Kicking off with opening remarks by ICAN’s President & CEO as we prepare for a day of optimism intelligence.

Leaders can’t wait for clarity, certainty, or perfect conditions. What separates thriving teams and organizations from the rest isn’t simply intelligence or experience; it’s vision shaped by optimism, and anchored in action.

In this energizing keynote, Dr. Kelly will guide you through a simplified, practical adaptation of her Five-Minute Vision Plan, designed for leaders who want immediate impact. You will learn how to deliberately harness optimism as a strategic leadership advantage to achieve your goals: to clarify purpose, increase influence, and fuel forward momentum within themselves and their teams.

Drawing on real-world insights from leadership and performance science, Mary unpacks how positive leadership is a disciplined mindset that drives engagement, accelerates decision-making, and strengthens resilience in uncertain times.

AI now writes, analyzes, strategizes, and creates – tasks we once thought were uniquely human. Curt will explore the critical territory that must remain ours and why our most human qualities become our greatest assets as AI gets more powerful:

• What to delegate versus what to defend
• Practical strategies to lead teams through AI adoption
• Renewed confidence in the irreplaceable value humans bring to work.

In our corporate culture, it can sometimes be difficult to be both female and positive without fear of being perceived as “pollyannish” or out of touch with reality. In this keynote, Michelle shatters the misconceptions about positive leadership using science to show how to not just avoid prejudice, but to also change the mindsets of those around you to drive success. Michelle describes funny and poignant stories she experienced while one of the top female media professionals, as well as from her work with influential female executives at companies including Google, Microsoft and Bank of America. Michelle will reveal how to cultivate rational optimism, change the social script using verbal and nonverbal cues, guide the negative toward the positive, and be perceived as a strong, deep, and optimistic female leader.

 Rebuilding presence, resilience, and real connection in an age of overwhelm

In a world built for speed, efficiency, and constant digital engagement, the human nervous system is overwhelmed—and our brain health is paying the price. Anxiety, exhaustion, and disconnection are rising worldwide, not because we’re doing life “wrong,” but because we’re living in conditions our brains were never designed for.

In this science-backed and story-driven keynote, Dorsey Standish explores how modern demands—from nonstop notifications to the race toward AI-powered productivity—are reshaping our attention, emotions, and relationships. And she offers a hopeful path forward.

Through neuroscience, Blue Zones research, and practical tools, Dorsey reveals how we can restore brain health by returning to the fundamentals: calm, presence, and meaningful human connection—both inward and outward. Participants will leave with simple, repeatable practices to support mental well-being at work, at home, and in daily life.

Authenticity is not a soft skill. It is a superpower. When women show up fully as themselves, they do not just transform their own lives. They create clarity, deepen connection, and shape culture.

Yet in a world that rewards perfectionism and pressures women to shrink, self-doubt and burnout quietly take hold. With nearly 80 percent of our daily thoughts being negative, repetitive, and biased, learning how to shift from fear to focus is not just personal growth. It is a leadership advantage.

In this empowering and actionable keynote, Tara Renze shares her Be Who You Came to Be™ framework and unpacks the emotional intelligence secrets every woman needs to thrive both personally and professionally. The high-energy experience blends motivational storytelling, science-backed tools, engaging video, and moments of real connection. You will leave not only inspired, but equipped to self-assess without spiraling, navigate tough conversations with assertiveness and empathy, and lead with calm, confidence, and conviction.

When things are great at work, everything hums.  But when we hit challenging circumstances, it’s easy to question: Is it me? Is it my boss? Is it the client? And, importantly, is it a pattern? That is when things get interesting. Perhaps the challenge is wanting to say “no” to an unreasonable client request. Perhaps it’s managing pushback after the “no.” Or perhaps you’re handling a steamroller boss. 

In this presentation, Dr. Lisko will draw from lessons summarized in her book, Kind Dynamite: Six Ways Women Can Use Our Uniquely Explosive Power to Persuade in Meetings. Challenging circumstances aren’t all in your head. But managing up and out starts with a clear-headed assessment of the reasons we find certain circumstances to be challenging when the colleague seated next to us might not see them that way. 

Patterns of getting stuck in challenging circumstances can be broken. And we women possess powerful tools to shatter the patterns. Using humor and “kind dynamite”, Dr. Lisko will arm you with powerful, concrete ways to speak what’s on your mind using compassionate directness.

Being an ally to those who are not in positions of power within an organization means actively using one’s influence, access, and credibility to help create a more equitable and inclusive environment. It’s not about being a savior or achieving perfection, rather it is sustained, humble action within one’s sphere of influence, while supporting those most affected in leading the change. When leaders practice allyship together, it creates alignment, trust, and a culture where inclusion is reinforced both top-down and bottom-up.

Join ICAN Faculty member Dr. John Slieter in a panel discussion on all forms of allyship in the workplace, with specific focus on our audience of mostly women. John will be joined by Keynote Speaker Curt Steinhorst and ICAN’s own Board Chair and WoodmenLife Executive Marsha Graesser, who will discuss their own experiences practicing and witnessing allyship in the workplace.

The recipient of our 2026 ICAN Leadership Award will be announced by our award co-sponsor, Kiewit’s Jennifer Bradtmueller, along with ICAN’s Aileen Warren.

Aaron Davis will deliver a powerful and deeply personal keynote that reveals how life’s most difficult interruptions can become defining turning points. Through health and cancer battles, and the profound grief of losing his father, Davis shows how forced pauses and moments no one chooses can shape resilience, clarity, and strength. 

Rather than viewing these seasons as setbacks, he learned to Pause for Power to reflect, reset priorities, and intentionally choose his attitude when circumstances were beyond his control. This keynote inspires audiences to reframe adversity, embrace the pause, and recognize that being benched doesn’t mean being broken. Instead it often means being prepared for a stronger, more purposeful return.

Through an engaging interview format led by Sassie’s brother Curt Steinhorst, they will explore the messy truth about leading at the edge of technology—the failures, the breakthroughs, the 3am decisions, and how you keep humans at the center when everything else is moving at hypersonic speed. We’ll discuss:

• Real stories of leading teams under extreme pressure without burning them out
• The CEO’s perspective on how to love your people while demanding world class speed and performance.
• What actually breaks when you scale this fast (hint: it’s rarely the technology)
• Transferrable practices that attendees can apply, whether they’re building rockets or building sales teams

“These aren’t theoretical concepts. I’ve watched them tested in the most demanding environment imaginable—at Venus Aerospace.” Sassie Duggleby

INNOVATE AND THRIVE IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

The new normal of consistent change is leaving leaders concerned about being left behind. Instead of implementing half-baked, panic-driven ideas, it’s time to identify the breadcrumbs — secret hints — the future has left for us to find. In this talk, technology futurist Crystal Washington will show you how to innovate, thrive, and enjoy the ride!

During her keynote, you will:

• Understand the future’s gifts, allowing you to shape and manipulate for your ultimate outcomes.
• Identify the most under-utilized breadcrumbs of innovation that you already have in your basket.
• Create a framework to future-proof your career while removing stress!