Next level professional
development

Colleen Barrett is the iconic Executive Assistant of Southwest Airlines who rose to President & COO in her impressive five-decade journey at the airline, showcasing the transformative influence and enormous impact an Administrative Professional can wield. Herb Kelleher, the airline's Founder, recognized Colleen's strategic value early on, paving the way for her ascent and highlighting her role as a trailblazing leader. Colleen Barrett's unique leadership style at Southwest was characterized by a remarkable blend of approachability, empathy, and dedication. As a servant leader, she prioritized the well-being of her employees and encouraged an open and inclusive environment. Her hands-on approach, often seen walking the halls and engaging with staff, fostered a sense of camaraderie and trust. Colleen's emphasis on leading by example and treating everyone with respect not only steered Southwest Airlines through challenging times but also solidified its reputation for exceptional customer service, making her a respected and revered figure in the aviation industry and global business community. The Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence, the Admin Awards' most prestigious award in its lineup of award categories exemplifies the spirit of Colleen Barrett and serves as a living example for Administrative Professionals everywhere of the power of servant leadership in catapulting a career, an organization, and entire industry.

The Colleen Barrett Institute, established at Southwest Airlines and lead by Monica Van Slate, embodies Colleen's legacy by focusing on leadership development, employee empowerment, and fostering a positive workplace environment. Monica’s professional and personal relationship with Colleen spans her 35 years at the airline during which time Monica experienced Colleen’s unique leadership style up close. During this conversation-style lecture, Monica will share heart-warming and courageous stories of Colleen’s inspiring, golden-rule leadership philosophy that was full of love - and at times tough love, in bringing out the very best in her coworkers and leadership teams. Monica says “Colleen was for everyday people doing extraordinary things” and in this lecture, attendees will feel like they too are at her desk, receiving an MBA in how to be a human being in business, while having a warm cup of coffee talking to your best friend.

Marsha is the Founder of Marsha Clark & Associates and best-selling author of Embracing Your Power: A Woman’s Path to Authentic Leadership and Meaningful Relationships as well as the host of the podcast, “Your Authentic Path to Powerful Leadership”.

Marsha joined EDS (Electronic Data Systems) as a secretary and eventually became the company's first woman of the board of directors. After her front row seat to gender differences in the workplace of a Fortune 50 company, Marsha created Marsha Clark & Associates which has impacted the lives of thousands of professional women across the globe. During this lecture, Women Don’t Ask, which has been delivered around the world, Marsha explores the role gender plays in self advocacy.

Women don’t ask. They don’t ask for raises and promotions and better job opportunities.  They don’t ask for recognition for the good work they do. They don’t ask for more help at home.  As a result, women are much less likely than men to use influencing and negotiating skills to get what they want; so they’re not.  Learning to ask for what we want and to influence in order to get it is an important strategy and skill for women to master.

Holly Schroth is Senior Lecturer and Distinguished Teaching Fellow, Haas School of Business, U.C. Berkeley.

In work and life, we all need killer negotiation and influence skills to push our ideas and solutions through and there’s no better negotiations teacher than the person voted as “favorite professor” by a Businessweek online poll of undergraduate students. An award-winning professor in negotiations and Conflict Resolution and Organizational Behavior, Holly will teach you mind-blowing negotiation frameworks rooted in social psychology. Show you how to effectively navigate relationships, problem-solve, and build trust with others in this interactive lecture and workshop where you’ll master these frameworks, boost your swagger, and create win-win deals like a pro. 

This lecture and workshop will empower attendees to confidently initiate negotiation conversations, offering guidance on opening discussions, fostering trust, and encouraging information sharing without exposing vulnerabilities. Participants will also learn the art of using language that projects confidence and trustworthiness while avoiding triggers for defensive reactions. The workshop further covers essential skills like managing non-verbal cues, handling emotions and power dynamics, and excelling in virtual negotiation environments. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of thorough planning and preparation, teaching attendees to craft compelling opening offers, engage in package negotiations, execute effective concessions, and successfully conclude negotiations. 

This session aims to boost attendees' confidence in negotiating with anyone, anywhere.

In any pursuit you can only have one of five outcomes: Bad, Average, Good, Excellent or Elite. And according to Clint Bruce, if your pursuit involves your passion or profession? Well, the only acceptable outcome is Excellent or Elite.

There’s a difference between an Elite and Elitist. Elitists? Clint has no time for. You can tell the difference by what they do with what they’ve been given. An elitist, no matter what happens, it’s always another cup of them. They get another award, they get a bigger cup and they keep filling it up with them. But Elites? Elites are different. They’re indominable, fearless and always pouring themselves out on the people around them. Because, they’re just not scared of running out of the good stuff. Clint’s always been in the company of people that are better than him, and he just tries to keep up. He needs the company of elites to go where he feels like he needs to go. And what he’s learned from Elites along the way, is they have five gifts and he’s going to share them with us, what they mean, and how they propel elite outcomes.

Delivered to over 250,000 leaders across the country, Pursuing Elite is the flagship keynote presentation of Clint Bruce and the HoldFast Speakers Bureau and has been delivered to 30 of the 32 NFL Teams, multiple NBA teams, NCAA Division 1 Athletic Departments and organizations such as Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines, Merrill Lynch/Bank of America, Apollo Global Management and JP Morgan chase to name only a few.

Sherry Parsons is UCSC Silicon Valley Master Instructor (Retired), Executive Assistant (Avaya, Cisco, Retired) and Winner of the 2017 Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence in Silicon Valley.

Welcome to an exciting journey into the future of the Administrative Profession, where Strategic Business Partnerships are the new frontier. For those who aspire to advance in your careers as Administrative Professionals, grasping the intricacies and significance of strategic business partnerships is critical, given the rising demand for top-tier administrative talent. This evolution from the conventional administrative role to that of a strategic business partner is not just a passing trend; it is gaining unstoppable momentum. It represents the key to unlocking greater job satisfaction and impact, compensation, job security, and immunity from the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence encroaching upon traditional administrative functions.

The historical relationship between executives and their assistants has always been built on partnership principles. However, this transformation calls for a sea change—a fresh perspective and approach that takes us beyond the realm of routine tasks and into the realm of strategic responsibilities. In this lecture, we will delve deep into the critical components required to facilitate this transformative shift by dissecting its two fundamental pillars: the cultivation of a distinct thought process and the adoption of a unique mode of interaction. Administrative Professionals who wholeheartedly embrace these components will not only elevate their role but also ascend to a higher echelon of contribution, amplifying their strategic value to the executives they support and the organizations they serve.

So, join us on this exciting journey as we explore how the Administrative Profession is evolving into a realm of strategic business partnerships, and discover the incredible potential it holds for your career growth and professional fulfillment.

In our exclusive lecture series, "Unlocking Excellence: The Journey Within," we delve into the transformative journey of Darrell Williams, whose remarkable life path led him from the vibrant streets of Compton to the corridors of power in the White House. 

In this lecture, Darrell shares the unexpected twists that all began when he mastered a seemingly ordinary skill as a high school student. This unassuming skill took him from aspiring to be a rap artist to an integral role beyond his wildest dreams in the White House Communication Agency where he supported three American Presidents and led over 500 missions including emergency action communications for the Vice President after 9/11.

Darrell imparts the wisdom from his remarkable life experiences and offers invaluable insights on professional advancement through cultivating a winning attitude, adopting the right habits, and deploying smart strategies that fueled his meteoric rise to success.

"Unlocking Excellence" has the power to profoundly shift your career mindset, leaving you forever transformed. Darrell's humility and servant leadership shine brightly, offering valuable insights and inspiration for all. His journey exemplifies the power of hard work, dedication, and the unwavering belief in the importance of one’s contribution. Prepare to be inspired and empowered by a narrative that reminds us all, of the profound impact we can have when we embrace our journey to excellence.

Darrell Williams is the CEO of Alliance Seminars Coaching, a faith-based, Veteran-owned organization specializing in motivational speaking, leadership workshops, and coaching services. He is a distinguished member of the White House Communications Agency Hall of Fame, a master certified life coach, and a part of the Federal Coaching Network. With extensive experience as an Operations and Vice Presidential Communications Officer at the White House Communications Agency, he led over 500 missions, including emergency action communications for the Vice President after 9/11. A retired U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Williams has received numerous awards and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from National Louis University and an MBA from Strayer University.

Sherry Parsons is UCSC Silicon Valley Master Instructor (Retired), Executive Assistant (Avaya, Cisco, Retired) and Winner of the 2017 Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence in Silicon Valley.

Welcome to an exciting journey into the future of the Administrative Profession, where Strategic Business Partnerships are the new frontier. For those who aspire to advance in your careers as Administrative Professionals, grasping the intricacies and significance of strategic business partnerships is critical, given the rising demand for top-tier administrative talent. This evolution from the conventional administrative role to that of a strategic business partner is not just a passing trend; it is gaining unstoppable momentum. It represents the key to unlocking greater job satisfaction and impact, compensation, job security, and immunity from the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence encroaching upon traditional administrative functions.

The historical relationship between executives and their assistants has always been built on partnership principles. However, this transformation calls for a sea change—a fresh perspective and approach that takes us beyond the realm of routine tasks and into the realm of strategic responsibilities. In this lecture, we will delve deep into the critical components required to facilitate this transformative shift by dissecting its two fundamental pillars: the cultivation of a distinct thought process and the adoption of a unique mode of interaction. Administrative Professionals who wholeheartedly embrace these components will not only elevate their role but also ascend to a higher echelon of contribution, amplifying their strategic value to the executives they support and the organizations they serve.

So, join us on this exciting journey as we explore how the Administrative Profession is evolving into a realm of strategic business partnerships, and discover the incredible potential it holds for your career growth and professional fulfillment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Past President of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and best-selling author of the critically acclaimed book, Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power. An overwhelming 83% of US workers experience work-related stress, impacting businesses through missed workdays and healthcare costs (American Institute of Stress, 2022). This bears notable significance for Administrative Professionals, a demographic often situated in a distinct role that contributes to the exacerbation of anxiety. Dr. Luana challenges the idea that eliminating stress improves performance. Instead, she identifies something else, this one sneaky habit as the true obstacle. This Lecture will draw from her Harvard-based research and provide actionable strategies that empower employees to overcome avoidance and harness their anxiety to drive productivity and success.