Keynote Speakers

Keynote speakers bring inspiration, information, and motivation to tackle today’s most pressing challenges!         

Opening Keynote: BUILDING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAM!
Dr. Ivan Joseph
Saturday, April 27 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Dr. Ivan Joseph inspires people and teams to achieve more than they dreamed. Ivan is proof that when we help others succeed, we succeed too. His TEDx Talk has over 19 million views, which speaks to the impact he has on people. Forbes named it one of The Ten Best TED Talks About The Meaning of Life. 

As a professor and soccer coach at Graceland University, Ivan developed the soccer program from the ground up. In just five years, he led both the men's and women's teams to #1 national rankings, and helped the men's team win their first ever national championship. As a result, Ivan Joseph was recognized by The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as National Coach of the Year in 2006. 

As Director of Athletics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ivan led the athletic program to national prominence: The Ryerson Rams won provincial and national championships for the first time in the institution's history--while achieving GPAs higher than the student body average. Ivan spearheaded the landmark $100 million renovation of the historic and beloved Maple Leaf Gardens. In this new culture of belonging and pride across Ryerson's diverse urban campus, student-athletes broke records with their athletic, academic and outreach activities. 

Ivan Joseph currently is the Vice-Provost, Student Affairs at Dalhousie University, a 200-year old major research institution in Halifax, Canada. He leads the university's effort to promote interconnectedness and belonging among a diverse student body drawn from across the country and around the globe. Ivan Joseph is regularly called on to support national team programs. In 2018 he was selected as Head Coach of the women's national soccer team in his native Guyana. While serving as high-performance coach for the Canadian men's basketball team, they won the country's first ever FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in 2017. 

Along with being an in-demand speaker, consultant and coach, Ivan contributes regularly to publications including the Huffington Post and The Globe and Mail. He is the author of the best-selling book You Got This: Mastering the Skill of Self-Confidence. Ivan has a BA in Physical Education and Health, an MS in Higher Education Administration and a PhD in Sports Psychology. 

About BUILDING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAM!
When teams thrive, they elevate everyone to a level they didn’t know was possible. When teams struggle, they create dynamics and challenges that limit performance. What does it take for a team to excel? How do you create a culture of excellence? How do you build a high-performing team? NAIA National Coach of the Year Ivan Joseph cracked the code. He led a tiny college in Iowa to win a national soccer championship. He led a marginal university athletic program to national prominence. And that’s why he’s invited to speak on stages around the world. Sharing funny and moving stories, and research-based insights, Ivan inspires leaders and teams to achieve even their toughest goals.

In this fast-paced, interactive session, leaders gain insights and techniques to:

• Articulate common values and a shared sense of purpose.

• Create team cohesion, the foundation of elite team performance.

• Set higher expectations to achieve new levels of performance.

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Closing Keynote: Say What You Mean in a Nice Way: Working Together Better in High-Tech Times
Sarita Maybin
Monday, April 29 10:00 am - 11:15 am

Sarita Maybin shows her audiences how to transform uncomfortable conversations into constructive communication. With real stories, real solutions and a relatable presence, she breaks down barriers to reveal how to work together better. Raised as a “military brat” moving from country to country, Sarita mastered how to make fast friends and finesse stressful situations. She quickly learned that it wasn’t just what you say, but how you say it that matters. 

In her 20+ year career as a professional speaker, this dynamo has made it her mission to motivate others to embrace positivity, even amid the challenges of our ever-changing high-tech times. She literally wrote the book on how to answer the perpetually perplexing question: If You Can’t Say Something Nice, What DO You Say? Available as an audio or paperback, it is a compelling compilation of the street-tested strategies she has shared with clients such as HP, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles County, Department of the Navy and 528 other world-class organizations. Now she is sharing more insights in her new book Say What You Mean in a Nice Way. 

Sarita has spoken in all 50 states and 10 countries--including Iceland--making a positive impact globally and giving back to her community locally. She has presented on the prestigious TEDx stage, she is a past president of the San Diego chapter of the National Speakers Association and she served for six years on the board of her local YMCA. 

A former university dean of students who held leadership positions at four state universities, it’s no wonder educational associations, public agencies, and company employees resonate with her saying “She’s just like me!” 

Learn how to transform uncomfortable conversations into constructive communication in this upbeat presentation based on Sarita Maybin’s new book Say What You Mean in a Nice Way. Take away real solutions for communicating with compassion, kindness and civility—in person and online. Gain fresh insights on how to say what you mean and mean what you say in a nice way. 

Presentation highlights include: 

• How to communicate with C.A.R.E. to create positive results 

• You’re Not the Boss of Me – How to gain cooperation when you’re not in charge 

• Do You Play Nicely? How to lead, follow or get out of the way 

• How to navigate dialogue dilemmas when communicating online 

• Are you a L.I.A.R.? – Four behaviors that make or break relationships