Schedule of Events
16–18 September 2024 • David L. Lawrence Convention Center • Pittsburgh, Pa., USA
Monday, 16 September 2024 | |
Noon–7 p.m. | Registration |
1–5:30 p.m. | Professional Development Workshops*
Professional development enrichment sessions are based on availability. Sessions will begin at 1 p.m. EST and conclude at 5:30 p.m. EST. Each session will be 2 hours in length, with a 30-minute break between the first and second session. |
5:30–7 p.m. | Welcome Reception |
Tuesday, 17 September 2024 | |
8–9 a.m. | Breakfast and Registration |
9 a.m. | Welcome |
9:30 a.m. | Opening Session: An Interview With Sushma Walker |
10:30 a.m. | Morning Networking Break |
11 a.m. | I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now Reflecting on the early years of your career can be both cringe-worthy and cathartic. Were you intimidated by your coworkers? Do you remember how you dressed? Or how you spoke to your colleagues, leadership, clients? What about interacting with coworkers that were 25+ years older than you? Did you escalate in your career faster than your peers? Or slower? Did you have those difficult conversations, or did you put them off? What have you learned over the years? During this discussion, panelists will look back at the first few years of their careers and provide insight into bridging the gap between what they did right, and what they wish they would have done differently. Attendees of all career stages will appreciate this candid conversation as they gain a deeper understanding of the realities of the steel industry, practical strategies for overcoming obstacles and inspiration for charting their own paths to success. Moderator: Rachel Schmidt, Technical Sales Manager — EAF Mill Services, Berry Metal Co. Panelists:
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12:15 p.m. | Lunch |
1:30 p.m. | Boots on the Ground: How Women Are Paving the Way in Operations Throughout history, women have disturbed societal norms and proven that gender is not a limitation to success. The same can be said for women in steel production, an industry traditionally dominated by men. This operators-only panel will shed light on the challenges that women face working in manufacturing with or without a college degree, combating the social stigma, and addressing situational complexities in order to build confidence and continue to excel in and redefine their careers. Moderator: April Pitts-Baggett, Senior Quality Engineer, Nucor Business Technology Panelists:
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2:45 p.m. | Afternoon Networking Break |
3:15 p.m. | The State of Women's Health Research — Past, Present and Future |
3:30 p.m. | Emotional Intelligence You may come across a manager or individual who is technically gifted but has little impact when working with others. Equally, you may have come across an individual who is not technically gifted but is a valued member of a team, a great contributor. How do we explain this? Individual intelligence and technical capabilities are no longer enough. The difference comes from understanding, developing and leveraging our emotional intelligence (EI). EI is the ability to understand your emotions and the emotions of others and to act accordingly to this understanding. EI is viewed as a means of developing and enhancing individual management and leadership capabilities through an analysis of behavior, management styles, attitudes and interpersonal skills. Participants will discover the building blocks on which EI is based and will be given an opportunity to identify their abilities and consider areas of further development and enhancement. Emotional Intelligence provides core skills needed for life and work and can be used to develop and enhance your management style. |
5–6:30 p.m. | Reception |
Wednesday, 18 September 2024 | |
8–9 a.m. | Breakfast |
9 a.m. | Steel Industry Keynote Presentation |
10 a.m. | Morning Networking Break |
10:30 a.m. | Improving Workplace Climate With Employee Resource Groups Organizations in today's world are recognizing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their hiring practices. But is that where the fostering of DEI stops? Cue employee resource groups (ERGs). ERGs are instrumental in cultivating engaged and empowered workplaces by providing platforms for employees to connect, collaborate and grow. Yet, few companies in the steel industry offer such communities, especially those catering to the women of their workforce. This panel will guide listeners on starting and maintaining ERGs within their own organizations, as well as emphasize their significance in terms of employee development, satisfaction, retention and productivity. Moderator: Brenda Petrilena, Director, Global Decarbonization and Program Management, United States Steel Corporation Panelists:
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11:45 a.m. | Lunch |
1 p.m. | Combating Stress and Burnout Worker burnout and stress are at all-time highs, which leads to more errors, increased safety incidents, and higher employee turnover. During this interactive session, participants will learn about the causes of workplace stress, the signs of burnout, and the impact they have on individuals and the workplace. Participants will have the opportunity to complete a short self-assessment to measure their own level of burnout. They will be provided with tips and strategies to manage their own stress, as well as engage in group discussions, application exercises, self-reflection activities, and will create a personal action plan to improve their own stress risk factors. Attendees will receive suggested readings to continue their learning after the session. Jamie Lewis Smith, Chief Executive Officer, and Leadership and Organization Development Psychologist, Pixel Leadership Group |
2:30 p.m. | Afternoon Networking Break |
3 p.m. | Steel Industry Keynote Presentation |
3:45 p.m. | Confidence Is NOT Rocket Science: Breaking the Grip of Imposter Syndrome People see you as skilled and competent. Yet you think to yourself, “They think I’m smarter than I really am! I feel like a fraud!” It’s Imposter Syndrome: the persistent feeling of not measuring up to your own resume. This chronic self-doubt hits people in every industry, at every level. But there’s help! You can silence that imposter voice so you can fearlessly move ahead without feeling like a fraud. Be released from the clench of the counterfeit. By learning the powerful strategies of “The Fraud Free Framework”™, you can recalibrate your thinking and begin believing that you really are as smart as everyone thinks you are. You’ll enjoy your success, bounce back from failure and experience less pressure to perform perfectly. You’ll move from self-doubt to self-assurance as you reach for more opportunities and ignite your influence. Maureen Zappala, Keynote Speaker and Author |
5:15 p.m. | Closing Remarks and Adjourn |
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