KBA Education and HR Committee Chair Deanne Engstrom, First Security Bank in Paola, kicked off the 2022 Women in Banking Conference by welcoming the group to KBA’s first in-person Women in Banking Conference. This year’s event was held March 24-25 at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, with over 120 women in attendance.

The first speaker was Beth Ziesenis, Your Nerdy Best Friend, who shared “Powered Productivity: Super Tech Tools to Get Stuff Done.” The author of four books, Beth used her knowledge of the latest technology to educate and entertain attendees with the fast-changing world of that technology. She provided a highly interactive and thought-provoking session on how to use free and bargain technology tools you never knew existed to work more efficiently with your teams, get organized and finally get stuff done.

Kristen Brown, Author/Speaker/Trainer, spoke next on her presentation, “Renew — Reconnect — Recharge.” Attendees were given ideas to unlock their best selves and powerful ideas for renewing engagement, reconnecting their power tribe, and recharging body and mind.

RENEW — You will elevate your confidence and resilience by uncovering what tasks and traits fire you up, bring out the best in you, and elevate those around you.

RECONNECT — You will identify the positive people in your work and life to guide and drive your goals while releasing the energy drainers.

RECHARGE — You will engage in actionable energizers you can use on-the-fly to help you relax, charge you up, and manage stress when you need it most.

The conference moved to afternoon breakout sessions where attendees could listen to four different sessions:

• Leading with Focus: Collaboration and Productivity without a Billion Videoconferences; Beth Ziesenis, Your Nerdy Best Friend
• Inclusive Leadership: Inclusion Starts with “I”; Tammy Edwards; Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
• The Happy Hour Effect: 5 Power Shots to Charge Up Your Work and Life; Kristen Brown
• Self-Defense: Carrie Mugridge & Prime Martial Arts

Closing the day was a panel discussion facilitated by KBA EVP & General Counsel Kathy Taylor. Panelists were Tammy Edwards, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; Calla Haggard, President & CEO, Community Bank, Topeka; and Trish Minard, President/CEO/COB, Southwest National Bank, Wichita.

Welcoming the attendees to the final day of the conference was Vice-Chair of the Education & HR Committee, Tanna Thompson with KS StateBank in Manhattan. Following her was Terri Thomas, KBA EVP, COO & Legal Services Director who taught how to “Communicate More Effectively with Your Boss, Your Staff and Your Customers” describing that for today’s financial institutions to compete, they must maintain successful team cultures. Unfortunately, pitfalls, if not understood and properly managed, can not only hinder a financial institution from meeting its goals, but can also create a negative and even hostile environment for management, employees, and customers alike.

Next, Esther George, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, shared her “Economic Update and Outlook,” where she provided her perspective on the economy based on her nearly four decades of experience at the Federal Reserve.

The last speaker of the conference was Deadra Stanton, with “Don’t Shoot Skinny Rabbits.” Before we can grow professionally, she explained, we need to keep focused on our life journey. When we are traveling so fast and so furious, we sometimes limit our ability to navigate our path. She reiterated that before we can grow professionally, we n eed to learn to survive personally. As the pace of change quickens every day, we sometimes end up chasing too many skinny rabbits. When we do this, we lose our energy and our focus on what’s important. She encouraged us all to be open to new ideas, a revitalized sense of self, and to let go of the stress that causes you to chase SKINNY RABBITS.

Mark your calendars! The 2023 Women in Banking Conference will be March 23-24 at the Wichita Marriott Hotel.