The engagement breakthrough: Moving teams from required to inspired
Overview
Most of us know that sustained continuous improvement requires genuine engagement, not just compliance. Yet creating workplaces where teams truly own improvement activities can remain elusive for many organizations.
In this interactive session, Steve Gund, President and CEO of The Gund Company, reveals how to build the kind of engagement that transforms required activities into inspired contributions. As a business owner who has proven that culture and results thrive together, Steve shares practical strategies for creating meaningful participation and how to measure it. Attendees will learn to distinguish between activity metrics and participation metrics that will drive sustainable improvement.
Participants will leave with actionable methods for building engagement that sticks and how to measure it to drive results.
Host Company
The AME People and Culture Virtual Consortium is a dynamic community of leaders dedicated to fostering and enhancing people-centric cultures within organizations. This consortium provides a platform for regular collaboration, where leaders can share insights, strategies, and best practices to cultivate environments that prioritize humanistic values and operational excellence. By participating in this consortium, members gain access to a wealth of knowledge and support, empowering them to drive meaningful change and innovation in their respective organizations.
Presenter
Cheryl Jekiel, facilitator
Cheryl Jekiel, founder of the Lean Leadership Center, works with visionary organizations that require strong people strategies and systems to achieve their business vision. As the author of “Lean Human Resources: Redesigning HR Practices for a Culture of Continuous Improvement”, Ms. Jekiel illuminates the role of HR in how organizations optimize people’s talents. Ms. Jekiel also released a book in 2023 on “Let Go to Lead: Six Habits for Happier, More Independent Teams (With Less Stress and More Time for Yourself)”.
Steve Gund is the President and CEO of The Gund Company, a global manufacturer known for its people-first culture and commitment to humanistic leadership. Under his guidance, the company has become a model for aligning operational excellence with care for people. Steve is passionate about developing leaders who create workplaces where both business and humanity can thrive.
Agenda
December 3, 2025 - 12:00-1:00PM
- Opening/Engagement question
- Pair Share
- Breakout Group
- General discussion
- Debrief
- Close out
PARTICIPANT BENEFITS
- A clear framework for linking people-centered leadership to measurable business results.
- Practical language and examples for making a strong business case for culture, training, and staffing investments.
- Insight into how human flourishing drives engagement, retention, and innovation.
- Tools to communicate the ROI of humanity, showing that care and profitability can thrive together.
- Inspiration to lead with both heart and strategy, creating workplaces where people and performance rise together.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Leaders, executives, and HR professionals who want to build thriving, values-driven organizations.
- This session is ideal for anyone interested in servant leadership, operational excellence, and developing a culture where people and performance grow together.
Safety Requirements
OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
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Cancelation Policy: This event may be canceled by AME for any reason. AME is not responsible for incidental costs incurred by registrants. For paid events, registration fee less a $20 administration fee will be refunded up to one week before the event. Substitutions may be made up to three days prior to the start of the event.