2026 Women's Leadership Forum Session Descriptions

Return to Main Program Page

Pre-Conference Workshop | Change Management in Higher Education  Monday, February 2
Ahren Crickard | Director, Center of Operational Excellence | University of California San Diego

Description

In this time of rapid and unprecedented change, higher education leaders must guide their teams through transition in ways that strengthen both organizational resilience and individual growth. This workshop will equip leaders with practical tools and skills to effectively lead teams through change. Participants will explore proven strategies and methodologies to assess readiness, prepare for transition, and measure the impact of change initiatives.  The goals of this workshop are to:

  1. Develop a clear understanding of the change process and foundational principles of change management.
  2. Strengthen leaders’ capacity to effectively lead change and support their teams as skilled coaches during periods of transition.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session participants will be able to:

  • Identify essential tools and practices that build organizational resilience.
  • Recognize strategies that enhance personal resilience.
  • Explain the critical role of a clear, well‑structured communication plan in successful change initiatives.
  • Design a tailored change‑management communication plan for a real‑world scenario.