Agenda: Oct. 22, 2025
NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit:
Powering Your Future Career With Skills and Collaboration
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 | 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT-4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Please see below for the agenda for the upcoming virtual summit, and be sure to register now.
Agenda:
10-11 AM ET/7-8 AM PT – Opening Keynote Session:
Agency Culture – How to Define It, Improve It and Manage It
A strong agency culture is the backbone of effective public service. This keynote will explore how to define your agency’s identity, foster a collaborative environment, and lead with purpose. You’ll learn how to build a culture that supports mission-driven work, boosts morale, and helps your team thrive—even in the face of bureaucratic challenges.
The 5 Skills You Need to Thrive in Government
Success in government requires more than just technical know-how. This session highlights the five essential skills—like adaptability, communication, and critical thinking—that will help you navigate complexity, serve your community more effectively, and grow your career in public service.
11-11:15 AM ET/8-8:15 AM PT – Break
11:15 AM-12:15 PM ET/8:15-9:15 AM PT – Breakout Session Round 1 (1 CPE Credit):
Building Strong Money Management Skills
- Anthony Zerante, Chief Strategy Officer, Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies (WAEPA)
- Gabe Collins, Sr. Partner and Chief Revenue Officer, EngageIT Pro
Being financially healthy is a critical part of overall wellness. Whether it is having an emergency fund, saving for retirement, or having life insurance, it is critical to understand the steps you can take to safeguard yourself and your family’s future. In this lightning keynote, you’ll hear the key components that make up a sound financial plan and strategies you can use to reach financial security.
Key Takeaway: Learn how to prioritize your financial goals and create a more balanced financial picture.
Building Resilient Teams: How Cross-Skilling Creates the Expert Generalist
As government agencies face rising demands, tighter budgets, and rapid technological change, traditional hiring and training models are no longer enough. This session explores cross-skilling—expanding employees’ knowledge into complementary domains—to build adaptable, collaborative teams. Attendees will learn how this approach transforms specialists into expert generalists who can tackle complex challenges across areas like AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and data management, while also discovering practical strategies to embed continuous learning through microlearning, hands-on labs, and data-driven insights that strengthen both career growth and organizational resiliency.
Key Takeaway: You’ll learn how to expand your knowledge and skill sets with cross-skilling.
Working With Challenging Personalities
No matter your agency or role, you’ve probably run into colleagues who you find easy to work with, while others test your patience daily. This interactive session gives you practical tools to navigate those dynamics with confidence. You’ll learn how to identify the underlying causes of workplace friction (it’s not always what you think). We’ll also cover practical communication techniques to foster more constructive and respectful relationships.By the end, you’ll walk away with ideas you can apply immediately to reduce interpersonal stress, stay focused on your mission, and help create a healthier team culture.
Key Takeaway: Improve your interpersonal skills with colleagues and management.
Decision-Making – How to Open Yourself Up to New Ideas
Agencies have long had the reputation of being organizations that uphold the status quo rather than challenges it. But government decisions directly impact lives—so how do you ensure they’re informed, inclusive, and innovative? This session explores how to challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make smarter, more forward-thinking choices in your role.
Key Takeaway: Discover why open-mindedness is a professional skill – and asset.
Networking With Purpose: Tips for Creating Meaningful Relationships
In government, relationships are everything. This session will teach you how to build authentic, strategic connections that support your career and your agency’s goals. Learn how to network with intention—whether you’re collaborating across departments or engaging with external partners.
Key Takeaway: Expand your network with meaningful relationships.
12:15-12:30 PM ET/9:15-9:30 AM PT – Break
12:30-1:30 PM ET/9:30-10:30 AM PT – Lunch Keynote Session:
When Resilience and Burnout Collide: How to Stay Engaged, Stay Healthy and Stay Motivated During Difficult Times
Government employees at every level of government are facing unprecedented workloads and stress. The perfect storm of shrinking resources, unreasonable demands from the workforce and managers, and the continued lack of respect for all of the transactional and strategic work in a HR shop are taking a toll on even the strongest and most optimistic HR leaders. This keynote will focus on how burnout can actually strengthen resilience and lead to business optimization and better performance outcomes.
2025 NextGen Public Service Award Winner Presention
Please join us in celebrating ths year’s award winners as we take time to recognize their dedication and commitment to excellence in public service.
Rediscovering Your Why
Public service is a calling—but even the most dedicated professionals can lose sight of their purpose. This keynote invites you to reconnect with the values that brought you to government work, helping you find renewed energy and meaning in your role.
1:30-1:45 PM ET/10:30-10:45 AM PT – Break
1:45-2:45 PM ET/10:45-11:45 AM PT – Breakout Session Round 2 (1 CPE Credit):
What Is AI Prompt Engineering and How Do You Excel at It?
AI is reshaping how government delivers services and solves problems. This session introduces prompt engineering as a critical skill for leveraging GenAI tools in your daily work. Learn how to craft effective prompts that enhance productivity, streamline communication, and support data-informed decision-making.
Key Takeaway: Learn the basics of AI prompt-engineering.
Make Yourself Agile
Agility is essential in a world where policy, technology, and public needs are constantly evolving. This session shows how to apply agile thinking to government work—helping you adapt quickly, collaborate effectively, and deliver better outcomes for the communities you serve.
Key Takeaway: You’ll better understand how to adapt to changing dynamics at your agency.
Humanizing the Way You Communicate
In this session, you’ll learn how self-awareness helps you recognize blind spots in your communication, how meaningful language makes your message easier to act on, and how predictive intelligence prevents confusion before it slows progress. With these approaches, you’ll see how clear communication creates stronger teams and more trusted outcomes for the public.
Key Takeaway: Discover how a humanized approach to communication fosters trust, strengthens culture, and establishes clearer connections with your most valuable audiences.
Connecting the Workforce: What Can Leaders Do?
A study from the Meyer, Davis & Shoorman measured three perceptions of senior leadership, and found 49% rate they trust their leadership. That means that more than half of government employees are feeling a strong disconnect and lack of connection to their teams. So what can be done? Learn how managers and teams can regain trust and connectedness in government.
Key Takeaway: We’ll focus on the elements that create trust in government teams.
Finding the Good in Imposter Syndrome
Even the most accomplished public servants can feel underqualified or ill-equipped to handle new challenges. This session reframes imposter syndrome as a sign of growth and commitment. Learn how to turn self-doubt into a source of motivation and resilience as you navigate your career.
Key Takeaway: Hear strategies and tips for overcoming imposter syndrome.
2:45-3 PM ET/11:45 AM-12 PM PT – Break
3-4 PM ET/12-1 PM PT – Closing Keynote Session:
Reground With Strengths: Coping With Burnout
Burnout is common in mission-driven work—but it doesn’t have to mean losing yourself or your passion. In this keynote, you’ll discover how your strengths can guide you through hard times, helping you reground in your purpose and reignite your energy. This session will show you how to use what already makes you strong to tackle challenges with clarity, resilience, and renewed inspiration.
Gov Thought Leaders Panel – I’m in Government Because…
- Madiha D. Latif, Chief Administrative Officer, U.S. Census Bureau
- Sylvonia Washington, Federal Government Employee
Hear from fellow public servants about what drives them to serve. This candid panel will explore the personal stories, challenges, and triumphs that define a career in government—and remind you why your work matters more than ever.
