VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics will host major events including expert speakers, the annual Leadership and Ethics conference, and the Marshall Leaders of Character workshop.—VMI Alumni Agencies File Photo.
VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics will hold its annual Leadership and Ethics Conference, Leading During Crises: Culture, Conflict, Collaboration, on post in Marshall Hall – Center for Leadership and Ethics, Oct. 30–31, 2023. Each year, the conference attracts college students and faculty from around the country as well as members of the public. Leading During Crises will explore a progression of topics highlighting leadership skills and competencies through the lens of “Adapting to Complex Situations,” VMI’s leadership theme for 2023–24.
The conference will highlight the challenges of adapting to personal and organizational crises with courage and integrity. The conference will address preparing a team to adapt, lead, communicate, and respond to complex situations. This event includes speakers and interactive activities stressing critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and psychological flexibility.
Some of this year’s featured speakers are Eric McNulty, associate director of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard and author of “Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most: You’re It;” retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk S. Lippold, who was the USS Cole commanding officer when it came under attack by al-Qaeda suicide bombers Oct. 12, 2000, in the Port of Aden, Yemen; Jan Rader, the Mayor’s Council of Public Health & Drug Control Policy director in Huntington, West Virginia, and named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2018; Kevin Black ’99, veteran Army officer turned strategic advisor, leadership expert, and author of the upcoming book, “Strength in Chaos;” and Robert Foresman ’83, Virginia Department of Health’s Roanoke City Alleghany Health District local health emergency coordinator.
Conference registration is $105 for adults or $55 for full-time students, and all meals are included. VMI alumni may attend for a discounted rate of $95. For further information, please visit vmileadconf.cventevents.com or contact Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director for programs and conferences, at connollykv@vmi.edu.
The Marshall Leaders of Character Workshop is a corporate-level professional development workshop that is open to the public and offered for mid-level leaders inspired by the ethical leadership of Gen. George C. Marshall, Class of 1901, and phases of the VMI Leader Journey. Co-sponsored by VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics, VMI Alumni Agencies, and the George C. Marshall International Center, the workshop will be held on post Jan. 10–12, 2024.
Developing emerging leaders in various organizations can be a challenging task. It involves assessing their core values, interpersonal skills, and decision-making abilities. Leadership is about motivating others toward a common goal, which requires self-awareness, effective communication, and the ability to both follow and lead.
This interactive workshop spans over two-and-a-half days and is designed to enhance individual self-awareness of key behaviors and interpersonal skills that contribute to courageous followership and character-based leadership practices. Participants will take several self-assessments, apply their insights to practical exercises, and share their experiences and insights with colleagues. This workshop is also an opportunity for cohort members to apply their skills directly while negotiating a challenging set of physical and moral obstacles in VMI’s indoor Leader Reaction Course.
Individuals or groups from a single organization are welcome to register online.
