National APSE's Employment For All Virtual Mini-Conference –Thought Leadership Track

Session 1

PART 1: Lead with Your Instincts: From Self-Awareness to Stronger Collaboration

Managers and leaders are asked to do a lot: improve outcomes, support staff, and sustain programs—all while juggling limited time, resources, and growing demands. At the same time, many are expected to follow processes and workflows that may not align with how they naturally solve problems or get work done. Leaders bring different strengths to their roles, and when they have the flexibility to work in ways that fit their instincts, they often feel more confident, energized, and effective. When they are expected to work against those instincts, it can create stress, reduce efficiency, and make collaboration more difficult.

This session introduces the Kolbe A™ Index, a validated tool that helps people understand how they naturally get things done when they’re working from their instinctive strengths—not just doing what they think they “should” do. Participants will explore how knowing their own instincts, and the instincts of others, can improve teamwork, reduce frustration, and help prevent burnout. We’ll also look at practical examples of how organizations and teams can use this information to support staff, shape roles more thoughtfully, and work better together—with less friction and fewer misunderstandings.

Session 2

PART 2: The Foundations of Leadership

Everyone leads. Yet many people in management and leadership roles still struggle to recognize the factors that shape and strengthen their leadership style. Over time, many leaders develop their approach through experience without pausing to consider what they are communicating, how others may interpret it, or how it affects their colleagues and teams.

In this session, we will explore the core qualities every leader already brings, what may be missing, and what they need to develop to better support themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

Session 3

Arizona’s Office of Employment First: Moving Forward in Collaboration

This session focuses on Arizona’s multi-year effort to build the foundation for a statewide Office of Employment First. It highlights the strategic initiatives, partnerships, and evidence-based practices that are shaping a sustainable, inclusive employment ecosystem for individuals with disabilities across the state. The Arizona Office of Employment First works in collaboration with state agencies, tribal nations, service providers and community partners to move systems toward meaning employment outcomes. The overarching aim is to strengthen Arizona’s employment infrastructure through coordinated initiatives that build provider and practitioner competencies; expand employment pathways including self-employment; align systems and policies across agencies; and demonstrate scalable, evidence-based tools. These efforts collectively serve as the foundation of the Arizona Office of Employment First that provides consistency, accountability, and sustainability statewide. This session details the strategy for those who may not know how to move Employment First efforts forward.