Is self improvement on your to-do list for this year? Indeed, we’d all like to be a “better” person – but what exactly does that mean? And how do you go about it?
In this week-long summit of live webinars, Golden Key Academy is bringing together a team of experts to explore various ways in which we can improve ourselves. This week of webinars will inspire you, inform you and help you to find health, success, contentment and happiness in the coming year.
All of the sessions take place online, so you can join from anywhere around the globe. And once you have a ticket, you have exclusive access to videos of all the sessions so you can go back and watch them any time after the summit is over.
Once you have purchased a ticket to this summit, links to webinars can be found below. Please click the relevant links to sign up for individual events.
Note: Access to events is ONLY available to people who have purchased tickets through the GKA shop. Registration lists will be cross-referenced with purchase lists, so please ensure you use the same details to register below as you used to purchase access.
Once you have purchased your ticket, please return to this page and you will have access to links to book your spot in the individual webinars for this summit.
Click on the dates below to find out more about each of the sessions and the speakers.
| Speaker Info | Session Title & Description | Time (3 Time Zones) | ||||
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 | Melissa Leitzell CEO Golden Key International Honour Society | Opening address (Recording) |
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 | Dr. Pearline Sturdivant is an educational leader who has a passion for curriculum instruction and development. In addition, she is an author, Spoken Word and visual artist. | SMART Goals are Essential – During this session, participants will understand how essential SMART goals are. In particular, participants will learn how their goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. |
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 | Dr. Kristen Andersen-Merz has spent her career informally counseling as an educator, advisor, and mentor. With a Doctorate and Master’s in Education, a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and a deep understanding of the unconscious, she explores the profound connection between self-awareness and the relationships we build. She believes that the way we understand and accept ourselves shapes how we engage with others, influencing whether we fight for a relationship, walk away, or enjoy what it brings. This session will help you cultivate vulnerability as a path to deeper self-connection, allowing you to show up authentically in every space and build relationships that reflect your true self. | How to Navigate Relationships through Vulnerability: This session explores the role of vulnerability in building healthy, positive relationships, emphasizing its importance in fostering genuine connection and trust. It is designed for anyone willing to deepen their self-awareness and embrace vulnerability as a strength in their personal relationships. Attendees will leave with practical steps to navigate vulnerability with confidence, trust themselves in the process, and make choices that align with their emotional well-being. |
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 | Ian Bush is a father and has been an Airman, author, and fireman. Ian started his career in the Air Force in 2013 and has been stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB), ND, Pentagon, VA, and Cannon AFB, NM. In that time period, he has personally touched the lives of many Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and civilian populace through his Administration profession and his writing and firefighting passions. His ten year career has transitioned out of the DoD in 2024, where he finally recognized the importance of transitions and he desires teaching his experiences to others. | Mastering Time Management: How to make the most of each hour in your day: Discover the secrets to managing your time better from a former Airman and Fireman who previously worked with the Integrated Resilience Division at the Pentagon. This practical webinar will explore the pillars of Mental, Physical, Social, Spiritual aspects of your life, and will take a detailed approach to showing you how to break down your year into manageable categories that will help you to make the most of each and every day, and achieve your chosen goals. This session will be part-time management, but also a chance to reflect on whether you’re doing what you want to do to fulfil your life. |
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 | Ellisha Newton, M. Ed. is a Global Speaker, Builder, an Author, Innovator, and Educator who specializes in leading and building teams. As an Educator for 29+ years, she has led in Pre-K to 8th grade, in administration at various levels, and as a presenter at international conferences. Her book, “You Are Powerful!”, highlights the power of youth and adult scholars, and her book, “How to Love Your Job Daily for Educators”, assists leaders in reaching their goals while mentoring others. She is a scholar, and in her upcoming book, “Light” readers are encouraged to explore a thought-provoking journey as the first installment in a 5-book S.T.E.M. series. This book includes journal prompts to facilitate the exploration of interdisciplinary connections centered around the theme of light – encompassing scientific concepts, valuable life lessons, and opportunities for self-reflection. | You Are Powerful! IN Action!! – “You Are Powerful!” Do you know why? Join us to reveal why! During our interactive time together, you will collaborate in full body movement, reflect on the book “You Are Powerful! and bring in action!!! Part of the action includes enjoying music, art and creating your on individual 7-, 15-, 30-, 60-, 90- Day plan to have fun daily, inject jubilance in your day, practice self-care daily, understand health=wealth, and how you as a stakeholder will use what you have learned to impact the scholars in your environment, and eliminate the disparity of 60% of scholars reading 2-3 years below grade level. One hint to why you are powerful: You are a valuable stakeholder! Join us at our interactive, “You Are Powerful! IN Action!!” time together it is for you! |
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| Speaker Info | Session Title & Description | Time (3 Time Zones) | ||||
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 | Dr. André Vermeulen is the founding member and CEO of Neuro-Link, a boutique consultancy utilizing neuroscience to identify and develop talent, increase performance, reduce the risk of error, and maintain wellness. He is a thought leader in the field of Neuro Agility. As an international keynote speaker, André has contributed to numerous prestigious platforms like TEDx Johannesburg and ATD ICE. He is a regular guest on many radio and television talk shows around the globe. The prestigious award A GLOBAL LIFE OF IMPACT was awarded to Dr. Vermeulen by the iChange Nations organization for his life-long contribution to uplifting people. | Coping with Stress and Maintaining Wellness – The generally heightened pace of change and information overload is causing tremendous stress for learners at every level. Stress is your brain’s greatest enemy. It is significantly impacting your health, wellness, and performance in negative ways. During this session, Dr. André Vermeulen will explore how stress impacts your brain and offer solutions to how you can effectively cope with stress and maintain wellness during disruptive change. The following key points will be discussed: • What happens in the brain when you experience stress • How stress impacts your performance and wellness • What happens if you do not cope with change • The relationship between stress and burnout Takeaways: • Learn 5 immediate stress-coping skills • Learn a proactive approach to cope with stress and maintain wellness |
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 | Coreetha Entzminger is a doctoral student in clinical psychology and a therapist at a private practice in California. She has presented at numerous workshops through a non-profit organization called Togetherwell. She also has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Psychology. | Tools for Building Emotional Resilience – This webinar will teach individuals how to build emotional resilience when faced with unexpected stressful events or crises. Through this webinar, people will learn the tools on how to react when faced with adversity. This will also teach how to lean on their resilience as a positive coping skill. |
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 | Kathleen Yeow has over a decade of experience in leadership development, training, and organizational transformation. With a passion for empowering individuals and teams, she has successfully led initiatives that enhance leadership competencies, employee engagement, and learning outcomes. Her expertise spans across various industries, with a focus on using data-driven insights to optimize learning programs. Kathleen is also a certified coach and has worked with C-suite executives and senior leaders to help them navigate change and build high-performing teams. Her topic draws from her hands-on experience in guiding professionals to manage competing priorities and improve focus in fast-paced environments. | Debunk the Urgency Myth and Reclaim Your Focus: Join us for this webinar to explore how the constant pressure of urgency can derail productivity and wellbeing. This session is ideal for leaders, managers, and professionals feeling overwhelmed by competing priorities. Attendees will learn practical strategies to manage distractions, refocus on what matters, and implement techniques for sustainable productivity. Walk away with actionable tools to regain control of your time and create space for what truly drives success. |
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 | Sue Ellson GK BBus MPC PCDAA ASA WV MEdPlus is an Independent LinkedIn Specialist, author, educator, practitioner and consultant. She has been publishing content online since 2001, is the author of five non-fiction books on the topics of LinkedIn, Careers, Business, Hyper Local Marketing and Gigsters and her next two books will be poetry books. Since completing her university studies, Sue has been attending up to four events every week to keep herself up to date and has completed well over 1,000 presentations including four for GK. https://sueellson.com | Goal Setting – Preparing to Publish Purposefully – Is publishing online a dream of yours… but you’re not sure how to do it? Join us for this informative session with a popular return speaker who will help you to answer a range of topics relating to online publishing and make this dream a reality in 2025. Questions that will be addressed include: – How do you overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome and start publishing your content online? – What can you publish? (research, opinion, editorial, non-fiction, fiction or creative) – Where can you start publishing safely? – How should you handle criticism and negative thoughts? Who would benefit from this session? – Existing students, graduates, early career researchers and academics – High achieving individuals and leaders – Creatives interested in sharing their work online What you will take away – Lived experience stories to reflect upon and relate to your own situation – Practical strategies to start the journey and move beyond your concerns – A goal setting framework to start your publishing journey – Suggestions on what to do next |
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| Speaker Info | Session Title & Description | Time (3 Time Zones) | ||||
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 | Elyse Crofts is a dedicated health and fitness professional with over 16 years of experience as a personal trainer. Currently pursuing a degree in dietetics, she combines a strong foundation in nutrition with practical fitness expertise to help individuals achieve their wellness goals. In addition to her academic pursuits, she works as a medical sterilisation technician, further enhancing her understanding of health and safety in the medical field. As a proud member and ambassador of the GKA and a member of La Trobe University’s Excellence Academy, Elyse is committed to promoting health and well-being within the community. Over the years, she has successfully worked with hundreds of clients and currently runs an online fitness business, empowering individuals to cultivate healthier lifestyles through tailored fitness programs and nutritional guidance. With a passion for continuous learning and a commitment to helping others unlock their potential, Elyse is excited to share insights on the intersection of nutrition and fitness at the upcoming seminar, “Fuel Your Body, Ignite Your Life.” | Fuel Your Body, Ignite Your Life: The Intersection of Nutrition and Fitness – Join us for a dynamic seminar exploring the vital connection between nutrition, fitness, and their profound impact on mental well-being and academic performance. We will delve into the latest research on how balanced nutrition and regular exercise can enhance cognitive function and reduce stress. Key topics include understanding the role of macronutrients and micronutrients in brain health and the benefits of physical activity for mental clarity. Attendees will learn about creating meal plans that support academic focus and incorporating fitness into a busy academic lifestyle. This seminar is ideal for students, academics, and health enthusiasts aiming to boost their mental acuity and manage stress effectively. Gain practical tools and resources to make informed choices that enhance both your mind and academic success! |
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 | Vanessa Bush is a business development and higher education leader with over 15 years of experience. As a young girl, Vanessa gravitated toward books and, much to her parents’ surprise, read her first one at age two. Since then, she has created short stories and poems, the latter of which have been published in various magazines. A graduate of both the University of New Hampshire and Northeastern University, she considers herself a true supporter of lifelong learning. In 2023, Vanessa published her first non-fiction book called ‘Embracing Your Perfectionist Self”, embodying her commitment to valuing progress over true perfection. | Progress, Not Perfection: Are you a perfectionist who finds it getting in the way of work and life? Do you wonder if there are better ways to channel your anxiety and need for control and order? In “Progress, not Perfection”, hear from Golden Key alumna and author Vanessa Bush, who will share stories, research and advice on how to embrace perfectionism in healthier ways. Attendees will walk away with ideas and strategies on how to find a healthy balance between expectations and reality. |
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| Speaker Info | Session Title & Description | Time (3 Time Zones) | ||||
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 | Tom Themeles specializes in data science, generative AI, education, business solutions, and the customer journey. He has academic degrees in science, humanities, and education, as well as certificates and credentials in data science and cybersecurity. He helps small businesses and startups transform their operations through the automation of workflows and processes, utilize data for business analytics, develop and implement custom customer experiences and support, utilize generative AI to increase productivity, and provide up to date cybersecurity guidelines and solutions. Tom previously presented to venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, and business professionals on how to invest, start a business, and transform your business using Generative AI. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and available for consultation, public speaking, fractional work, research, and as an advisor. | Future of Productivity: Generative AI and its applications – Generative AI is transforming industries by improving productivity, efficiency, and creativity from creating content to automating tasks, all while enhancing decision-making processes. It is rapidly gaining traction across various industries and occupations as well as transforming the way we work. This webinar will introduce you to the world of Generative AI, how it works, how to increase your productivity, and selecting the platforms, products, and models to suit your needs. |
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 | Anton Camarota PhD is CEO and Owner of WorldMakers, an organizational consultancy for Fortune 1000 clients as well as numerous emerging companies and small businesses. Anton helps leaders and managers achieve leadership excellence while overcoming the multi-faceted challenges of sustaining their operations. As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Camarota has extensive experience in university education and has developed classes in management and leadership for both on-ground and online learners. Anton is a frequent speaker at international conferences where he presents cutting edge organizational leadership and sustainable business management seminars. | Say it Now, Do It Now, and Believe in Yourself – Young professionals must navigate a world of rapid change, fewer safety nets, and constant pressure to adapt. In this webinar we acknowledge the uncertainty many feel about success, and present strategies for thriving in the face of constant change and increasing complexity. Participants will understand how lifelong learning, meaningful work, strong relationships, integrity, and personal agency can help to create career stability and a meaningful life. The key take aways are (1) an understanding of how to move forward while maintaining personal integrity, and (2) how to define strategies for both short-term and long-term success. |
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 | Dr. Melanie Sue Hicks is a powerhouse in workforce strategy, employee experience, and corporate training, guiding hundreds of clients—from startups to global organizations—toward success. A fearless traveler and philanthropist, she has journeyed over 120,000 miles across 44+ countries, dedicating more than 2,500 hours to service work that deepened her expertise in resilience and human connection. As the author of Incongruent: Travel, Trauma, Transformation and curator of Shaking Off the Ashes, she transforms adversity into inspiration through storytelling. Her words have graced the pages of Forbes.com, Marie Claire, Authority Magazine, and more, proving that resilience isn’t just a theory—it’s a way of life. Leading both InPursuit Consulting and Inked Elephant Publishing, she helps businesses thrive and emerging authors shine, earning recognition from Forbes, NBC, and CBS along the way. | Cultivating creativity in your daily life – Interested in making creative activities a bigger part of your personal or professional life in 2025? Join author, adventuror and philanthropist Melanie Hicks as she walks you through her signature methodology for connecting with your inner creative, avoiding the creative gremlins like writers block, dealing with “Shiny Object Syndrome”, learning how to deal with the Procrastination Train, and becoming “an artist who ships”. This session will be inspirational but also practical, and will be useful for anyone interested in taking a first step towards creativity or developing an existing creative practice. |
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| Speaker Info | Session Title & Description | Time (3 Time Zones) | ||||
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 | Lisa Walker Holloway is a passionate leader with more than 20 years of corporate coaching and development experience. As the founder and CEO of JMC Career Solutions & Consulting she coaches, women, entrepreneurs, mid-level professionals and millennials on how to set and crush their goals. Lisa is a certified life coach, a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member and the author of the Get It journal, a guided goal setting journal. Lisa’s mission is to spark personal power and to inspire purpose. | Reinvent Yourself in 2025:Transform Your Mindset, Elevate Your Skills, and Step into Your Best Self: Join us for this powerful masterclass designed to help you unlock your potential, break free from old patterns and create a bold new vision for your life and career. This session really highlights the importance of intentional living, aligning your vision with your goals and using Lisa’s 3D Success Formula to create the best version of yourself through goal setting. |
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 | After experiencing burnout in the high-stress oil and gas industry, Megan shifted her focus to health and wellness. She discovered a passion for coaching physical well-being but recognized the need to build mental resilience, leading her to study positive psychology. Megan founded Life Force Wellness LLC to help organizations create healthier work cultures by prioritizing employee well-being. With a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in psychology, she specializes in work-life balance and corporate wellness. She holds multiple certifications, including personal training, health coaching, nutrition coaching, corporate wellness, positive psychology, stress management, and sleep and recovery coaching. | Self Care for Caregivers: Juggling the responsibilities of caregiving—whether for aging parents, children, or others—while managing work and personal growth can be overwhelming. Stress management, healthy eating, quality sleep, and self-care are often neglected, yet they are essential for overall well-being. This one-hour virtual workshop provides valuable insights into the importance of stress management and self-care, equipping employees with practical strategies to maintain both their physical and mental health. |
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