business leaders – WIN Nevada

June 10, 2026

You’re Not Stuck, You’ve Just Lost Momentum

Most of us are focused on the next deadline, the next decision, or the next item on the to-do list. We rarely stop to ask why progress feels easy in some seasons and frustratingly difficult in others.

We may assume the answer is that we need to put in more hours or stay a little later at work.

But according to leadership expert Chris Wilson, that’s often the wrong response. Drawing from high-stakes aviation environments, Chris uses a concept called the Dead Man’s Curve, a point where a helicopter has lost enough altitude and speed that recovery becomes extremely difficult. The opportunity to correct course existed earlier, before the warning signs became impossible to ignore.

Leadership challenges often work the same way. Momentum rarely disappears overnight. More often, it fades gradually. A difficult conversation gets postponed, a decision sits unresolved, a project loses focus, or a team starts feeling disconnected.

None of these things seem significant on their own. But over time, they create enough friction to bring progress to a standstill. The solution is recognizing the signs early and making small adjustments before momentum is lost.

That’s the idea behind Chris’s Momentum Map, a framework built around three key elements: mindset, action, and commitment. Just practical shifts that help leaders regain clarity, reduce friction, and start moving forward again.

That idea feels especially relevant right now. Uncertainty has become part of doing business, and leaders are constantly expected to make decisions without having all the answers.

Think of a ship adjusting its direction by a single degree. The change feels insignificant at the moment, but over time it leads somewhere entirely different.

What You’ll Learn on July 17

Chris’s keynote, Momentum Shift: Small Shifts, Big Breakthroughs, is built around practical tools leaders can use immediately.

Attendees will learn:

How to recognize the early signs that momentum is beginning to break down
A practical framework for moving from overwhelm and hesitation to decisive action
Why small, intentional changes often create the biggest long-term impact
How to maintain progress even when conditions aren’t ideal

If you’ve ever felt like effort alone should be enough to produce results, this session may change the way you think about progress altogether.

Why the Room Matters as Much as the Speaker

There is no shortage of leadership content today. You can find podcasts, webinars, newsletters, videos, and books on almost any topic imaginable.

What’s harder to find is 90 minutes in a room with people who are actually doing that work in your community. People who understand what it means to build something in Reno, to lead a team in Northern Nevada, to navigate the specific opportunities and pressures of this market.

That’s what the WIN Speaker Series has been creating for more than 56 years, and it’s why we keep investing in it. Join us on July 17 at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa for a morning of insight and takeaways you can put to work right away.

Not yet a WIN member? Join today and gain access to this event and future Speaker Series breakfasts, where meaningful connections and professional growth go hand in hand.

May 11, 2026

Are You Willing to be Good Enough Now?

Here’s what most leaders have in common: they’re waiting. Waiting until they have more experience, a bigger network, a fully staffed team, an approved budget, or the perfect timing.

Waiting until they feel confident enough to have that difficult conversation or bold enough to step fully into the leader they know they could be. And while they wait, talented employees disengage, team potential stays locked away, that inclusive culture never materializes, opportunities pass by, and the gap between the leader they are and the leader they could be just keeps getting wider.

Here’s the hard truth. That perfect moment you’re waiting for it’s never coming. So the real question is are you willing to be good enough NOW?

What “Good Enough Now” Really Means

“Good Enough Now” means refusing to let perfectionism paralyze you. It means leading authentically with the strengths you have today, not the ones you think you need tomorrow. It means building high-performing teams by starting exactly where you are, with exactly who you have, using exactly what’s available to you right now.

Because your team isn’t waiting for you to be perfect. They’re waiting for you to be present.

They need you to show up authentically, communicate clearly, create connections, tackle the tough conversations everyone’s been avoiding, and build the kind of culture where people feel challenged AND supported at the same time. And you can do all of that today.

Join Us for a Keynote That Will Change How You Lead

On Friday, May 29, Jess Pettitt will tackle the tough topics everyone else tiptoes around, creates space for authentic conversation, and challenges you to close the gap between who you are right now and who you’re capable of becoming.

What You’ll Walk Away Knowing:

How to leverage your personal strengths to inspire trust, engagement, and accountability within your team (yes, the strengths you have right now, not the ones you wish you had)
Strategies that strengthen communication, connection, and teamwork starting immediately, not six months from now
Steps to build a more inclusive culture where people feel both challenged and supported
Tools to overcome self-doubt and perfectionism so you can finally step into the leader you know you’re capable of being
A roadmap for turning insights into action that produces lasting improvement for your team and organization

Join us on Friday, May 29, 2026 for Good Enough Now with Jess Pettitt and discover what becomes possible when you stop waiting and start leading from exactly where you are.

Doors open at 7:30 AM for breakfast and networking with other Northern Nevada. Register Now for Good Enough Now with Jess Pettitt

April 7, 2026

The trade insights every Nevada business leader needs right now

When was the last time you scrolled through the news without seeing a headline about tariffs, trade disputes, or global economic shake-ups? The answer is probably “never.”

Global trade is moving fast, policies are shifting faster, and if you’re trying to run a business in the middle of all this chaos, you might be wondering “What does any of this actually mean for me?”

Why Global Trade Matters to Every Business Leader in Northern Nevada

You don’t need to be importing container ships from China or exporting Nevada products overseas to be affected by international trade policy.

It’s a domino effect: tariffs hit supply chains, supply chains drive up costs, costs force pricing changes, and pricing changes impact your customers and your revenue. Before you know it, a policy decision made thousands of miles away is showing up in your quarterly budget, your hiring plans, and your strategic planning sessions.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

International trade isn’t a simple story with clear heroes and villains. It’s complex, nuanced, and constantly evolving. Some policies protect local industries. Others make products more expensive for consumers. Some trade agreements open new opportunities. Others generate unforeseen consequences.

This Friday, April 17, learn from someone who has dedicated three decades to studying the forces that shape global commerce, and how those forces impact real people and real businesses: Elliott Parker, Professor of Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno.

In International Trade: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Elliott brings both academic rigor and practical insight to a topic that often feels overwhelming:

What’s really happening with tariffs right now and why they’re dominating the news cycle
How global trade shifts impact Nevada specifically, from our industries to our workforce
The short-term and long-term economic implications of today’s trade policies
What business leaders should be watching as the global economy continues to evolve
Practical insights you can actually use to navigate uncertainty and plan strategically

Understanding the fundamentals, recognizing the trends, and knowing how to interpret the headlines gives you a competitive edge. It helps you anticipate changes, adjust your strategy, and make smarter decisions for your business.

This event is perfect for:

Business owners navigating supply chain challenges and pricing pressures.
Executives trying to plan strategically in an uncertain economic climate.
Entrepreneurs looking to understand how global trends create local opportunities.
Team leaders who need to communicate complex economic changes to their staff.
Professional service providers whose clients are asking tough questions about the economy.
Anyone in a leadership position who wants to be better informed about the forces shaping our business landscape.

Arrive at 7:30 AM for breakfast and networking. Connect with other Northern Nevada professionals who are asking the same questions you are, share perspectives and build relationships that extend beyond the event.

December 18, 2025

Build with Care: Creating Teams That Actually Want to Show Up

Our region is full of ambitious companies vying for the same talented professionals. In a competitive job market, culture isn’t just a luxury, it’s what sets you apart.

Building a culture where people want to stay doesn’t require a complete organizational overhaul. It requires intention, strategy, and a framework that works.

Successful organizations aren’t necessarily those with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones where people feel seen, supported, and genuinely cared for. That’s what keeps your team engaged, productive, and loyal, even when recruiters come knocking.

This January, get the tools and framework you need to build the culture that inspires employees to be their best.

Why “Culture of Care” Is More Than Just a Buzzword

We’ve all seen companies plaster core values on a wall and call it culture. But true culture lives in daily interactions, in how leaders respond to challenges, and in how team members feel when they walk in. When people feel truly valued at work, something shifts. Engagement increases. Burnout decreases. Innovation flourishes. Your best employees stay, and your organization becomes a place others want to join.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Here’s what happens when culture falls apart:

Turnover skyrockets (and so do recruitment costs)
Productivity declines as disengagement spreads
Your top talent quietly starts looking for a way out
Team morale plummets

Sound familiar? It doesn’t have to be this way.

On Friday, January 10, 2025, workplace culture expert Danny Goldberg will join us to explain his transformative Culture of Care methodology. He’ll show you how to:

Create psychological safety so your team feels comfortable expressing themselves, taking risks, and being fully productive at work
Strengthen genuine connection beyond superficial team-building activities
Create an environment where people thrive, not just survive the workday
Turn culture into your competitive advantage to attract and retain top talent
Boost engagement and reduce burnout with practical, proven strategies

This session is perfect for business owners, team leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to create a workplace where people want to be.

Come ready to take notes, ask questions, and connect with other Northern Nevada leaders who are committed to building better workplaces.

September 4, 2025September 4, 2025

Your Team Didn’t Sign Up for Busy Work: How AI Restores Focus to What Matters

Business leaders in Northern Nevada are often immersed in routine tasks that consume valuable time and energy. But what if we told you there’s a way to reclaim those hours and redirect your team’s focus toward what truly makes a difference?

First, it’s important to understand that your team members didn’t come together to spend half their day on repetitive tasks. They seek to innovate, solve problems, and make an impact. However, studies show that knowledge workers spend up to 41% of their time on discretionary activities that offer little personal satisfaction and could easily be managed by others or automated entirely.

This is not only frustrating for your team, but it’s also costly for your company. When your top talent is overwhelmed by unnecessary tasks, they miss out on the strategic thinking and creative problem-solving that drive real growth.

AI is Your Team’s New Productivity Bestie

And that’s where artificial intelligence comes in. It’s not here to replace your team. It’s here to unleash its potential. Think of AI as the ultimate assistant that never needs a break, doesn’t tire of repetitive tasks, and can work 24/7 to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

The magic happens when you identify those routine, time-consuming processes that drain your team’s energy and hand them over to AI.

Real-World AI Achievements That Actually Work

Email and Communication Management: AI can sort, prioritize, and even compose responses to routine emails, leaving your team to handle conversations that truly need a human touch.
Customer Service: Chatbots answer frequently asked questions instantly, while your team focuses on complex customer needs and relationship building.
Scheduling and Project Management: AI can coordinate schedules, track project progress, and even predict potential bottlenecks before they become problems.

By automating routine tasks, you not only save time but also create space for innovation, leading to improved retention, higher performance, and a work culture that attracts top talent.

The best part about AI automation is that you don’t need to transform everything overnight. Start small. Pick one repetitive task that frustrates your team and explore AI solutions for it. Test, learn, and gradually expand from there.

On September 26, Joseph will guide us through interactive discussions and real-life case studies demonstrating how AI can transform your most tedious tasks into opportunities for innovation, helping you discover how to turn your biggest productivity challenges into your greatest competitive advantages.