In a fireside chat, Diane Crane, the former Associate Vice President of Strategic Engagement at Oklahoma State University Foundation, will be interviewed by Courtney Wolfe MacNelly, Assistant Director of Development for Academic and Student Affairs at Oklahoma State University Foundation. Becoming a leader is a matter of choice as opportunities present themselves throughout your career, but positioning yourself as a leader within your organization requires additional choices and actions. You can lead from any position; to advance and enjoy having a larger role, greater responsibility, and more significant impact, you will want to work well with others and deliver results with consistency to convey your values, establish your brand, and position yourself for the right conversations with the right people about future opportunities. Courtney Wolfe MacNelly, an emerging leader, asks questions that you submit ahead of time to Diane Crane, a former Apra board member, as she begins her retirement after a rewarding 37-year career in Advancement with a series of leadership roles.

Giving and receiving feedback, when done skillfully, is an act of compassionate leadership. As leaders, we take a stand for the growth of ourselves and others. We want to understand our impact and be open to new perspectives. We commit to offering feedback that helps our teammates grow. And yet both giving and receiving feedback is, for many, a topic that inspires dread. Janice Cunning and Margaret Katz Cann of Fundraising Leadership will present why feedback is an essential leadership skill.

Join a panel of experts who will discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in the prospect development community. Learn about the critical work being undertaken by Apra's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, Justice and Access Committee (DEIBJA).

You know the importance of prospect development and the value it brings to a development team, but does everyone outside the prospect development team know it, as well? As prospect development professionals, we have opportunities every day to showcase our skills and present real results but what is the best way to do this? How can we move the needle on our impact within our development teams while also growing as leaders? Join me to hear lessons I've learned while leading small and large-ish teams.

Apra has a brand new domain in the Body of Knowledge - Leadership! This interactive session will review the new domain and introduce ways you can use it to develop your own leadership skills and support the leaders on your team. We'll discuss skill assessments, mentorship, performance reviews, career goals, stretch projects, and more. Bring your questions, challenges, and ideas!

Are you feeling invisible or underutilized? Show your value to your organization and advocate for yourself and your professional growth! Are you in a leadership position and want to build a strong team and increase retention? Learn how to make an impact as a leader by championing your team! From making a case for additional staff or resources to promoting current talent, the presenter will share practical tips for Advocacy in Prospect Development. You will learn how to utilize the Apra Advocacy Toolkit to help your organization understand the value of Prospect Development staff and their impact on your fundraising efforts.

Ted Lasso, the head coach from the Apple+ Emmy-winning TV series of the same name, has become a cultural phenomenon and a great example of how kind and empathetic leadership has the power to change a team or an organization for the better. Whether you have watched the show or not, this session is for anyone who wants to build their toolkit and think creatively about developing and using emotional intelligence (EQ) at work. During this Ted Lasso-themed session, we will discuss how prospect development professionals can develop and grow emotional intelligence, which in turn can help you: 1) build and wield influence within your organization and 2) be a driver of positive change (whether it's implementing new prospect management processes, rolling out new analytics tools, helping to lead campaign planning efforts, etc.). Several leadership/change management tools focused on EQ will be reviewed and discussed.

How can your leadership abilities be strengthened? How much time does becoming a good leader require? Although leadership is a skill that is developed over time, are there any shortcuts? In her session, "Achieving Your Leadership Potential," Jenea Oliver, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Children's Mercy Kansas City, will provide the answers. She has studied leadership for more than fifteen years and will reflect on her professional history, offering both aspiring and experienced leaders advice that will leave you inspired to achieve your leadership potential with confidence and joy!