Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Black and white photo of Dr. Nicole Price leading a workshop.

Dr. Nicole Price

Keynote date: Thursday, June 4
Keynote title: TBD

The first 150 registrants for the conference will receive a free copy of Dr. Nicole Price’s book:
Spark the Heart: Engineering Empathy in Your Organization

Dr. Nicole Price gets it.

She knows that leadership is both personal and practical. Every person has the capacity to lead their own life — and every leader has the responsibility to engineer accountability and trust within their teams. That’s why she gets personal. Dr. Price’s transparency allows others to learn from her mistakes and avoid the same pitfalls.

She gets real. She reminds leaders that different perspectives and personalities can make teamwork more complex — but when leaders intentionally engineer trust and accountability, those differences become the source of innovation, stronger decisions, and better results.

And she gets wise. She’s lived the reality of leading under pressure — meeting cost, quality, and service goals where the easiest option seems to be sacrificing the team. She knows it doesn’t have to be that way. Empathy and accountability are not enemies; together, they create resilient teams that deliver.

Can you make mistakes and still be an effective leader? Can you deliver results without sacrificing the people who get you there? If you ask Dr. Price, the answer is yes.

Through leadership development programs, coaching, consulting, and keynotes, Dr. Price equips leaders with tools to engineer accountable teams. Her engaging sessions leave participants with strategies they can apply immediately and often lead to invitations to return.

Dr. Price earned her B.S. in chemical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, her M.A. in adult education from Park University, and her doctorate in leadership and management from Capella University, with post-doctoral studies at Stanford University.

SI Leader Keynote Address

Headshot of Gigi Ghiselli from the waist up in a black top with campus blurred in background.

Gigi Ghiselli

Keynote date: Wednesday, June 3
Keynote title: TBD

Hi! My name is Gigi Ghiselli, and I am a nursing major at Chico State, graduating in spring 2026. I
served as a SI leader for human anatomy for four semesters, then became a mentor. In my free
time, I enjoy walking dogs at the Butte Humane Society, hiking, or crocheting.