Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Leading, Communicating In, and Surviving the Transition

Leading can be exhausting these days, and not just for Boomers. The cultural shift in the U.S., a post-pandemic reset of expectations around work and work-life balance, technology advancements, and Gen Z’s influence on media and communication channels have all converged to change the way we must lead and manage in the workplace (and at home). Let’s have an honest conversation about how to survive – revelations, lessons learned (so far!), and best practices.

Cassandra Pye

For 35 years, Cassandra Walker Pye has enjoyed a successful career in communications, government, politics and advocacy for corporate interests in global, national, state and local arenas. She joined Lucas Public Affairs serving as the firm’s President since October 2019.

Cassandra provides strategic counsel to the firm’s clients from all sectors and industries and guides a team of accomplished public affairs professionals in leading strategic communications and public affairs campaigns on clients’ behalf.

Cassandra has served in leadership roles in the public and private sectors in Sacramento and in Washington, DC. In 2014, she launched 3.14 Communications, LLC, a full-service communication consultancy with clients in a range of sectors. She began her career at the Food Marketing Institute and directed government relations operations for the California Grocers Association and the California Retailers Association. As senior vice president for APCO Worldwide, Cassandra co-led the agency’s global food and consumer products practice group. In 2003, Cassandra was appointed deputy chief of staff to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and served as a member of his post-election transition team. She is former political director and corporate affairs vice president for the California Chamber of Commerce, where she launched the JobsPAC, ChamberPAC and the Coalition for California Jobs.

Cassandra brings crisis management, corporate communication, message development and issue/political campaign experience to the firm. Since 2016, she’s been a lead facilitator, throughout the country, for the American Leadership Forum’s (ALF) Leading Consciously trainings, providing insights into unconscious (implicit) bias and its impact on societal structures and institutions.

Cassandra is a graduate of George Washington University. She is a passionate professional soccer fan and was among the original group of supporters for Sacramento Republic Football Club. Cassandra and husband Kelvin have four adult sons. They reside in Sacramento.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

The Inner Engine: How to Find Purpose, Cultivate Personal Power and Elevate Performance from Within

Every leader within every organization has an enormous reservoir of power, purpose and potential within themselves. But most leaders only access a tiny fraction of what’s available inside. Why? Because of the unrelenting noise of the world, noise in their heads and noise in their bodies.

As a result, the cross pressures and demands placed on today’s leaders has reached new heights, making it nearly impossible for them to avoid distraction, effectively collaborate with their teams and manage burn-out while performing at a fraction of their full capacity. For organizations, this means that too much dormant potential is being left on the table.

In this interactive keynote, Jesse Israel – 5x Audible worldwide bestseller and founder of the global movement The Big Quiet – reveals his Amplified Quiet Framework. Utilized by top CEOs, senior White House advisors, Academy and Grammy Award-winning actors and musicians, as well as crowds in sold-out arenas on tour with Oprah Winfrey, Jesse’s transformational framework provides leaders with the tools they need to master the art of quieting noise – so they can hear their purpose, harness their power and realize the true potential that already lives inside of them.

Audiences will leave inspired and revved up – equipped to break through performance barriers and tackle the speed of change that the world continues to throw their way.

Key Audience Takeaways:

Approaches to uncover hidden talents and activate one-of-a-kind strengths
Research-based techniques for unlocking innate creativity and quicker decision-making
Mindsets for embracing change and navigating conflicts both professionally and personally
A performance-boosting framework for finding purpose and staying energized in any role or organization
Practical tools to foster a culture of inclusivity, teamwork, and psychological safety in any setting

Jesse Isreal

Jesse Israel is a 5X Audible worldwide bestseller, a renowned keynote speaker and a visionary entrepreneur known for founding The Big Quiet movement and leading some of the largest meditations on earth, including in sold-out arenas on tour with Oprah Winfrey and in global broadcasts with Deepak Chopra. An expert in human performance and wellbeing, Jesse is a leadership coach to elite performers – from top CEOs and senior White House advisors to Academy and Grammy Award Winning actors and musicians.

Formerly a record label and tech fund founder who signed multi-platinum bands and oversaw an industry-leading music tech investment fund, Jesse blends his entrepreneurial experience with his expertise in wellbeing to help millions cultivate calm, clarity, and resilience in the face of life’s demands.

After experiencing debilitating anxiety and panic attacks during his career in the music industry, Jesse founded The Big Quiet mass meditation movement, which would go on to fill arenas with people in silence and introduce meditation to millions around the world. Globally recognized as a pioneering force in the explosive health and wellness industry, The Big Quiet played an integral role in bringing mindfulness and meditation into mainstream culture and the corporate workplace in the US.

Today, Jesse is one of the world’s leading voices in mindful leadership, with his work featured in over 200+ media publications including Forbes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Ad Week and Fast Company. Through a worldwide distribution deal with Audible, Jesse released a series of Audible Originals designed to support better sleep, build vitality and enhance personal performance – 5 of which became top 10 bestsellers.

Friday, January 16, 2026

Strong Alone, Better Together: Unlocking the Power of Human Connection

The greatest things we will ever achieve in our lives aren’t only fueled by the strengths of our actions, but by the depth of our connection to those beside us.

The organizations that go the farthest, the fastest, and the most sustainably are those that understand a simple truth: while we are strong as individuals, we are unstoppable together—and they know how to unlock it.

Through his remarkable journey—one that has led him to work with some of the world’s biggest brands— Human Connection Keynote speaker Seb shares a game-changing approach to teamwork, culture, and deep connection. Sharing his Me, You, Us framework, Seb reveals how to harness the power of human connection: when to come together, how to do it effectively, and who to do it with.

Blending masterful storytelling, cutting-edge research, and actionable strategies, this human connection keynote transforms the way we think about collaboration—helping leaders and teams unlock their full potential and achieve more than they ever thought possible.

#PassionInspiresPassion

Attendees will leave with:

A fresh, eye-opening perspective on human potential and collaboration
Practical tools to break down silos and build stronger workplace relationships
Proven strategies to transform individual growth into collective success
Immediate actions to create a culture of engagement, trust, and high performance

This isn’t just another talk—it’s a transformational experience that will leave teams inspired, deeply connected, and ready to elevate their collective impact.

Seb Terry

Shocked by the death of a close friend in his mid-twenties, Seb Terry experienced a moment in his life where he asked himself a simple question: “Am I happy?”

The answer was NO, and so, he created a list of 100 things that he hoped would transform his life. Dropping everything to pursue his list, not only has Seb’s life transformed through his incredible journey, but the ripple effect has gone on to help millions of people unlock limitless possibilities in their own lives, too.

From Marrying a Stranger in Vegas (Goal #2) and Delivering a Baby (#23), to Living on a Deserted Island for 1 Week (#63) and Helping a Stranger (#26) by aiding a quadriplegic man to complete a half marathon by pushing him in his wheelchair, Seb’s story has been turned into books, reality shows and is constantly featured by ESPN and Discovery Channel.

As an expert in personal transformation, peak performance and creating environments for success, Seb’s commitment to helping others has seen him share his message and frameworks with many of the world’s biggest organizations including Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Bank of America and McKesson.

Recognized for his unique approach in combining brilliant humor, piercing insight and real-time action, Seb’s revered storytelling and interactive teaching style has impacted millions of individuals and influenced thousands of organizations and Fortune 500 companies around the world