Learn and Grow with GLS24/25

In just a few weeks’ time we begin the GLS 24/25 season here in the UK.

We are full of anticipation because we know what’s coming!

Every year ahead of the UK summits we attend the GLS in Chicago and have the pleasure of being able to pick what we consider the best talks for the UK context. This year it was really hard to choose because every talk made an impression.

The good news is all UK delegates will get to see all the talks over the year as we release one a month through GLS+. But of course, we want the GLS to be impactful and as balanced and holistic in nature as we learn how to ‘Design Your Tomorrow’.

Here are our reflections of this year’s GLS in Chicago.

As we walk into the auditorium with another 7,498 delegates you can feel the anticipation. People from over 50 nations gathered to lean in and learn with, as each speaker was surely aware, another 50,000 who were watching live across the USA.

By the end of the summit season across the globe another 400,000 would have devoured their talks.

No pressure.

The first talk was by Craig Groeschel which he entitled ‘Permission to Obsess’. This was really freeing for those of us who have obsessive tendencies. Maybe it is ok to be like this and could it even be a superpower?!

Next up was Kindra Hall. Who doesn’t love a good story? Stories are what stick when we communicate, they give our message the human edge. Anyone who has to stand up and communicate needs to hear this message.

Dan Owolabi had a great story to draw us in and what an unexpected twist.

Already after such great content we needed a breather. This came in the form of beautiful music by Moriah.

After this refreshing pause came ‘Coach K’. Having led the USA Men’s basketball team at three Olympics and securing gold medals at each he definitely had something to say about leadership. For those who know their basketball, and it seemed like a lot of people there did, this was the one talk they had come for and they were not disappointed.

Hard for anyone to follow that but who better than our compatriot Jo Saxton. Quiet descended on the room as many identified with her experience of trauma and how it can silence us when the world needs to hear our voice.

Back to sport with Molly Fletcher who had been a top sport agent. A few ouch moments as she told us ‘Complaining is the enemy of success’.

Erwin McManus taught us about ‘Frequencies of communication’ an essential skill to learn if we are to really hear one another in the midst of community.

No communication – no community.

Now it was time to for an academic to take to the stage. Amy. C Edmondson, a Professor of Leadership at Harvard, reminded us that if we are to succeed we will need to fail often.

Following on from the Prof came the comedian. Michael JR was once again a breath of fresh air with his humour and insight into how life works.

Arthur C Brookes, another Harvard professor, was voted by the UK delegates as the best talk of the summit as he introduced us to his research on happiness.

What an emotional roller coaster as GLN honoured Joni Eareckson Tada for her amazing perseverance in the midst of tragedy.

The next speaker was the former owner of a restaurant voted number 1 in the world, Will Guidara. The food must be good, but we found out the secret sauce was hospitality.  Lots to learn from this guy.

To be honest we were more than full at this stage, but we still had two more talk to go!

A ‘heart moment’ with Megan Marshman helped to prepare us to finish the summit well.

Up came Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S Navy. Who from her experience in high stress environments told us that success comes from letting go of what you can’t control.

The last speaker to close the summit was Marcus Buckingham a British Global Researcher. His research revealed that trust in leadership is at an all-time low. His remedy was surprising – design love in!

Wow what an intense but stimulating two days.

One thing we love to say at GLN is that this content is fresh and actionable.

Our challenge now is to work all we learned into our leadership. Some thankfully we already hold to and do but other insights need work and dedication to change. But we are committed to getting better, for everyone’s sake.

What about you?

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Steve Campbell

The C3 Church, Director of GLN UKI

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