Personnel learn to ‘Shift’ at Leadercast

  • Published
  • By Caroline Clauson
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — For the first time, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hosted a broadcast of Leadercast, the largest one-day leadership conference in the world, to strengthen and unite teams on base.

The Nov. 30 event featured speakers from three-time Emmy-nominated actor Rainn Wilson to New York Times bestseller Austin Channing Brown and initiated discussions about motivation, purpose, passion and allyship in the workplace.

“This is not only a moment to build resilience but also to think about how you can do radical things within your own organization,” said Guy Raz, an award-winning reporter now at National Public Radio who spoke at the event.

The broadcast added Wright-Patt to the list of Leadercast’s over 750 host sites around the globe in 2021 as part of the organization’s 20 years of delivering leadership conferences and training.

About 40 current and future leaders across the installation attended the event in the Air Force Institute of Technology auditorium. The conference theme was “Shift.”

“How we persevere, or shift, through that darkness, like stars piercing the night sky, that’s what shapes who we are and how we show up as a leader,” said Sunny Parr, speaker and executive director of the Kroger Foundation.

Senior Master Sgt. Elise Redziniak, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center first sergeant and WPAFB event organizer, said it was aimed at reminding leaders they must have the courage to change mindsets, directions and strategies in order to meet goals and take care of their teams, especially amid unprecedented global challenges.

“This event is important as it shares various stories in how organizations and leaders are required to shift to find success,” she said. “It was a great option to continue to grow and stay connected as a community in light of the pandemic and the associated restrictions.”

Although the rebroadcast was virtual, personnel attending the event were invited to share ideas and answer questions after each set of video presentations.

“What I learned wasn’t necessarily ideas I didn’t already know, but now I know how I can act on them, implement them and share them with my team,” said Kyle Johansen, deputy security assistance program manager at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

“As a program manager, I need to present good information and communicate that clearly and effectively. This event helped me to see how people in different fields look at adversity and what their thought process is on how to overcome it, thus shifting their thinking.”

All base personnel are invited to attend several Leadercast rebroadcasts throughout the year. Watch for the Wright-Patt Weekly Bulletin to catch the next opportunity.

“I hope that members will take a lesson from each speaker and incorporate it into their own work centers while gaining further knowledge and skills for their leadership toolboxes,” Redziniak said. “I hope that each person leaves feeling renewed and energized to continue to lead their teams.”