In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, the most effective leaders are those who amplify uniquely human qualities—empathy, emotional intelligence, and authentic connection. This session will explore how strengthening these human-centered skills empowers leaders to inspire teams, build trust, and drive lasting impact in the AI era.

Instructors: Kassi Rushing, Alex Theis, Jon Lokhorst

Kassi Rushing

Kassi Rushing builds places people want to work. She specializes in connecting the people, processes and resources necessary to make culture a company’s competitive advantage. Since 2002, Kassi has been bridging the strategies between business and people, transforming workplace culture, building high performing teams, developing leaders and leadership pipelines with future ready skills, designing intentional employee experiences, improving female talent experiences and pipelines, and crafting communication strategy to accelerate organizational success.

Kassi previously served as the director of people growth and engagement for HORNE LLP and as a corporate communicator at Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University and her Master of Science in corporate communication and public relations from Mississippi College. She holds her Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from the Yale School of Management.

Kassi has worked with company’s like KPMG, Lowe’s, The Dollar Tree, and many more, in transforming their organizations for the future of work. Kassi is a working mom and owner of Kassi Rushing Consulting. She is the Vice President of Organizational Strategy & Employee Experience at Blue Hen, a consulting collaborative dedicated to organizational development and health. She is also a strategic partner, facilitator and designated Thought Leader at the Business Learning Institute, a division of the AICPA. You can follow her on Instagram at @momsmakegreatleaders.

Alex Theis
Alex Theis helps people and organizations create a foundation for lasting improvement and success. With over 25 years of experience as an executive and leader, his seminars, workshops, and courses inspire people to break through barriers for both personal and professional growth.

His background includes working in the legal compliance field, leading large customer service teams, building dynamic sales and marketing departments, improving the overall customer experience, and increasing customer and client retention.

Alex’s innovative sales and marketing campaigns have created over $100 million in incremental revenue for his clients. His employee retention initiatives have reduced attrition dramatically and increased engagement and productivity measurably.

Alex uses his experience to teach proven strategies and simple, effective approaches that your organization can implement right away. He focuses on the core power skills needed to help your team stay competitive and engaged, including mindset and mental fitness, leadership, time management, stress management, creative problem solving, and stimulating imaginative sales and customer retention ideas.

Alex’s consultant business focuses on improving sales, culture, and retention. His podcast, Limitless, has been downloaded over six million times. He is also the author of four Amazon best-selling books, including Hiking the Timberline Trail: The Story of An Epic American Backpacking Trip. He is an avid backpacker and military dad.

Jon Lokhorst, CPA
Jon Lokhorst, CSP, CPA, PCC, is a leadership coach, corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and the author of Mission-Critical Leadership: How Smart Managers Lead Well in All Directions. He works with organizations to develop leaders everyone wants to follow, build teams no one wants to leave, and deliver exceptional results.

Jon’s background is well-suited to provide leadership training for CPAs and finance leaders, designed and facilitated by a CPA/finance leader. He is a frequent speaker for association events and has designed and/or facilitated several leadership academy programs. He’s also a regular contributor to association publications and blogs, including his Leadership Matters column for the Illinois CPA Society magazine, Insight.

Before launching Your Best Leadership LLC, Jon enjoyed a 30-plus-year career as a CPA, CFO, and organizational leader. He has a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and is recognized by the International Coach Federation as a Professional Certified Coach. He has also served as adjunct faculty in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University.

Jon is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a past President of the Minnesota chapter. He has earned the Certified Speaking Professional™ (CSP®) designation, a distinction held by less than 20 percent of NSA members. On a personal note, Jon loves grandparenting and being “Papa” to his four adorable littles, as he calls them.