Women's Leadership Academy

Unleash your potential, empower your future, inspire the way

Women's Leadership Academy Logo

The GCSAA Women’s Leadership Academy, Nov. 7-9, 2023, is focused on providing women in the turfgrass industry with education, mentoring and networking enabling participants to unleash their potential, empower their future and become inspirational leaders.

The 2 1/2-day event (with a keynote reception the first night) will guide participants from all walks of the industry and various years of professional experience on a path of discovery aimed at breaking down barriers and producing a spark to inspire women to be successful leaders. This will be provided in four segments:

Self-discovery: who you are and how to be the best you can be.
Understand others: what motivates colleagues and team members.
Communicate effectively: building relationships and collaboration.
Inspire: make a difference in the world on a small or greater scale.

The Women’s Leadership Academy will be headlined by Suzy Whaley, PGA Master Professional and first woman to serve as president of the PGA of America. Whaley, who has a unique understanding of the work of turfgrass professionals, having worked side by side with many GCSAA members, will speak to her experience in the golf industry and relate it to turfgrass professionals during a fireside chat at the opening evening reception where participants will be able to ask questions in a conversational format.

Speakers

Suzy Whaley

(Photo courtesy of PGA of America)

Whaley, who will headline the event, is a PGA Master Professional and first woman to serve as president of the PGA of America. Whaley, who has a unique understanding of the work of turfgrass professionals, having worked side by side with many GCSAA members, will speak to her experience in the golf industry and relate it to turfgrass professionals.

Kee Dunning

Kee Dunning thumbnail Dunning is a licensed clinical professional counselor, consultant and owner of Dunning Counseling and Consulting in Billings, Mont. Dunning's professional career as a counselor has taken her on a unique path, working with diverse at-risk populations including the Montana State Women’s Prison. Over more than 40 years working with people, Dunning has developed tools to improve how we communicate with friends, family, colleagues and clients.

Amy Leslie

Leslie is CEO of Perspective Consulting, a woman-owned management consulting firm and a Certified Premier Partner of the Predictive Index (PI). She has 20 years of experience building, turning around, and leading teams, with P&L responsibility. Her experience in the trenches of leadership spans all levels of leadership and all sizes of companies, from small start-up firms to large, well-established Fortune 500 companies. She serves on several boards, where she is a passionate force accelerating women in business and helping organizations create space for gender diversity, understanding diverse perspectives, and building inclusive environments where all thrive.

Sara Mueller

Mueller is the founder of Joy Discovered and helps leaders enhance their emotional intelligence so they can be more impactful at work and home. She is an executive contributor on leadership for Brainz Magazine where she received the Global 500 Award, and serves as a subject matter expert on mental well being for Florida’s State Health Improvement Plan. Prior to founding Joy Discovered Leadership Development, Mueller spent nearly two decades developing training programs and teaching mindfulness to Fortune Global 500 executives, the NFL Combine, and behavioral health centers.

Laura Young, Ph.D.

Young is a faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with expertise in strategic messaging, team building, organizational and conflict management, risk and crisis communication, and campaign design. Her teaching style is a healthy mix of explanation, meaningful discussion, and hands-on application, that also strategically incorporates social media and technology. Young has conducted several workshops and professional development trainings in her areas of expertise. She has also delivered dozens of national and international conference presentations and invited talks.