Our 2018 conference theme is: The Power of Collective Action: Shifting the Leadership Culture. Most leadership journeys begin with an emphasis on self—self-discovery, self-development, self-mastering, and self-actualization. When we shift our focus to link with others, our scope of influence expands outward. Together, we aim to move from a singular focus of individual development to a more global strategy that builds equity, access, and advancement for all—whether in the workplace, our homes, or our communities. With our 2018 theme, we hope to inspire session facilitators to provide participants with new perspectives and skills related to Re-envisioning one’s approach to leadership by transcending individuality and focusing on building a lasting collective to achieve social equity.

The VCU Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute invites proposals for its 12th Annual HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Conference. This high-energy, one-day experience provides leadership development and networking opportunities for women from the private, public, nonprofit, academic, and community sectors. The conference aims to inspire, energize, and empower women to be transformational leaders and change agents within their workplaces, communities, and personal lives. Each year, more than 300 women from around the state attend this event. More information about the conference is available at https://www.gehli.vcu.edu/conference/.

We are seeking proposals for:

60-minute interactive sessions and workshops. This type of session includes audience participation and active learning. This session should provide participants with the opportunity to actively engage with the content, receive tangible action-oriented strategies, apply ideas to their own professional practice, and/or develop new skills and leadership insights.
60-minute panel sessions. This type of session is designed for relevant outcome focused discussions on timely leadership topics related to work, home, or community (local and global). For these sessions, a moderator plus 2 to 3 panelists is required. Panelists should situate their discussion in best practices, personal narratives, professional practice, or leadership theory, and engage participants through question and answer periods.
Successful proposals will provide evidence for how the facilitators will:

Address the conference theme through the introduction of inspirational mindsets, game-changing skill sets, practical tools, and/or creative solutions;
Engage participants in active, experiential, and/or collaborative learning;
Address the needs of women across contexts, including the workplace, community, and at home; and
Be relevant to participants of diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute is unable to provide funding for presenter travel or lodging. Selected presenters will need to register and pay for this event. Presenters will be notified of their acceptance no later than June 15, 2018.



Proposals must be submitted online no later than
5:00pm Eastern Time on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

Please be sure to read the instructions for submission very carefully and prior to submitting. Presenters selected to participate will be required to pay the presenter rate of $80. If you have any questions about the call, the conference, or the submission process, please contact Olivia X. Barnes at:

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
(804) 827-1169
gehli@vcu.edu