Empowering Future Leaders: Highlights from the Trulaske Leadership Conference

The Trulaske Leadership Conference offers a dynamic platform for student leaders to enhance their leadership skills and forge meaningful connections with industry professionals. Held annually, the conference brings together up to 125 students and 30 corporate representatives, providing a day-long experience designed to cultivate leadership. Guided by a contemporary theme, the event encourages students to refine their leadership styles while engaging in thoughtful discussions, networking opportunities and experience-centered learning workshops. With a focus on personal growth and professional development, the Trulaske Leadership Conference is an invaluable opportunity for students to connect, collaborate and prepare for future leadership roles in the business world. 

STUDENT REFLECTION

By Keira Hendrix, Internal Director of Marketing

Participating as the Internal Director of Marketing for the Trulaske Leadership Conference was an enriching experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally. The conference, which brings together student leaders and corporate representatives, is a dynamic platform for developing leadership skills. This year’s theme—“Finding Your Values and Using Them to Lead Others”— resonated with me, emphasizing the importance of authentic leadership rooted in personal values.

In my role, I handled a range of marketing and promotional tasks, from designing posters and graphics to managing the event’s social media presence. I also created directional signage and a sponsorship slideshow for the event, working closely with the Trulaske College of Business Marketing Team to increase the conference’s visibility on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, I was responsible for keeping the conference website updated and ensuring our messaging was consistent and engaging across all platforms.

This experience allowed me to combine my passions for leadership, creativity and marketing. It gave me the freedom to shape the conference’s promotional strategy in a way that felt true to the event’s mission. I really appreciated the opportunity to express my creativity and the trust I was given to implement new ideas. Working alongside such a hardworking and dedicated team made the conference a success, and it was incredibly fulfilling to collaborate with so many committed individuals.

Through the workshops, discussions and networking opportunities, attendees could walk away with a more precise direction for their leadership journeys and the motivation to continue refining their personal leadership styles. I know I did. The lessons I gained from the event were invaluable, especially these three key takeaways:

1. Your values are the foundation of authentic leadership—they act as your guiding compass in both your career and personal life.
2. The effort you put into your work is reflected in the outcome, but that investment is most meaningful when aligned with your core values.
3. Effective communication is the backbone of any great team.

Reflecting on my overall experience, I realized that leadership and marketing are not one-size-fits-all. Both fields allow for much personal expression and flexibility, depending on how much effort and creativity you put into them. There’s no single path to success—it's about making the journey your own and shaping the process to align with your goals.

After the event, the sense of accomplishment among our team was evident. Months of hard work had come together smoothly, and it was rewarding to see the conference's positive impact on attendees. This shared success showed how much each of us had contributed to the day’s achievements, and it was fulfilling to reflect on how we all played a part in making it happen.

Overall, my time with the Trulaske Leadership Conference was an unforgettable experience that not only strengthened my leadership and marketing skills but also gave me the chance to grow alongside some of the best student leaders at Mizzou. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an incredible event and the lessons it has taught me.