The 2025 World BRMConnect® Conference | Speakers & Agenda

The Path to Becoming an Advanced Relationship Leader

In a world reshaped by AI, the most enduring advantage isn’t speed or scale—it’s the strength of relationships. This keynote explores how leaders can drive meaningful, sustained transformation by leading with purpose, fostering trust as a core operating system, and orchestrating change with human-centered intention.

Advanced Relationship Leadership—a powerful framework that puts relationships, not just results, at the heart of leadership. As complexity rises and AI accelerates change, the ability to align diverse teams, break down silos, and lead with presence becomes a differentiator. This is a bold and timely approach on how to lead through uncertainty by strengthening the one capability machines can’t replicate: our human capacity to build trust, inspire others, and lead through connection.

Design for Value- a BRM Superpower

Execution is paramount to a product’s success. Even more important is the thought put into the product’s design. In this interactive session, we’ll discuss how BRMs are perfectly positioned to keep a partner’s needs and wants centric to design. And how use of this BRM “superpower” can make the difference between a smash success… and just a smash.

Andrea will be the official EMCEE for BRMConnect!

BRM Unleashed – Why Personal Growth Matters. 

Description:  In this Storyteller session, We will engage in conversation to understand why BRM’s are challenged to achieve personal growth, and how we can understand how Failure, Self-Awareness, and Embracing change can lead to personal growth. In addition, we will understand the personal growth process and how it can provide structure for learning to achieve our potential as BRM’s, and in turn, share that knowledge with our coworkers and communities.

Session: The Four “Love Languages” of a BRM

The ” languages” of a Business Relationship Manager (BRM) can be expanded refer to the four key communication styles or ways to effectively interact with different stakeholders, which are: “Words of Affirmation,” “Quality Time,” “Acts of Service,” and “Gifts,”; essentially mirroring the concept of “The Five Love Languages” developed by Gary Chapman, where the focus is on understanding how people best receive appreciation and define value. Being attuned to your partner’s ‘frequency’ can deliver better outcomes in satisfaction, engagement, productivity and trust development. Creating actionable measurable ways to not only tailor the BRM experience to meet your partners ‘language, but thinking bigger about experience metrics (XLAs) can revolutionize relationship health and measuring the value of the BRM experience.

Workshop: Listening as a Scientific Superpower!

Join us as we dig into the proven science behind effective listening, concise communication, impactful goal setting, and creating experiences aligned to your business partners’ love languages. Using neuroscience research and the validated ECHO Listening Framework, you’ll discover how to create measurable brain-to-brain connection with stakeholders and deliver personalized experiences that make people feel genuinely heard. You will gain the knowledge, skills, and tools to transform every business relationship through the power of intentional listening. The question isn’t whether you can create neural synchrony and deeper connections—the science proves you can. The question is: Will you? 

Navigating Conflict: Utilizing Interest Based Problem Solving and Other Tools for Conflict Resolution

Conflict is an inevitable part of collaboration, but when approached with the right mindset and tools, it can become a catalyst for stronger partnerships and better decision-making. In this session, let’s explore practical tools and techniques for managing disagreements, fostering an open dialogue and transform conflict from a roadblock- into a powerful tool for growth.

From Growth to Greatness: A BRMs Journey in Building a Community of Practice

This session will share the story of a BRM’s career development and the creation of a community of practice. Tyeasha will share her personal insights, experience and expertise as she shares why community is essential for professional development and where to start for those who are new BRMs.

Three Key Takeaways from this session are

• Career Development Strategies- Learn practical approaches for growth as a BRM
• Building a Community of Practice- Understand the steps and best practices involved in creating and nuturing a Community of Practice within an organization.
• Leadership and Collaboration- Gain insights into effective leadership and the importance of collaboration in driving the success of a supportive community.

Enhancing Cell Therapy Supply Chain for Patients with Cancer

Team stories from a cutting-edge perspective on fighting cancer. This panel will focus on five short stories about delivering more for our patients through CAR-T therapies. Please join us for this incredibly powerful panel.

The Value of Maturity in a Conglomerate 

Determining where your technology team lands on the Relationship Maturity Model is only the start. Charting the path ahead of where you want to go requires a strategic plan to influence this change not only within your teams, but also within the broader organization.

This session is delivered virtually with live Q&A

The Missing Ingredient: How Intuition Powers Business Relationship Management

This presentation explores how Business Relationship Managers (BRMs) can revolutionize their roles by integrating intuitive insights and empathetic leadership with strategic practices. Drawing from personal experience and real-world examples, it demonstrates how the often-overlooked power of intuition—grounded in pattern recognition and emotional intelligence—can create stronger connections, foster trust, and drive measurable value across organizations. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to align professional goals with human-centric leadership, empowering teams, inspiring collaboration, and enhancing all four core BRM competencies. This session is designed to challenge traditional leadership norms and inspire BRMs to embrace a bold, purpose-driven approach that bridges the gap between the tangible and the intangible for long-term success.

Beyond Comfort Zones: Empowering Business Relationship Managers for Peak Performance 

Growth doesn’t happen by standing still—and neither does excellence in Business Relationship Management. In this interactive session, we’ll explore the power of pushing past personal and professional comfort zones to unlock new potential as a BRM. Through personal stories and insightful interviews with BRMs across multiple organizations, we’ll dive into:

• Identifying comfort zones and their impact
• Strategies to go beyond your comfort zone
• Developing new skills and building confidence
• Measuring success and achieving growth 

Yelling at Sidewalks & Screaming into Pillows: Transforming Negativity into Creative Power

 In this interactive session, we’ll explore how iconic innovators like Frida Kahlo and Elvis Presley channeled powerful emotions like anger, grief, and hopelessness and into groundbreaking success. These “negative” emotions are often seen as barriers, but in reality, they hold the key to creativity and personal growth.

Through hands-on activities, group discussions, and self-reflection exercises, you’ll learn how to turn emotions like fear and anger into productive energy. In a safe and supportive environment, we’ll dive into shadow work and practical strategies to help you show up as your most authentic, creative self.

By the end of the session, you’ll leave with actionable tools to enhance communication, build stronger relationships, and unlock your full potential for personal and professional growth.

The Power of Questions: Crafting a Purposeful Narrative

In this session, we’ll explore how the right questions can shape, refine, and amplify a purposeful narrative. As BRMs build relationships, looking to evolve the culture, questions serve as powerful tools to unlock deeper insights, drive engagement, and foster meaningful connections. We’ll examine how to structure questions to guide conversations, challenge assumptions, and inspire action. It’s critically important that you create a pull vs push when driving change. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, attendees will leave with practical strategies to use inquiry as a catalyst for more compelling and effective narratives.

Our Brains Work Differently—And That’s a Good Thing for Relationships!

Session: This presentation explores how recognizing and valuing varied ways of thinking, cognitive approaches, processing information, and engaging with others can strengthen Business Relationship Management (BRM). By understanding and adapting to diverse cognitive patterns, communication styles, and problem-solving approaches, through BRM we can build more inclusive and effective relationship networks. These differences are not barriers—they are assets that drive better collaboration, innovation, and results. Creating environments where all thinking styles are acknowledged and supported benefits the entire organization, enabling deeper trust, better learning, and improved performance across the board.

Rebuilding Bridges: Trust as the Foundation of Relationship-Centered Leadership

Workshop Description:
Trust is the foundation of every successful relationship—but trust can be strained or even broken. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the essential role of trust in Business Relationship Management using the Trust Triangle framework (authenticity, logic, empathy) as a lens. We’ll dive into practical exercises to identify trust builders and breakers in our daily work, and engage in meaningful discussions about how to recognize and repair damaged relationships.

Participants will leave with:

• A deeper understanding of how trust impacts collaboration and influence
• Insight into their own trust patterns and how others may perceive them
• Tools for addressing trust breakdowns and taking intentional steps toward repair
• Strategies for fostering trust within complex networks of stakeholders

Whether you’re navigating a difficult relationship or looking to strengthen team dynamics, this workshop offers a safe space to reflect, connect, and build stronger foundations for your BRM practice.

The BRM Success Blueprint: Steps to Build (or Revitalize) a High Impac Program

A thriving BRM program doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built with a clear vision, a strong strategy, and a proven path. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revitalize a program that’s struggling to show value, this workshop will give you the roadmap to success. Drawing on years of experience launching and strengthening BRM capabilities across industries, Jeff Warren will guide you through the essential stages—from building a business-aligned strategy and integrating into the IT operating model to engaging business partners through clear, compelling communication. You’ll leave with practical steps to strengthen IT-business alignment, avoid common pitfalls, and position BRM as a trusted, strategic powerhouse in your organization.

It’s Loud In Here: Initiating and Sustaining the BRM Culture in a Changing Organization

How to initiate and establish a BRM practice in an organization that is undergoing change. How to focus on areas that bring the most value and results. How to create sustainable and replicable best practices that sustain the momentum.

Building the BRM Plane at 30,000 feet while flying it.

 A story about our journey at SMPH-IIT around setting up a new BRM group while also consolidating 18 different IT Departments into one large group. All the while maintaining existing services and due to “politics” not being able to hire extra staff. How the traditional approach to forming a BRM group does not work here.

Strategy on a Page (SOAP) Meets AI: Revolutionize Strategy Development

Ready to take your strategic planning to the next level? In this dynamic session, you’ll master the BRM “Strategy on a Page” (SOAP) approach and discover how to supercharge it with the power of AI. Learn how to seamlessly integrate AI tools with SOAP and the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) framework to streamline strategy creation, drive alignment with execution, and improve communication across your organization. Packed with real-world examples, ready-to-use prompts, and actionable insights, this session will equip you with practical tools to make strategy development faster, smarter, and more impactful—starting today!

AI Adoption to Manage Business Relationships and Deliver Results

AI is no longer a futuristic concept- it is a powerful enabler of relationship-centered value creation. This session will cover the practical approaches for BRMs adopting AI to strengthen business relationships, drive informed decision making, and deliver measurable outcomes.

This session is delivered virtually with live Q&A

Say it for me: Creating a Culture of BRM Advocacy

In Say it for Me: Creating a Culture of BRM Advocacy, we’ll explore how to elevate the BRM role by empowering others to tell your story. From shifting perceptions to building influence, this session dives into the strategic importance of advocacy, the consequences when it’s missing, and practical ways to foster it. You’ll learn how to equip business partners and leaders with the language, mindset, and tools to champion BRM value—from micro-coaching moments to memorable signature phrases. Through interactive practice, you’ll leave with a ready-to-use advocacy statement that speaks their language and amplifies your impact.

This session is delivered virtually with live Q&A