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Hawaii Business Leadership Conference 2019
July 25, 2019 @ 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Hawaii Business Leadership Conference 2019
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hawaii-business-leadership-conference-2019-registration-58420506307
Description
Invest in your future today!
➤ Join Hawaii Business magazine for the 6th Annual Leadership Conference, Hawaii’s largest professional development conference.
Develop valuable new relationships, build influence in your space, challenge yourself to think differently and push yourself to grow as a leader.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Registration & Networking
9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Opening General Session
10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Break/Transition
10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Morning Session I
11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Break/Transition
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Morning Session II
12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Afternoon Session
3:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Break/Transition
3:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Closing General Session
CONFERENCE DETAILS
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING EXPO
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
MORNING GENERAL SESSION
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Morning Opening Remarks
Cheryl Oncea, Publisher, Hawaii Business Magazine
Presenting Sponsor Remarks by First Hawaiian Bank
Darlene Blakeney, President, First Hawaiian Leasing Inc. and Senior Vice President & Manager, Corporate Trade Finance, Corporate Banking Division
Special Partner Remarks by UH Shidler College of Business
Climate Change is Real and Hawaii Needs to Act
Environmental awareness needs to be on the agenda of every business leader, because the economy is dependent on the environment. Climate change is here. We’re already seeing rising sea levels, warmer temperatures, and more intense rainfall and tropical storms. Preparing for these changes will require facing costs and developing systemic solutions from leaders abroad and at home. The problem is too vast for any single business. We must prepare for climate change and help mitigate its impacts. In this session, we’ll explore:
How do we prepare for increased coastal flooding and rising tides? How can we develop an economy based on clean energy? How do businesses help the state meet its goals for 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality? How are local businesses in Hawaii becoming more sustainable? What can we learn from to apply to our own business?
Featured Speakers:
- Dr. Chip Fletcher, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Earth Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawaii at Manoa and Vice-Chair, Honolulu Climate Change Commission
- John Leong, Chief Executive Officer, Pono Pacific & KUPU Hawaii
- Bettina Mehnert, President & Chief Executive Officer, AHL
- Justin Gruenstein, Deputy Chief Resilience Officer & Deputy Director, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
- Brian Kealoha, Executive Director, Hawaii Energy
- Danya Hakeem, Director, Agriculture & Circular Economy Innovation, Elemental Excelerator
- Moderator: LiAnne Yu, Freelance Writer, Hawaii Business Magazine
BREAK – 10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
MORNING WORKSHOP SESSION I
10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Lead with Cultural Intelligence and Resist Unconscius Bias
The capability to know how you view others through your own personal and cultural lens is vital. Open-minded leaders gain advantages when they see the value of diversity of thought, perspective, and experiences. But it’s not enough to just be aware of your unconscious bias. Leaders today need to take several steps to make diversity and inclusion a part of their leadership strategy and company culture. Learn practical tactics and specific policy changes to help reduce unconscious bias within the workplace.
- Justin Levinson, Professor of Law, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Karen Wilkins-Mickey, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Alaska Airlines
- Dr. Kristin Pauker, Associate Professor, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Moderator: Stuart Coleman, Hawaii Coordinator, Surfrider Foundation
CX: Customer Experience Is THE New Product
A company that focuses only on improving its product is likely to be met with mixed results in a competitive market. A strong consumer experience is invaluable to any successful business. Local CX experts will share how to build a brand through satisfied customers that keep coming back.
- Rick Ching, President & COO, Servco Pacific Inc.
Leaders of Tomorrow Need To Be More Than Corporate Leaders, They Should Be Community Stewards
The problems society faces are enormous – poverty, food security, urban crowding, climate change and so many others – and solutions require participation. Leaders of tomorrow need to play an active role in solving the issues of their community. A successful leader will need to be a project manager, a choreographer, a facilitator. The task at hand requires greatness, selflessness and commitment. Hear from business, education, and nonprofit leaders who are leveraging their networks and influence to make a difference in Hawaii’s community.
- Duane Kurisu, Founder & Chairman, aio
- Karen Tan, President & CEO, Child & Family Service
- Jack Wong, CEO, Kamehameha Schools
- Dr. Mike Latham, President, Punahou School
- Wayne Kamitaki, CEO, Maui Varieties, Ltd.
- Moderator: Steve Petranik, Editor, Hawaii Business Magazine
BREAK – 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
MORNING WORKSHOP SESSION II
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Embrace Continuing Education: Why You Should Invest In Your Employees
As Richard Branson said: “Customers come second, employees first.” It is philosophy that brings unexpected benefits to both the company and its clients. As AI and other forms of technology change the way businesses operate, there’s an increasing need for businesses to be adaptable. You can save yourself a lot of headaches when you invest in your current employees to help them master these changes. Not only will it improve employee engagement and loyalty, but this move will also help you shape your company’s future. Are you poised to lead your team in the right direction?
- Rachael Wong, Founder & Strategic Advisor, One Shared Future Initiative
- Derek Kanehira, VP and Director of HR Services, Hawaii Employers Council
- Seina Rahim, Payroll Quality Assurance Manager, ProService Hawaii
- Moderator: Trini Kaopuiki, President & CEO, Make-A-Wish Hawaii
Fine Tune Your Negotiation Skills
So much of life and work involves negotiation, but the ability to negotiate successfully does not come naturally. It takes preparation and knowledge. During this session, gain insights and key techniques from local leaders about tackling tough situations.
- Rick Blangiardi, General Manager, Hawaii News Now
- Unyong Nakata, Executive Director of Development, Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Present and Sell a Bold Idea
It’s one thing to be able to create compelling, innovative creative work, it’s another to effectively present it to stakeholders. It is not just about your talent, experience or expertise. The skill of ‘selling’ is crucial. During this session, learn the importance of visual design and hear how to work persuasively with colleagues at all levels. Our panel of speakers will help you build the confidence needed to successfully present your ideas convincingly.
- Jennifer Tanabe, Partner & Creative Director, Wall-to-Wall Studios Inc.
- Stacy Ferreira, Executive Strategy Consultant, Kamehameha Schools
- Omar Sultan, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Sultan Ventures, XLR8HI, XLR8UH
- Moderator: Yasmin Dar, Executive VP & COO, RKT Media
LUNCH – 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP SESSION
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Foster Resilient Teams: Treat Leadership Preparedness Like Disaster Preparedness
In a workforce that’s evolving at an exponential pace, great leaders need to be agile and build adaptable teams that can navigate the uneven terrain. Leaders need to empower employees to develop support systems, adopt resilient behaviors and shift mindsets before the unexpected occurs so they can respond to adversity and move forward. In this panel, hear about ways leaders can help their teams develop the critical thinking, self-awareness and strong communication skills necessary for success.
- Sherri Okinaga, Vice President and Talent Development Manager, First Hawaiian Bank
- Jeff Wagoner, CEO, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
- Major Jeff Martin, Divisional Leader, The Salvation Army – Hawaiian and Pacific Islands
- Moderator: Rusty Komori, Motivational Speaker, Author, TV Host, Leadership Consultant, and Tennis Professional
Creating Safe Workplaces for All Employees
Businesses, non-profit organizations, and the public sector in Hawaii all have one primary thing in common: they employ people, who are often their most valuable asset. Since the start of the #MeToo movement, there has been much national coverage of sexual harassment in work settings. In Hawaii, however, we haven’t seen as much…which may make us wonder why. In this session, local business, military, and nonprofit leaders will share how they have responded to sexual harassment and misuse of positional power by improving policies, procedures and practices within their organizations. Come learn and explore what may be possible for your companies and communities, and what you can do to create safe workplaces.
- Michael Broderick, President & CEO, YMCA of Honolulu
- Major General Susan Davidson, U. S. Army
- Jessica Morikone, Senior HR Consultant, Hawaii Employers Council
- Moderator: Rachael Wong, Founder & Strategic Advisor, One Shared Future Initiative
Honoring Hawaii Makes Sense on All Levels
These local businesses have thrived by honoring the place in which they do business. They put Hawaii’s history and culture at the core of how they work and lead their teams. Hear how they’ve achieved success and community impact while helping their clients.
- Kuhao Zane, Creative Director, Sig Zane Designs Hawaii & Founder, SZKaiao
- Malia Kaaihue, Founder & President, DTL Hawaii
- Mark “Gooch” Noguchi, Chef & Owner, The Pili Group
- Kawika McKeague, Principal, G70
- Moderator: Mileka Lincoln, Reporter, Hawaii News Now
Special Session with Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, U.S. Army
BREAK – 3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION
3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What It Takes To Lead
Prominent leaders talk about motivating, guiding and managing diverse teams while pursuing important goals.
- Chief Susan Ballard, Honolulu Police Department
- David Lassner, President, University of Hawaii
- Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent, Hawaii State Department of Education
- Chris Tatum, CEO & President, Hawaii Tourism Authority
- Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, U.S. Army
Keynote Address: Siri Lindley, World Champion Triathlete, High-Performance Coach & Author
During her pro career, Lindley dominated the International Triathlon Union World Rankings, winning 13 World Cup races, and was the 2001 ITU World Champion. Siri won the World Cup Series in 2001 and 2002 by being the #1 ranked triathlete in the world.
Later, she became a coach to help others discover the high-performer within earningrecognition as one of the winningest coaches in triathlon history. She has coached numerous athletes to Olympic medals and World Championship crowns at both the Ironman and half ironman distances.
In her book, Surfacing: From the Depths of Self-Doubt to Winning Big and Living Fearlessly, Siri offers a candid account of her journey to personal growth, self-belief, and self-discovery. On stage, she illustrates why it’s never too late to live the life you always dreamed, and shares emboldening strategies for realizing your ultimate potential, conquering self-doubt, and changing the thoughts, habits, and behaviors that keep you from taking your life and career to the next level.