UVA Wise presents Leadercast Legacy of Impact

The UVA Wise Office of Community & Economic Development is excited to bring back the popular Leadercast Conference to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA.

Please note this is a broadcast event with some in-person engagement. A certificate of participation is available for continuing education credits.

Great leaders don’t just lead in the moment—they leave a lasting impact that shapes the future. Leadercast 2025: Legacy of Impact is a transformational experience designed to equip leaders with the insights, strategies, and inspiration to build a meaningful legacy in their organizations, communities, and industries. This year’s world-class speakers, including visionaries like Jesse Cole, Dominique Dawes, Andy Stanley, and Jon Gordon, will explore what it means to lead with purpose, influence, and resilience.

Attendees will gain actionable leadership lessons on how to cultivate a culture of excellence, develop the next generation of leaders, and create enduring success beyond their tenure. Whether you’re an executive, an entrepreneur, or an emerging leader, this event will challenge you to redefine your leadership impact—not just for today, but for years to come.

About Leadercast:

Leadercast’s mission is to fill the world with leaders worth following by connecting them with thought-provoking resources and transformative leadership lessons featuring experts and peers who dare to take the business world by storm.

Info: For a long time, Andy Stanley didn't put much value on legacy. He thought, “Why should I care what people think about me when I’m gone, because I’ll be gone.” Another part of him thought leaders who did consider legacy were maybe a bit too wrapped up in themselves because it seemed self-serving. He realized over time that his original perception about legacy couldn’t be further from the truth. “True legacy is about leaving the people in the organization better off than they were before we got there,” Andy explains. It’s not, “What did I do for the organization?” It’s, “What did I do for the people of the organization?” When properly understood, legacy forces leaders to think and move beyond themselves by putting others first and asking, “When I’m
gone, are people better off because of me?”

Info: At 19, Dominique Dawes made history during the 1996 Olympics as the first U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team to win a gold medal. Her podium moment was shared with six of her teammates, the Magnificent Seven. It’s a moment that would have never happened had they stuck to a me-first mindset. Before the Olympics, “Each and every one of us focused on me, myself and I,” says Dominique of her team. Until the day their coach taught them the value of TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. From that point, they made a concerted effort to leave their egos on the sidelines and work as a team, even if the sport is inherently individual. They cheered each other on during practices and started viewing one another as friends instead of competing enemies. Now, looking back on her time at the Olympics, Dominique rarely considers the destination of her success—the podium moment. She thinks about the journey and how a team doesn't work when the focus is on one person and their goals, dreams, and achievements.

Info: Enjoy a catered lunch with the opportunity to meet-and-greet fellow Leadercast attendees.

Info: When Jesse Cole and his wife began to pursue their dream of starting their own baseball team almost a decade ago, it wasn’t going well. In their first three months, they sold only two tickets. They were doing all the things other teams do to be successful, and yet they were running out of money. Everything shifted when they stepped outside the norm by changing the team’s name to the “Savannah Bananas” and moved their focus to a “fans first” experience. Now, the Savannah Bananas team is considered the greatest show in sports, with all their games selling out and millions on the waitlist. Often, leaders are so focused on chasing customers or keeping up with competitors that they fail to create real fans. Jesse shares his five Es for creating raving fans that leaders can use to stand out and establish an unforgettable experience and brand connection.

Info: It's not the pessimists who change the world. “Throughout history, it’s the believers, the dreamers, the doers, the positive leaders who make the greatest impact,” says Jon Gordon, who learned the value of positivity after stress and negativity nearly cost him his marriage when he lost his job during the Dot-Com Bubble. Since then, he shifted his mindset to positivity and now inspires others to do the same to be their most successful. “Being a positive leader doesn’t just
make you better, it makes everyone around you better,” shares Jon. Positive leadership elevates people and performance. It enables leaders to find a way through adversity and navigate a world where negativity lurks around every corner. Teams need positive leadership now more than ever. Set yourself apart by leading positively and inspiring others to pursue a better future together.

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