Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I have just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.” Being an entrepreneur and experiencing failure go hand in hand, and so resilience becomes a critical tool in your toolbox. It’s how we see setbacks, viewing them as catalysts of growth and progress rather than roadblocks and threats to avoid. It’s that extra zest inside us that keeps us pushing forward, even though the finish line is so far away it’s practically invisible.

We may not be able to eliminate the roadblocks or the stress or the occasional doubt that creeps in, but we can recognize the signs and integrate our resources in order to tap into our inner resilience and thrive. Join UVA alumna Heidi Connal (COM ’94) for an interactive workshop to learn how to turn adversity into growth and strength. This virtual event will engage you to:

• Reduce the impact of stress and anxiety and recover your balance
• Understand and regulate your emotions to move from negativity and reaction to optimism and curiosity
• Integrate your own multi-step formula for rapid recovery and resilience

About the speaker:

Heidi Connal (COM ’94) is no stranger to loss and trauma. Overnight, she lost her husband, and life as she knew it irrevocably changed. The journey of understanding the connection between body, brain, and emotions helped her develop curiosity and growth to emerge stronger. Whether it’s in her career, her travels, or her life, she embraces the opportunity to explore and experience the new and the eye-opening–and this fuels her resilience. Heidi spent 25 years as a technology executive for brands such as Salesforce, Bank of America, American Express, and PricewaterhouseCoopers before creating her own executive coaching firm, Vast Sky Leadership. She is a recognized global expert in resilience and grit, organizational change, team dynamics, emotional agility, and executive relationships, and uses her skills to build healthier and more effective and collaborative leaders within the technology, financial services, marketing, and nonprofit industries. Heidi has remained involved with UVA by volunteering her time as a guest speaker at McIntire and helping to plan alumni events in the Bay Area and around the world. She also serves on the Alumni Association’s Retold UVA alumnae steering committee.

You will receive an email with the Zoom link on the day prior to the event. We ask that participants register by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the event.

If you have any questions, email us at uvanyc@uvanyc.org.