75th Birkman Anniversary Conference
Featured Sessions
This year's Birkman Conference brings together some of the most dynamic voices in the Birkman community for a lineup of sessions designed to inform, inspire, and transform the way you work with the Method. Whether you're a seasoned consultant, an organizational leader, or somewhere in between, these sessions offer practical insights and fresh perspectives you can put to work immediately. Check back as we continue to add sessions to the lineup. The best is still to come.
Included Speaker Sessions
| Session Title | Speaker | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| More Than a Method: Building a Birkman Ecosystem Where Data Becomes Culture | Speaker: Blake Lanier | Birkman has always been one of the most powerful social perception and personality frameworks in the world. The challenge has never been the depth of the data — it's been keeping people connected to it, speaking its language, and actually living it beyond the debrief. That's exactly what Birkman Enterprise makes possible. Birkman Enterprise and the MyBirkman Digital platform aren't just administrative tools — they are the infrastructure of a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem where individuals, teams, and entire organizations internalize Birkman's language, practice its principles, and build a shared vocabulary that transforms how they communicate, collaborate, and lead. When your clients are living inside that ecosystem, Birkman stops being something they learned once and becomes something they practice every day. We'll explore how Enterprise gives consultants and organizational leaders the power to deploy and manage Birkman at scale, while MyBirkman creates the ongoing, self-directed experience that keeps people engaged with their data long after the initial insights. We'll then connect it all to Birkman's High-Performing Teams framework — showing how a true ecosystem approach moves teams from individual self-awareness to shared collective alignment, creating cultures where Birkman's language is spoken fluently at every level. When the ecosystem is working, Birkman isn't a one-time event. It's a living, breathing framework woven into the fabric of your client's team, organization, and community — and you become an indispensable partner in that journey. The ecosystem is where insight meets action — and data becomes culture. |
| Merging The Birkman Method® with Applied Improvisation, aka the “other AI”! | Speaker: Stacey Mason | The Birkman Method® is the most comprehensive instrument for understanding “how you’re wired”. By merging that knowledge with Applied Improvisation, individuals have an opportunity to see how that wiring “plays out” in real time. Learn how the methods and mindsets of improv allow us to “borrowing behaviors” which increases our personal effectiveness through behavioral range.…and also how to sit in the tension it sometimes creates. |
| Coaching that Connects: Turning Birkman Data into Real Growth | Speaker: Laura Rohde | Coaching best practices grounded in the Birkman Method focus on increasing self-awareness, strengthening communication, and aligning individual needs with team performance. By leveraging insights into behavioral styles, motivations, stress triggers, and underlying needs, coaches can tailor their approach to each individual. This data-informed framework enables more targeted development conversations, clearer goal alignment, and measurable impact at both the individual and organizational level. |
| BCPs as Conversation Designers | Speaker: Mark McGowan | BCPs aren’t just interpreters of insight; we are designers of the conversations teams need to do their best work. In today’s fast-moving environment, impact comes from less teaching and more in-the-flow application: short, repeatable discussions that turn Birkman language into clear decisions, cleaner handoffs, stronger communication, and practical team norms. In this highly interactive session, you’ll learn how to architect these moments so they produce real outcomes of shared clarity, workable agreements, and follow-through without typecasting individuals. You will leave with a flexible facilitation framework, ready-to-use conversations, and a simple approach for testing and reinforcing new habits after the session |
| Why Birkman | Speaker: Lynn Greene | This may seem an odd question, especially for this audience. Perhaps it’s not so odd. Sooner or later, each and every one of us is called upon to market, promote, and otherwise endorse The Birkman Method. Even if you don’t directly “sell Birkmans,” your involvement with the tool puts you in a position of needing to engage in meaningful conversations – with a variety of people as well as venues -- around the tool, and its uses, applications, and benefits. Do you feel well-equipped to have those conversations? Are you fully aware of the characteristics that distinguish TBM from pretty much every other psychometric instrument? The answer to both those questions should be “yes” when you leave this session. Join Lynn for some light-hearted fun as he navigates the serious business of answering the question, “Why Birkman?” As an added bonus – at no extra charge or fee – Lynn has agreed to devote some time during this session for an informal “ask Lynn” Q&A. So get your questions ready and bring ‘em. Maybe he can help solve some of your mysteries. |
| Crazy Little Thing Called Stress | Speaker: Lynn Greene | Stress impacts all of us, probably on a daily basis in some form or fashion. The Birkman Method sheds a lot of light on the issue of stress, especially from the point of view of potential causes of stress and our likely reactions to same. No doubt you’ve utilized those insights a number of times. Due to the nature of the stress “formulations,” it is unfortunately relatively easy to misinterpret and/or misunderstand the stress dynamic, as communicated by the Report(s). In this session, Lynn will fully explain why this is true; provide some scientific rationale for looking at the stress scores in a less “absolute” way, and give you a solid basis – and approach -- for treating the stress scores more realistically. Should be fun! (And not at all stressful.) |
| From Silos to Shared Language: How Birkman Enterprise is Transforming a City Government | Speaker: Mike Harrell | Municipal organizations are often complex, siloed, and shaped by constant leadership transitions—making sustained culture change difficult. This session provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Birkman Enterprise was successfully implemented within the City of Chattanooga to build alignment, improve communication, and create a shared leadership language across departments. Starting with the mayor’s executive team and expanding into cross-functional cohorts—including public safety, community development, and human resources—this initiative introduced Birkman as a practical tool for increasing self-awareness, strengthening collaboration, and addressing real workplace challenges. Over time, teams began to move from transactional interactions to more intentional, empathetic, and aligned communication. Participants will learn not only the impact of this work—including improved dialogue, greater understanding of team dynamics, and early progress toward breaking down silos—but also the realities of implementing Birkman in a government environment. This includes navigating approvals, setting expectations, working within political structures, and sustaining momentum beyond initial training efforts. This session is ideal for Birkman consultants interested in expanding into public sector work or scaling enterprise implementations. Attendees will walk away with practical insights, lessons learned, and a clearer roadmap for applying Birkman in complex organizational systems. |
| Scaling Impact: Embedding Birkman Scores into Enterprise Professional Development Curriculum | Speaker: Jennifer Comella | Most organizations invest in Birkman assessments but struggle to scale the insight into meaningful, enterprise-wide development. This session introduces a practical approach to building a Professional Development Center of Excellence (COE) that connects Birkman scores directly to structured learning pathways—transforming individual reports into a system that drives growth across all career stages. This session provides you with a clear framework for building an enterprise-wide development strategy anchored in Birkman, a practical method for matching Birkman components (Usual, Needs, Stress, Interests) to specific courses, examples of how to align development pathways by career stage (early, mid, seasoned), and a scalable model to move from one-time insights to sustained behavioral change across teams. |
| The Mindset Journey: Turning Birkman Mindset from insight into daily leadership practice | Speaker: Aaron Dawson | Most leaders who encounter Mindset have a moment of recognition, but too often, nothing changes. The report goes on the shelf, and the insight never becomes practice. This session explores what happens when it does not stay there: when self-awareness becomes relational awareness, and relational awareness becomes better leadership. Built from real reports and real coaching experiences, including the presenter’s own, the session begins with a personal look at the presenter’s Mindset report and what it revealed about how they lead, including the blind spots they did not want to see. From there, the conversation expands into the relational dynamics that shape trust, collaboration, and leadership effectiveness, especially in governance settings where pace, expectations, and visibility can quietly strengthen or erode relationships. The session closes with live coaching cases that show how specific Mindset patterns appeared in a leader’s behavior, how the team experienced those patterns, and what changed when those patterns were named and worked. Designed for certified consultants looking for a more vivid, approachable way to show clients what Mindset makes possible, as well as non-certified attendees who need to feel why this tool is different, the session is conversational and interactive rather than lecture-based, with reflection prompts and dialogue throughout. Attendees leave with a clearer sense of their own Mindset, language for the relational gaps that derail good teams, and a concrete picture of what it takes to move Mindset off the shelf and into daily leadership practice. |
| Making Birkman Stick: From Assessment to Everyday Leadership Practice | Speaker: Dewitt Dees | Getting a team to complete a Birkman assessment is the easy part. Making it stick is where the real work begins. In this session, Dewitt Dees, Birkman Certified Consultant and Owner of Iridium Leadership, and Greg Mccown, Sr. Director of Operations at CertainTeed, share a structured approach to Birkman adoption — one built around milestone-based project management, regular reporting with senior sponsors, and MyBirkman integration that gives leaders a platform they use. You'll hear how this framework plays out at every level of a large organization, from a senior leader embedding the tool into daily team conversations, to a cross-functional group mapping plant management teams in MyBirkman before pitching new ideas across North American facilities. You'll leave with a practical, proven approach for making Birkman not just a one-time event — but an ongoing part of how your leader’s lead. |
| Beyond Borders: The Global Impact of Birkman | Speakers: Norman Tober, Marcel van der Loo, Mohanad Magid, Jon Mason, Birkman Korea, with Moderator Trish Harris | Join our international distributor partners for a fast-paced Lunch & Learn exploring how Birkman is making an impact across the globe. Hear firsthand about the unique challenges, cultural differences, and exciting opportunities they encounter as they bring Birkman to organizations, educators, and professionals in their regions. Whether you're looking to expand your global perspective or simply curious about how Birkman translates across cultures, this conversation will offer valuable insights and inspiring stories from around the world. |
| Consultant Success Stories: What Really Works | Speakers: Dana Scannell, Mark Wickliffe, Susan Bean, with Moderator Kristina Norris | Success doesn't happen overnight, and every consultant's journey is different. Join four of Birkman's most tenured and accomplished independent consultants for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a successful consulting practice. They'll share the experiences, challenges, and pivotal moments that shaped their careers, including how they found clients, established credibility, built trust, navigated setbacks, identified new opportunities, expanded their services, and created lasting partnerships that continue to grow their businesses. Whether you're just getting started, looking to expand your impact, or ready to take your practice to the next level, you'll leave with practical ideas, proven strategies, and real-world lessons inspired by their journeys that you can immediately apply to your own business. |
| From High School to Career: Birkman in Action | Speakers: Dave Cook, Kelly Bean, Joan Lockwood, Wendy Andreen, Lisa Marker Robbins, with Moderator Paige Pecore | Students today face more choices—and more uncertainty—than ever before. From selecting a college or major to developing leadership skills and preparing for the workforce, the journey can be overwhelming. Join a panel of experienced Birkman Certified Professionals who are making a meaningful impact across the academic landscape. Representing high schools, higher education consulting, and university business programs, they'll share how they're using Birkman to help students discover their strengths, increase self-awareness, make informed decisions, and prepare for successful futures. Whether you work in education or simply want to explore new ways to expand your practice, you'll leave with fresh ideas and real-world examples of Birkman in action. |
| AI & Birkman: Shaping the Future Together | Speakers: Josh Penzell, Ed Chaffin, Frank Larkey, with Moderator Torri Olanski | Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work—but the greatest value still comes from human insight. Join this panel as experienced Birkman professionals share how they're using AI to streamline their business, create better client experiences, develop marketing content, prepare workshops, and save valuable time while keeping relationships and expertise at the center of their work. |
- Check back as we add more sessions to the lineup leading to the conference!
Available Pre-Conference Add-On Sessions
Birkman 201: Perspectives Certification
Birkman 201: Perspectives extends The Birkman Method into executive and organizational coaching by exploring how belief patterns shape perception, trust, and decision-making. Practitioners learn to integrate mindset mapping and behavioral data to lead transformational conversations that drive alignment and change.
Birkman 301: Advanced Certification
Birkman 301: Advanced Certification elevates Certified Professionals beyond foundational interpretation into an advanced, systemic understanding of The Birkman Method. Participants learn to interpret component combinations, uncover behavioral contradictions, and coach with nuance and confidence using complex client data.
Birkman 104: Using Birkman with Coaching
In this 4-hour workshop, we build facilitation capability for translating Birkman data into engaging, psychologically safe team conversations that foster trust, communication, and alignment.
Birkman 103: Using Birkman with Teams
Equips practitioners to confidently apply Birkman insights in team settings. Giving them helpful insight into facilitating team discovery sessions, understanding common team challenges, and structuring a 4-hour team workshop with effective follow-up coaching.
Register for The Conference!
For 75 years, Birkman International has helped people and organizations unlock their potential, improve relationships, and create lasting impact. What began as a groundbreaking vision from Dr. Roger Birkman in 1951 has grown into a global legacy that has transformed lives across industries, generations, and cultures. Join us in Houston, TX, from November 11 to 13, 2026, for a celebration filled with gratitude, insight, and Birkman!