Strengthen your leadership presence by learning how to define, shape, and communicate your personal brand. Join us for Session 1 of our Leadership Presence Series featuring Ellen Raynor of Essentials for Leadership, LLC.
Your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. In this session, Ellen will introduce the 5P Framework — Product, Persona, Packaging, Permission, and Promotion — to help you identify your brand and manage it with intention.
Whether you’re building credibility, navigating organizational dynamics, or preparing for new leadership opportunities, this session will give you practical tools to strengthen how others perceive you and how you show up professionally.
Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Thursday, September 10, 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.
DAVID CORY, MA, PCC
Speaker Bio:
David Cory is the Founder of The Emotional Intelligence Training Company (EITC) and an internationally recognized leadership development coach, trainer, and consultant. He is known for his expertise in applying emotional intelligence to strengthen individual and organizational performance.
Since 1998, David and his team have worked with leaders across sectors to implement emotional intelligence development programs in some of the most progressive organizations globally.
David has been a keynote speaker at conferences around the world, including Harvard Medical School, and has served as a six‑time keynote speaker at the Asia HR Congress in Bahrain, Brunei, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. His most recent keynote was delivered at the World of Tomorrow Leadership Conference in Paradise Island, Maldives.
Session Description:
What does the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) mean for the Emotional Intelligence (EI) of humans within effective organizations? Will AI replace EI? What is the relationship between EI and AI — and what does this mean for Talent Development professionals?
Join David Cory, Founder of The Emotional Intelligence Training Company (EITC), as he explores the essential relationship between EI and AI and the mix of human skills organizations need to thrive in a technology‑accelerated environment. David will discuss how emotional intelligence supports decision‑making, communication, and leadership effectiveness in an era where AI is rapidly reshaping workflows, expectations, and organizational culture.
Learning Objectives:
Define EI and AI as they relate to Talent Development
Describe one of the world’s leading EI models for organizational effectiveness
Explain the relationship between EI and AI and why both matter for the future
Take away five keys to improve EI skills
This program aligns with the following capabilities of the ATD Capability Model: Building Personal and Organizational Capability.
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!
October 2026 Location: Wegmans (Short Pump) 12200 Wegmans Blvd, Henrico, VA 23233 (meet in the café, across from kids' play area)
Topic for October: Leadership Clarity — Guiding Teams with Purpose and Direction
Teams often work hard, stay busy, and push through competing demands — yet still struggle to make meaningful progress. In many cases, the issue isn’t effort, commitment, or talent. It’s clarity. When direction, priorities, and success criteria aren’t unmistakably understood, teams drift, decisions become reactive, and progress stalls.
This month’s SIG explores how leaders create clarity, how teams lose it, and how intentional reinforcement helps maintain alignment in dynamic environments.
Discussion Questions:
Think of a team you’ve worked with that was extremely busy but not making meaningful progress. In hindsight, what ultimately caused the lack of progress — lack of effort, lack of clarity about what mattered most, competing priorities, or something else?
How do you determine whether a team objective is clear enough to guide action? What distinguishes a meaningful, measurable result from a goal that sounds good but doesn’t actually provide direction?
Consider the decisions your team makes regularly. Do you ever explicitly ask, “How will this decision impact our key results?” If not, how might incorporating that question into your team’s decision‑making process strengthen alignment and reduce drift?
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.
Thursday, October 15, 2026
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.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
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