more effectively, especially in high-stakes or high-stress situations.

If you’ve ever felt stuck navigating tough conversations, overwhelmed by the mental load of leadership, or unsure how to fully connect with your team — this workshop is for you.

Through interactive exercises and real-world leadership applications, participants will:

• Reframe challenges using a “Yes, And” mindset
• Navigate stress and burnout with grounded humor and agility
• Build trust and psychological safety through authenticity and presence
• Strengthen team connection and culture through human-centered communication
• Speak with clarity, charisma, and influence — even when the stakes are high

Rooted in both comedy and compassion, this workshop helps leaders shift from reactive to responsive, from burned out to engaged, and from disconnected to truly impactful.

Together, we’ll create happier, healthier human connections through humor — one “Yes, And” at a time.

Have you ever tried to have an important conversation, only to watch it dissolve into hurt and misunderstanding? Or decided to just say nothing, figuring it would go sideways? Welcome to the club! Polarization—the sharp and often painful division between so many Americans—now impacts each of us, individually and collectively. But there’s hope! In this session, we’ll explore Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a simple but powerful model used around the world to increase understanding and resolve even the most serious conflicts. You’ll learn NVC’s basic principles and best practices, then watch volunteers roleplay a challenging interaction. You’ll come away with a clear, usable framework for fostering connection and healing, one dialogue at a time!