Agenda

GPS devices – before they can plot a course -- require that specific information be entered about the  starting point and the exact destination.  To orient us about our current coordinates in the food industry, FMI President  and CEO Leslie Sarasin will draw upon her rich thirty-plus years of experiences as a food industry lobbyist and association executive to provide a personal perspective about the changes, shifts and adaptations she has witnessed on the industry landscape.  With that historical backdrop and providing our current positioning,  she will then interview three future leaders of the industry to glean their ideas, thoughts and best guesses of where the industry is headed.

Understand the big picture and know how your team impacts it.   

• Review critical areas of change in the food retail industry: competitive landscape, changing consumer behaviors, trends impacting customer expectations, and different perspectives from industry stakeholders.
• Recognize the influence leaders have in setting their organization apart from others in the industry.

Understand the critical role managers play in driving culture and strategy execution.

• Recognize the canyons that often exist in organizations and how they affect results.
• Understand the critical role that leaders play in accelerating strategy.
• Identify issues leaders face as they connect their people with the strategy.
• Have a navigation system--a Compass--to guide you through the challenges of your role.

You know firsthand that food brings people together. That’s why we invite you to get out of the hotel and take the quick trip to Waterfront Park for the official Future Leaders Food Truck Night. Visit with Louisville’s best food trucks and sample from several of them, or pick your favorite cuisine from around the world. From Southern BBQ to Mexican to Greek to Thai – we have you covered. Enjoy your favorite beverage while visiting with old and new friends, listening to the DJ or playing a game of corn hole. Buses depart from the Omni Front Drive beginning at 6:15 pm and will return to the hotel from 8:45 pm - 9:45 pm.

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra K. Nooyi will discuss the unprecedented changes sweeping our industry and how to navigate them successfully.

• Describe the impact leaders can have when people are their number one priority.
• Identify what keeps you from making your people your number one priority and determine strategies to overcome those obstacles.

• Recognize the business impacts of engagement.
• Give perspective on the big picture of the organization.
• Inspire purpose with a team story that tells what your team does and why it matters.

• Ask the kinds of questions that build strong working relationships.
• Recognize the positive effects of investing in the emotional bank accounts of your team members.
• Strengthen your relationships by using behaviors and actions that enhance communication and increase trust.

Avoid performance issues that stem from unclear expectations.

• Recognize the importance of being clear as a way to maintain engagement and efficiently achieve results.
• Consistently follow six steps that ensure you are clear about your expectations.

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-5 | Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company

Celebrate the people who play the most important role in the store.

• Improve team members’ performance by providing timely, honest feedback.
• Conduct more effective coaching conversations through preparation.
• Better identify the root causes of performance issues.
• Use a guiding framework for a coaching conversation.

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-5

Take steps to sustain what you’ve started and maintain engagement.

• Recognize the importance of celebrating wins.
• Determine opportunities and ways to celebrate and appreciate.
• Understand how to maximize the impact of celebrating and appreciating others.