Call for Proposals

Submit a Presentation Proposal

We are seeking dynamic speakers to submit a proposal for the Leadership and Management Development Conference. Our goal is to provide high-quality sessions that engage, empower and energize attendees. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge, skills, and talents with conference attendees, we encourage you to complete a session proposal to present at the conference.

Submit a Proposal

Criteria

Audience
Most conference participants are full-time, non-instructional academic staff at UW-Madison serving as both emerging and advanced leaders. Other attendees include participants from various universities and affiliates within the Universities of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin System Administration, and the Madison community. The conference typically brings together 450 participants.

Honorarium
All selected speakers are provided with complimentary registration to attend the full conference, however, the Office of Human Resources does not provide an honorarium for presentations at the Leadership and Management Development Conference. Presenters should cover all their individual travel expenses if selected to present in-person.

Guidelines
Each facilitated breakout session will be either 75-minutes (single) or 2.5 hours (half day) in length and must be linked to one or more of the six (6) conference topics listed below. Individuals should refrain from self-promotion of products and/or services. Each proposal will be reviewed for:

Clarity: Well-defined learning objectives that can be met in the allotted time-frame
Relevance: Timeliness of topic/content is clearly stated; offers clear, specific, and useful best practices
Quality: Objective for the proposal is clearly stated and supported by the information provided; depth of information; measurable outcomes; expertise of proposed speaker(s)
Ability to Replicate: Viable, current best practices that can easily be replicated in participants’ units/departments; provides practical approaches that can be quickly adopted

2026 Important Dates and Timelines

Proposal Submission Period: May 26 – August 14
Notice of Acceptance: August 17-26
Tech and Logistical Information Due: September 4
Presentation Materials Due: October 21
Conference Date: October 27

Conference Tracks

Strategic Leadership

Explore how to lead with purpose, navigate complexity, and align team efforts with organizational goals, with emphasis on strategic planning, ethical leadership, and decision-making in dynamic environments.

Strategic planning and direction
Adaptive leadership
Leadership agility and innovation
Leading through uncertainty and change
Building a culture of accountability

Team Development and Performance Management

Lead high-performing teams by cultivating talent, guiding performance, and fostering continuous growth.

Employee engagement strategies
Performance evaluation best practices
Onboarding and retention
Recruitment strategies
Succession planning and career pathing
Coaching for performance
Exit/stay interviews

Relationship Building and Communication

Develop strong, engaged teams through communication, strengthening team dynamics, fostering collaboration, and interpersonal skill development.

Building trust across teams
Emotional intelligence
Giving and receiving constructive feedback
Conflict management and resolution
Navigating difficult conversations
Active listening
Communicating with clarity

Career Management

Learn about your professional development, career planning, growth, mentorship, and skill advancement best practices and opportunities on campus.

Employee resources for their career growth
Career mapping and goal setting
Navigating career transitions
Building a professional network
Mentorship

Operational Excellence and Productivity

Focus on tangible tools and strategies for process improvement, time management, and performance optimization.

Time management and prioritization strategies
Data-driven decision-making
Project management essentials for supervisors
Change management and implementation
AI and integration of technology into workflows

Inclusive Excellence

Focus on achieving a healthy, inclusive, and engaging work environment.

Unconscious bias in decision-making
Creating belonging in diverse teams
Inclusive communication strategies
Allyship and advocacy in leadership
Designing inclusive policies and practices
Hostile and intimidating workplace discussion

Well-being

Focus on the well-being of the participant in a direct or holistic way.

Compassionate leadership
Personal resilience and burnout prevention
Work/life integration
Mindfulness
Creating a culture of psychological safety
Stress management
Mental health awareness in the workplace