We are excited to announce our presenters and guest speakers for the upcoming Emotional Intelligence Symposium, held on March 26th, 2026!
This year’s theme is “The Emotionally Intelligent Manager: Thriving Under Pressure”, which will focus on leading with emotional intelligence as a strategic advantage and a pathway to social mobility. Managers are constantly balancing performance targets, team dynamics, and the pressure to adapt to change, all while managing their own emotions. When the stakes are high, what separates effective leaders from the rest is not just what they know but how they show up under pressure. Join us for a transformative, full-day experience where you’ll gain practical tools (and a digital badge) to lead with composure, clarity, and confidence—even in challenging times—while advancing your career trajectory.
Check out these incredible thought leaders below, and visit our 2026 EI Symposium page for more event details and to register.
Session Presenters
Dr. Wendi Jenkins
Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development
Dr. Wendi Jenkins serves as the University System of Georgia’s Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development. She develop and delivers innovative, relevant, and sustained programs designed to maximize individual and institutional effectiveness.
Prior to joining the system office, she served as the Director of Columbus State University’s William B. Turner Center for Servant Leadership, which included the undergraduate Servant Leadership Program, as well as the
Internal Leadership Development department. She also held the Frank D. Brown Distinguished Chair position in Servant Leadership while at CSU. Wendi holds a Doctor of Education Degree from Columbus State University, an Educational Specialist Degree in Instructional Technology from the University of West Georgia, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education/English from Columbus State University. She is certified in Emergenetics and FourSight, and holds an ACC-level credential from the International Coaching Federation.
Traci Stromie
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development
Traci Stromie is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development at the University System of Georgia. Her coaching and professional development offerings focus on leadership development, flourishing (doing well and being well), productivity, building community, emotional intelligence, and engaging in the online space. As a trained instructional designer, Traci takes an intentional, systematic, and research-based approach to all the programs and workshops she designs and facilitates.
Traci has consulted, published, and presented on a variety of topics related to educational development as well as online and blended pedagogical approaches. Her chapter “Motivation for Learning: If We Build it, Will They Come?” appears in The Learner-Centered Instructional Designer: Purposes, Processes, and Practicalities of Creating Online Courses in Higher Education (Stylus, 2020) and provides evidence-based strategies for increasing learner motivation in online courses.
Traci has an M.S. in Instructional Design from Georgia State University and B.S. in Social Science Education from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining the USG, Traci served as a Faculty Developer, Faculty Success Coach, and Senior Instructional Designer at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at Kennesaw State University.
Guest Speakers
Jay Bailey (Opening Speaker)
President and CEO at H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE)
James M. “Jay” Bailey is a visionary leader, celebrated entrepreneur, and globally recognized voice at the intersection of innovation, economic mobility, and generational legacy. Guided by his motto, “Build As We Climb,” Jay has dedicated his life to expanding access, ownership, and opportunity for communities and families around the world.
Jay leads the H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), the world’s largest center dedicated to developing and scaling Black-owned businesses. Under his leadership, RICE has become a national blueprint for inclusive innovation—supporting more than 600 entrepreneurs, sustaining over 4,000 jobs, and generating more than half a billion dollars in annual economic impact across Atlanta.
An Atlanta native and three-time TED speaker, Jay’s leadership has been recognized by three U.S. Presidents. He is one of only eight Americans ever honored at the White House as a Champion of Change: Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—a national recognition of his lifelong commitment to service, equity, and community transformation.
Jay has been named one of Atlanta’s “Most Admired CEOs” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, featured on Atlanta Magazine’s POWER 100, and recognized by Georgia Trend as one of the “100 Most Influential Leaders in the State of Georgia.” His national recognition spans a wide range of honors—among them the National Point of Light Award, the Whitney M. Young National Community Service Medallion, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Service Award, and the Bernie Marcus Downtown Economic Impact Award—a small reflection of the many distinctions that continue to mark his enduring commitment to service, innovation, and generational impact.
He serves across major civic and educational institutions, including the Georgia Chamber, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Agnes Scott College, University of Georgia, Invest Atlanta Foundation, and the Atlanta Speech School. As a longtime landowner, trustee of the Georgia Forestry Foundation, and founder of the Black Land Institute, launching in 2026, Jay is redefining the connection between land, ownership, and legacy. His work spans conservation, stewardship, and restoring outdoor traditions within Black communities—advancing a future where land is not only an asset, but a source of identity, resilience, and generational power.
Behind all his work is what matters most: his wife, NBC News & Dateline correspondent Blayne Alexander, and their daughters, Sage and Skylar—the heart, grounding, and inspiration behind everything he builds.
Rodney Bullard (Fireside Chat with Dr. Turner)
CEO The Same House PBC
A native of Decatur, Georgia, Rodney D. Bullard is the CEO of The Same House, a public benefit corporation dedicated to advancing economic mobility by bridging social division. Through initiatives such as the Beloved Benefit (which has raised over $40 million to support Atlanta’s communities), Youth Lead Georgia, and Tables Across America, The Same House fosters connection, leadership, and shared prosperity.
Rodney founded the Chick-fil-A Foundation and led Chick-fil-A’s Global Corporate Social Responsibility, beginning with place-based investment on the Westside of Atlanta and expanding the company’s community and philanthropic reach nationally and globally. He oversaw Community Affairs, Community Engagement, Environmental Sustainability, and strategic philanthropic efforts across the brand.
A frequent speaker, Rodney has a distinguished background in public service, having served as a JAG Officer in the U.S. Air Force, Legislative Counsel at the Pentagon, and Assistant United States Attorney. He was selected as a White House Fellow, working directly for the NASA Administrator.
Recognized for his leadership, Rodney was named Duke Law School Young Alumnus 2016, a Georgia Trend Top 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2024 and 2025, Georgia Trend Top 500 Most Influential Georgians (2019-2023) and he is listed among Atlanta Magazine’s Top 500 Most Powerful Atlantans (2019-2026).
He serves on the boards of Ameris Bank, the Westside Future Fund, the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation, the White House Fellows Alumni Association, The United Way and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Rodney is an alumnus of the United States Air Force Academy, Duke Law School, the University of Georgia Terry School of Business, and the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He is also the author of the best-selling book Heroes Wanted: Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out
Dr. Nancy J. Lewis (Closing Speaker)
MS, SHRM-CP, PHR, RCC
Nancy J. Lewis is a leading motivational/inspirational keynote speaker, trainer, author, and registered corporate coach. She is the president of Progressive Techniques, Inc. based in Fayetteville, Georgia where the theme of her organization is “Developing a Better YOU!” She earned a M.S. degree from Georgia State University in Urban and Public Affairs with concentration in Human Resources. Nancy has worked as an adjunct faculty instructor at Georgia State University where she taught an undergraduate Human Resources course. She has been speaking and conducting training for 30 years. Nancy is a former Dale Carnegie instructor. Our mission is to transform organizations by helping people achieve their full potential and walk in their destiny. Nancy conducts dynamic keynotes and seminars on leadership, unconscious bias, emotional intelligence, change management, human resources, and personal development. She delivers customized, energizing, interactive, and content-rich presentations that provide strategies for everyday living. Nancy is an executive and business coach and works with CEO’s and their leadership teams providing wisdom and insight that assists them with their careers and life. Nancy is certified in Cultural Intelligence and Unconscious Bias with the Cultural Intelligence Center and is also certified in Emotional Intelligence. Nancy recently received an Honorary Doctorate from Mainseed Christian University.
Nancy is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). Nancy is the host of the weekly television show, Conversations with Nancy J. on WATC-TV 57 & WATC-TOO (The Point) where she talks with business professionals about life, career, and business and highlights ordinary people doing EXTRAordinary things.
Some of Nancy’s clients include: Delta Air Lines, Inc., American Airlines, Inc., Chick-fil-A, Inc., Global Concessions, Concessions International, Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), Gordon Food Service, Taco Bell Corp., The Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Power, FORD Motor Company, AT&T, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The American Heart Association, The Atlanta Housing Authority, Winn Dixie, Hewlett Packard, Georgia State University, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Aularale Cosmetics, Inc., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Grady Health System, Hewitt and Associates, Kimberly Clark Corporation, World Airways, Inc., Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Pacific, Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA), Henry County Water Authority (HCWA), and City of Union City.
Nancy is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is active in many communities and civic organizations in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Nancy is the co-founder of Transforming Women Entrepreneurs (TWE), a women’s forum for entrepreneurs and professional businesswomen which has evolved with a yearly annual conference every March. Nancy’s why: “We bring JOY to the workplace.”
Nancy is a co-author of Real Women, Real Issues: Positive Collaborations For Business Success, author of the
e-book, Nancyisms…Nuggets of Wisdom for Life which can be found on Kindle. She is the co-author of Sisters Together: Lessons Learned That Have Anchored Our Souls, a compilation of short stories from multi-cultural women sharing how they moved from adversity to victory. She is the author of Things To Do To Be A Better YOU and BE Intentional: 365 Inspirational Messages to Live an Intentional Life. Nancy is the co-author of the book, Millennials and Beyond-Making the Leap from Texting to Talking. Nancy’s latest book release is Growing in God’s Grace:31 Affirmations for Tweens and Teens.
Don’t Just Be Equipped, Be Inspired. Join Us In March!
We hope to see you at the Emotional Intelligence Symposium in March. As you can see from our list of amazing presenters and speakers, you are sure to find at least one session that sparks your interest, and we know you will walk away inspired (and you’ll have earned a new digital badge).
You can find more details about the Symposium (like agenda and session information) here.
When? March 26th
Registration & networking begin at 8 AM
Conference begins at 9 AM
Where? Clayton State University Student Activities Center, Main campus
2000 Clayton State Blvd. Morrow, GA
Who’s it for? Educators, entrepreneurs, managers, nonprofit leaders, students, clergy, law enforcement, and anyone ready to lead with heart and impact.
Register here today before tickets run out!