The 2026 World BRMConnect® Conference

Title: How to Train Your Business (Dragons)

About this Session:

Building and shaping dynamic value-driven relationships across a diverse organization is difficult ….but not impossible. In this session, we will start with self-discovery and purpose then look at the growth stages and events through the beginning and development of a dynamic business relationship.

As we progress to develop a relationship we will look at BRM tools for each stage and how they will ensure a solid foundation and growth in a business relationship. As a backdrop to our session, we will look at examples from the movie How to Train Your Dragon.

How did Hiccup and Toothless’ relationship change their village (organization) future? Come and experience the growth, tools, and some fun examples that you can use in your daily life.

Session Title: Network Weaving & Neuroinclusion: Building Partnerships that Last

About this Session:

Strong partnerships don’t happen by chance—they’re woven through intentional connections and diverse perspectives. This session explores how network weaving and neurodivergent thinking can accelerate collaboration and drive results under pressure. You’ll learn practical techniques to design resilient networks, co-create value in complex environments, and harness cognitive diversity as a strategic advantage. Leave equipped to build partnerships that deliver faster outcomes while fostering inclusion and adaptability across your organization.

Session Title: Seeing the Business, the Way the Business Sees It: Capability Modeling as the Trust Engine

About this Session:

Business Relationship Managers often struggle to break free from tactical work. Business Capability Modeling offers a practical and collaborative way to shift the conversation — and the relationship toward strategy.

This session explores how capability modeling help BRMs understand the business on its own terms, reveal value opportunities, and leverage shared language to build credibility. You will see how capability modeling uncovers misaligned investments, reveals hidden strengths, opportunities, and sparks strategic dialogue that positions the BRM as a trusted advisor.

Workshop Title:Trust as Infrastructure: The Hidden System Behind Innovation, AI, and Resilience

About this Session: 

The Problem: Leading tech initiatives at the work while managing crisis care for my 92-year-old mother with dementia. I thought I had to do it alone—failing at both, exhausted, out of options.

What shifted: I told my manager and team the truth. HR policies I didn’t know existed surfaced. My team built coverage protocols so I could handle emergencies without dropping commitments. Then came the hardest part: a candid conversation with the care facility about what truly counts as an emergency, when to call, and how to start the call so I wouldn’t panic. Connection became the foundation—then AI amplified information management and decision support.

What Participants Will Learn: How honest partnerships make complexity manageable and how tech can scale humanity without replacing it. You’ll see the moment vulnerability created capacity, how teams design convergence strategies, and why connection isn’t “soft”—it’s resilience.

Coming Soon!

Session Title: BRM Unbound: Going Where the Business Needs You

About this Session:

Three years ago, I thought BRM success meant having the right answers. I built the playbooks, rolled out the templates, and helped define the role. On paper, it worked.

Then the scope grew—from a process, to an organization, to nearly a third of the company—and I learned the hard truth: clarity doesn’t show up when things are working. It shows up when they’re breaking.

The work that mattered most wasn’t clean or well-defined. It was messy, ambiguous, politically charged, and quietly failing. That’s where BRM stopped being a framework and became a responsibility.

In this session, I’ll share what changed when I stopped managing demand and started navigating uncertainty—how to anticipate shifting tides, build trust through empathy and curiosity, and deliver real value when the path forward isn’t obvious.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” BRM things and still wondering if it’s enough, you won’t want to miss this.

Session Title: Inviting Innovation: Spark Efficiency, Insight and Growth

About this Session: 

In high-performing organizations, innovation and efficiency don’t happen by accident—they are intentionally invited in. Business Relationship Managers partner with executive leaders to uncover opportunities, align priorities, and turn ideas into meaningful outcomes through trusted relationships and strategic dialogue.

In this session, we’ll explore how BRMs shape demand, surface efficiencies, and guide responsible adoption of emerging technologies like AI to drive enterprise value. Through real-world insights, you’ll discover practical ways to engage leadership, co-create innovation, and help your organization operate smarter and faster.

Session Title: Performing Under Fire! Resilience in a Time of Significant Cultural Shifts

About this Session: 

In this powerful and personal session, I’ll open with a brief story of my own journey through a toxic workplace—an experience that challenged me, reshaped my perspective, and ultimately led me to the BRM Institute and a career path I now know is exactly where I’m meant to be.

From there, we’ll shift to you—exploring practical ways to navigate negative cultures and poor leadership while protecting yourself, documenting challenges effectively, and standing tall in the face of adversity. We’ll also touch on the critical role of self-care, mindset, and personal growth, because resilience isn’t just about getting through—it’s about rising stronger, with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Session Title: “One Show, Multiple Teams: What a Rock Tour Teaches About Alignment at Scale”

About this Session: 

Every organization has strong teams. Logistics, delivery, operations, and leadership all doing what they are supposed to do. And yet, execution still breaks down.

This session uses the metaphor of a major rock band tour to explore why. The show does not fail on stage. It fails in the handoffs behind the scenes. When teams are aligned on their role but not on the outcome, speed disappears and friction takes over.

Participants will experience how misalignment shows up across a system, and more importantly, how to correct it. They will leave with a clearer understanding of how to align ownership, decision rights, and tradeoffs so that strategy does not just sound good in the room but actually works in execution

Session Title: The Bridge that Started to Break

About this Session: 

During Relationship Health Assessments across multiple clinical departments, initial feedback felt validating—leaders repeatedly said, “If it wasn’t for Ken, we’d be scoring this a two or three.” At first, it seemed like a sign of strong relationships and effective communication.

But a deeper look at the data revealed a different truth: the scores weren’t tied to consistent processes or shared understanding of IT—they depended on long‑tenured individuals. Trust was following people, not the system. I realized I wasn’t just supporting relationships; I was the bridge. And if I stepped away, the structure underneath might not hold.

This session highlighted the importance of shifting from individual-dependent relationships to building durable, system-level trust and processes

Session Title: Connection: Three Women, Three Journeys, One BRM Mindset

About this Panel: 

Organizational change often treats job elimination as an individual event. In reality, it’s a relationship challenge—testing trust, resilience, and the strength of professional networks.

This panel brings together three BRM professionals who experienced job elimination from different roles and organizations. While their journeys diverged, their response converged through intentional connection.

Panelists will share how BRM skills—relationship building, strategic communication, empathy, influence without authority, and value-based thinking—became essential tools for navigating uncertainty. Through mutual support, honest dialogue, and shared perspective, they transformed disruption into momentum.

Attendees will gain insight into how a professional community can serve as a stabilizing force during career disruption, and how BRM competencies extend beyond organizational boundaries. This session highlights resilience with purpose and the power of connection in times of change.

Session Title: What Drives YOU

About this Session: 

Session Title: Buy-In Breakthrough

About this Session: