August 5, 2026 | 8:30am – Noon
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri Room 414
Leaders 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 Moving beyond outdated models, this course provides a fresh framework for driving change in high-pressure, professional environments.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
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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.
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With over 20 years of experience partnering with Fortune 500 companies, Kathie Lumbard has led strategic initiatives in sales, marketing, education, training, and client business development. Over the past 8 years, Kathie has honed her focus on helping businesses reach new heights through executive coaching and strategic business development. Specializing in leadership and organizational growth, Kathie works closely with director-level leaders and above, guiding them to leverage their strengths and drive sustainable success.
As the founder of HQ Consulting, Kathie delivers Fortune 500-level resources and development tools to small and mid-sized businesses, empowering them with the same strategies used by global leaders. Certified through Gallup’s Global Strengths Coaching program, Kathie employs a strengths-based approach to leadership and team development, helping companies and their teams achieve exceptional results.
Program Details
Location and Parking:
The sessions will be held at the UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Parking details will be sent after registration.
Cancellation & Transfer Policy:
Seminar participants (or their organizational representative) should call or email Bloch Executive Education in order to change or cancel registrations. Cancellations made prior to 7 days from the seminar date are eligible for credit towards a future seminar but are ineligible for refund. Credit for future seminar is valid through the following seminar year. Seminar registrations may be transferred from one individual to another up to 7 days before any elected seminar. Cancellations made within 7 days from the seminar date are non-transferable and non-refundable. Bloch Executive Education reserves the right to make changes to the cancellation policy and transfer policy. The current policies will be posted on our website and will be observed regardless of previous policies or standards. “No-shows” are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
Photo and Video Release:
By attending the event, you are giving Bloch School of Management permission to use photos and videos from the workshop in future promotional materials.
Available Discount Programs
UMKC and Bloch Executive Education Alumni, Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS members, CX Central Exchange members, Saint Luke’s Health System employees, Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce members – you qualify for discounted seminar registration.
If any of the above categories apply to you, please contact us at umkcexeced@umkc.edu or 816-235-2892 to take advantage of discounted rates.
