Visibility is power. Join us for Session 2 of our Leadership Presence Series featuring Ellen Raynor as we explore how to become more recognized, connected, and known in your organization.
It’s not who you know — it’s who knows YOU. In this session, Ellen will share strategies for increasing your visibility by showing up, getting involved, nurturing stakeholder relationships, and expanding your network.
You’ll learn how to position yourself for opportunities, strengthen your professional presence, and ensure your contributions are seen and valued.
Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Ellen Raynor, Essentials for Leadership, LLC Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenraynor4leadershipessentials/
This topic aligns with ATD’s Building Personal Capability domain within the ATD Capability Model, where Emotional Intelligence lives as a core leadership capability, and offers a practical, reflective in‑person discussion designed to help you deepen your personal competence and strengthen your leadership readiness.
Speaker Bio
Denver Sicay is an AI Learning & Adoption Strategist with 15+ years of experience helping organizations bridge the gap between human capability and emerging technology. He spent 11 years as a Training & Development Specialist with the Federal Highway Administration, is currently an Instructional Designer at Dominion Energy, and volunteers as an AI Platform Consultant for Unni.AI.
He holds an M.Ed in Learning Design and Technology from James Madison University, a Google AI Professional Certificate, and is a decade‑long ATD member.
Session Description
AI adoption rarely fails because of technology — it fails because of people. Organizations struggle not from a lack of tools or budget, but because leaders don’t fully trust the change, managers aren’t equipped to guide the conversation, and employees don’t feel safe naming what they fear or don’t understand.
In this interactive session, Denver reframes AI adoption as a leadership and trust challenge, not a technical rollout. Grounded in ATD’s 2026 State of the Industry research, he shows how clarity, influence, and psychological safety determine whether teams embrace AI or resist it.
His core message: Leadership is influence, not title. Anyone in the room — regardless of role — can shape how their team experiences AI adoption. Every attendee leaves with practical language, tools, and confidence to support AI‑related change.
What You’ll Experience
Four structured segments (10–15 minutes each) with continuous interaction
Paired discussion and small‑table breakout
A live role‑play exercise: crafting an “elevator pitch” to support a nervous coworker
A personal‑commitment card to anchor next steps
A one‑page takeaway summarizing the framework and conversation language
Discussion is open and informal; engage with the monthly theme, or share a personal leadership hurdle for valuable insight from fellow thought leaders. You won't want to miss it!
November 2026 Location: Wegmans (Short Pump) 12200 Wegmans Blvd, Henrico, VA 23233 (meet in the café, across from kids' play area)
How much control do you believe you have over what happens at work—and how does that belief influence the way you lead?
Our November Leadership SIG invites you into an interactive conversation about locus of control and its influence on leadership, decision-making, change, and the way we engage others.
Through facilitated discussion and reflection, we'll explore three perspectives:
MEHow do I respond when circumstances feel outside of my control?
LEADERSHIPHow does my sense of control influence the way I lead, make decisions, and navigate change?
OTHERSHow can leaders create the conditions for others to recognize and use their own agency?
Leadership doesn't mean having control over everything that happens around us. It does require understanding where we have influence, where we don't, and how our beliefs about control affect our responses.
Facilitated by Alison Coops, this session will create space for leadership and talent development professionals to learn from one another, challenge assumptions, and leave with ideas they can apply in their own work.
Come ready to reflect, contribute, and learn alongside your peers.
This topic aligns with ATD’s Building Personal Capability and Developing Professional Capability domains within the ATD Capability Model, where Emotional Intelligence lives as a core leadership capability, and offers a practical, reflective in‑person discussion designed to help you deepen your personal competence and strengthen your leadership readiness.
Influence is the cornerstone of leadership. Join us for Session 3 of our Leadership Presence Series featuring Ellen Raynor as we explore how to strengthen your impact and lead with confidence.
In this session, Ellen will introduce 10 sources of personal and organizational power and teach four influence tactics — Reasoning, Inspiring, Bargaining, and Consulting — to help you influence others effectively in different situations.
You’ll walk away with practical tools to increase your impact, strengthen your leadership presence, and navigate complex workplace dynamics with confidence.
Time:
Thursday, November 12, 2026
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