Featured Panelist
Presentation Details
"Built to Adapt: How Organizations Thrive Through Constant Change"
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Change is no longer something organizations prepare for. It’s something they operate inside every day. The organizations that succeed aren’t the ones that avoid disruption, they’re the ones built to adapt to it.
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In this panel, experienced change leaders, transformation practitioners, and organizational strategists share what it actually takes to guide teams through uncertainty while maintaining alignment, trust, and momentum. Drawing from firsthand experience leading real initiatives, panelists will explore the leadership behaviors, decision frameworks, and communication strategies that determine whether change accelerates progress or creates friction. From how leaders message change to how managers reinforce it day to day, panelists will unpack the signals people look for when deciding whether to embrace or resist a new direction.
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This session moves beyond theory to surface practical lessons from the field, offering honest insight into what works, what doesn’t, and what leaders often overlook when navigating transformation. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for building organizations that can evolve continuously without losing clarity, performance, or people along the way.
Participants will leave ready to:​​​
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Lead change in ways that build trust, not resistance by using leadership behaviors and communication signals that increase clarity and psychological safety.
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Align strategy, people, and execution during transformation so change efforts actually stick instead of stalling after launch.
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Create teams and cultures that adapt continuously rather than relying on one-time change initiatives.
Speaker Bio:
Rachel is an experienced Senior Advisor and Practice Lead at FarWell. In her role, she is responsible for leveraging her expertise to help clients achieve their goals and staying up to date with emerging trends. Rachel is a servant leader who helps teams think strategically and simplify complex initiatives.
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Rachel is also a thought leader and speaker in her field. Her extensive knowledge and experience make her a frequent speaker at local and national conferences and events, where she shares her insights and best practices with a diverse audience. Rachel is highly active in organizations such as PMI, ACMP, SHRM, and WIT (Women in Technology), where she is invited to speak regularly and continues to educate and inspire others in her industry. She also leads a Change Navigators national group, where she facilitates a sharing of experiences, insights, and best practices with others leading change initiatives.
Rachel tries to apply a fearless approach to new challenges, is willing to step outside her comfort zone and encourages others to do the same. Inspired by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky's motto, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," Rachel has taken risks throughout her career, including becoming the first woman to enter the Denver Broncos locker room as a broadcast intern.
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With a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Northwestern University and an MBA from Azusa Pacific University, Rachel is a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner, a Professional Scrum Master, and a Project Management Professional (PMP).
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In her personal life, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and dog. She is an avid sports fan and an active member of her community. As a self-proclaimed chocolate lover, Rachel never misses an opportunity to indulge in her favorite treat.
