Celebrating Women in Leadership

Celebrating Women in Leadership
March 20-21, 2024
Holiday Inn - Kearney, NE
Registration is now closed.  To join, drop by the onsite registration desk.
 All cancellation requests must be received by Friday, March 15, 2024.

NCSA is so excited to host the third Celebrating Women in Leadership event during Women's History Month! Join us and bring along your colleagues and staff for this learning and networking experience intended to celebrate practicing and aspiring female leaders, engage with colleagues around problems of practice, and learn from female leader experiences.

Wednesday, March 20
4:30 p.m. - Dinner and Networking

5:30 p.m. - Think Better, Feel Better, Live Better with Staci Danford
Educators are leaving the profession at concerning rates; recent data shows turnover is at its highest point in five years. The truth is education has changed since 2020, not just because of the pandemic or on-line learning but also because of things like Siri, Alexa, and now ChatGPT; not to mention the climbing student mental health crisis. Now is the time for our education system to tap into one of the most powerful, yet underutilized tools at their disposal: Neuroscience.

Get ready to learn four basic principles that will not only change the way your brain works, but also help you better understand all people. In a world full of differences, one of the few things we all have in common is: The BRAIN. This program will provide its participants with hands-on training and practical tools to help us all Think Better, Feel Better, Live Better by viewing the education system from a perspective in which everyone benefits.

8:30 p.m. - Social at Cunninhams on the Lake
Decompress and catch up with your colleagues with a drink at Cunninghams on the Lake.  Thanks to Facility Advocates for sponsoring!

Thursday, March 21
8:00 a.m. - Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. - From Armor to Grounded Confidence: The Making of a Daring Leader with Lisa Brouwer
Embark on a transformative journey with Lisa Brouwer, Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, as she guides you through a unique exploration of daring leadership... a trifecta of courage, vulnerability, and grounded confidence.

In this hands-on session, you’ll experience a foundational piece of Brené Brown’s work: the Arena. You’ll take a look around your own arena to gain an understanding of the different sections, identify who sits in each section, and uncover the truths that implore you to step into the Arena (again and again). Lisa will bring this metaphor to life, immersing you in a powerful learning experience that will boost your confidence and prepare you to show up and be seen in any arena.

As part of the journey, Lisa will address what gets in the way of daring leadership, echoing Brené’s wisdom that ‘the greatest barrier to daring leadership is not fear; it’s armor.’ Armor is what we do, think, or say to protect ourselves when we’re in fear or don’t feel enough. In the arena, it becomes a 20-ton shield that hides our truest self and pushes us out of our leadership integrity.

Together, we’ll unpack the most common types of armor based upon Brené’s research. Through reflection and small group discussions, you’ll pinpoint when, why, and how you use armor, and build the awareness to create brave choices and lead from grounded confidence instead. You’ll leave with actionable strategies and practices so you can drop your armor, step bravely into the arena, and dare to lead. 

11:30 a.m. - Event Concludes

About Our Presenters
Staci Danford
Staci Danford is a one-of-a-kind mix of JOY & Neuroscience, with a Master’s Degree in Mind, Brain Education, a TEDx speaker, and has been a GRATITUDE consultant for the ABC News show~ Good Morning Texas.

Staci has 25 years of classroom teaching experience and was voted as Fort Worth Magazine’s Teacher of the Year as well as Best Up & Coming Businesses of 2022 along with Voyage Dallas Magazine’s Most Inspiring People.

She is the owner and operator of The Grateful Brain, a consulting company that uses Neuroscience to help individuals, schools and companies understand that: YOUR BRAIN POWER IS YOUR SUPER POWER… but only if you know how to use it!

Staci and her husband Larry live in Azle, Texas. She is the mother of three incredible children: Brent- 34, Brooklyn- 30, and Brady-16.... and 2 precious grand- girls!

Lisa Brouwer
Lisa Brouwer is a speaker, Courage Coach, and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator under the teaching of Brené Brown. Through public workshops, corporate development programs, women’s retreats, and one-on-one coaching, she guides people to live at the intersection of daring leadership and courageous living.   

From leaving a corporate position after twenty years, to launching her own company, to riding a motorcycle from New York City to San Francisco, to refusing to hustle for her worth, Lisa is living proof of what happens when you say ‘Heck, yes!’ to being brave with your life.

It’s her life’s work to challenge you to believe and pursue what’s possible when you live and lead with courage.

Lodging Information
Holiday Inn - Kearney
Call (308) 237-5971
Mention: Celebrating Women in Leadership
Rate: $134.95 + tax