Adaptive Leadership: Adapt and Thrive
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Sansberry II, DBA, Founder of Kevra: The Culture CompanyFebruary 17, 2026 | 8:30am-Noon
VIRTUAL SESSION via ZoomThis highly engaging session provides leaders with the frameworks and hands-on experience needed to address today’s complex and unpredictable business challenges. Through a combination of applied exercises and reflective learning, leaders build the adaptability and resilience needed to thrive.
What You Will Learn
Why This Session Matters Now
Leaders operate in a time of constant flux, facing ambiguous challenges, technological disruption, and the need for organizational agility. Adaptive leadership is a vital skill set for navigating these realities, empowering leaders to mobilize teams, confront the unknown, and drive innovation through uncertainty. This program offers the mindset and tools essential for ongoing success in a rapidly changing world.- Gain foundational insight into adaptive leadership principles and how they address modern organizational issues.
- Engage in practical, scenario-based exercises designed to simulate adaptive challenges applying new strategies in real time.
- Accurately identify adaptive versus technical challenges and deploy effective leadership responses.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is ideal for leaders at all levels who face the challenges of guiding their teams and organizations through uncertain times and complex problems. Whether you are leading a small team or an entire organization, this session will equip you with the understanding and tools to embrace change, face challenges head-on, and emerge stronger.
About the Instructor
;)
Dr. Kevin Sansberry II is a behavioral scientist and executive coach whose inspiring work is driven by the need for evidence-based, inclusive, and equitable approaches to urgently and proactively transform and coach leaders, eradicating toxic behaviors that threaten profitability, innovation, and the overall well-being. He is also the creator and host of the Toxic Leadership Podcast which reached as high as the number four nonprofit podcast in the United States in 2021.
Advanced Financial Decision Making
Instructor: Nathan Mauck, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas CityDate (To be determined) | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MissouriIf you would like to be notified when we schedule the next offering of the Advanced Financial Decision Making workshop please let us know at umkcexeced@umkc.edu / (816) 235-2892.
One of the big challenges in business is dealing with uncertainty. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the basic framework for how to make financially solid decisions that minimize risk and maximize return. The focus of this workshop is on managing for value.
Real-world case studies will provide the opportunity to evaluate the financial implications of strategic decisions. You will practice framing an issue and then applying financial logic to make sound recommendations.
Key Topics
- Establish how investors and the market view value creation
- Overview of the capital budgeting process
- Estimate cash flows and cost of capital
- Understand key investment criteria
- Key financial performance measures: net present value, internal rate of return, return on equity, return on assets, and return on investment
- Apply decision making framework to “go or no-go” scenarios
- Learn how to manage payout policy
- Decide between capital structure alternatives
- Understand drivers of merger and acquisition success
Who Should Attend
This course is appropriate for managers of all backgrounds seeking coverage of advanced topics. Managers with a non-finance background may find that this course is best following our “Basic Accounting” and/or “Using and Understanding Financial Statements” courses.
About the Instructor
;)
Nathan Mauck, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Nathan has specialized his research and teaching in the areas of corporate finance, international finance, financial modeling, firm valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and venture financing. He has over 20 peer-reviewed academic publications and his work has been featured in popular press publications such as The Wall Street Journal. Nathan is a favorite instructor of students at the Bloch School and has won numerous teaching awards.
Basic Accounting
Instructor: William R. Kay, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, owner of W. Kay & AssociatesIf you would like to be notified when we schedule the next offering of Basic Accounting please let us know at umkcexeced@umkc.edu.
In this workshop you will gain an understanding of the accounting process, from recording the dollar impact of business decisions to the preparation of the resulting financial reports.
You will come away with the ability to converse with the finance people intelligently and grasp the all-important numbers side of business.
This workshop will help you become familiar with common accounting concepts and buzzwords used by accounting insiders. You’ll develop a baseline of financial understanding and clear up any confusion between different kinds of financial statements and identify their purpose and relation to each other.
Key Topics
- Accounting equation and the relationship among its components
- The basic accounting principles
- The accounting process: journals and ledgers
- How debits and credits work
- How various business transactions affect financial statements
- Cash accounting versus accrual basis accounting
- The difference between accounting profit and cash flow
- Retained Earnings is the bridge between the Income Statement and the Balance Sheet
- Apply accounting conventions and guidelines
- The purpose of and terminology associated with the key financial statements:
- Income Statement or Profit and Loss Statement (P&L)
- Balance Sheet
- Statement of Retained Earnings
- Cash Flow Statement
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for both new managers of all backgrounds and established managers with non-finance backgrounds in every functional area of responsibility and in all industries.
About the Instructor
;)
William R. Kay, MBA, is an adjunct Professor for the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Bloch School of Management, and owner of W. Kay & Associates is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals enhance their competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance.
For the past 28 years, Mr. Kay has specialized in assisting businesses in the quest to improve performance in the areas of strategic planning, finance and accounting, project management, marketing, sales and sales management, and team building following the accelerated learning model for adult learning.
Mr. Kay’s professional experience includes over 20 years as CEO and owner of a major company and, for the past 28 years helping major Fortune 500 companies and Universities with organizational development and training.
Being Clear is Kind: Delegate and set expectations like a pro
Instructor: Liesl Hays, Melissa O’DanielApril 30, 2026 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414As a leader, your team’s performance reflects your leadership abilities. Successful leaders drive their teams to achieve individual and collective goals by delegating tasks based on their team’s skillsets, motivation, and potential. However, delegating and setting expectations can be challenging.
Do any of these sound familiar?
“It will take me longer to delegate this task than to do it myself.”
“I’m not sure I trust that my team is capable enough to succeed at the task.”
“Setting expectations for my team feels restrictive,”
“I’m not sure what to delegate or how to do it.”
“I’m afraid my employees might make mistakes that will reflect poorly on me or the team.”Overcoming these barriers is essential to becoming a successful leader. During this session we will identify strategies that are helpful for delegating tasks and setting expectations for your team.
What You Will Learn
After participating in this session, you will be equipped to:
- Identify your unique barriers to delegating and tactics to overcome them.
- Implement different approaches to delegating tasks based on your team member’s skill level, motivation, and potential.
- Monitor the progress of a delegated task without micromanaging.
- Implement strategies and tips to help you delegate and set expectations effectively.
- Use techniques for providing effective feedback for delegated tasks.
About the Instructor
;)
Liesl Hays is an author, entrepreneur, and human resources strategist. For over twenty years, Liesl has provided strategic direction to small, medium, and large businesses regarding their human capital needs. Most recently, Liesl was a Human Resources Strategist at one of the largest global Healthcare IT companies in the world. After leaving her corporate job in 2016, she opened her own Human Resources Consulting business called Aligned Talent Consulting. Liesl is a contributing writer for the wildly popular self-development website Lifehack, and you can find her behind the microphone weekly as a host of the Link 2 Lee’s Summit podcast.
In 2021, Liesl released her first book through Morgan James Publishing: Broken, Changed & Rearranged. This self-development book shares her journey of chasing the traditional paths towards success to discover she was woefully unhappy locked inside her 60-hour a week grind. Her inspiring story empowers others to step outside the traditional definitions of success to chase what provides them meaning. Liesl runs on coffee, “to do lists,” and the belief that exit interviews don’t lie-you’re just not listening. She lives in Blue Springs Missouri with her children, Mady and Ethan, and their unruly dog Bear.
Budgeting
Instructor: William R. Kay, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, owner of W. Kay & AssociatesDate (To be determined) | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414Being responsible for the budgeting means you’re playing a vital role in your organization’s future. Your budget enables you to pinpoint critical variables that impact profit, so your company can successfully pursue business goals and create value.
In this workshop, you will learn how to work with, develop and present budgets aligned with business strategic goals. Working in groups, you’ll gather the information you need to construct and analyze operating budgets. You’ll practice evaluating and revising your budget to increase its chances of acceptance. This is your opportunity to gain the tools and insights to craft the budget your company needs to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Key Topics
- Overview of the planning and budgeting process
- Accurately develop an operating budget based on forecasted sales, revenues, and costs
- Work with a well-planned budget that clearly highlights crucial variables that impact profit
- Know the line items on the income statement, their metrics and interdependencies
- Define variances so you can quickly implement changes to meet your company’s financial objectives
- Develop and present a well-thought-out budget that will get buy-in
- Keep your plan on target with budgetary controls
- Understand the definition, purpose, and components of a budget
- Operating budget vs. capital budget
- Address issues and challenges when dealing with assumptions and targets
- Revise and finalize the budget
- Organize and deliver your operating budget for feedback and final approval
- Obtain tips, guidelines, and recommendations for developing and presenting your budget
- Perform a variance analysis and identify potential sources and causes
- Know exactly which variances to address to plan for next year’s budget
Who Should Attend
Managers and anyone with budget responsibilities who are interested in developing or improving their budget planning skills.
About the Instructor
;)
William R. Kay, MBA, is an adjunct Professor for the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Bloch School of Management, and owner of W. Kay & Associates is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals enhance their competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance.
For the past 28 years, Mr. Kay has specialized in assisting businesses in the quest to improve performance in the areas of strategic planning, finance and accounting, project management, marketing, sales and sales management, and team building following the accelerated learning model for adult learning.
Mr. Kay’s professional experience includes over 20 years as CEO and owner of a major company and, for the past 28 years helping major Fortune 500 companies and Universities with organizational development and training.
Communicating Financial Goals and Performance
Instructor: Nathan Mauck, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas CityDate (To be determined) | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MissouriIf you would like to be notified when we schedule the next offering of the Communicating Financial Goals and Performance workshop please let us know at umkcexeced@umkc.edu / (816) 235-2892.
Ideas that require firm resources also require evidence that benefits outweigh the costs. In this workshop, you will learn and apply best practices for making a business case for projects and strategies.
This workshop will utilize real-world cases to provide you with the opportunity to apply key communication strategies to move your ideas forward. This is an opportunity to develop your ability to interact with internal and external audiences with a focus on financial implications of strategic decisions.
Key Topics
- Understand “CFO speak” including terminology and financial performance metrics related to:
- Profitability
- Growth
- Impact of project financing
- Risk
- Cost and benefits
- Creating shareholder or owner value
- Convert functional area jargon into the language of finance
- The role of financial projections in decision making
- Using your business case to influence others
- Identifying drivers of success and risk
- Financial models that support the business case
- Conducting sensitivity analysis and what-if analysis
- Demonstrating alignment of strategic and financial goals
- Anticipating and dealing with pushback
- Presenting key decision points in concise manner
Who Should Attend
Managers of all backgrounds who seek improved skills to articulate financial goals and describe performance to non-financial audiences. Managers with a non-finance background who want to learn finance jargon and “CFO speak.”
About the Instructor
;)
Nathan Mauck, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Nathan has specialized his research and teaching in the areas of corporate finance, international finance, financial modeling, firm valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and venture financing. He has over 20 peer-reviewed academic publications and his work has been featured in popular press publications such as The Wall Street Journal. Nathan is a favorite instructor of students at the Bloch School and has won numerous teaching awards.
- Understand “CFO speak” including terminology and financial performance metrics related to:
Emotional Intelligence is the New Currency of Professional Success
Instructor: Mike Allison, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKCMarch 10, 2026 | 8:30am-Noon
VIRTUAL SESSION via ZoomLeaders will explore and understand the direct link between high emotional intelligence (EQ) and success in the workplace. Numerous recent studies show that society’s most effective leaders cultivate strong emotional intelligence skills. In fact, one such comprehensive study carried out across a variety of organizations determined that 90 percent of top performers have high EQ. Those who incorporate EQ techniques into their lives experience great personal and professional gain. In addition to being grounded, they more easily seize new opportunities, manage difficult situations, make sound decisions based on fact, and set an energizing tone both inside and outside the workplace.
What You Will Learn
Attendees will explore and understand the direct link between high emotional intelligence (EQ) and leadership success. Numerous recent studies show that society’s most effective leaders cultivate strong emotional intelligence skills. In fact, one such comprehensive study carried out across a variety of organizations determined that 90 percent top performers have high EQ. Leaders who incorporate EQ techniques into their lives experience great personal and professional gain. In addition to being grounded, they more easily seize new opportunities, manage difficult situations, make sound decisions based on fact, and set an energizing tone both inside and outside the workplace.
During an interactive and multi-media driven session, participants will discover:
- Qualities consistently possessed by great leaders
- Distinctions between intelligence quotient (IQ), technical quotient (TQ), and emotional intelligence (EQ)
- The four key elements which make up emotional intelligence
- Why influence and true leadership cannot occur without high EQ
Attendees will learn that in order to truly lead others and maximize results through EQ, one must:
- Master self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationships
- Exhibit genuine empathy. Make others feel it is about them and you have their best interests at heart
- Thoughtfully harness individual emotions and the emotions of others
About the Instructor
;)
Mike Allison is the Vice President of Talent at Spotlight (Analyst Relations) where he oversees talent acquisition, leadership development, and employee growth/engagement. Spotlight was named Kansas City’s best place to work (medium-sized company) by the Kansas City Business Journal in 2023. Ingram’s magazine also bestowed similar recognition. Mike is also an Adjunct Professor and Bloch Executive Education instructor within the Bloch School at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC).
Prior to his role at Spotlight, Mike enjoyed over 22 years of healthcare IT leadership experience working at Cerner. His final role there involved leading a group of faculty who developed and delivered advanced education to cohorts of Veterans Administration (VA) clinicians, informaticists, and analytics professionals. He also worked with internal and external leaders on change management and other organizational development initiatives. Previously, Mike held executive responsibilities over Cerner’s client and associate learning organizations. His award-winning teams, many of which were internationally based, provided practical and effective end-to-end learning solutions to Cerner clients and associates around the world.
Mike also spent a year as the Vice President of Learning and Development at AMC Theatres where he led a team of learning professionals focused on building, supporting, and retaining talent across multiple guest-facing brands.
Mike regularly carries out public speaking engagements and provides coaching to business leaders across the Kansas City metropolitan area. He presents and instructs on diverse topics such as leading through change, emotional intelligence, holding difficult conversations, building a culture of feedback, advanced presentation techniques, cultivating trust, and executive presence.
Prior to working in the private sector, Mike was involved in city management for three years. He worked primarily as a management analyst for the city of Kansas City, Mo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from Brigham Young University.
Mike is married to Amy Allison, a non-profit leader serving as the Executive Director for The Farmer’s House. They have three young adult children (girl, boy, girl). Besides being an avid family man, Mike is passionate about volunteering, seeing the world, hiking, music, disc golf, and all things San Francisco. He was born and raised in the “City by the Bay.”
Finance for Non-Financial Managers
Instructor: William R. Kay, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, owner of W. Kay & AssociatesApril 7, 2026 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414This workshop is designed to help anyone understand the entire business process from transactions to financial statements and much more.
What You Will Learn
This intensive and fun workshop was created to help people position themselves to understand the numbers, how they work, and how to analyze financial statements, and the importance of asset management.
During the workshop, the attendees will gain a strong understanding of finance and accounting. They will learn how to use financial information to understand how to evaluate business performance for their own business unit, division, and their customers.
- The basic principles of financial management
- The key financial management functions and the uses of financial accounting
- The fundamental accounting principles
- The basics of financial reporting
- The use of basic financial statements in decision making
- The important financial concepts including General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- The important accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity);
- The concepts of Cash versus Accrual Accounting
- The Key Financial Statements of business – Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement
- How to analyze financial statements
- The important business metrics and financial ratios; and
- How to read financial statements to determine the financial health of an organization.
About the Instructor
;)
William R. Kay, MBA, is an adjunct Professor for the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Bloch School of Management, and owner of W. Kay & Associates is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals enhance their competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance.
For the past 28 years, Mr. Kay has specialized in assisting businesses in the quest to improve performance in the areas of strategic planning, finance and accounting, project management, marketing, sales and sales management, and team building following the accelerated learning model for adult learning.
Mr. Kay’s professional experience includes over 20 years as CEO and owner of a major company and, for the past 28 years helping major Fortune 500 companies and Universities with organizational development and training.
Finance for Non-Financial Managers (fall offering)
Instructor: William R. Kay, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, owner of W. Kay & AssociatesOctober 6, 2026 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414This workshop is designed to help anyone understand the entire business process from transactions to financial statements and much more.
What You Will Learn
This intensive and fun workshop was created to help people position themselves to understand the numbers, how they work, and how to analyze financial statements, and the importance of asset management.
During the workshop, the attendees will gain a strong understanding of finance and accounting. They will learn how to use financial information to understand how to evaluate business performance for their own business unit, division, and their customers.
- The basic principles of financial management
- The key financial management functions and the uses of financial accounting
- The fundamental accounting principles
- The basics of financial reporting
- The use of basic financial statements in decision making
- The important financial concepts including General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- The important accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity);
- The concepts of Cash versus Accrual Accounting
- The Key Financial Statements of business – Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement
- How to analyze financial statements
- The important business metrics and financial ratios; and
- How to read financial statements to determine the financial health of an organization.
About the Instructor
;)
William R. Kay, MBA, is an adjunct Professor for the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Bloch School of Management, and owner of W. Kay & Associates is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals enhance their competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance.
For the past 28 years, Mr. Kay has specialized in assisting businesses in the quest to improve performance in the areas of strategic planning, finance and accounting, project management, marketing, sales and sales management, and team building following the accelerated learning model for adult learning.
Mr. Kay’s professional experience includes over 20 years as CEO and owner of a major company and, for the past 28 years helping major Fortune 500 companies and Universities with organizational development and training.
Firm Valuation
Instructor: Nathan Mauck, Ph.D.,, Associate Professor of Finance at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas CityDate (To be determined) | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MissouriIf you would like to be notified when we schedule the next offering of the Firm Valuation workshop please let us know at umkcexeced@umkc.edu / (816) 235-2892.
Managers often reference “creating value” for their firms, owners or shareholders. But how do we really create and measure value? This course focuses on the drivers of value creation.
A blend of lecture and hands-on applied case studies will be used develop practical strategies to add value to your business. You will have the opportunity to identify the value consequences of strategic decisions.
Key Topics
- Define firm value from the perspective of owners and shareholders
- Understand common valuation techniques
- Apply a high-level discounted cash flow model to a real firm
- Valuation multiples
- Discount rates and cost of capital
- Use real firms and cases to identify key drivers of value including:
- Sustainable competitive advantage
- Organic and inorganic growth
- Cost control
- Risk reduction
- Cash flow generation
- Apply valuation techniques to identify financial consequences of decision making
- Valuation in the context of mergers and acquisitions
- Establish the link between strategic initiatives and value
Who Should Attend
This course is appropriate for managers of all backgrounds with an interest in how value is created. Managers with a non-finance background may find that this course is best following our “Basic Accounting” and/or “Using and Understanding Financial Statements” courses.
About the Instructor
;)
Nathan Mauck, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Nathan has specialized his research and teaching in the areas of corporate finance, international finance, financial modeling, firm valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and venture financing. He has over 20 peer-reviewed academic publications and his work has been featured in popular press publications such as The Wall Street Journal. Nathan is a favorite instructor of students at the Bloch School and has won numerous teaching awards.
Harnessing the Power of Influence and Persuasion
Instructor: Mike Allison, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKCDecember 8, 2026 | 8:30am-Noon
VIRTUAL SESSION via ZoomLeaders who move the meter understand the behavior science around influence. They authentically and effectively shape the opinions of peers, stakeholders, clients, and direct reports. Without influence, you cannot be successful in advancing the businesses, organizations, and people you serve. During this interactive session, you will learn how to more effectively persuade others while exploring multiple dimensions of power and political agility. Discussions and activities will include a focus on the state of your internal and external networks. You will leave the session with practical tools for building your influence across your organization.
What You Will Learn
Those in attendance will learn that in order to influence and persuade others:
- Solidifying trust must be a primary focus
- Your network must be defined, cohesive, and flourishing
- You must practice the law of reciprocity
- All “seven keys” of influence and persuasion must be leveraged
About the Instructor
;)
Mike Allison is the Vice President of Talent at Spotlight (Analyst Relations) where he oversees talent acquisition, leadership development, and employee growth/engagement. Spotlight was named Kansas City’s best place to work (medium-sized company) by the Kansas City Business Journal in 2023. Ingram’s magazine also bestowed similar recognition. Mike is also an Adjunct Professor and Bloch Executive Education instructor within the Bloch School at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC).
Prior to his role at Spotlight, Mike enjoyed over 22 years of healthcare IT leadership experience working at Cerner. His final role there involved leading a group of faculty who developed and delivered advanced education to cohorts of Veterans Administration (VA) clinicians, informaticists, and analytics professionals. He also worked with internal and external leaders on change management and other organizational development initiatives. Previously, Mike held executive responsibilities over Cerner’s client and associate learning organizations. His award-winning teams, many of which were internationally based, provided practical and effective end-to-end learning solutions to Cerner clients and associates around the world.
Mike also spent a year as the Vice President of Learning and Development at AMC Theatres where he led a team of learning professionals focused on building, supporting, and retaining talent across multiple guest-facing brands.
Mike regularly carries out public speaking engagements and provides coaching to business leaders across the Kansas City metropolitan area. He presents and instructs on diverse topics such as leading through change, emotional intelligence, holding difficult conversations, building a culture of feedback, advanced presentation techniques, cultivating trust, and executive presence.
Prior to working in the private sector, Mike was involved in city management for three years. He worked primarily as a management analyst for the city of Kansas City, Mo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from Brigham Young University.
Mike is married to Amy Allison, a non-profit leader serving as the Executive Director for The Farmer’s House. They have three young adult children (girl, boy, girl). Besides being an avid family man, Mike is passionate about volunteering, seeing the world, hiking, music, disc golf, and all things San Francisco. He was born and raised in the “City by the Bay.”
Purpose for Professionals: A One-Day Intensive on Direction, Values, and Career Choice
Instructor: Bryan Hong, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Entrepreneurship and Management Department at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas CityMarch 6, 2026 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 413This one-day workshop creates intentional space for professionals to step back from the pace of daily demands and examine the direction of their work and lives. Rather than offering formulas or assessments, this session focuses on thoughtful reflection, structured conversation, and careful listening—both to oneself and to others. Participants explore how values, assumptions, and past decisions shape their career paths, and how clarity can emerge.
The workshop is designed for individuals who are aware that achievement alone does not guarantee meaning or alignment. Through guided dialogue and peer engagement, participants focus on what matters to them and have a clearer foundation for future professional choices. This is not a retreat or a coaching session—it is a serious, human conversation about direction, responsibility, and purpose, suited for those willing to engage fully and thoughtfully for a day.
Who Should Attend
You might consider this workshop if some of these questions feel familiar:
- I worry about getting locked into a job or career that works on paper but doesn’t fit who I am.
- I’ve made practical choices that made sense at the time—but I’m not sure they add up to a direction I care about.
- I’m choosing paths based on what feels realistic or available—not necessarily what feels meaningful.
About the Instructor
;)
Bryan Hong is an Associate Professor of Strategy. Prior to joining the Bloch School, he taught at the Stern School of Business at New York University, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and Ivey Business School in Canada. He completed his PhD in Business Administration at the University of California-Berkeley and worked in investment banking (Citigroup), corporate strategic planning (Burger King), and strategy consulting (Bain and Company) prior to entering academia. He is author of the book Evolution to Purpose: Choosing a Life of Authenticity with Work.
Strategic Foresight & Scenario Planning: Staying Future-Ready
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Sansberry II, DBA, Founder of Kevra: The Culture CompanyNovember 10, 2026 | 8:30am-Noon
VIRTUAL SESSION via ZoomEquip yourself with powerful tools and mindsets to anticipate uncertainty and turn it into strategic advantage. This interactive workshop explores essential foresight frameworks such as scenario planning, trend mapping, and horizon scanning alongside complementary tools like PESTLE and SWOT analysis. Through collaborative exercises, real-world case studies, and guided reflections, participants learn to identify critical uncertainties, craft plausible futures, and derive robust strategies that stand up to change.
What You Will Learn
Why This Session Matters
Conventional plans quickly lose relevance. Strategic foresight and scenario planning help leaders sense emerging trends, spot early signals of disruption, and stress-test strategies against diverse possibilities. Teams that apply these tools mitigate blind spots, align around a shared vision, and foster a culture of resilience and proactive adaptation.- Master leading foresight tools scenario planning, horizon scanning, early warning indicator mapping
- Translate signals and trends into actionable options for strategic investment, transformation, or innovation
- Lead collaborative workshops to extract creative, future-ready solutions from cross-functional teams
- Build organizational agility by mapping out challenges, opportunities, and “no regret” strategic choices
About the Instructor
;)
Dr. Kevin Sansberry II is a behavioral scientist and executive coach whose inspiring work is driven by the need for evidence-based, inclusive, and equitable approaches to urgently and proactively transform and coach leaders, eradicating toxic behaviors that threaten profitability, innovation, and the overall well-being. He is also the creator and host of the Toxic Leadership Podcast which reached as high as the number four nonprofit podcast in the United States in 2021.
The Art of Data Storytelling: Turning Insights into Action
Instructor: Travis GrunewaldJuly 10, 2026 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414In today’s organizations, data is everywhere—but clarity is not. Too often, strong analysis fails to drive action because it’s presented without a clear story, audience focus, or decision context. This interactive executive education session is designed to help professionals at all levels transform data into compelling narratives that influence decisions, align stakeholders, and move organizations forward.
Participants will learn a practical, repeatable framework for data storytelling—one that goes beyond charts and dashboards to focus on why the insight matters, who it matters to, and what should happen next. Through hands-on exercises, group discussions, real-world examples, and a few unexpected (and fun) moments, attendees will leave with tools they can immediately apply to presentations, executive readouts, and everyday business conversations.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the key components of a compelling data story
- Identify and tailor insights for different audiences (executives, peers, stakeholders)
- Simplify complex data with visuals that maintain credibility and engagement
- Structure and deliver clear, concise data driven narratives
- Collaborate with others to solve and communicate real-world business scenarios
About the Instructor
Travis Grunewald is a senior executive specializing in AI, analytics, data science, and pricing strategy, with over two decades of experience driving business value through data-centric innovation and transformation across industries including retail, CPG, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and B2B. He’s built and scaled analytics functions from the ground up, championed enterprise-wide data strategies, and developed AI-driven tools that optimize everything from customer retention to sales performance. His work consistently focuses on bridging the gap between rigorous analysis and real-world business impact.
Travis held prior leadership roles at Hallmark, Deluxe, and H&R Block where he led high-impact work spanning pricing transformation, customer and marketing analytics, and advanced data science initiatives – delivering quantifiable value and supporting critical strategic outcomes. Across these roles, he developed a reputation for translating sophisticated analytics into narratives that leaders can understand, trust, and act on.
Currently, Travis is a VP at Solvenna, a boutique consulting firm where he partners with clients to improve decision-making and drive measurable change through data. In addition to consulting, he is an adjunct professor of Business Analytics and HR Analytics at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. He is also an Expert Network member with the International Institute for Analytics (IIA), helping elevate the conversation around analytics value and innovation across the industry.
The Credible Leader: Creating Teams That Engage, Contribute, and Thrive
Instructor: Gina Scheffler, Senior Vice President of Business Strategy & Customer Enablement, ACERTUSJune 17, 2026 | 8:30am-Noon
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 413Have you ever asked yourself, What can I do to drive optimal group performance? How can I ensure we’re getting the most out of our team—to innovate, tackle hard problems, and fully leverage our collective expertise? Great leaders create conditions that allow teams to collaborate effectively, think creatively, and feel energized about contributing.
Becoming a super facilitator starts with techniques that build trust, foster an environment where expertise is openly shared, and create the conditions for effective collaboration. Learn about the 100% voice rule, practical methods for harvesting and curating expertise, and strategies for managing group dynamics. This session is designed for both individual contributors and team leaders.
What You Will Learn
- Learn how to become a “super facilitator” and how to leverage its core pillars – Trust, Expertise, and Contribution
- Define and develop new ways to enhance team contributions and support inclusion
- Discuss strategies to drive action amid uncertainty or through change
- How teams can become a super organism
About the Instructor
;)
With over 20 years of leadership experience, Gina Scheffler has built a career centered on leading high-performing teams, scaling operations, and delivering results through exceptional customer success and support.
Based in Kansas City, Gina has held leadership roles at notable brands such as H&R Block and Hallmark, bringing a blend of strategic vision and hands-on execution to every challenge. In addition to deep expertise in customer operations and learning & development, Gina has over five years of experience in supply chain and logistics, making her a well-rounded leader across diverse business functions. Whether in publicly traded companies or privately owned enterprises, she brings a consistent leadership philosophy: BALANCE. For Gina, true leadership lies in harmonizing strategic focus with team development and maintaining equilibrium between professional ambition and personal enrichment.
As SVP of Business Strategy & Customer Enablement at ACERTUS, a leading automotive logistics company, she is spearheading a transformative vision—bringing together traditionally siloed customer support teams with a unified group of customer success professionals. Her focus is on driving growth and brand expansion by fostering cross-functional collaboration and delivering a clearly defined, customer-centric strategy. By aligning success metrics with each client’s unique goals, she is helping to reshape how the organization delivers long-term value and partnership.
An alumnus of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, Gina earned an Executive MBA that further sharpened their ability to solve complex problems, develop talent, and set transformative strategies. Passionate about building cultures where people and performance thrive together, Gina continues to drive impact through vision, resilience, and purposeful leadership.
The Evolution of Leadership: Leaning into a Coaching Style
Instructor: Robin A. Ferguson, MSOD, MCC, R.A., Ferguson Coaching and Consulting, LLCSeptember 10, 2026 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414It is time for a new way to manage people, that leads to greater employee engagement and retention, and makes leadership easier, more fulfilling, and more rewarding. This course is designed to equip leaders with the essential coaching skills necessary to foster personal and professional growth in their team members and create an environment where individuals feel empowered and engaged.
What You Will Learn
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand how integrating a coaching approach into your leadership style fosters employee growth, engagement, motivation, and self-accountability.
- Apply core coaching skills such as active, empathetic listening techniques, formulating powerful questions that lead to empowered action, and delivering constructive feedback in a way that can be heard.
- Build and maintain trusting coaching relationships through open and honest communication and behaviors that empower team members to take ownership of their development and impact.
- Strategically coach through common leadership challenges such as navigating resistance to change and understanding how to collaboratively increase team member engagement and sustained performance.
About the Instructor
;)
Robin Ferguson brings a wealth of expertise in the leadership and organizational development fields and is a Master Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. In addition, she has held executive level leadership roles, helped found a leadership institute and coaching program for a regional health care system, served as faculty in the area of leadership and organizational development psychology, and is the author of The Phoenix Effect: Transcend Limitation and Ignite the Power Within You.
The Neuro-Agile Leader: Navigating Change through Brain Science and Micro-Habits
Instructor: Brad Simmons, Kathie LumbardAugust 5, 2026 | 8:30am – Noon
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414Leaders will explore and understand the direct link between neuroscience, agility, and successful organizational change. Traditional change management often fails because it treats organizations like machines, rather than collections of human brains wired for survival. Numerous recent studies in neurobiology show that the human brain perceives workplace change as a physical threat, triggering resistance that no “Gantt chart” can fix. In fact, leaders who understand how to “hack” the brain’s natural resistance and implement agile, iterative shifts are twice as likely to see their initiatives succeed. Those who incorporate Neuro-Agile techniques into their leadership style experience less team burnout and higher project ROI. In addition to reducing friction, they build resilient cultures that seize new opportunities and adapt to market shifts with speed and confidence.
What You Will Learn
Attendees will explore the psychological “why” behind resistance and the practical “how” of modern agility. Moving beyond outdated models, this course provides a fresh framework for driving change in high-pressure, professional environments. Through an interactive and multi-media driven session, participants will discover:
- The Biology of Resistance: Why the brain triggers an “Amygdala Hijack” during transitions and how to de-escalate it.
- The One-Page Change Canvas: How to replace 50-page plans with a visual, iterative tool that adapts in real-time.
- The Power of Micro-Habits: Why “Minimum Viable Change” (MVC) outperforms massive rollouts.
- The Feedback Loop Engine: How to build psychological safety so that truth reaches the top before a project fails.
Attendees will learn that in order to truly lead change and maximize results, one must:
- Master the “Resistance Lab”: Practice navigating difficult stakeholder personas using high-influence communication strategies.
- Implement “Change Sprints”: Shift from rigid timelines to 30-day experimental cycles that build momentum through small wins.
- Harness “Nudges”: Use behavioral economics to steer team culture without the need for constant formal mandates.
About the Instructor
;)
Brad Simmons has spent the better part of his career driving organizational change, enhancing quality, efficiency, and growth. By partnering with cross-functional teams, he has streamlined processes, clarified roles and responsibilities, and reduced risk. Brad understands that managing change and improving efficiency is a team effort and crucial to business success, even though it’s not always the most popular topic. It’s at this intersection of communication and opportunity that he finds his passion for helping businesses thrive. A Kansas native, Brad lives in the Kansas City area with his wife and two daughters.
Brad studied Advertising and Leadership Studies at Kansas State University and has worked for various media companies and advertising agencies, honing his expertise in how customer and employee experiences drive growth. Today, he uses those skills to create learning opportunities that build up others and strengthen teams. He is a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner and holds an EMBA through UMKC’s Henry Bloch School of Business, which has further enhanced his value as a resource to clients and teams. When he’s not teaching or coaching, Brad enjoys volunteering as athletic director at his kids school, listening to vinyl records, making homemade pizza, telling dad jokes, and searching for the best latte in the city.
Using and Understanding Financial Statements
Instructor: William R. Kay, Adjunct Professor for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, owner of W. Kay & AssociatesDate (To be determined) | 8:30am – 3:30pm
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414This workshop covers the financial skills that are fundamental for any managerial position. You’ll learn how to think finance and get a firm grasp of the numbers side of business.
From accruals to write-offs, receivables and payables, this workshop covers the concepts, tools, and techniques that can help make decisions pay off both on the job and on the bottom line.
You will gain a greater confidence and a working knowledge of the key business financials statements. Learn how to “think finance” and translate performance in financial terms.
Key Topics
- The key Financial Statements and how they tie together
- Key Finance Terms: Assets, Liabilities, Capital, Depreciation, Current Ratio and others
- Master the mind-set: see business in terms of dollars-and-cents decision options that pay off, short and long-term
- Develop working rules regarding your corporate financial statements
- Use the balance sheet to examine assets and liabilities
- Analyze the income statement to assess revenues and expenses
- The statement of cash flow: sources and uses of funds
- Content and format of the annual report
- Understand the footnotes
- Debt vs. Equity financing
- How leverage can increase return to shareholders
- Use profit-planning tools, break-even analysis, financial forecasting
- Importance of Cash Flow: where cash comes from and how it’s applied
- Criteria for examining the performance of divisions and product lines
- Understand the cost of capital
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for both new managers of all backgrounds and established managers with non-finance backgrounds in every functional area of responsibility and in all industries.
About the Instructor
;)
William R. Kay, MBA, is an adjunct Professor for the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Bloch School of Management, and owner of W. Kay & Associates is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals enhance their competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance.
For the past 28 years, Mr. Kay has specialized in assisting businesses in the quest to improve performance in the areas of strategic planning, finance and accounting, project management, marketing, sales and sales management, and team building following the accelerated learning model for adult learning.
Mr. Kay’s professional experience includes over 20 years as CEO and owner of a major company and, for the past 28 years helping major Fortune 500 companies and Universities with organizational development and training.
Custom Programs
We are relentless in our pursuit of valuable, productive partnerships with clients in a myriad of industries. Get in touch with us to discuss what’s possible and begin shaping a high-impact program for your workforce.