Description

2026 Leadership Educational Conference:

Lead Intelligently

Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM (EST)
Location: Carlisle Inn & Conference Center, Sarasota

Event Overview

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s annual Leadership Educational Conference returns with a timely and powerful theme: Lead Intelligently. 

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, effective leadership requires more than experience alone, it demands awareness, adaptability, and intentional decision-making. This year’s conference explores the many dimensions of intelligence that modern leaders must master to build resilient teams, foster innovation, and lead with confidence in an increasingly complex world. 

Through engaging keynote sessions and expert-led discussions, attendees will gain practical tools and fresh perspectives they can immediately apply within their organizations. 

What Does It Mean to Lead Intelligently?

Leading intelligently means knowing when to trust data, when to trust people, and when to trust yourself. This conference will challenge leaders to think holistically about how different forms of intelligence: emotional, instinctual, communicative, and artificial, all work together to shape stronger outcomes.

 Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to:

• Lead with empathy and emotional awareness
• Make confident decisions using instinct and experience
• Communicate with clarity, influence, and purpose
• Navigate and leverage artificial intelligence responsibly

Featured Speakers & Sessions

Emotional Intelligence
Presented by Mandy O’Malley
Explore how emotional intelligence impacts leadership effectiveness, workplace culture, and team performance. Learn strategies to better manage emotions (your own and others’) to build trust and drive results.

Instinctual Intelligence
Presented by Ranya Kargbo
Discover how intuition, positivity, and compassion play a critical role in leadership decision-making. This session will help leaders balance logic with instinct to lead authentically and decisively.

Communication Intelligence
Presented by Kaitlyn Perez
In moments of disruption, leaders rarely have perfect information, but they still have to decide, communicate, and lead. This session explores how crisis-intelligent leaders think under pressure, avoid common missteps, and protect trust when it matters most

Artificial Intelligence Panel
Hear from a panel of experts on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace. Learn what leaders need to know now (opportunities, risks, and best practices) to stay competitive while leading responsibly in an AI-driven world. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations looking to align their brand with leadership development and professional excellence. Sponsors gain valuable exposure to regional business leaders while supporting one of the Chamber’s most impactful professional development events.

Additional sponsorship details available upon request. Reach out to Pete Bartosik (pbartosik@sarasotachamber.com) for questions.

Cancellations require 48 hours' advance notice of event