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Emerging Leaders Initiative of Utah hosts virtual summit series

Salt Lake City — The Emerging Leaders Initiative of Utah (ELI) kicked off its Emerging Leaders Summit Series on Thursday, April 1. The session was the first of a three-part series, adapting to the virtual climate to continue ELI’s annual Emerging Leaders Summit. The upcoming sessions include, “Building Inclusive Leadership through Board Service,” on April 15, and, “Emerging Leaders Success Stories,” on April 29.

The session featured Clint Betts, CEO of Silicon Slopes, and Meg Dubray, Director of Government Affairs for Qualtrics. Adrienne Smith represented United Way of Salt Lake Young Leaders, the session’s nonprofit partner, as moderator. The event, themed, “Engaging Emerging Leaders,” focused on connections between public and private sectors and other issues important to ELI’s Millennial and Gen Z audience. 

Dubray shared how Qualtrics encourages civic participation, including volunteerism and voter registration efforts, adding, “Access to the voter box is certainly a priority, and it’s great to have a company that supports that.”

Betts summed up the discussion, saying, “You don’t need permission – you’re not an impostor… You don’t matter more than anyone else, but no one matters more than you.”

The next session on Thursday, April 15, will feature a discussion focused on board service led by Zions Bank diversity leaders Sui Lang L. Panoke, MPA and James Jackson III, MBA. Participants will be able to interact with the speakers and gain valuable training that will help them engage on boards and commissions as they develop their professional network. The session will be moderated by ELI Board member, RyLee Curtis.

Cate Klundt, Chair of ELI, shares, “ELI is excited to host this event with leaders in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space to empower our members as they seek to further their career. Diversity is such an important topic and as young leaders in our community we feel that we have a responsibility to make the workforce a more equitable and inclusive place.”

The final session takes place on Thursday, April 29, and will highlight successful young leaders in the public and private sectors. Panelists include Taylor Stevens, Senior Government and Politics Reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune, Mark Pittman, founder & CEO of Blyncsy, Allison Lew, Founder of Braid Workshop, and Representative Blake Moore, US Representative for Utah’s First Congressional District. The panel will be moderated by Nate Blouin, ELI’s Chair-elect, who is hopeful that participants will walk away with new confidence in their abilities after listening to these high-powered young leaders. 

Blouin says, “These panelists are a who’s who of Millennial leadership in Utah and reflect the wide range of talent that calls the state home. We’re counting on these leaders to guide us out of a challenging year and to play an instrumental role in Utah’s bright future.”

The Emerging Leaders Summit Series was made free for all attendees thanks to the support of UServeUtah, Google Fiber, and Y2 Analytics. Other sponsors include Comcast NBC Universal, Fidelity Investments, the Hinckley Institute of Politics, Salt Lake Community College, the Salt Lake Chamber, United Way of Salt Lake Young Leaders, and Zions Bank.

Those interested in participating in upcoming sessions can register via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/emerging-leaders-initiative-of-utah-16144208895  

The April 1 event can be viewed on Facebook: https://fb.watch/4Ca2PJva_-/