SIGNATURE SESSIONS

Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes

Featuring Dr. Sunita Sah, Professor of Management & Organizations at the Cornell University SC Johnson School of Business, and Manar Morales, Founder & CEO of DFA

December 2, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Dr. Sunita Sah, a leading expert on decision-making, critical thinking, leadership, defiance, and negotiation skills, will explore how saying no can help leaders uphold their values, reduce bias, and build cultures of trust and accountability. In conversation with Manar Morales, this session will offer practical insights for navigating pressure, aligning your values and actions, and leading with greater clarity and conviction. Participants will also gain tools for using small, manageable opportunities to practice standing firm, preparing for difficult conversations, modeling responsible leadership, and fostering environments where principled dissent is supported.

Strength in Neurodiversity: How to Create a Workplace Where Everyone Can Belong

Featuring Dr. Daniel Wendler, Clinical Psychologist and Founder, ImproveYourSocialSkills.com

September 17, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Successful organizations owe their success to their team. When organizational leaders encourage their employees to reach their full potential, the company flourishes. Unfortunately, many organizations squander the potential of their neurodivergent employees, such as those with autism or ADHD. Neurodivergent people might struggle to get a fair hearing for their ideas due to stigma, or might find it difficult to work at their full potential in an environment that isn’t set up to support them. Conversely, organizations that support their neurodivergent workers have a powerful competitive advantage. And it’s not hard to do. By following a few simple principles, any organization can create an environment where a neurodiverse team can excel – and where everyone feels great about showing up each day. Learn from autistic neurodiversity expert Dr. Daniel Wendler the best practices for creating an inclusive work environment that celebrates and empowers neurodivergent employees. You’ll gain practical tools for helping your organization become a more inclusive workplace, whether you’re a leader or team member, and whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent yourself.

Leveraging Sabbaticals to Prevent Burnout and Promote Workplace Well-Being

Featuring Manar Morales, Founder & CEO, DFA, Brittaney Schmidt, Chief Legal Talent & Inclusion Officer, Vorys, Keith Stemple, Chief Legal Personnel and Development & Practice Management Officer, WilmerHale, Phyllis Wan, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Holland & Hart

July 24, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Join us on Thursday, July 24, 2025, for an exclusive first look at DFA’s Sabbatical Impact Report, a deep dive into how organizations are using sabbatical programs to improve wellbeing, prevent burnout, strengthen retention, and support long-term performance. You’ll hear fresh data, real examples of successful programs, and best practices for designing sabbaticals in your organization. Whether you’re exploring how to launch a new sabbatical program or strengthen an existing one, this session will give you the insights and tools you need to cultivate a supportive, thriving work culture.

From Reactivity to Resourcefulness: Cultivating Self-Leadership During Uncertainty

Featuring Manar Morales, Founder & CEO, DFA

May 21, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

In today’s fast-moving world, effective leadership starts with how we manage ourselves. Join Manar Morales for an interactive 60-minute session exploring the critical space between external triggers and our responses—where true leadership begins. In this session, you’ll explore how to:

• Apply the “Pause, Notice, Choose” method to shift from reactivity to resourcefulness.
• Understand the science of stress and tap into your best thinking under pressure.
• Lead effectively, even when circumstances feel outside your control.
• Build a personal toolkit to lead yourself and others through change.
• Craft a resilience plan rooted in your unique strengths and resources.

Whether facing organizational shifts, industry disruption, or personal transitions, you’ll walk away with practical tools to navigate uncertainty with clarity, purpose, and confidence when certainty is in short supply. Through evidence-based insights and interactive exercises, this session helps you move from surviving change to discovering new possibilities within it.

Defining Culture in a Shifting Landscape

Featuring Manar Morales, Founder & CEO, DFA

April 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

In times of uncertainty, leaders often find themselves reacting rather than leading with intention. The way you navigate challenges leaves a lasting impression, shaping how people perceive your leadership and your organization’s identity. It takes shape through values, behaviors, and daily experiences that influence how people connect, contribute, and grow. Whether it’s managing return to office mandates or challenges to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, this program will provide you with a framework to define culture and engage in purpose driven conversations.

Building Self-Reliance: Lessons from 7 Rules of Self-Reliance

Featuring Maha Abouelenein, founder of Digital & Savvy, best-selling author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, and host of the Savvy Talk podcast

February 18, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

As the CEO of Digital & Savvy, a global communications consulting firm with offices in the United States and United Arab Emirates, Maha has been instrumental in orchestrating transformations in communication strategies for clients that include global corporate giants, high-growth startups, sports organizations, top governments, CEOs, and high-net-worth individuals. Raised and educated in the United States to Egyptian parents, Maha is at home in both Western and Arab worlds, offering a global perspective that translates into her work. Maha’s 2/18 webinar will be based on her book, 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself and Own Your Future, a USA TODAY bestseller that provides a transformative guide on mastering self-reliance. In this fascinating presentation, Maha will share her top strategies that fuel resilience, empower leaders, and inspire people to create their own opportunities.

Personal Branding for Professional Success

Featuring Mary Abbajay, author of the best-selling, award winning Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss

January 22, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Did you know everyone has a personal brand—even if they don’t realize it? Your brand is what sets you apart. It’s the unique blend of your skills, experience, and personality that shapes how others see you. Don’t miss this interactive, high energy virtual session that will help you:

• Cultivate a positive professional image, brand and reputation;
• Identify key components of your brand;
• Identify key strategies to reinforce and magnify your brand while engaging with others;
• Explore best practices for brand (and self) promotion.

Remember, your personal brand is the impression you both want to make and do make on others. Done well, and your personal brand can help you succeed professionally. You can either ignore your personal brand, and let it develop organically, possibly chaotically, beyond your control, or you can take active steps to create a personal brand that accurately depicts you as the person you want to be.