Successfully leading change requires more than a great idea—it demands strategy, alignment, and execution. This session will provide practical frameworks and proven tactics to help you drive impactful change from initial vision to measurable results.

Instructors: Karl Ahlrichs, Patrick Jeffs, Ousmane Kabré

Karl Ahlrichs, SHRM-SCP, CSP
Karl Ahlrichs specializes in helping professionals make order from chaos.

He is a national speaker, author, and consultant, presenting on the people issues in all industries with a focus on solving the talent shortage, and is often quoted in the local and national media.

Karl’s experience is ideally suited to times of organizational change as he pulls on risk management and organizational development theories to replace “best practices” with “next practices”. He owes much of his communications mastery to working as a writer and editor in daily media, to on-the-job writing experience and to the process of becoming a published author.

He has held senior level positions in multiple Professional Services firms, and was a founding partner of ExactHire, bringing his HR, operations, diversity & belonging, and learning & development skills with him.

Karl’s affinity for design, composition and learning started at a very young age, by taking and examining tens of thousands of boring photographs with the goal of improving his craft. He loves deploying that practice-to-improve approach with all manner of hobbies including writing haiku, mastering photography and learning Spanish. He wishes he had stuck with his guitar lessons in high school.

He was named the SHRM Human Resource Professional of the Year for the State of Indiana. He is on the Boards of several organizations, including the Maryland CPA Society. He has lived in Scotland and Spain and is passionate about exploring new experiences with his family and friends.

Patrick Jeffs
Dr. Patrick Jeffs is a leading expert in resilience, leadership, and organizational well-being. As the founder and CEO of The Resiliency Solution, he equips individuals and organizations with science-backed tools to prevent burnout, enhance decision-making under pressure, and foster sustainable performance.

Previously, Dr. Jeffs co-founded and led the NC Center for Resiliency (NCCR), the first body-based trauma resilience clinic on the East Coast. In partnership with his wife, Kim Jeffs, he helped establish NCCR as a pioneering institution in trauma resilience, providing essential services to individuals and communities. The Resiliency Solution began as NCCR’s corporate training arm before evolving into an independent entity dedicated to leadership development.

Known for his dynamic and engaging approach, Dr. Jeffs integrates the latest in research, leadership psychology, and real-world applications to inspire and equip audiences with actionable strategies. Through the Resiliency Solution, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, government agencies, and first responders, helping leaders and teams build resilience and thrive in high-pressure environments.

Ousmane Kabré

Ousmane Kabré is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and global change-maker recognized as one of the leading voices in reimagining access to education and youth leadership across Africa.

He is the Founder and CEO of Leading Change Africa and Yam Education, Inc., two mission-driven organizations transforming education and leadership development on a global scale. As CEO of Leading Change Africa, Ousmane has led the organization to surpass its 2030 goal five years early—impacting over 1,500 young Africans through scholarships, leadership training, and mentorship programs. The organization now aims to reach one million youth by 2050 through its innovative leadership pipeline model, designed to turn young people into agents of change in their communities.

Through Yam Education, Ousmane is bridging the education gap by partnering with accredited U.S. community colleges to offer associate degrees, diplomas, and certifications to students in Africa and underserved regions globally. His vision is transforming how international students access affordable, quality education, with a special focus on health care, business, and technology pathways.

Ousmane holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In recognition of his impactful work, he was featured in the Wisconsin School of Business’s “8 to Watch Under 40” list, highlighting alumni making significant contributions in their industries.

A sought-after speaker on grit, resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation, Ousmane is a member of the National Speakers Association. His compelling personal story—from growing up in Burkina Faso to building global education ventures—has inspired audiences across the U.S., Africa, and beyond.

His clients and partners have included Ernst & Young, LLP, the Wisconsin School of Business and Madison College. Ousmane is currently leading strategic initiatives to expand Yam Education’s offerings to include an international nursing program, creating pathways for African students to become licensed and practice in the United States, helping solve the global health care workforce crisis. He is a frequent contributor to discussions on mindset, resilience, grit, leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation and his work has been recognized for its transformational impact at the intersection of education, technology, and business innovation.