Deals, Boards & Breakthroughs: How Powerful Connections Shape Powerful Careers

Keynote session sponsored by:

In an era where AI can automate analysis but not authentic connection, your next opportunity won’t come from a spreadsheet—it’ll come from a conversation. In this energizing session, executive coach and entrepreneur Heather L Cole shares how strategic networking can accelerate your career, open doors to board seats, and create breakthroughs you can’t Google. Learn the science and strategy of meaningful connection—and why one powerful conversation could change everything.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize networking as a strategic leadership skill, not a social chore—one that drives visibility, influence, and opportunity.
• Apply the VIP Connection Framework (Voice, Impact, Pivot to Personal) to build authentic, career-advancing relationships.
• Identify key opportunities and events to expand their professional circles in alignment with personal and organizational goals.
• Develop conversation strategies that transform introductions into lasting influence (even for introverts).
• Leverage “weak ties” and cross-industry connections as catalysts for innovation, board roles, and career growth.

PD session "The Role of Financial Executives in a Successful ERP Selection & Implementation" sponsored by:

Most financial executives will undergo multiple ERP transformations in their careers, each with their own unique demands, challenges, and approaches. While the potential benefits can be significant, these projects can easily fail to deliver these benefits or even dissolve into expensive disasters without clearly defined roles and a solid grasp of the key steps for a successful implementation. Join ERP expert, Shawn Windle, for a deep dive on how financial executives can make their teams’ ERP projects go right while leveraging AI and other tools to transform their operations and cultures.

Learning Objectives:

• The role financial executives play during an ERP project and how they contribute to implementation success.
• The top three mistakes that will cause an ERP implementation to fail.
• The areas where ERP implementations often fail to deliver on key financial functionality and how to mitigate this with good planning.
• How to effectively assign roles during an ERP project.
• How financial executives are leveraging AI to transform their operations and cultures.