Adaptive Leadership Seminar Series

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Seminar Series

Adaptive Leadership Seminar Series

Join the Lawrence Hall of Science director, Rena Dorph, for a series of virtual workshops designed specifically to support executive leaders.

Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science, delivers opening remarks

The seminar series

This series is designed for the executive leaders of educational organizations who are seeking strategies, support, and colleagueship related to the challenges and opportunities of leading through uncertain times.

In each of these virtual sessions, we will explore the mindset shifts, strategies, and capacities that support executive leaders to engage in adaptive leadership. In each session we will consider the session theme, examine related illustrative cases, and apply these lenses to our own leadership contexts. Participants will examine the pressing and thorny challenges and potential opportunities they are facing in their organizations through guided conversations with session facilitators and each other related to the session topic.

While we hope that participants will engage in the full arc of the 8-session series, sessions are structured so that folks can drop-in for the sessions that work for them. Organizational and individual members gain full access to the series.

Adaptive Leadership Sessions

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Developing Adaptive Capacities

Jan 19, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, dig into a framework for “Adaptive Leadership” and identify a key leadership challenge that you’ll focus on throughout the series.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Leading with Your Superpowers

Feb 2, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, identify your leadership superpowers and map them onto real-life leadership challenges.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Staying Centered in the Eye of the Storm

Feb 16, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, identify your leadership “sanctuary”, and explore strategies for staying centered in moments of distress and turmoil.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast

Mar 2, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, consider the “unwritten rules” of your organization – the “water” that you all swim in – and explore strategies for shifting the tide towards your organization’s goals.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Building (not Breaking) Trust through Transparency

Mar 16, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, dig into the “anatomy” of trust, identify trust gaps at your organization, and brainstorm strategies for building long-term trust.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Advancing Equity and Belonging

Mar 30, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, strengthen your toolkit for advancing equity and belonging at your organization and hone in on your goals.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Cultivating Your Deep Bench

Apr 13, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, consider succession planning from a new angle, and explore tools and exercises for strengthening your organization’s approach.

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership: Embracing Disruption as An Opportunity for Progress

Apr 27, 2027

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT

A seminar series designed for executive leaders of educational organizations. In this session, reflect on the many tools from the series, and consider how they can support you as you lean in to the opportunities that disruption brings.

Facilitator: Dr. Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science

Rena Dorph is the Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Rena joined the leadership of The Lawrence in 2003 as Director of the Research Group and has served as its Director for almost a decade. During this time Rena has served as a Principal Investigator for multiple STEM learning R&D projects and as a Lecturer at the UC Berkeley’s School of Education. Rena serves on multiple governing and advisory boards for a diverse range of organizations and programs. Rena received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis; an M.A. in the Sociology of Education from Teachers College at Columbia University; and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Organization, Measurement, and Evaluation from University of California, Berkeley’s School of Education.

Rena Dorph

What previous participants are saying…

We surveyed previous participants of the series, and respondents unanimously agreed that the series…

  • Helped them make progress towards their leadership development goals,
  • Provided them with useful content and the opportunity to explore their leadership practice, and
  • Provided them with a supportive learning environment.

Plus, all respondents shared that they would recommend the series to a peer or colleague.