Alumni Leadership Exchange (ALEx)
Connect. Learn. Lead. Initiated by Trachtenberg School alumni, the Alumni Leadership Exchange (ALEx) will offer a platform for connection, learning, and professional advancement. Every other month, virtual sessions will feature presentations by alumni speakers on leadership and management, with facilitated discussions designed to integrate the insights into actionable strategies.
Interested in learning more about how to potentially be a speaker for a future ALEx presentation? Visit the link below to review the ALEx speaker overview.
Mark Your Calendar:
The 2024-2025 Virtual sessions will be held from 1-2pm (EST). Upcoming dates:
- July 9, 2025
- September 10, 2025
- November 12, 2025
Upcoming ALEx Presentations:
Leading from Within: Integrating Stakeholder Lived Experiences for Authentic Collaboration | July 9, 2025, 1-2pm (EST), Virtual | RSVP
Learn how centering lived experience and shifting from one-time input to sustained engagement leads to deeper, more authentic collaboration. This talk shares practical strategies to build internal capacity for long-term, trust-based partnerships.
Presenter: Danielle Gilmore, PhD, MPP, CHES; Director of Learning & Research, BoardSource
Customer-Centered Leadership in the Public Sector | September 10, 2025, 1-2pm (EST), Virtual | RSVP
Learn how defining your customers leads to a deeper commitment and understanding of public service, while at the same time realizing how you can do it better. This talk will include pragmatic advice and discussion on how to integrate this into your work.
Presenter: Shana Epstein; Director of Public Works, City of Beverly Hills
Previous ALEx Presentations:
- Leading Change: Three Ways to Create Social Change
- Image
Omar Woodard, (MPA '07)
Executive Director, HRS Management; Founder, Woodard Impact; Philanthropy & Impact Investing Professional, 26North
Leading Change: Three Ways to Create Social Change
This presentation will provided an overview of ways public, private, and charitable sector leaders and organizations achieve social change through modifications to policy, practice, or perception.
- From Surviving to Thriving: Recognizing, Addressing, and Preventing Burnout in Yourself and Your Team
- Image
Carlos Villacis, MA-ENRP '16Vice President, Climate and Mobility, Antenna Group
From Surviving to Thriving: Recognizing, Addressing, and Preventing Burnout in Yourself and Your Team
This presentation by Carlos Villacis, MA-ENRP '16, explored practical strategies for recognizing, addressing, and preventing burnout among leaders and their teams. Attendees learned to identify early warning signs of burnout, implement proactive measures to reduce stress and foster a culture of resilience and well-being within their organizations. By focusing on sustainable work practices and self-care, leaders can enhance productivity, maintain high morale, and avoid the costly impacts of burnout.
- Resilient Leadership
- Image
Molly Weisse-Bernstein, MPA '14Senior Consultant, LMI
Resilient Leadership
This presentation by Molly Weisse-Bernstein, MPA '14, explored the ever-evolving challenges of today's world. As the cornerstone of navigating today's dynamic and often turbulent landscape, it is not just about weathering storms but thriving through transforming challenges into opportunities and leading with unwavering determination. By embodying adaptability, maintaining a positive outlook, and fostering a supportive team environment, resilient leaders inspire growth and innovation, guiding their teams through adversity and emerging stronger together.