AGD’s 2026 Leadership Development Symposium
Date(s)Discover Your Leadership Strengths at the AGD’s 2026 Leadership Development Symposium
April 24–25, 2026 | Hyatt Regency Chicago
Attendees are responsible for covering the cost of travel and hotel arrangements. For more information or questions about the event, contact Constituent.Services@agd.org.
2026 Leadership Development Symposium Agenda
Friday, April 24, 2026
8:00–9:00 AM — Icebreaker Breakfast
9:00–9:40 AM — Setting the Stage
Why this matters: We’ll ground ourselves in a shared language of strengths so the day feels connected and purposeful. This creates a foundation for trust and collaboration that will run through every session.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the strengths framework as the backbone of this symposium.
- Recognize the flow of the day (self → others → team).
- Identify what success looks like for you as a participant.
9:40–10:00 AM — Strengths Scavenger Hunt
10:00–10:15 AM — Break
Why this matters: Leadership begins with knowing yourself. The better you understand what you uniquely bring — and what you need — the more energy you unlock.
Learning Objectives:
- Discover and articulate your personal strengths.
- Identify overuse patterns and learn strategies to regulate them.
- Connect strengths to work-life balance.
11:45 AM–1:00 PM — Lunch
1:00–2:30 PM — Who Are You? (Leading Others)
Why this matters: Great leaders don’t just know themselves — they bring out the best in others. Recognizing strengths helps in collaboration and conflict alike.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize and value the unique strengths of others.
- Practice adjusting your approach to elevate diverse perspectives.
- Learn tools for creating shared wins where the best ideas rise.
2:30–2:45 PM — Break
2:45–3:45 PM — Who Are We? (Applying Strengths Collectively)
Why this matters: Teams succeed when they align individual strengths toward common goals.
Learning Objectives:
- Apply strengths to real team and organizational goals.
- Build a collective action plan.
- Clarify how strengths-based leadership drives results.
3:45–4:15 PM — Recap & Commit
Why this matters: Insight without action fades quickly. This time helps you cement what you’ve learned and identify how it shows up in your practice, personal life, and AGD role.
Learning Objectives:
Leave with clear next steps you can begin immediately.
4:15–5:00 PM — AGD Roundtable Sessions
5:00 PM — Networking Reception / Happy Hour
Saturday, April 25, 2026
8:00–9:00 AM — Networking Breakfast
9:00–10:15 AM — Meet the AGD Leaders (Panel)
Learning Objectives:
- Connect strengths-based leadership to AGD leadership pathways.
10:15–10:30 AM — Break
10:30–11:15 AM — Recruiting & Retaining Leaders
Learning Objectives:
- Learn strategies to engage and sustain future leaders.
11:15 AM–12:00 PM — Putting It All Together
Learning Objectives:
- Create actionable plans and set accountability cadence.
12:00 PM — Adjourn