2025 Student Professional Development Conference
In-person or virtual |Feb. 6 - 7, 2025
Event details:
The Student Professional Development Conference is the Dhillon School of Business' largest student event of the year. Join us for two days of interactive sessions. You'll have chances to network with community members and your peers and all meals are included (when attending in-person).
Registration information:
The Student Professional Development Conference runs from Thursday, Feb. 6 - Friday, Feb. 7. To purchase your ticket and reserve your spot for the two days, use the "purchase ticket" button at the bottom of this page which will take you to an Eventbrite order form.
This event is made possible through the generous support of:
Thursday, Feb. 6 | Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge
| 5:00 p.m. | Networking receptionConnect with industry professionals and other students while playing Jam Bingo. Jam Bingo is a digitized icebreaker game, using the Jam app. You’ll receive prompts, scan other’s QR codes to exchange contact information, unlock challenges, and experience networking in a whole new way while building your connections. |
| 6:20 p.m. | WelcomeDhillon School of Business and CPA Alberta |
| 6:35 p.m. | Dinner served |
| 7:30 p.m. | "Managing Tomorrow’s Workforce: The People-First Playbook for Managing Tomorrow's Workforce" with Hamza KhanAs a result of the sudden and drastic changes over the past few years, organizations experienced plummeting morale, engagement, productivity and retention. Now, emerged from chaos, they face yet another challenge — navigating a fast-approaching future of work, an always-on "new abnormal" characterized by hybrid work styles, labour shortages, persistent disruption and shifting employee behaviours and expectations. |
| 8:45 p.m. | Closing remarks |
Friday, Feb. 7 | ULethbridge, Markin Hall atrium
| 9:30 a.m. | Registration and breakfast |
| 9:50 a.m. | Welcome from the Dhillon School of Business |
| 10:00 a.m. | "Excuses to Connect: Shortcut Your Way to Seemingly Impossible Opportunities" with Richard Lee-ThaiIn today’s competitive landscape, having high-quality connections is not just a personal advantage—it’s a professional edge. Yet many students feel held back by anxiety, busy schedules, or uncertainty about how to build authentic relationships. This keynote will transform the way you think about connection. |
| 11 a.m. | Mindfulness meditation break |
| 11:15 a.m. | Morning breakout session (choose one of):
|
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:15 p.m. | A word from CPA Alberta |
| 1:30 p.m. | Afternoon breakout session (choose one of):
|
| 2:45 p.m. | Closing remarks |
| 3 p.m. | End |
Thursday, Feb. 6 | Virtual
| 7:15 p.m. | Login to conference |
| 7:30 p.m. | "Managing Tomorrow’s Workforce: The People-First Playbook for Managing Tomorrow's Workforce" with Hamza KhanAs a result of the sudden and drastic changes over the past few years, organizations experienced plummeting morale, engagement, productivity, and retention. Now, emerged from chaos, they face yet another challenge — navigating a fast-approaching future of work, an |
| 8:45 p.m. | Closing remarks |
Friday, Feb. 7 | Virtual
| 9:50 a.m. | Welcome from the Dhillon School of Business |
| 10:00 a.m. | "Excuses to Connect: Shortcut Your Way to Seemingly Impossible Opportunities" with Richard Lee-ThaiIn today’s competitive landscape, having high-quality connections is not just a personal advantage—it’s a professional edge. Yet many students feel held back by anxiety, busy schedules, or uncertainty about how to build authentic relationships. This keynote will transform the way you think about connection. |
| 11:15 a.m. | Morning breakout session (choose one of):
|
| 12:30 p.m. | Break for lunch (session end) |
| 1:15 p.m. | A word from CPA Alberta |
| 1:30 p.m. | Afternoon breakout session (choose one of):
|
| 2:45 p.m. | Closing remarks |
| 3 p.m. | End |
Hamza Khan (Thursday evening) Image
| Managing Tomorrow’s Workforce: The People-First Playbook for Managing Tomorrow's WorkforceDrawing on recent examples of successful modern leaders, Hamza Khan will show audiences how to operationalize and maximize intertwined people-first values. This talk will help modern leaders to navigate change with courage and wisdom. It's time to stop managing and start leading. Audiences will learn: • Familiarize themselves with the definitive reasons why organizations fail to navigate difficult change. |
Richard Lee-Thai (Friday morning) Image
| Excuses to Connect: Shortcut Your Way to Seemingly Impossible OpportunitiesIn today’s competitive landscape, having high-quality connections is not just a personal advantage—it’s a professional edge. Yet many students feel held back by anxiety, busy schedules, or uncertainty about how to build authentic relationships. This keynote will transform the way you think about connection. You’ll discover how to leverage "excuses to connect"—creative, unconventional strategies to initiate meaningful interactions that open doors to seemingly impossible opportunities. Learn how to stand out in a crowded market by building connections that matter, both in school and in your career. Audiences will learn:
|
Hamza Khan (Thursday evening) Image
| Hamza KhanFuture of Work and People-First Leadership Expert | Bestselling AuthorKhan is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, and world-renowned keynote speaker whose TEDx talk “Stop Managing, Start Leading” been viewed nearly three million times.. He has spoken on various global stages, including the World Youth Forum, and his clients have included some of the world’s most dynamic companies and organizations, such as Microsoft, PepsiCo, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Salesforce, TikTok, and hundreds of colleges and universities. |
Richard Lee-Thai (Friday morning keynote) Image
| Richard Lee-ThaiCEO of Excuses to Connect | TEDx Speaker and co-author | UofL alumRichard Lee-Thai is the Founder and CEO of Excuses to Connect, a company dedicated to fostering cultures of connection in workplaces, higher education, and communities. A TEDx Speaker and co-author, Richard has shared his expertise on the power of human connection with audiences around the world. He has spoken at conferences, delivered workshops, and appeared on podcasts to inspire leaders and teams to prioritize connection in their personal and professional lives. |
Attendees will pick a total of two of the three sessions available to attend.
(One Friday morning and one Friday afternoon)
Sessions:
Tanya Gill Image
| Vision, Values, and Momentum: Aligning for SuccessIn this engaging and interactive presentation, Tanya Gill, The Joy Alchemist, guides you on a transformative journey to uncover your core values, craft a compelling vision, and build unstoppable momentum. |
Geralyn L’Heureux Image
| Communication in the Workplace75% of a workday is spent in collaborating and communicating with others. No matter what changes are coming the future of work, good communication with one of the top skills to have and maintain. The objective of clear communication is not just to convey a message, but to ensure that the message is understood and can be acted upon effectively. When a message is clear, it enhances the effectiveness of the communication process, reduces misunderstandings, and improves overall productivity. In this session, you will explore what it takes to communicate clearly and intentionally engage others in meaningful conversation. This workshop will focus on your ability to connect, collaborate, and thrive in the modern workplace. |
Greg Stonehocker Image
| Mastering Time Management: Unlocking Your Full PotentialIn this session, you’ll learn how to make the most of your time by focusing on what you can control—yourself. Discover practical strategies to improve productivity, prioritize effectively, and stay in control of your schedule. Time can’t be controlled, but with the right mindset and tools, you can master self-management to achieve your goals and reach your full potential. |
Tanya Gill Image
| Tanya Gill, also known as The Joy Alchemist, is an author, speaker, social worker, and life coach dedicated to helping individuals uncover their core values and live in alignment with their highest selves. With a passion for inspiring momentum through vision, values, and intentionality, Tanya has empowered countless individuals to connect with their inner compass and embrace authenticity. Her engaging talks and workshops illuminate pathways to harmony, clarity, and purposeful action. Tanya's work has touched lives through her bestselling book The Trifecta of Joy, her captivating presentations, and transformative coaching programs. Known for her relatable, energetic approach, Tanya inspires audiences to align their values with their decisions to create meaningful, vibrant lives. |
Geralyn L’Heureux Image
| With a diverse background in work experiences, from horses to wildlife enforcement, Geralyn settled into teaching for 26 years, in the traditional classrooms and distributed learning settings. Although not a school career counsellor, being in rural settings and having a diverse background of work experiences before entering the teaching profession, Geralyn often gave assistance to students looking at career pathways. This has led her into her present career, that of a Career Coach and Employment Specialist with Teamworks Career Centre in Lethbridge. In this career service role, Geralyn is connecting employees with employers and coaching both groups in their needs to select or present in the best possible light. Geralyn is married, has three children and a gaggle of grandchildren. |
Greg Stonehocker Image
| Owner and Executive Coach at Stonebase Business Coaching, Greg has over 16 years of experience helping business owners, their teams, and executives unlock their potential and achieve their goals. In addition to his coaching expertise, Greg manages multiple successful businesses, bringing a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience to his leadership insights. |
