In a world marked by burnout, polarization, and constant change, joy can seem like a luxury or even irrelevant. But what if joy is not the opposite of struggle, but the fuel that helps us navigate challenge with greater presence, resilience, and humanity?

Join Ann Van Eron, Ph.D., leadership and organizational development consultant, executive coach, and co-author of JOYBeing: Connecting with Your Essence and the Rhythm of Life to Thrive and Inspire for a session that repositions joy as an essential leadership and organizational capacity. 

Drawing on decades of leadership training practice, insights from the new book,  and current research in neuroscience and positive psychology, this session invites you to explore how cultivating joy within yourself and your systems can:

• Strengthen resilience amid uncertainty
• Expand perspective and support agile thinking
• Deepen connection and psychological safety in teams
• Revitalize purpose and engagement

Through reflection, dialogue, and a JOYBeing practice you'll leave with tools and inspiration to bring more aliveness to your work and the leaders and organizations you support.

About our Speaker

Ann Van Eron, Ph.D., MCC is the CEO of Potentials, a global leadership development and executive coaching firm. Ann works with leaders, teams and organizations to create open-minded, collaborative, and engaged environments. She focuses on creating awareness and meaningful connections, fostering engaging conversations, inspiring joy, supporting transformational change, and realizing potential. She has a doctorate in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and is certified as a somatic Master Coach and organizational development consultant. She is the author of OASIS Conversations: Leading with an Open Mindset to Maximize Potential and Open Stance: Thriving Amid Differences and Uncertainty. Ann is co-author of JOYBeing: Connecting with Your Essence and the Rhythm of Live to Thrive and Inspire. Clients include CVS Health, the United Nations, The World Bank, Ford Motor, and a broad range of organizations. 

Connect with Dr. Van Eron on LinkedIn

Enjoy an interactive hour of virtual networking with fellow professionals in Learning and Development and HR. There will be time for making connections as well as job searching techniques and sharing job leads as well as professional development activities that you may want to share.

In this session, you can expect to:

• Make new connections
• Share job search stories and leads
• Participate in professional development activities

About our Facilitator

Richard Lunt has over 10 years' experience in Human Resources/Learning and Development. Their career has focused on a generalist path and includes expertise in Learning Technology, LMS Systems, Learning and Development, HRIS Technology as well as Benefits, Talent Management and Talent Acquisition. 

As the VP of Member Engagement, Richard partners with the board to develop a chapter recruitment strategy, determine membership needs, promote chapter involvement, deliver high-quality member services, and provide orientation to new members.

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn

This interactive session introduces participants to the CliftonStrengths® framework as a practical foundation for individual effectiveness at work. Designed for participants who have completed the CliftonStrengths assessment in advance, this session focuses on building an understanding of individual talent themes and exploring how those talents show up in daily work behaviors. 

Participants will move beyond simply knowing their Top 5 to beginning to understand how strengths influence performance, communication and collaboration. Through guided reflection and brief application activities, attendees will identify simple, actionable ways to use their strengths more intentionally in their current roles. 

This session is ideal as a first step or refresher for professionals who want to start using CliftonStrengths® with greater clarity and purpose. 

Participants in this session will:

• Understand the core principles of the CliftonStrengths® framework and its relevance to workplace performance
• Recognize how their individual CliftonStrengths themes show up in their work behaviors and interactions
• Identify one practical action they can take to apply their strengths more intentionally in their current role

Participants should complete the CliftonStrengths® assessment on their own in advance of the session. Those who have taken the assessment in the past should ensure they have access to their results, but do not need to complete the assessment again.

The assessment takes up to one hour to complete. This session will focus on utilizing the Top 5 Report. To complete the assessment, visit the Gallup Store

You may opt for additional reports (CliftonStrengths 34 or CliftonStrengths for Leaders) which provide additional insights (also available at the GallupStore)

About our Speaker

Matt Miller is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who helps individuals and teams discover and apply their unique talents with clarity and confidence. With more than 20 years of experience in leadership development and coaching, he has worked with people at many stages of their personal and professional journeys.

His coaching approach is practical, supportive, and strengths-based. Matt helps clients better understand what they do best, build confidence in their leadership, and turn insight into action. He has facilitated strengths workshops, coached individuals through career transitions, and partnered with teams to strengthen communication, collaboration, and peformance. 

Whether working with individuals seeking greater self-awareness or teams aiming to improve effectiveness, Matt focuses on helping people thrive by leading with their strengths.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Bite-Sized Learning is ATD Rhode Island's facilitated lunch and learn series. It is free to all ATD members. Join us, let's share and learn!

This month's topic: Unleashing the Power of Influence

Ever wonder how to drive results when you don't have formal authority? As learning and talent professionals, successful outcomes often depend on our ability to persuade and influence clients, business partners, and leaders. Join ATD Rhode Island for this dynamic conversation about influencing without authority. We'll talk about how to gain buy-in from key stakeholders, improve collaboration, and achieve collective goals, all while leaving a lasting impact on learners and the organization.