The Only Imposter is the Syndrome (28 May 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The Only Imposter is the Syndrome: Drawing on OD, Neuroscience, and Authenticity to Dispel the Myth of "Imposterism"

Session Overview: This session deconstructs this “syndrome,” sheds light on the neuroscience of discomfort, and engages OD leadership models and authenticity coaching to strengthen organizational support structures and leadership identity.

Session Takeaways: Participants will leave with the ability to:

Identify and differentiate discomfort levels; understand how they shape our responses as leaders and professionals to challenges in today’s ever-changing workplaces; and learn how to reframe and re-engage these levels productively.
Explore somatic tools to disengage from resistant brain patterns, integrate self-regulation practices, and initiate emotional and energy leadership in challenging situations.
Identify and leverage the three elements of leadership development models in organizational practices to increase the helpful dynamics that contribute to higher levels of growth and decrease unhealthy dynamics that lead to higher levels of discomfort, including tips on how to use AI to support sound organization development practices.
Learn and apply positive mental scaffolding and habit creation practices to redirect unhelpful mental patterns, track and measure growth, develop and maintain accurate self-perception and authentic self-identity, including suggestions for how to integrate AI to support these practices.

About the Speaker:

Joani Alsop

Joani is the leader of Joani Alsop Coaching and Consulting. Prior roles include Director of Learning and Women in Leadership Program Facilitator for FOCUS St. Louis, Executive Coach/Consultant with a global consulting firm, and Associate Director, Career Management at Maryville University.

She is experienced in organization and leadership development, leader coaching, executive assessment and career development across 10 industries. Her expertise includes innovative work that strengthens leadership and organizational capability, and employee development to accelerate positive impact.

Joani serves on the board of the St. Louis Organization Development Network as Community Outreach Chair and on the board of Voices of American HerStory. She also is a member of the G.R.I.T. Community, and leads the G.R.I.T. Group Coaching Program. She is an author in the #1 International Best-Seller “Tenacity – Deconstructing G.R.I.T. Collection.”

Joani holds a BS in Business Management and MA in Organizational Leadership & Development. She is a Certified Breakthrough Coaching Master, Certified Happiness Trainer, certified in the Birkman and MBTI assessments, and experienced with 15 additional leadership assessment tools.

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We look forward to seeing you at this in-person only event. Note this is an evening session.

Building an AI-Ready Organization (18 Jun 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Building an AI-Ready Organization

Session Overview: As organizations accelerate their adoption of AI, many are treating it as a technology initiative focused on efficiency gains. In practice, AI is doing something far more consequential: it is placing sustained pressure on leadership systems, surfacing gaps in alignment, clarity, communication, and leadership capability that were previously easier to ignore. Whether AI becomes a catalyst for performance, or a source of confusion, resistance, and stalled momentum depends largely on the strength of these systems.

This session introduces a practical leadership lens for assessing organizational readiness in the context of AI. Participants will learn how to pinpoint where gaps in leadership systems are undermining AI efforts, and where to intervene to improve traction and adoption.

Designed for OD leaders, this session focuses on the leadership systems and organizational dynamics that determine how effectively AI is integrated. Participants will gain the language, perspective, and strategic framing needed to guide their organizations through AI-related transformation with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.

Session Takeaways: Participants will leave with:

A practical lens for assessing AI readiness through leadership systems
A model for understanding where gaps in leadership systems can undermine AI initiatives
A framework for prioritizing where to focus first—without trying to solve everything at once
A clearer understanding of how to position themselves as strategic advisors in AI-related transformation
A list of strategic questions they can ask themselves and their colleagues to take tangible action toward enabling AI readiness.

About the Speaker:

Lauren Cohen

Lauren Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Cohen Leadership Group, a leadership advisory firm that partners with CEOs and executive teams in fast-growing and mid-market organizations to strengthen leadership alignment, accelerate execution, and scale organizations more effectively. She leads a team of leadership advisors who help organizations overcome what she calls Leadership Debt—the hidden friction that emerges when business growth outpaces leadership maturity.

Known for her ability to quickly see the dynamics others miss, she helps leaders translate insight into decisive action and measurable business impact. She was recently named one of the Top 100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Executive Coaches in St. Louis (2025).

Before founding Cohen Leadership Group, Lauren was a business litigation attorney. She brings a pragmatic, business-minded lens to leadership advisory work and has extensive training in executive coaching, leadership development, and team effectiveness. She holds both a B.S. and J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.

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We look forward to seeing you at this in-person only event.

St. Louis Organization Development Network upcoming events

The Only Imposter is the Syndrome (28 May 2026)

Building an AI-Ready Organization (18 Jun 2026)