Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former first lady Laura Bush, author Malcolm Gladwell and other speakers will be broadcast live May 9 to the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center as part of an international Leadercast presentation on how to become a better leader.

The 15th annual event will be broadcast from Atlanta to hundreds of venues. Last year, more than 100,000 people in 14 countries viewed the simulcast.

“It is a great way for the UCF community to access high-profile leadership speakers and network with each other,” said Beth Scheitzach, manager of UCF’s Organization Development & Training and a Leadercast UCF committee member. “But it goes beyond that. I think this conference, although very focused on leadership, transcends the topic and really shows you how to lead in life.”

The day’s program, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will include continental breakfast from Dunkin’ Donuts and lunch from 4 Rivers Smokehouse. John Rivers, chef and owner of 4R Restaurant Group, will be the guest speaker at FAIRWINDS during the lunch break.

Tutu, a Nobel laureate and human-rights activist, will join the broadcast live from Cape Town, South Africa. Bush was first lady from 2001 to 2009, and Gladwell is a staff writer with The New Yorker who has had five books on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Other speakers during the day are:

  • Andy Stanley, leadership author and communicator
  • Randall Wallace, screenwriter, director, producer and songwriter (“Braveheart” and “Secretariat”)
  • Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP software company
  • Laura Schroff, former ad sale executive and best-selling author of “An Invisible Thread”
  • Dr. Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist and leadership consultant
  • Simon Sinek, best-selling author of “Start with Why” and leadership expert.
  • “With internationally prominent speakers across industries, Leadercast is an outstanding opportunity to further enrich an already thriving Central Florida community,” said Brian Reed, assistant athletic director. “This year’s theme – Beyond You – couldn’t be better. We talk regularly about developing leaders here at UCF through academics, sport, and community outreach. Events like Leadercast give great credence to the advocation of service, putting others before ourselves towards the benefit of all.”

    Marvin L. Pyles, UCF’s associate vice president for Human Resources, will kick off the conference, and two networking activities will be conducted during breaks. Networking activities will be led by Jeff Scheitzach, who was master of ceremonies at last summer’s inaugural Knights Charge On: Leadership Through Engagement conference hosted by UCF Athletics and Human Resources.

    Plans are being made to conduct another local leadership conference at UCF this fall, said Chris Rose, assistant director in Continuing Education.

    Sponsoring departments for this Leadercast are: UCF Athletics, UCF Human Resources, UCF Continuing Education, UCF Foundation, UCF Alumni Association, UCF Recreation & Wellness Center and DeVos Sport Business Management Program. 

    For tickets and more information about Leadercast, call Organization Development & Training at 407-823-0440 or visit https://hr.ucf.edu/.