Choose Courage — 24th Annual Midwest Leadership Summit | Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | Overland Park Convention Center & Online

For over two decades, the Midwest Leadership Summit has brought people together for conversations around leadership, growth, and the challenges shaping our workplaces and communities. The 24th Annual Summit continued that tradition, welcoming nearly 1,000 leaders, professionals, and lifelong learners around this year’s theme: Choose Courage.

On April 21, 2026, attendees explored the many ways courage shapes leadership. Courage to speak up and be visible. Courage to adapt through uncertainty and change. Courage to pursue ambitious goals, trust your instincts, and continue showing up even when the path ahead feels unclear.

Candace Doby opened the day with an energizing keynote on courageous leadership, setting the tone for conversations around resilience, authenticity, reinvention, and owning your brilliance. Throughout the day, breakout sessions and discussions challenged attendees to reflect on how they lead, navigate change, and show up for both others and themselves.

Connections formed between sessions, conversations carried throughout the venue, and virtual attendees joined from across the country to be part of the experience. Afternoon keynote speaker Hayley Podschun closed the Summit with a message centered on doing “whatever it takes” to pursue our dreams, followed by a performance of “Defying Gravity” that brought the day to a memorable close.

What began years ago as the Women’s Leadership Lyceum has grown into a nationally recognized leadership experience welcoming people at every stage of their journey. While the Summit continues to evolve, its purpose remains the same: creating meaningful space for learning, connection, and conversations that inspire courageous leadership.

Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, partner, volunteer, and attendee who made this year’s Summit possible. Your participation helped make the 24th Annual Midwest Leadership Summit such a meaningful experience.