Lifting Leaders: Building Confident and Adaptive GEOINT Leadership 

On April 9, USGIF proudly hosted Lifting Leaders, a dynamic leadership development workshop designed to empower the next generation of leaders within the GEOINT community and beyond. With a strong focus on inclusivity, confidence, and adaptability, the event brought together professionals ready to invest in their growth and support one another’s leadership journeys. 

USGIF CEO Ronda Schrenk kicked off the session with an invitation for participants to be fully present, encouraging everyone to set aside the noise of their daily routines and lean into the moment. That energy set the tone for a rich and meaningful experience. 

The workshop was skillfully facilitated by leadership experts Susan Matthews Apgood and Anjali Varma, who led participants through key leadership frameworks including situational, authentic, transformational, and adaptive leadership. Each model served as a lens to explore the importance of empathy, resilience, and intentional communication in today’s fast-moving and often uncertain work environments.  

Throughout the session, participants tackled essential leadership development topics such as: 

• Recognizing and overcoming imposter syndrome 

• Communicating with clarity, purpose, and emotional intelligence 

• Building and refining a personal brand 

• Networking with intention, from preparation to follow-up 

• Embracing mentorship, allyship, and lifelong learning 

 

Special thanks to the generous support of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the hospitality of Greater St. Louis, Inc., the event was held in a vibrant and welcoming venue that helped foster authentic conversation and connection. 

Attendees left not just with insights but with action items. From reflecting on past leadership experiences to honing their communication style and deepening professional relationships, participants were reminded that great leadership is a continuous process of learning, growing, and lifting others up along the way. 

Whether you’re leading a team today or preparing for the next opportunity, Lifting Leaders emphasized this simple but powerful takeaway: Leadership isn’t just about taking charge. It’s about showing up, building community, and being open to evolution. 

 

Let’s keep lifting each other up.