2020 Conference Schedule

At the Positive Business Conference, you’ll engage with thought leaders and the latest research on positive business approaches that yield extraordinary results. You’ll network with like-minded individuals from diverse industries and participate in practical hands-on workshops. Finally, you’ll leave with a plan to translate inspiration into action when you return to your organization. The agenda will include many opportunities for informal connections to be made between participants.

The conference will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14th, and the final session will wrap up by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15th. Keep checking back for exciting announcements of additional sessions between now and the conference!

Day 1: Thursday, May 14, 2020

  Sessions Speakers
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Registration + Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:35 AM Welcome + Opening Sessions Conference Co-Hosts
Susan AshfordWayne Baker
(Michigan Ross)
Details Coming Soon Monica Worline (Michigan Ross)
Turning the People Stuff Inside Out Ashley Goodall (Cisco)
Seven Conversations about Diversity, Inclusion, and Positive Organizing Laura Morgan Roberts
(University of Virginia)
10:35 AM – 11:05 AM Refreshment Break
11:05 AM – 12:00 PM The Dilemma of Workplace Generosity Wayne Baker (Michigan Ross) +
Heather Currier Hunt (IDEO)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Ross Thought in Action Workshops Session A (Choose One)
Control Your Own Destiny: Leadership Development through Mindful Engagement Susan Ashford (Michigan Ross)
Positive Leadership and Positive Performance Kim Cameron (Michigan Ross)
The Next Phase of Business Sustainability: Management as a Calling Andy Hoffman (Michigan Ross)
Achieving Innovation and Impact in Impoverished Markets Ted London (Michigan Ross)
Your Well-Being Blueprint Michelle McQuaid (Author + Workplace Well-Being Teacher)
Sustainable Performance: Strategies for Enhancing Your Thriving at Work Gretchen Spreitzer (Michigan Ross)
Building Healthy Businesses Stewart Thornhill (Michigan Ross)
Leading Positive Change Without Authority Chris White (Michigan Ross)
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM Refreshment Break
3:15 PM – 5:00 PM A New Lens for Leadership in a Complex and Changing World Keith Allman (Masco)
Expanding Equity to Build Wealth La June Montgomery Tabron (W.K. Kellogg Foundation)
How Connection Makes Your Everest Goal Possible Scott DeRue + Lindy Greer
(Michigan Ross)
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM Dinner at the University of Michigan Museum of Art

Day 2: Friday, May 15, 2020

  Sessions Speakers
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM – 10:15 AM The Co-Creation of Human Connection John Paul (J.P.) Stephens (Case Western Reserve University)
Creating a Right-Brained Organization by Leading with Connection Mike Novakoski (Elzinga & Volkers)
Connection Activity Esther Kyte + Chris Marcell Murchison (Michigan Ross)
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM Refreshment Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM How to Inspire Truth-Telling at Work Rich Berens (Root Inc.)
The Rise of Corporate Activism: Why Now? What Next? Jerry Davis (Michigan Ross)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Ross Thought in Action Workshops Session B (Choose One)
Good Business: How Treating Workers Well Can Boost Your Bottom Line Achyuta Adhvaryu (Michigan Ross)
The Curious Case of Cultural Consumption Marcus Collins (Michigan Ross)
Designing for High-Quality Connections Jane Dutton (Michigan Ross)
Building Purpose-Driven Partnerships Kathryn Heinze (U-M) +
Sara Soderstrom (U-M)
Negotiate Genuinely Shirli Kopelman (Michigan Ross)
Asking the Question that Changes Everything: How do You Excavate Your Theory of Social Excellence? Robert E. Quinn (Michigan Ross)
Surfacing Your Best Self to Accelerate Your Impact Monica Worline (Michigan Ross)
Measuring the Positive: How to Create and Sustain a Positive Workplace Environment Amy Young (Michigan Ross) +
Michael J. O’Brien (The Pacific Institute)
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM Refreshment Break
3:15 PM – 4:05 PM Quiet: How to Harness the Strengths of Introverts to Change How We Work, Lead, and Innovate Susan Cain (Quiet Revolution) +
Jane Dutton (Michigan Ross)
4:05 PM – 4:15 PM Conference Close

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