2024 Fall Workshop Keynote Speakers

Thursday - Jeff Butler  |  Friday - Kristin Scroggin

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Invasion of the Body Snatchers - How To Maintain Your Humanity in the Age of Digital Innovation

Description 

Digital innovation not only changes campuses but also who we are as humans. Technology continues to evolve at an exponential rate, swiftly collapsing industries that took decades to build. As cutting-edge technology seems to update every day, questions arise such as: How will this evolution change the way we humans learn and what does this mean for the next generation?

In his presentation, Jeff Butler unravels which technological changes to anticipate (from natural language processing to generating AI) and how their integration impacts the future workforce; not only from an educational perspective but sociological, psychological, and existential as well. How might this wave of change affect industries—and us as the people that work for them—faster than experts originally anticipated? While inevitable, one of the most important things that people can do now is learn where the tide is coming from… and be prepared for its impact. Jeff’s timely presentation will help guide and navigate conference attendees through this meteoric challenge called “technology change!”

Learning Objectives

1. Explore the exponential impact that technology has had on our mental health from the 2010s to present.
2. Learn about the limitations that AI has with making us more productive in higher education.
3. Discover how artificial intelligence is on course to bring some of the most challenging times in our history through its ability to unravel the ways our brains work.

About the Speaker

Jeff Butler, Speaker, Author, & Workplace Strategist

Jeff Butler is an author and workplace strategist who explores human behavior within the working world. His experience spans over 40 industries in 4 continents on how different cultures and employees interact with each other. He studies common threads of behavior in industries such as IT professionals, underground utility workers, police officers to clothing retail chains. In addition, Jeff has also worked with companies like Google, Amazon, John Deere and Coldwell Banker. As a researcher and practitioner, he also runs a consulting company and a tech company, TrinityFix where he is able to test his ideas in different workplace environments. His ideas have made it to TEDx twice, appeared in dozens of media outlets including two books on human behavior: The Authentic Workplace and The Key To The New You. Currently, he lives in Dallas, Texas as an out of place Californian.

To learn more visit jeffjbutler.com.

Friday, November 1, 2024

American Workplace Horror Story: Episode 24: Monsters in the Breakroom

Description 

Step into the eerie world of Generation ‘THEM,’ where each generation’s unique perspective is like a chapter in a chilling anthology. This ‘American Workplace Horror Story’ uncovers the haunting truths behind the generational divides that can either create harmony or lead to terrifying workplace tales. Through this spine-tingling exploration, you’ll unlock the secrets to fostering understanding, conjuring stronger teamwork, and avoiding the pitfalls that can turn your office into a house of horrors. Learn how to attract and retain the brightest young talent, ensuring your company’s future doesn’t become a horror story of its own. With a blend of humor and fright, we’ll unravel the quirks that make us all hauntingly human.

Learning Objectives

1. Attendees will be able to identify the name, age-ranges, and typical norms of the 5 Generations currently in the American Workforce.
2. Attendees will be able to identify the differences in the Traditionalist and incoming Generation Alpha's mentality about work.
3. Attendees will gain valuable communication skills to better work with clients and co-workers in every generation.

About the Speaker

Kristin Scroggin, Speaker and Generation Diversity Advocate

Meet Kristin Scroggin – A huge fan of Generational Diversity armed with a Communication Studies master's degree from the University of Alabama and a bachelor's from Montevallo in decoding GenZ slang and millennial emojis. Kristin embarked on her research endeavors during her almost 20-year tenure as a professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville before giving birth to her company, genWHY Communications in 2017.

Kristin has a passion for decoding the generational enigma and is known for her straight-talk speaking style and wicked twist of humor. Kristin has been on stages in 42 states, left her mark in 3 countries, and sprinkled her wisdom across more than 160 conferences for 350+ diverse organizations. From Fortune 500 giants to pint-sized non-profits, she's been there, done that, and left an indelible impression.

Published in magazines, guest on multiple podcasts, and the workhorse behind groundbreaking research, Kristin isn't just about speaking – she's about making waves in the world of succession planning and leadership program development. Need someone to referee the battle of Boomers and Millennials on your teams? Look no further; Kristin consults on attracting, developing, and retaining the brightest minds.

But wait, there's more! Fueled by an unrelenting wanderlust, Kristin and her partner-in-travel (husband) are on a quest to explore every nook and cranny of the globe. Amidst their jet-setting adventures, they somehow manage to keep their sanity while raising four humans who never stop eating. 

To learn more and get resources visit genwhy.com.