What to Expect at the 2023 LEAD Summit – A Q&A with LEAD Chair, Catalina Berry
Are you an aspiring leader, current manager, or HR professional looking to build upon your skills and learn ways you can make a difference in our community? If you said, “Yes, that’s me!” Then the LEAD Summit is the perfect place to kickstart your journey.
The Austin Young Chamber LEAD Summit, presented by Texas Mutual Insurance Company, brings together inspiring and dynamic leaders from our community who are dedicated to empowering new generations of changemakers and helping to make Austin a better place. You will have the opportunity to meet powerful long-term advocates for creating positive change within Austin as well as passionate newcomers who want to create their own path for positive change. You can expect engaging workshops intended to sharpen your leadership abilities, along with interactive discussions focused on developing skill sets that can be implemented at any level —from a new career to leveling up where you currently are.
Marketing Committee Chair Elect and Board Member, Felicia Morales, sat down with LEAD Summit Chair, Catalina Berry, to get a more in-depth look on what first-timers can expect at the this year’s LEAD Summit:
Felicia: What can attendees expect at the LEAD Summit for 2023?
Catalina: Attendees can expect to grow both personally and professionally as they network with a diverse group of young community leaders while also learning from the community leader sessions.This is our first year where the summit is actually a 2-day event.
We will kick off with a job and resource fair and Happy Hour on Thursday, May 4th. Friday, May 5th will start with five different panel sessions targeted to where attendees feel they are in their leadership journey. After that, attendees will have retrospective roundtable conversations to discuss what they learned and how they felt after the panel discussion. After lunch (plus a wellness break), attendees will have interactive workshops where they will walk away with tools and plans on how to be more successful. The day culminates with a reflection and debrief from two leaders in our community- Jeremiah Bentley from Texas Mutual and Luis Patiño from Austin PBS.
Felicia: Is there anything that attendees should bring?
Catalina: The most important thing an attendee needs to bring is an open mind. They will hear and meet leaders from a variety of different industries and backgrounds so keeping an open mind is key! Attendees should also bring business cards for networking, and pen and paper for taking notes.
Felicia: How can attendees get the most out of LEAD?
Catalina: Definitely be present. We have a moment where they can check emails if they need to and they can also do that during lunch if needed. I also recommend asking questions. No such thing as a dumb question and this is the chance to learn!
Felicia: Is there anything else attendees should know?
Catalina: Attendees will explore how to be BOLD & BALANCED. That means, challenging the status quo and reimagining what it means to be a leader. It is about creating space for each of us to feel safe and confident to be unapologetically and authentically ourselves. It means learning about how to understand and advocate for our own needs and lift up our peers. This year’s summit is designed to take you on a journey to discover what it means for you to be a BOLD and BALANCED leader for yourself and your community.
Have fun! We hope that attendees leave inspired from their new community.
With so much knowledge being shared and such a wide variety of perspectives represented, you’ll find endless opportunities for networking, collaboration, learning – and maybe even making some lasting friendships while having fun, too, at this year’s LEAD Summit.
