After taking a hiatus from regular programming in 2008 to conduct a survey on ways to improve and change Leadership America- the flagship program of The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future, the program launched a new format in 2009.

In efforts to meet the demands of the survey respondents, The NEW Leadership America provides participants the opportunity to attend one or more of the three stand-alone sessions. Each session is limited to 25 participants and is more conversational rather than using the lecture method. These are held throughout the year around the nation. The third session has an optional overseas trip.

The overarching theme for 2009 program is, Agile Leadership in an Ever-Changing World. As participants travel to Chicago, Silicon Valley/San Francisco, Washington, DC and China, conversations will focus on ‘The Uncertain Economic Climate, Technology Innovations and Connecting the Global Economy’.

The first session took place in Chicago, IL on April 19- 21, 2009. All conversations in Chicago centered on the different aspects of the current economic crisis, the reasons why, and the forecasts for the future.

The agenda included a visit to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, where the group was welcomed by the President, Charles Evans, followed by a presentation by Senior Economist, William Strauss.

Other key presenters included:

• Keynote Speaker- Dr. Jean Lipman- Blumen , Professor of Public Policy; Co-Founding Director, Institute for Advanced Studies in Leadership, Claremont Graduate University, will give a keynote address based on her book, Connective Leadership: Managing in a Changing World.
• Randall Kroszner, Professor of Economics at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago.
• Matt Miller, author of - The Tyranny of Dead Ideas—Letting Go of Old Ways to Unleash a New Prosperity. Mr. Miller is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and a contributing editor for Fortune Magazine.

Additional presenters included: Stephanie Neely, City of Chicago Treasurer; Marilyn Gerdes, retired VP of Sara Lee Corporation and Gwen Cohen, Wealth Adviser, Morgan Stanley.

During the session evaluations, when asked ‘What are the most important tools you will take from this session?’, participants responded:

• “The information was made accessible (understandable) and we were encouraged to ask clarifying questions, and then explore how we might go deeper in our own professional and personal lives.”
• “It renewed my commitment to connective leadership. I acquired a sense of urgency regarding the importance of our involvement at the policy level on women's issues and issues of leadership in business. It expanded my vision in the area of thought leadership. Many thoughts and tools still developing and rising up out of the experience as I continue to digest the experience and decompress.”
• “I really can't adequately express my excitement about the program and how impactful the session was for me from a personal and professional standpoint. I'm looking forward to the remainder of the sessions with my class!”

The first session of 2009 has set the stage for the remainder of the year and model for years to come. It has proven that the smaller classes and shorter timeframe are most effective and meet the needs of the current women leaders.