MnCMN Change Summit - From Conversation to Commitment: Practical Facilitation for Change Leaders (Virtual)

Description

Most change initiatives struggle not because organizations lack frameworks or plans, but because leaders and teams have difficulty creating the conversations that build understanding, ownership, and commitment.

In this interactive virtual Change Summit, Dr. Irina Fursman and Anne Sutton will introduce practical facilitation methods designed to help groups move from discussion to shared understanding and meaningful action. Rather than simply talking about facilitation, participants will experience it firsthand through guided breakout conversations, structured dialogue, and collaborative engagement techniques grounded in Technology of Participation (ToP) methods.

This session will explore how intentional facilitation can help change leaders:

• Engage diverse perspectives
• Build trust and shared ownership
• Navigate complexity and ambiguity
• Surface collective insight
• Strengthen stakeholder commitment during change

What You'll Learn:

Participants will leave with practical techniques they can immediately apply to:

• Change initiatives and transformation efforts
• Stakeholder engagement conversations
• Strategic planning sessions
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Team and leadership facilitation
• Organizational communication and alignment efforts

Whether you lead change efforts, influence adoption, facilitate teams, or support organizational transformation, this session will provide practical tools and fresh perspective on the human side of change leadership.

 Who Should Attend:

This session is designed for professionals who help people navigate change, collaboration, and organizational transformation, including:

• Change management and organizational effectiveness practitioners
• Leaders responsible for guiding teams through change
• Project managers, product managers, and transformation leads
• Communication, learning, and stakeholder engagement professionals
• Consultants, facilitators, coaches, and advisors supporting organizational change
• Anyone looking to strengthen participation, alignment, and ownership in group conversations

Speakers:

Dr. Irina Fursman

Dr. Irina Fursman is the Co-Founder and CEO of HueLife, LLC and an expert facilitator, strategist, and leadership development practitioner specializing in collaborative engagement and organizational transformation. With a doctorate in Organization Development from the University of St. Thomas, Irina has spent her career helping organizations navigate complexity through participatory leadership, facilitation, and strategic planning. Irina is a licensed Technology of Participation (ToP) trainer and facilitator and the creator of the HUE™ (Human Understanding & Engagement) framework, which integrates facilitation, communication, and collaborative leadership practices to strengthen organizational effectiveness. Her work spans local government, nonprofits, educational institutions, coalitions, and community-based initiatives across the United States and internationally. Irina is especially passionate about helping leaders create environments where people feel heard, valued, and empowered to contribute meaningfully to change efforts.

Anne Sutton

Anne Sutton is the founder of Straight Talk Communication Consulting and brings more than 20 years of experience in change communication and organizational engagement to her clients. Anne specializes in helping organizations strengthen communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership alignment during periods of change and transformation. With extensive experience supporting corporate and not-for-profit clients, Anne brings a practical and human-centered approach to change leadership. Her work focuses on helping leaders move beyond transactional communication toward meaningful engagement that builds trust, clarity, and commitment. Anne has worked in the United States and globally, applying facilitation methods in a variety of industries and settings, both in-person and virtual. She is passionate about helping her clients and other change practitioners develop the conversational and collaborative skills necessary for successful transformation.