Don’t Underestimate the Benefits of In-Person Networking

On October 8-10 in Dana Point, California, leadership, learning, and talent development professionals from around the world will attend the Blanchard Leadership Summit, a two-and-a-half-day conference examining the latest trends, strategies, and techniques for bringing out the best in people.

The conference program features inspiring keynotes, case studies from top organizations, and in-depth workshops. “It’s a complete experience,” says Blanchard CEO Scott Blanchard. “We start with Strategy, then move to Design, and finally Delivery. Our goal is for entire L&D teams to join us and learn together by exploring ideas at length with peers and colleagues from other organizations. They can use the experience to create strong implementation plans for 2025 in their own organizations.”

Kristin Brookins Costello, Chief People Officer at Blanchard, will give a presentation as part of the Strategy learning track. “Learning together in person is a wonderful way to experience and explore new ideas,” she says. “We are social beings—and there is something special about being together in the same room while learning new concepts.”

Inspiring Keynoters

Keynoters at this year’s Summit include New York Times bestselling author Marcus Buckingham, whose topic is “How Inspired Leaders Maximize the Most Powerful Force—in Business and in Life.”

“I think audience members will be thrilled to hear Marcus talk about using the word love in a work setting,” says Blanchard. “He’ll share how love is a completely appropriate emotion to discuss. People always perform best when they love their work, love their company’s mission, and love the people they work with.”

Jennifer Brown, author of the book Courageous Inclusion, will speak on “The Power of Inclusion.”

“This topic is so important today,” says Brookins Costello, “and it is one of the key findings in our latest HR / L&D Trends Survey. People want to feel included—part of something bigger than themselves. Jennifer will explain how to make it happen.”

Buckingham and Brown will be joined by Blanchard Institute Executive Director Terrell Fletcher, who will talk about “The Champion’s Mindset.” Drawing on his experience as both an NFL running back for the San Diego Chargers and a leader working with youth in the San Diego community, Fletcher will encourage participants to expand their leadership effectiveness by mentoring, supporting, and engaging new generations of leaders.

Client Case Studies

This year’s Leadership Summit also features six client case studies. L&D teams from Amazon, Becton Dickinson, BIC, CAL FIRE, Delta Dental, and St. Luke’s Health System will share a look inside recent initiatives designed to build leadership bench strength.

“Each client presentation will give participants an in-depth look into a team’s initiative,” says Aimee Quiter, Blanchard’s Director, Marketing Event Services. “The presenters will explain how they identified a strategic need, worked collaboratively to design a solution, and then rolled out that solution through different learning modalities. It’s a wonderful opportunity for participants to not only explore real-life case studies at top organizations, but also discuss them with the peers and colleagues who actually implemented them. Presenters will be on site for the entire conference, which gives Summit attendees an opportunity to meet up and converse with them during meals and networking events.”

Professional Growth and Development

This year’s conference features an expanded professional growth and development track. The goal is to provide small, intimate master classes where L&D professionals can explore subjects more deeply with their peers.

“The Strategy track looks at the key challenges being faced in HR / L&D at the strategic level,” says Quiter. “In this track we will look at talent acquisition, hiring, retention, and engagement. We will also explore change—including generative AI—and the realities of achieving organizational goals inside the confines of time and resource issues.”

“The Design track is being led by members of our Innovation Lab and Custom Solutions group,” shares Ann Rollins, Blanchard VP of Custom Solutions and Chief Solutions Architect. “Our Solutions Architects will deliver sessions they delivered on the international L&D conference circuit this year—but this time there will be more opportunities to explore, network, and ask questions. The focus here is on the critical aspects of instructional design, emphasizing alignment, measurement, and the strategic use of digital tools.”

“The Delivery track brings us directly into today’s digital classroom,” says Rollins. “Blanchard facilitators and technology partners will show participants how to use technology effectively in the classroom to create memorable, engaging learning experiences that stick.

“It’s a great lineup of content—24 sessions in all—with a focus on exploring, learning, and networking together for personal and professional development.”

Get a Sneak Peek at This Year’s Content

For HR / L&D professionals interested in learning more about the presentations, Rollins suggests two upcoming free webinars that will highlight selected content.

“You can get an early look at the content in two sneak peek webinars we are running this month. Four presentations from the Delivery track will be presented on August 15. Four presentations from the Strategy track will be presented on August 28. Also available for online viewing is an on-demand recording of our recent session featuring content from the Design track.”

Bringing Out the Best in People

Scott Blanchard encourages leadership, learning, and development teams everywhere to participate in this year’s Summit.

“The Blanchard Summit is distinctly different from other conferences. It is part conference, part mastermind group, and part networking, all wrapped up in an intimate and collaborative experience.

“Our first Summit goes all the way back to 1990, but our goal remains the same: bring people together to hear powerful keynotes from world-renowned experts; listen to amazing clients share how they are solving common challenges; and explore the impact great leadership can have on current issues.

“The Blanchard Leadership Summit is a wonderful opportunity for networking, planning, and bringing out the best in people. I hope you’ll join us!”

You can learn more about the Blanchard Leadership Summit here.