Conference Theme and Purpose

The theme of the 2022 McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character is:

Pursuing Purpose – Leading with Character in Your 20’s

With the structure of the conference theme there are three key pillars that will serve as the foundation for breakout sessions, team building and much more.  They are:

Understanding Changing Societal Pressures on Leading with Character

This session is intended to establish a shared understanding of the challenges to character young leaders will face in their professional and personal environments.  Important questions for discussion include:

• What societal, cultural, and professional pressures challenge young leaders’ character and values?
• How can young leaders preserve their character in the uncertainty of these pressures?

By the end of this session, the small group will have conducted a fast-paced exchange of ideas about the diverse pressures young leaders must juggle while preserving and strengthening their character. The small group will be prepared to consider these pressures in the context of the evening keynote speaker’s comments and in future small group dialogues.

Generating Influence as a Young Leader

This session is intended to create an exchange of ideas about the challenges young leaders face in influencing and creating accountability for their followers (who may be more experienced and/or older) and peers.  Important questions for discussion include:

• How can young leaders foster accountability, uphold expectations, and encourage initiative?
• What factors make leadership, influence, initiative, and accountability challenging for leaders in their 20’s? What are some examples?
• What specific actions and behaviors are critical for young leaders to influence their followers? To influence culture?
• How can young leaders create and foster accountability for their peers, followers, and superiors?

By the end of this session, the small group has a more robust understanding of how young leaders can leverage their character to influence others and create accountability in their teams. Importantly, the small group should have proposed a set of specific actions/behaviors young leaders should demonstrate in this effort.

Pursuing Purpose

This session is intended to create discussion about the delicate balance between personal development, growth as a leader, and accomplishing the goals of one’s organization.  Important questions for the discussion include:

• How can young leaders grow and develop as leaders of character while contributing to a cause greater than themselves?
• How can young leaders simultaneously pursue their own development while accomplishing a purpose greater than themselves?
• How can young leaders balance personal growth and goals with accomplishing a higher purpose?

By the end of this session, all fellows, with a deeper knowledge of the challenges young leaders face, will be motivated an inspired to find and pursue personal purpose in accomplishing the organizational objectives of their teams.

High Interaction Panels

In addition to break out session, series of high interactions panels will also be utilized to facilitate a rapid, exciting exchange of ideas, involve the maximum number of student fellows, and stimulate small group discussions.  They include:

Panel #1 – Competing Pressures

Shelley Brindle, Stephanie Khurana, Charlie Kim, and Pat Swygert will host a high interaction panel that addresses the cultural and professional pressures that can challenge a young leader’s character.

Panel #2 – Balancing Influence

Leslie Fenwick, Pat McCauley, and Meghan Messenger will host a high interaction panel that addresses how can young leaders balance empathy and accountability to generate influence and foster initiative.