Executive Leadership Summit
April 26-30, 2021 • Facilitated virtual learning
For any senior-level professional or leader in the E&S industry who has significant industry experience and wants to think, act and lead strategically

About The Summit
This capstone program focuses on developing and implementing strategic planning, leadership and change management at the personal, team and organizational level. Senior-level professionals learn through intensive, real-life case studies taught by faculty from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Participants return to their organizations with the tools and mindsets to act more strategically. Attendees will develop the enterprise perspective required to make winning choices while running their businesses in today’s complex environment. With the current restrictions and changes due to COVID-19, WSIA has converted the 2021 program into a four-day facilitated virtual learning experience.
Learn more about Executive Leadership Summit in the
informational program brochure.
Who Should Attend
WSIA members with considerable E&S industry experience who are at the top of their organizations' leadership teams, and senior-level members with direct responsibility for obtaining superior and sustainable results, should attend the summit.
Registration and Fees
- Register now for the 2021 Executive Leadership Summit. Registration deadline is March 15.
- Registration is $2,850 per person.
- Any questions regarding registration may be directed to Denise Marshall, denise@wsia.org.
What Alumni Have to Say
Watch a short video to hear what past participants have to say about their personal experiences at Executive Leadership Summit.
“These four days will challenge your way of thinking, leading and managing. The facilitators use real-life cases to invoke deep discussion amongst leaders in the industry. A few days that can provide a real impact for years to come.”
Corey Alison
“I have two degrees, professional designations and have run my own company for 12 years. The past four days have been some of the most insightful I have ever spent. I couldn't recommend the program more highly.”
James Keating
“Anyone given the opportunity to attend this program should not hesitate. You will come away with tools that will positively affect your career, your staff and your personal life.”
Michele Plaisant
Executive Leadership Summit Topics
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From Tactical to Strategic Leadership – Understand how to assess an organization’s core capabilities to determine potential strategic direction and decision-making.
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The Power of Story and Personal Engagement – Discuss leadership style and how to lead strategic, innovative change in your organization. Through interactive group discussion, participants share their engagement in various activities and discover what is most important when leading change.
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Leading Effective Change – Participants gain understanding of the barriers that limit voice and innovation and learn to effectively encourage stakeholders to feel comfortable bringing forward new ideas and opportunities.
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Leading Through Organizational Design – During this session, participants will better understand how misalignments occur in organizational systems and how to improve collaboration. They also learn to more accurately assess the effectiveness and design of innovation.
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Strategy as Stretch – In this session we will consider whether to acquire a new target. We begin by understanding an organization’s current strategy, when to depart from what has worked in the past, and how much should one depart or stretch in order to be successful. Participants will also learn what a strategy is, why it’s important, then use an interactive exercise to work through strategy at it relates to leaders’ roles, how to articulate it, and apply it in their day-to-day jobs.
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Building Organization Coherence – Study the “core” of an organization and how to lead when you are pursuing growth in your organization. We will also explore how the pieces of an organization fit together to create coherence.
Schedule of Events
*All times are shown in ET.
Monday, April 26 |
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2:30 - 4:00 p.m. |
Welcome and Keynote |
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Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, President - National Property, RT Specialty
Gerald Dupre, President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. |
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4:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Networking and Happy Hour |
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Tuesday, April 27 |
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11:00 a.m. - 12-30 p.m. |
Leading Through Organizational Change |
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Growing a Team at LandCare: Excellence in the Field |
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Martin |
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12:30 - 1:30 p.m. |
Break |
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1:30 - 3:30 p.m. |
From Tactical to Strategic Leadership |
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Piaggio |
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Venkataraman |
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Wednesday, April 28 |
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11:00 a.m. - Noon |
Learning Teams |
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Noon - 2:00 p.m. |
Leading Effective Change |
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The Voice Improvement Team (VIT) at InnovaCo |
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Martin
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2:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Break |
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3:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Strategy as Stretch |
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Taking a Mexican Company Global - The CEMEX Way: Can You Say What Your Strategy Is? |
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Ventkatamaran |
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Thursday, April 29 |
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11:00 a.m. - Noon |
Learning Teams |
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Noon - 1:30 p.m. |
Leadership Styles and Effectiveness |
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Heart of a Champion |
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Martin |
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1:30 - 2:30 p.m. |
Break |
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2:30 - 4:00 p.m. |
Building Organizational Coherence |
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Disney Online: Company Overview and Company History, The Coherence Premium |
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Ventkataraman |
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4:00 - 4:30 p.m. |
Learning Teams |
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Friday, April 30 |
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11:00 a.m. - Noon |
Learning Teams |
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Noon - 2:00 p.m. |
Sharing Insights for Future Industry Leadership |
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& Individual Statements about Future Personal Opportunities |
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Venkataraman & Martin |
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2:00 - 2:30 p.m. |
Break |
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2:30 - 4:00 p.m. |
The Power of Story and Personal Engagement |
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The Legacy Exercise |
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Martin |
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4:00 - 4:15 p.m. |
Program Closing |
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Executive Leadership Summit Cancellation Policy
- Registrants can receive a full refund, less a $50 fee for processing, if the request is made by March 15.
- Registrants can receive a 50% refund between March 16 and March 29.
- No refund is offered after March 29.
- Should you cancel after March 15 you will have a limited time opportunity to substitute someone else at your firm as an alternative to the above refund policy.
- All requests must be made in writing to Denise Marshall, denise@wsia.org.