Month: June 2020

Business Leader Finds New Purpose at the Summit, Sees His Companies Double in Size

Posted on June 22, 2020 by - Because of the GLS, Business, Calling, Leading Yourself, North America, Stories, The Global Leadership Summit

Tall buildings

Billy Watterson HeaadshotBilly Watterson’s story breaks the statistics as being the “one in a million” to make it out of poverty. He later became a serial entrepreneur who started and owns 20 companies—and counting. His current capacity is as CEO of Watterson Brands, a holdings company for those entities. In 2019, he and his wife Brenda established a family foundation for the purpose of giving away as many resources as they could to causes they care about deeply, and ultimately expanding God’s Kingdom and seeing lives transformed. We hope you are as encouraged by his story as we are!

 

 

I spent my life running away from my past, mistakenly believing that my experiences defined me.

Embarrassed and ashamed of where I came from, I was determined to create a new identity. My wife Brenda, God bless her, brought me to church for 11 to 12 years. I went reluctantly but she kept bringing me and praying for me and little by little, my heart started to change. Things began happening around me that I couldn’t explain. Circumstances and situations that broke my heart wide open. God was revealing things to me and it was undeniable.

The Summit changed my life, sending me on a journey to get myself right.

My wife had been bugging me to attend The Global Leadership Summit, but I just wasn’t into it. Finally, in 2016 I agreed. At the time, I had just closed a major buyout. My companies were growing, but they weren’t going well.

Never having attended anything like it, my expectations of the Summit were relatively low, but the experience changed me. The teachings were so powerful, the speakers so dynamic, it was overwhelming. At times, it was even difficult to take it all in.

But one thing was for certain, I felt God telling me to “get my house in order.”

When I got back to work, I immediately started working on culture, trying to understand why things were the way they were. I soon realized that while my people loved and believed in me, they didn’t trust me. It was eye opening but gave me the information I needed to make a change.

…three years from the time I left the company and attended the GLS in 2018, all my companies doubled in size.

The second Summit challenged me even more. I felt God telling me to walk away from the company I was running and appoint someone in my place. When I told a fellow attendee what I believed God wanted me to do he was in shock. “What are you talking about?! You love that company!” he said. And he was right, but I knew it was what God wanted me to do.

My companies doubled in size!

I left my company at the end of 2017, resigned from two others and put new presidents in place. In February of 2018 I created a holdings company to bridge the businesses and leverage their infrastructure.  In the midst of all that, I felt a nudge to start a foundation—a way of giving while I’m living.

This is so crazy—most people wouldn’t believe this—but three years from the time I left the company and attended the GLS in 2018, all my companies doubled in size. That’s no small thing. That is the impact of trusting God with my businesses, something I would have never done without the GLS.

Though my wife had to drag me to my first Summit, here I am four years later dragging everybody else.

It’s amazing what the power of influence can do, personally, professionally, spiritually. The Summit has tremendous influence, the messages are so potent. Every year I invite more employees, peers, friends, sometimes even acquaintances. I love watching the impact it has on their lives. It’s so inspiring. I may have already had a fire inside me, but the Summit threw gasoline on that fire, and things have since exploded. The Summit changed my life, sending me on a journey to get myself right.

The Summit has been so transformational for me that I can’t imagine others not being able to hear the same thing. The term “access” comes back, which is why we’re so excited about the prison ministry at the Summit. With access to this kind of influence countless lives could be transformed. We want to make the Summit available to everyone! That’s why my wife and I have made this an important part of giving from our foundation.

I’m doing what I’m born to do, and I’m having the time of my life doing it!

The journey is the joy. I’m not going to stop until I drop. It’s my job to build and create and in doing so, the Kingdom is served and lives are transformed. That’s it. It’s a blast. I live for it.

Everyone has gifts and skills. If everyone got up and ran, and ran hard, can you imagine what would happen? We can’t do that until we know who we are and what our purpose is because our purpose is what drives us.

I don’t see Satan as the greatest opponent of man. I see that our greatest battles happen in our own minds. It’s our gremlins born from our circumstances that come up again in adulthood. We begin to believe they’re there to protect us. They keep us in a safety zone. They keep us from reaching out and daring us to go beyond where we are comfortable. Fixing your foundation and knowing who you are is so critical. Prayer is wonderful, and I believe in prayer, but God says you’ve got to step up and do something, too!

I envision standing in front of God on my expiration date. God asks me, what did you do with what I gave you? He gave me a lot! It didn’t look that way when I was growing up, and I’ve had to go through a lot to get where I am, but He positioned me here. Not to live it out is to deny what I was put on this earth to do. I’ve got to leave it all on the field.

I know when I’m done, I’ll be able to say, I’ve done everything I’ve been able to do. That is the joy and purpose I have. If everyone could find that peace, it would be transformational.

Responding to an Invisible Covid-19 Crisis

Posted on June 22, 2020 by - Church & Faith-Based, News & Updates, North America

Business opinion concept. Group of corporate people hiding faces behind blank speech bubbles, empty space

Dear friends, 

There has been an invisible crisis during the lockdown. Our nation’s most vulnerable children have not been seen by teachers, doctors or other professionals and so despite a large spike in incidents of domestic violence, very few children have come into care. We are expecting a surge in children coming into care soon. 

There are currently 125,000 children waiting in foster care for adoption in the U.S. As you are probably aware, children that age out of foster care make up a large percentage of the homeless population, the prison population and those that are sexually exploited in the U.S. Due to COVID–19 adoption has slowed down.   

The church has a vital role to play in responding to this crisis and we would like to invite you to be part of a conversation about the best way that we as churches and leaders across the nation can play our part. Join Dr. Krish Kandiah (GLS faculty) and Dr. Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College this Tuesday at 2pm CDT

WATCH NOW >>

 

of a conversation about the best way that we as churches and leaders across the nation can play our part. Join Dr. Krish Kandiah (GLS faculty) and Dr. Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College this Tuesday at 2pm CDT

T.D. Jakes Plays the Piano to Prove a Point

Posted on June 18, 2020 by - Articles, Leadership Development, Leading Others

GLS20 TD Jakes Faculty Spotlight Article Header
This article is a part of The Global Leadership Summit Faculty Spotlight series where we feature content from the upcoming #GLS20 speakers. This is a great opportunity to get a taste of what to expect from these amazing leaders!

 

We are thrilled to welcome Bishop T.D. Jakes back to the Summit stage! A powerful and inspiring teacher, Bishop Jakes will share timely insights gained from working with leaders all over the world.

I don’t play piano anymore.

But I do have people who can play.

God sent a young man to me to play so I could preach. He was 17 at the time.

If I didn’t allow him to walk into his destiny, it would have prohibited me to walk into mine.

And I think this is where a lot of people mess up–in business, in companies, in small companies in particular–because you start out doing one thing and that’s what you had to do because you didn’t have anybody else to do it.

And you won’t get off the bench and get out of the way to let somebody come in who can do it better. And that will allow you to what you were created to do.

Don’t get stuck in one stage.

Get off the bench.

And let somebody play who can really play.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for God is to get out of the way.

This article originally appeared on tdjakes.com.

Join Bishop T.D. Jakes and 14 other world-class speakers for The Global Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday, August 6 and 7. Get ready for your two-day infusion of fresh ideas, actionable concepts, leadership principles and heartfelt inspiration from a world-class faculty online or at a location near you!

This article originally appeared on tdjakes.com.

 

 

Join T.D. Jakes and other 14 other world-class speakers for The Global Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday, August 6-7, 2020. Get ready for your two-day infusion of fresh ideas, actionable concepts, leadership principles and heartfelt inspiration from a world-class faculty at a location near you!

 

Click this button to register today

 

 

 

Ep 075: Leadership & Race Part 1, David Livermore PhD and Dr. David Anderson

Posted on June 17, 2020 by - Diversity, Leading Others, Podcasts

The Global Leadership Summit Podcast

SUMMARY:

Our nation is stirred by ongoing racial injustice. At the Global Leadership Network, we know the challenges of discrimination and racial injustice are universal issues requiring leaders to step up and engage. Research shows that increasing diversity on teams in every sector improves productivity, moral and adds value within organizations and to those they serve.
This episode is a re-release of a candid conversation between Dr. David Anderson and David Livermore Ph.D. on racial and cultural intelligence. In this conversation, Anderson and Livermore model the challenges inherent in a multicultural dialogue, encouraging teams to ask uncomfortable questions, listen well and wrestle with the implications of difference.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Cultural intelligence (CQ) is the ability to relate and work effectively with people who come from other backgrounds.
  • When CQ levels are high, diverse teams outperformed homogenous teams 3:1 across the board—in productivity, employee engagement, cost savings and innovation.
  • A culturally-intelligent team needs a culturally-intelligent leader.
  • Cultural differences become intensified in moments of stress.
  • Leaders need to create a safe environment where authentic conversations can happen.
  • Culturally-diverse teams must practice reciprocal grace and not immediately rush to judgment.
  • What builds trust for one culture might not build trust for another.
  • When building diverse teams, instead of following the Golden Rule (i.e. Treat others as you want to be treated), leaders should practice the Platinum Rule (i.e. Treat others as they want to be treated).
  • People from the dominant culture have more responsibility to move toward diversity than those from non-dominant cultures.
  • Code-switching is when a person changes the way they speak or act in order to gain respect from those from a different culture.
  • In order to engage in meaningful and authentic relationships, leaders must find the zone of “productive disequilibrium.”
  • If people are never made to feel uncomfortable, it is unlikely their organizations will ever tap the benefits of diversity that can lead to innovation.

 

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. In the podcast, Livermore and Anderson engaged in an authentic conversation around their cultural differences. How did you feel when that conversation began? How does your reaction illuminate the challenges of conversations about difference?
  2. Livermore says that leaders must create a safe environment to facilitate candid cultural dialogue. What specific things did Livermore and Anderson do in this podcast to create a safe environment that allowed for an authentic dialogue?
  3. Based on what you heard, what is one cultural intelligence practice you can try this week?

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Monocultural Environment

Cultural Values Profile

Black Lives Matter

The Golden Rule

The Platinum Rule

Code Switching

RELATED LINKS:

David Livermore, Ph.D.

Driven by Difference: How Great Companies Fuel Innovation Through Diversity

Cultural Intelligence Center

Dr. David Anderson

Real Talk with Dr. David Anderson

Gracism: The Art of Inclusion

Bridgeway Community Church

The Global Leadership Summit

 

 

5 Perspectives That Matter on the Journey to Justice

Posted on June 17, 2020 by - Articles, Change Management, Diversity, Leading Others

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can we see the stars.”

We all want to make a change in our city, nation and world. That’s why many of us have become leaders.  

Our current race crisis has brought awareness to generations of injustice. The recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd at the hands of white community members and police officers have magnified the challenges and have highlighted blind spots many have had.   

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can we see the stars.” 

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can we see the stars.” 

Crisis can be a catalyst for change if we allow the crisis to change us. We need to change. As leaders, as organizations and as a nation.   

Enough is enough when it comes to racial injustice.  

The way leaders approach their journey to justice is of critical importance. Here are five perspectives that matter as we travel together toward a better world. Let’s go! 

 

1.  PURPOSE MATTERS 

Leadership is ultimately about solving problems. Jesus, the greatest leader to ever walk the earth, solved the greatest problem known to man. The sin problem.  

I have recognized a trend in our current generation. Everyone wants to be a great leader for the sake of having great influence. The word “influencer” has become the most desired attribute. But, why do we seek influence? Influence isn’t about building a great organization; it’s about building great communities. Leadership and organizations are a means to an end. The end goal is to solve problems.  

The main reason that leadership matters is because leaders use their influence to impact the world they are in. Leaders leverage resources to bring about change for the greater good of all.  

For years I had it wrong. I focused on leadership first, and community second.  

Purposeful leadership focuses on leveraging influence for lasting impact. It recognizes the only reason that leadership exists is to take on a just cause and solve problems. Take time to remember or reimagine your leadership. Why are you leading? What is the purpose for your organization?  

  

2. VISION MATTERS  

I was recently on a walk with our family in our city. We walked past a construction zone where a new outdoor mall is being built. I looked at the large renderings of this new space designed to engage people in our city and noticed something. The people depicted in the renderings all looked the same. None of them reflected people of color.  

As leaders we understand the power of vision. We understand vision is a picture of where we want to go based on where we are.  

Many organizations in suburban context can thrive without ever intentionally engaging the minority community. This isn’t the case for the Church.  

We need to change. As leaders, as organizations and as a nation.   

Throughout scripture, we see God’s heart for all people. His heart is to see every person have every opportunity to experience their full God-given potential. God’s heart is for His people to be known for how we engage the world.  

Many business organizations have created positions to help them better understand and engage diversity. It highlights the challenges most organizations have due mostly to being led by white leaders. They see this as a great investment into the health and growth of their organization. Investment always follows vision. As leaders, what is the vision for my organization and how does it need to evolve to include ALL people?  

 

3. COMPASSION MATTERS   

Joel Manby, former CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment was brought in to help turn around an organization that was struggling. He writes in his book Love Works, that love should be a leadership principle. He says organizations and leaders should embrace love as a value. Love isn’t a word normally associated with leadership, but love is the ultimate expression of our beliefs.   

Our fight for justice requires compassion driven leaders. Leaders who feel the pain and understand the power of moving beyond head knowledge and into our hearts. Compassion moves us to action.   

The business community gets this. Many businesses we work with have departments dedicated to social responsibility. They recognize that being a good neighbor is essential to being a good business. They understand love is actually good for business. They recognize it’s not enough to have good intentions. It requires a level of investment and intentionality to live out what they believe. Compassion is powerful. Does your heart break for the injustice in our city?  

   

4.  PRESENCE MATTERS 

The number one question I have been asked during this season of heightened racial tension is, “What should I say and do?” People want to know what to post in an age where if it’s not on Facebook, it’s not official. My message is clear. Something is better than nothing.   

Martin Luther King Jr. says, “In the end we won’t remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”  

Our presence as leaders makes a statement.  

When you post, “I’m standing with the black community,” we feel heard. When you show up to events and activities to support a black cause, your presence matters. Too often as leaders we want to have all the answers. Sometimes the only answer is to be present in the midst of the crisis. Our presence matters.  

Crisis isn’t the time to make statements but to stand with people who are hurting. It says more than we know.   

Many impoverished communities live by a motto, “Work hard, get an education and you too can move out of the ghetto.” This common phrase leaves challenging communities with greater challenges due to the lack of leaders in the community.   

This movement will require leaders who are willing to follow. 

For many, success in life means to move away from impoverished communities. Leaders bring change and if there are no leaders present, change can’t happen. As leaders we have the opportunity to let people know what we believe by showing up. By engaging in the most challenging realities in our world today. Our presence is the starting point to being a part of the solution. Where does the presence of your leadership and organization need to be felt during this season? 

  

5) POSTURE MATTERS 

If you are a part of the dominant white culture, chances are you are becoming aware of racial injustice in a way you have never known before. There are countless numbers of people who say, “I just didn’t know.” There is growing clarity to the challenges many in the black community face on a consistent basis.  

If the dominant culture is going to be a part of the long-term solution to these challenges, it requires a posture of humility. It will require the loudest and most influential voices to take a posture to listen and learn. It will require organizations with an abundance of resources to understand how they can serve the black community, not lead the change. A posture of humility is the only way things will change.  

This movement will require leaders who are willing to follow.  

The ability to leverage influence is a leader’s greatest strength. Leaders who leverage their influence to promote others are leaders who will lead our world to racial and social justice. It takes a significant amount of humility to use your influence to elevate the influence of others, to build platforms for others to stand on. Leaders don’t need to leave current positions but leverage them for the greater good. What can you leverage to fight for racial justice?  

 

I hope this article helps you take the next step on your journey for justice. Justice isn’t an option as a leader, it’s the reason we are leaders!   

May we leverage our leadership to see lasting change.  

Watch: The Impact of GLS19 in Brazil

Posted on June 16, 2020 by - Because of the GLS, Business, Church, Education, Latin America, Nonprofit, South America, Stories, Youth

Youth attendee at the GLS19 in Brazil

Watch our partners in Brazil recount the stories they’ve heard about the impact of The Global Leadership Summit in 2019!

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If you have prayed for or financially supported the ministry of The Global Leadership Summit around the world, thank you! You are having an impact!

My Hope for A New World: Dismantling Racism and the Barriers Between Us

Posted on June 16, 2020 by - Articles, Change Management, Diversity, Leading Others

People coming together for unity.

A healed nation is one that is equitable for all.

What we are witnessing in this moment—right now, summer 2020, is a catalytic shift in our world.

Racism has been America’s greatest sin and one of the world’s most dangerous plagues. It destroys any society where it is allowed to exist. And what you can feel in this moment is God’s creation, the Heavens and all of humanity crying out, “Enough is Enough.”

It is as if Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. incarnate uttered a prophetic announcement, “Racism your time is up!”

What we love about the Global Leadership Network is its authentic commitment to fight for the liberation and leadership of all people. Every race, every tribe, every tongue. It is an encouragement to me to see a vast majority of the world, embracing these same ideals.

For too long we have sat by and watched racism rear its ugly head from the recesses of culture. For too long we have flirted with the stench of prejudice and the presence of evil in our workplaces, at our family functions, among our personal social media channels, on our private phone calls and within our broken systems designed to favor one people group over the other.

I implore every leader to open their eyes to the significance of this global moment.

As the multicultural, bi-partisan Black Lives Matter protests rang from the streets of Mombasa, Kenya, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, we were reminded that the people of goodwill outnumber the forces that seek to pit us against one another.

The rally cry echoed throughout the chambers of our hearts as a righteous hope filled the air.

  • It is a hope that screams justice
  • A hope that carries our deliverance on its back
  • A hope that gives way to love and action for the purpose of real change

Martin Luther King often connected this type of hope to what he would refer to as “cosmic companionship”—that above the cosmos exists a presence that prioritizes the liberation of the oppressed. Therefore, the oppressed can have confidence and subsequently hope in times of great struggle birthed out of the fight for freedom.

I implore every leader to open their eyes to the significance of this global moment.

Let those who have an eye to see, see.

We each have an opportunity to contribute to the freedom struggle of black and brown people in this exceptional moment. We are living through a moment packed with potential to be one the history books record as monumental.

I often think about what my story will be 20 years from now when my kids or grandkids ask me the question, “Where were you, when the world changed?”

I pray my answer will be, “I was wiping dirt and residue from my face after being knocked down for the third time as we collectively put our foot on the neck of systemic oppression and racism for the last time.”

I want my story to be that I gave it everything I had. That I didn’t forfeit my impact for momentary influence. That I spoke truth to power in love and helped as many leaders around the World—White/Black/Asian/Hispanic—leverage their power to break the back of racism once and for all.

No matter where you are in the world, now is the time to put all your chips on the table.

This is a clarion call for a new day.

We are in a moment.

No matter where you are in the world, now is the time to put all your chips on the table.

Say what you need to say. Disrupt the status quo. Inflict new policies within your organization. Make the changes you need to make in the executive board room. Challenge broken mentalities inherited by hatred. Leverage your influence to truly make a difference.

Now is the time. This is the moment.

A New World is on its way.

5 Reasons Not to Miss The Global Leadership Summit 2020

Posted on June 15, 2020 by - News & Updates, North America, The Global Leadership Summit

The Global Leadership Summit is your opportunity to access a wealth of leadership insight from a world-class faculty ready to equip and inspire you—no matter where you have influence.

Wherever you are, you have influence. All around you, there are spaces where your leadership is desperately needed, especially now. Only you can bring your strengths, skills, ideas and passions into the world. How are you using your influence?

The Global Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday, August 6-7, 2020 is your opportunity to gain access to a wealth of leadership insights from 15+ world-class faculty ready to equip and inspire you—no matter where you have influence.

Join us for the GLS Online Experience or at one of 500+ host sites where in-person gatherings are still an option. Come sharpen your leadership skills, strengthen your relationships, maximize your resiliency during change, challenge the status quo, enhance your emotional intelligence and ignite transformation in your community!

Top 5 Reasons Not to Miss #GLS20:

 

1. 15+ world-class, diverse faculty

This year’s faculty is eagerly ready to share their unique perspectives to support and equip you for today’s current reality. Just some of the world-class faculty includes:

  • Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor of Life.Church
  • Beth Comstock, Director at Nike
  • Nona Jones, Head of Faith-Based Partnerships at Facebook
  • Marcus Buckingham, New York Times Best-Selling Author;  Founder of the Strengths Revolution; Head of ADPRI Research Institute
  • Paula Faris, Senior National Correspondent at ABC News
And many more! See the full lineup >>

 

2. Leadership insights, ideas, concepts and principles you can immediately apply

Our faculty’s areas of expertise range from leading through crisis, unlocking the strengths of your team, multiplying your time, accelerating innovation, staying relevant, communicating for success, overcoming power dynamics and predicting performance, just to name a few!

Some of the topics they will dive into include:

  • Breaking free from the lies we believe about work
  • Becoming more agile and inventive
  • Identifying five permissions to multiply your time
  • Overcoming fear and problematic power dynamics in teams
  • Leveraging science-based research to increase connection opportunities

 

3. A statistically-proven, positive return on investment when you apply what you learn

Providing access to world-class leadership development resources and training is proving to have a positive impact around the world. Growth-minded, curious people like you have been attending The Global Leadership Summit for the last 25 years and have experienced the positive outcome on their relationships, organizations, churches, businesses and communities. Listed below are just some of the outcomes that have been reported* by past attendees:

  • 73% of attendees applied new team-building skills learned at GLS and “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” that those skills have improved the quality of their work.
  • 82% of attendees “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” that they found “a greater sense of significance and satisfaction from a new leadership position” GLS inspired them to pursue.
  • 60% cited concrete ways they served the poor (35%), helped youth (24%), educated others (23%), comforted the hurting (18%), and fought injustice (12%).
  • 25% of attendees cite specific ways “GLS inspired [me] to share the Gospel in the past 2 years” with an average of 42% first-time commitments per participant.
  • 68% of those who said the GLS affected their vision “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” that their organization is more effective because a clearer vision showed them which non-essential activities to eliminate and which important activities to focus on.

 

4. The most accessible and affordable leadership training event online or at a location near you

With tickets starting as low** as $129 to attend the GLS Online Experience or hosting sites around the United States, you get both ease of access to a faculty of experts and influencers near you, as well as affordability for what normally might cost thousands at another leadership conference.

 

5. Encouragement and inspiration to forge ahead on your leadership journey in a complex world

Every day, our team hears stories from people like you, all around the world, who’ve been inspired and encouraged by something they learned or someone they met during The Global Leadership Summit.

They tell us this is more than just a leadership conference—it is something much more—it is a catalyst for change. Guests not only leave equipped with new skills and fresh ideas, but those who arrive discouraged, often leave with a renewed sense of purpose and encouragement to forge ahead on their leadership journey in a complex world.

As I’ve developed my leadership skills through the Summit, I’ve become more acutely aware of challenges in our community. That’s why I’m passionate about community development. We all have a responsibility to lift up both our neighbors and strangers and lend a helping hand whenever possible. As a result of the Summit, our citywide movement has gained momentum. Without a doubt, Fort Wayne, Indiana is getting better. –Chuck Surack, CEO, Sweetwater Sound

I’ve never been a part of a conference that’s stronger than the GLS. This is the best conference I’ve ever been a part of for pure leadership development. Developing a leadership culture is one of the hardest things to do, and the GLS is a catalyst to making that happen at our church. It’s our infusion every year that helps us enter into the brokenness in our community. –Dan Steffen, Pastor, Pure Heart Church

One thing that has me in awe about The Global Leadership Summit is the outlook you carry—that including us prisoners in your mission is of great importance. Labeled as outcasts and menaces to society, you show by your efforts in making the events available to us that you see us as Christ sees us—valuable. –Alejandro, GLS attendee at Heritage Trails Correctional Facility, U.S.A

It’s easy to go to a leadership conference and write yourself off saying, I don’t fit in because I’m not leading an organization, or I’m only 13. But because I heard that message over and over—everyone has influence—I saw my life in a different way. I realized my life isn’t just about me. If everyone really has influence, leadership development matters, even as a 13-year-old. –Hannah Gronowski, CEO, Generation Distinct

The GLS is critical. In many areas of the world there are multiple avenues people can pursue to fine-tune their leadership ability. But this is not true in countries like mine. Having done this for about nine years, the GLS has now become a household word. And the result is transformation. Inevitably it’s creating a better country. It’s creating better opportunities for young people. And because we are global, the ripple effect is creating a better world. –Dr. Katurah Cooper, GLS Liberia

 

You won’t want to miss what we have in store for you! Get your tickets and join us at The Global Leadership Summit in 2020—we can’t wait to see you there!

 

Click this button to register for The Global Leadership Summit 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

*Research data provided by the third-party firm, Excellence in Giving. Statistics are based on 2017 research on The Global Leadership Summit experiences of 2,268 repeat participants in the United States.

**Pricing is as low as $129 per attendee for purchases of 2+ tickets and $149 per individual attendee by June 30, 2020. Regular pricing is $189 per individual ticket and $169 for purchases of 2+ tickets. Not valid for South Barrington’s Main Auditorium. All ticket prices are per-person, in USD, for registration to attend at a U.S. site. Guests from other countries please contact your GLN or GLS office. Additional discounts are available for full-time students, faculty and members of the military. Additionally, teachers, nurses and other qualified guests may be eligible for continuing education credit. Please call 800-570-9812 to learn more about CE credit.

 

What Does It Look For the GLS to Ignite Transformation Globally? (Part 1)

Posted on June 15, 2020 by - Africa, Because of the GLS, Business, Church, Education, Family, Government, Healthcare, Military, Nonprofit, North America, Politics, Prison, Stories, Youth

As a staff, we continue to be amazed and deeply humbled by what God is doing throughout the world through the Global Leadership Network (GLN). What we’ve learned as we’ve listened to people’s stories and experiences, whether they are a CEO, a pastor, parent, student, or whether they live in rural Honduras or manage a staff of thousands—the GLN is more than an organization producing leadership events and content.

The stories we hear every day show that The Global Leadership Summit can often be a game-changer in people’s lives—a catalyst propelling people forward toward a better future—not just for them, but everyone in their sphere of influence as well.

So, we’d like to take you on a journey through some of our favorite stories from around the world. In part one of this two-part blog series, discover the impact in U.S. prisons, on youth and in parts of Africa.

 

Prison—Adding Value & Transforming Culture

A group of inmates gather to watch and discuss GLS19.

We never could have predicted the Summit would be in 83 prisons reaching more than 7,500 people in 2019. The most common feedback we receive is that the Summit is helping men and women in prison see their value, often times, for the very first time in their lives. They hear the words, “you have influence,” “you have value” and “your life matters.” They leave the Summit saying, “I feel worth something.”

The results are tangible. Research studies on the impact of the Summit in prison are showing improved communication and listening skills, decreased fighting and assault, improved relationships with their families, higher self-esteem and increased respect both for themselves and others.

Thank you for your commitment, love and compassion and for not forgetting those of us who are in prison. 

Those who attend the Summit are often able to serve shorter sentences, leaving prison less likely to re-offend. And those who are there to stay become a faithful presence within the prison walls to help others. They learn that just because they failed and ended up in prison, doesn’t mean their whole life is a failure. Here is an excerpt from a letter we received:

Sydney from Riverbend Correctional writes: It has changed my life. I don’t have the financial means to donate to the Summit right now. But from the inspiration of all the speakers and being moved by the Holy Spirit, I give my life completely to Christ. Thank you for your commitment, love and compassion and for not forgetting those of us who are in prison. We have influence here, with our families and in the world when we join it again. 

We’re just scratching the surface of opportunity in prison. Imagine what could happen in our communities if the 2 million people behind bars in the U.S. experienced a message that said they had value?

Youth—Ending Corruption

Noah and Jonah Goodall shaving Noah's headWe believe our youth have influence, not just for tomorrow, but today. This is why we started offering a new emerging leader rate for students ages 12-17 to attend the Summit. In 2019, here in the U.S. our friends Stephanie and Simon Goodall invited their 12-year-old son, Noah, to join them at the Summit. Noah is incredible, and has an abundant love for his little brother, Jonah, who has pediatric brain cancer. Having raised thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research, the Summit gave him the confidence and courage to speak up and dream even bigger on behalf of families like his.

And internationally, we’re seeing a growing number of young leaders attend the Summit. What we keep hearing from our partners overseas is that empowering youth with Biblically-based servant leadership principles will be the game-changer to end corruption in many of these countries.

Zimbabwe - What Does It Look For the GLS to Ignite Transformation Globally? (Part 1)

For example, in a notorious town called Mbare, Zimbabwe, where violence runs rampant, the Summit inspired a group of high-school students to take action. Their first step was to clean up the trash heap next to their school. Little did they know then that when a non-profit organization came to find a location for a water well, it would be in the very location where they cleaned up the trash. This well is now providing clean water for the entire village because these students saw a need and took action.

And one young woman named Neema in Tanzania, where the average age is 17, and the workforce is comprised of 65% youth, the Summit inspired her to see leadership as an act of servanthood. So, she decided to start an organization to help youth like her understand foreign policy and government so that they can address issues of unemployment, poverty and education. Through the Summit, she has gained courage to press on.

Zanzibar—Bridging Divides

Attendees watching GLS in ZanzibarFrom Tanzania, we go to an island not too far away called Zanzibar, which is 98 percent Muslim. Now you might be wondering, how did the Summit, which is known as a Christian event, end up in Zanzibar? The answer? Respect.

During the Summit in Tanzania, a woman named Fatima from Zanzibar attended for the first time. Blown away by the respect she received for her faith, the open arms of the Summit community, and deeply encouraged the content of the Summit, she asked how she could bring the Summit to her country.

The team was surprised. They wondered how a Christian event would be received in a place like Zanzibar. Additionally, the political tension in Zanzibar at the time was a difficult obstacle to overcome… but at the first event, when they only expected 150 leaders to show up, more than 700 leaders filled the room, overflowing the venue. People stayed, happy to sit on the floor just to be a part of it! The next year, the government showed up—and Joseph Grenny’s talk on crucial conversations brought opposing parties together to address the issues that matter in their country.

Nigeria—Calling Out Servant Leadership

Outreach at Global Impact Church Lagos, NigeriaThe word “leadership” in a place like Nigeria does not always mean something positive. Often, people think of dictatorship, prestige or extravagant lifestyles. These “leaders” tend to be backed by corruption and seek to be served. So, when the Summit was introduced to Nigeria for the first time to present a paradigm-shifting view of leadership, it turned people’s world upside down. The concept of servant leadership was introduced, and people began to shift their model and their focus on adding value to people.

For example, after Yemi Davids attended the Summit for the first time, everything changed. His church became focused on the community outside its walls. They started feeding thousands of widows, executing cleanup projects in the community, providing scholarships for students and initiating medical outreach programs. They began to grow so much that they began holding five services every Sunday and had to build a larger building to accommodate their growth!

Nigeria-What-Does-It-Look-Like-to-Ignite-Transformation-Globally-Part-1Further north in Nigeria, there are pastors who take many risks to continue ministry. Attending the Summit gives them the encouragement and strength they long for to keep serving. One of those pastors is a man named Julius. Living in a community deeply affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, he saw families fall apart with the loss of breadwinners, women becoming widows and children becoming fatherless. He was overwhelmed by what to do. But he decided to look for ways to add value to people wherever he could. After the Summit, he and a few friends put their funds together to assist some widows with capital to start their own business. Their reach has since grown, and they’ve been able to support more than 50 widows who are now able to send their children back to school, breaking the cycle of poverty. Today, more pastors are getting involved and the program is growing.

The call to leadership is a game-changer.

In fact, the Summit in a place like northern Nigeria is often the only Christian leadership game in town. It is the only place where Christians are gaining access to the tools and training to learn how to be servant leaders in their communities in order to move toward a place of positive transformation. Today, the Summit in Nigeria is growing fast, now reaching more than 25,000 people at 80 sites across the country and attracting leaders from all sectors of society, including the government.

Swaziland—Bringing Hope In The Darkness

Swaziland-What-Does-It-Look-Like-to-Ignite-Transformation-Globally-Part-1During the Summit in 2006, Bono challenged church leaders to step up for the plight of the poor and the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Sitting in the audience that day at a local church in Dayton, Ohio, was a pastor named Stan Tharp. Suddenly, Stan and his team were convicted.

Meanwhile, in the small country of Swaziland in southern Africa, Kevin and his wife Helen prayed for the country they love—they prayed that God would intervene for the orphans, those living in abject poverty and those suffering due to the AIDS pandemic.

One boy who was adopted into this community went from being drug-addicted on the street, pimped out by traffickers—to being rescued, growing up to now pastor a church of 600 people.

Back in the states, Stan’s team planned a trip to Swaziland to explore where they believed God called them to serve. During their trip, they happened to meet Kevin and Helen, and quickly became kindred spirits in the belief that together they can bring about change in the community, through the community.

The outcome? There are now more than 10 church communities, serving as schools, healthcare facilities, training centers and housing. One boy who was adopted into this community went from being drug-addicted on the street, pimped out by traffickers—to being rescued, growing up to now pastor a church of 600 people, a beacon of hope in his community. Their goal is for the church to be the hope of Swaziland. This is hope in darkness. This is the power of a whisper.

Stan’s church started sponsoring the Summit in Swaziland, which is growing and now reaching high level leaders from the government, as well as business, healthcare, church, education and youth. Additionally, the Summit is now in every prison in the country.

Uganda—Developing The Economy

In Uganda a talk about hospitality by Horst Schulze from the Ritz Carlton impacted the economy. Who could have imagined it? But with the economy dependent on tourism, Horst’s leadership concepts were a game-changer for a hotel staff. After implementing his principles, they received 5-star status.

GLS in Uganda Photo Year End Concept Full Landing Page 1

But that’s not all, the government took notice of the impact the Summit could have on their economy if more of these leadership principles were implemented, not only with the department of tourism, but education and politics as well. As a result, the Summit has made inroads into leadership development at the top government level, including the president.

Read more about what is happening through The Global Leadership Summit in Eastern Europe and Latin America in part 2.

What Does It Look For the GLS to Ignite Transformation Globally? (Part 2)

Posted on June 15, 2020 by - Because of the GLS, Business, Church, Eastern Europe, Education, Family, Government, Healthcare, Latin America, Military, Nonprofit, North America, Politics, Prison, Stories, Youth

What-Does-It-Look-For-the-GLS-to-Ignite-Transformation-Globally-Part-2

As a staff, we continue to be amazed and deeply humbled by what God is doing throughout the world through the Global Leadership Network (GLN). What we’ve learned as we’ve listened to people’s stories and experiences, whether they are a CEO, a pastor, parent, student, or whether they live in rural Honduras or manage a staff of thousands—the GLN is more than an organization producing leadership events and content.

The stories we hear every day show that The Global Leadership Summit can often be a game-changer in people’s lives—a catalyst propelling people forward toward a better future—not just for them, but everyone in their sphere of influence as well.

So, we’d like to take you on a journey through some of our favorite stories from around the world. In part two of this two-part blog series, discover the impact in parts of Eastern Europe and Latin America. (To read part one, click here.)

 

Eastern Europe—Igniting Passion For The Future

In Eastern Europe, in an era of post-communism and extreme apathy, the concept of servant leadership is changing the paradigm and re-introducing people to a living God. We’re watching churches revive, and Christians use their influence to bring transformation to their communities.

Lukas Targoz speaking at the GLS in Czech RepublicFor example, Lukas in the Czech Republic became a Christian at the age of 13, a week before the fall of communism. At 14, he started preaching the Gospel. At 16, he started seminary. He felt called by God to help leaders… but the leadership he grew up with was one of corruption. He had a dream of teaching a godly, servant leadership concept to people as a tool of transformation. So, when he was introduced to the Summit for the first time in Germany, he knew he wanted to bring it to the Czech Republic. That was 11 years ago. Today, the Summit in the Czech Republic is called the conference for those who care about the future.

In a place like Macedonia, where political instability is a constant reality, the Summit is a source of hope, equipping leaders in this critical time of history. Nikola, a pastor in a country where less than 2% of people are Christian, is striving to raise up the next generation of leaders—he has a dream to raise up the evangelical body, and the Summit plays a critical role in this mission to transform the country through the Gospel.

Colombia—Leading Transformation

Women-and-Fashion-in-Colombia-What-Does-It-Look-For-the-GLS-to-Ignite-Transformation-Globally-Part-2The Summit in Colombia is challenging Christians to leave the church building and lead transformation in their community. It is equipping them with tools to bring about the transformation they long for after years of having a reputation as the land of drug lords.

One of the attendees, a fashion designer named Luz Mosquera, was challenged to go into a notorious neighborhood in her city to connect with women trapped in domestic abuse and sexual exploitation. She opened an NGO in January 2018 to train and care for these women and their children, preparing them for work in the fashion industry. Now they are getting fulfilling jobs and taking care of themselves and their children. The program has been so successful, government authorities have taken noticed, asking how she did it. And her answer is, the love of God.

Guatemala—Standing Up Against Corruption

In a place like Guatemala, being notoriously corrupt, people are starting to stand up and lead.

Military Guatemala - What-Does-It-Look-For-the-GLS-to-Ignite-Transformation-Globally-Part-2Luis Pinto decided, after hearing Gary Haugen speak at the Summit, that this is not the time to be afraid. This is the time to DO something God is calling us to do.

Luis has been taking initiative to make sure that people from every sector of society in Guatemala are invited to the Summit—including national government leaders and the military. Due to the positive response and experience, the Summit is being explored as a leadership development program for the full congress of Guatemala.

Imagine what could happen when the highest levels of influence in Guatemala begin to be equipped, encouraged and inspired by the truth of the Bible and the messages received at the Summit?

Honduras—Being A Light In The Darkness

A young man named Jose Luis, living in rural Honduras, became disabled at age 17 by the chemicals used on the banana plantation where he worked. He suddenly found himself jobless and unsure about what was next. In 2016, Jose was sponsored to attend the Summit for the first time.

Jose and Riley in HondurasHe developed a vision to buy his own land to start a farm to raise cattle and grow food for his community—the 20 families living in his village. With his connection to a non-profit organization, together they were able to raise money to build the farm. Today, this farm not only serves as the economic livelihood for the 20 families in this small village, but they are supporting families outside their village as well, building a school in a neighboring village. Before the school was built, only 10 percent of the children were going to school, now 90% are going. In a community like this, where people like Jose are being empowered with leadership skills through the Summit, entire communities are thriving.

Jose’s community is a light in a country that many people talk badly about. If you can provide more leadership opportunities for the beautiful people of Honduras, the story begins to change.

Venezuela—Bringing Peace

In Venezuela, where millions of people have fled due to violent civil unrest and economic turmoil, a pastor named Alvaro stayed behind to be a faithful presence in his community.

Pastor Alvaro - What-Does-It-Look-For-the-GLS-to-Ignite-Transformation-Globally-Part-2One night in 2017, not long after he attended the Summit, a riot broke out leaving a group of people stranded and afraid in a building surrounded by military. Tear gas bombs broke the windows, flooding the building.

Alvaro received phone calls crying out for help for those injured and terrified for their lives. Remembering what he heard at the Summit about courage, he decided to enter the riot to intervene and bring peace. When he arrived, the military surrounded the building. Alvaro came face-to-face with the commander of the operation, who decided to trust him, a pastor. Alvaro engaged in a difficult negotiation with the commander as the people in the building waited, unsure on whether or not they could trust the outcome of what might happen next. Not only did everyone leave the building safe that night, but Alvaro continues to engage in peace negotiations today.

Alvaro’s vision for Venezuela is that integrity would rise up as people engage in the fight against corruption and violence. Today, the Summit takes place in 10 cities across Venezuela, reaching over 5,000 people within the country with many more Venezuelans participating outside the country.

 

The Global Leadership Summit is equipping and encouraging leadership to ignite transformation.

It just takes one piece of timely advice or encouragement, a prompt toward action, or a challenge to persevere—like the drop of a small pebble in still water, rippling out, creating a tidal wave of transformation. It’s motivating people to stand up, to act, lead and step into the unknown—to be a light in the darkness.

God is calling out the leadership influence in each of us—for good, for action—a leadership for transformation where it’s needed most all over the world.