Whether you’re transitioning into Talent Development, growing within the field, or preparing for your next opportunity, technical expertise alone is rarely enough to move your career forward. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is often the differentiator that influences who gets hired, promoted, and trusted to lead.
In this interactive session, participants will explore how EQ shows up in real career moments including interviews, networking, stakeholder relationships, leadership visibility, and career transitions. Through practical examples and guided reflection, the session will examine the four core EQ competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management—and how they directly impact career growth and professional presence.
Attendees will identify their own EQ strengths and growth areas, gain strategies for managing career-related stress and uncertainty, and learn actionable techniques to communicate with greater clarity, influence, and confidence. Participants will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to strengthen relationships, increase career mobility, and navigate the evolving Talent Development landscape more effectively.
Presenter:
Dr. Michael Brenner | Founder & CEO
As founder and CEO of Right Chord Leadership, Dr. Michael Brenner collaborates with leaders and teams at all levels to strengthen the essential skills needed for peak performance. He is the author of Strike the Right Chord: The Emerging Leader’s Guide to Exceptional Performance and has partnered with leading organizations in a variety of industries, including Penn Medicine, the City of Philadelphia, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Boeing, and United Way.
Michael has been a featured speaker at industry events and conferences around the world, including South Asia, Canada and Australia. He holds a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a master’s degree in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. He has taught courses in organizational behavior, negotiation skills, and interpersonal relations (among others) at American University, Temple University, and La Salle University. Currently, Michael is a guest lecturer at Penn State University.