NOON–1:00 PM Registration
Welcome to Seattle! Please stop by the registration desk starting at 12:00 p.m. to check in and pick up your conference materials.
1:00–1:30 Welcome, Faculty Introductions and Conference Overview
Join chair Kathi Dantley Warren to meet the faculty and learn how to get the most out of your time at the conference. StrengthsFinder results will be returned.
1:30–3:30 Assessing Your Leadership Skills and Building Your Personal Leadership Brand (Part 1)
Strong and effective leadership requires self-awareness and continued focus. Understanding and accessing your unique “strengths” will allow you to build a clear personal leadership brand that taps into your talents. In this two-part session, we will review the philosophy behind StrengthsFinders and how your “strengths” connect to your leadership brand.
3:45–5:00 Elective Sessions (select one):
Building Culture & Ensuring Employee Engagement in Your Organization
Management tenets say the most important thing a leader can do is establish a common culture that engages staff in a greater good. Our two presenters will discuss how this can be applied by leaders to their advancement shops. From “why does it matter” to “what impact can it have on results” our presenters will discuss strategies to think about culture in different environments that allow for greater success in leadership and fundraising.
Survival Skills in Your New Leadership Role
You’ve got the job, but you realize that it doesn’t come with a survival manual. You need to survey the political landscape, build credibility and establish rapport with your boss, colleagues, and your team in fairly short order. This session will provide guidance and insights to help you acclimate to your organization’s ecosystem and not only survive but thrive.
5:00–6:00 Networking Reception
Join conference faculty and your colleagues to network and unwind after Day 1. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drink tickets will be provided. Don't forget your business cards!
6:15 Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own (sign-up sheets for faculty-led dinners available)
8:00–9:00 AM Continental Breakfast / Roundtables
9:00–10:15 The Essentials of Leading High Performing Teams
An essential competency for leaders of any size advancement program is the ability to form and lead high performing teams. From making the right hires to creating a clear understanding of what success looks like, today’s advancement leaders must master the ability to get people wearing many different hats to work seamlessly across the organization. If it’s true that advancement is the ultimate team sport, taking a coaching approach will be key to ensuring that your team is successful, engaged, empowered, and having fun too.
10:30–11:45 Elective Sessions (select one):
Proven Approaches to Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Over time, the quality of decision making plays a major role in defining the success of development leaders. Just as they are in life, problem-solving and decision-making skills are important for managers and leaders to develop and refine, often through trial and error. In this session the presenters will share a framework for decision-making for both complex and simple decisions that will help improve the quality of your approach to solving problems.
Case Studies in Ethical Leadership (small group)
Advancement leaders must regularly confront ethical dilemmas as they navigate the complex culture of higher education. In this session the faculty will discuss real-world challenges and engage in a lively conversation replete with interactive Q&A.
11:45 AM –1:15 PM Lunch on your own
1:15–2:30 Using Metrics to Manage and Drive Stronger Performance
As the expectation for better and more effective managers in the advancement profession continues to grow, managers must embrace a robust set of tools that can actually make their jobs simpler. With customized performance metrics and improved portfolio management systems, managers have access to data that can help them manage better and drive stronger results in fundraising and alumni relations. But what are the data telling you, anyway? Join David Lively and April Cole as they share lessons on metrics to challenge the status quo.
2:45–4:00 Elective Sessions (select one):
Complex Challenges of Leading in a Complex Environment
Development leadership positions in Universities and academic medical centers are complex. Although we might believe our jobs are primarily about delivering fundraising results and fundraising leadership, we often have formal and informal reporting relationships with deans, department chairs, and directors of centers and institutes that make our jobs challenging. Balancing our responsibilities with internal and external stakeholders is an important component to achieve success. This session will focus on the obstacles development leaders and staff often face and solutions for leading teams in complex environments and organizations.
Diversity & Inclusion – Driving Success for Today’s Leaders
Demographics in the US are rapidly changing with data indicating by 2055 we will be a minority-majority population. Strategies to promote diversity and inclusion – in hiring and talent management, alumni engagement and fundraising – are fundamental requirements in toolkits of advancement leaders. In this session, we will explore how advancement leaders effectively engage shifting donor populations as well as promote inclusive recruitment, retention, and leadership development practices that produce and develop the best workforces.
4:15–5:30 Case Studies in Ethical Leadership
In their dual roles as fundraisers and managers, advancement leaders must regularly confront ethical dilemmas as they navigate the complex culture of higher education. In this session the faculty will discuss real-world challenges and engage in a lively conversation replete with interactive Q&A.
5:30 Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own (sign-up sheets for faculty-led dinners available)
8:00–9:00 AM Continental Breakfast / Roundtable Topics
9:00–10:15 A Conversation with Dan Peterson, University of Washington Vice President of Development & President, UW Foundation
Hear from Dan Peterson about his pathway to leadership, lessons learned along the way, and his thoughts on what it means to be a leader during turbulent times. Opportunities for Q&A will be provided so please bring your questions.
10:30–11:45 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
Participate in an interactive, moderated panel, which will cover details to consider as you plan your next steps. The conference faculty will return to StrengthsFinder results and share advice and tips to help you achieve your goals. Plenty of opportunity for Q&A will be provided. This session will help attendees consolidate and implement what they’ve learned at the conference and reflect upon their next steps.