2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPEAKER BIO |
Margaret P. Holtman
Margaret (Peggy) Holtman is an engaging speaker on the many challenging aspects of leadership. Audiences have described Peggy as very present, authentic and energetic. She speaks with candor and credibility from a background of over twenty years as a leader herself and developer of leaders in a variety of organizations. She is an author and consultant who, not only understands what it is like to be a leader today, but also, offers practical advice for successfully leading in changing and complex business environments.
She is co-author of Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition, which describes the use of adventure, story and metaphor (Metaventuresm approach) to teach leadership in organizations. The central story is the 1914-16 trans-Antarctic expedition led by Sir Earnest Shackleton. Her compelling presentation uses actual photographs, drawing and journal entries. The audience will feel like they are a part of the crew as the gripping narrative becomes the departure point for an intense and unforgettable experience. In addition to this thrilling adventure story, she will explore the ten key strategies for success as the valuable lessons from Shackleton’s ill fated voyage. The captain’s approach to leadership, teamwork and change under extreme conditions provide a compass for today’s leaders.
Peggy has delivered presentations to a wide range of organizations including ESPN, Target, Kraft Foods, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Cigna, The Conference Board, Society of Information Management, Limra International and The Hartford Insurance Group.
As a Leadership Development professional in several organizations, she has played a number of key roles all closely linked to leadership development. She led the Field Management Development function at Connecticut Mutual. At Citigroup, she was Vice President for Branch Management Development for Smith Barney as well as Director of Corporate Staffing and Planning at the Travelers. She was Director of Career and Leadership Development at Hartford Life and AVP of Talent Management for The Hartford’s Property and Casualty and Life companies.
She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and the Cape Cod Human Resource Association. Ms. Holtman has a B.A. degree in English from the College of New Rochelle, an M.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of Hartford.
Peggy’s consulting practice, Margaret P. Holtman & Associates, focuses on leadership solutions and specializes in talent management, leadership assessment and development, executive coaching and team development. Her creative and customized leadership solutions include consultation, training and facilitation, senior leadership retreats, as well as keynote presentations.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
How to Survive and Thrive in the Perfect Storm
Two teams face the same critical set of conditions…what makes one team succeed and another team fail? The answer is often leadership. Author Margaret Holtman uses the example of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition to reveal ten critical lessons of leadership for business. Ms. Holtman uses the power of adventure story and metaphor to help participants go beyond traditional learning and literally “experience” these leadership strategies in a way that allows for deeper understanding, better retention and immediate application to their work.
Whether you are making strategic decisions that determine the future of your department or company, or are a member of a team that is responsible for developing a new business-critical application---or even if you engage in a daily struggle to do too much with too little-this presentation will teach you the leadership lessons that enable you to survive and thrive, including:
· Short –term and long-term goals
· Optimism and reality
· Maintaining stamina
· Pulling the team together
· Mastering conflict
· Managing risk
· Lightening up
· Creative tenacity.