This dynamic, data-driven keynote confronts the urgent challenges of plummeting workplace morale and employee disengagement—trends well-documented in leading studies, organizational assessments, and labor market analyses. In an era marked by political polarization, economic uncertainty, and strained public funding, professionals across all sectors face mounting pressure to perform while supporting both their well-being and that of their teams. Drawing from current national data and frontline insight, Aaron Leson will illuminate how dwindling investments in workforce and career development, along with chronic labor market stressors, are undermining cohesion, resilience, and productivity within organizations. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable, trauma-informed strategies to meet these challenges head-on—restoring a sense of purpose, connection, and hope in the workplace.

Learning Objectives: 

• Unpack key Gallup and Lightcast data illustrating historical lows in employee morale and engagement.
• Explore the impact of political and economic uncertainty on leadership effectiveness and funding streams.
• Equip leaders with strategies for personal resilience, self-care, and fostering psychologically safe work environments.
  
  
  

Aaron Lesson

Aaron Leson is a passionate champion for employee engagement, career development, and the transformative power of education and training. As the Director of Training and Development at TAD Grants—a leading provider of organizational training, leadership development, technical assistance, evaluation, and strategic planning for workforce professionals—Aaron travels nationwide to deliver immersive presentations and trainings that empower individuals and teams alike. Through his work, he emphasizes the vital role of authentic communication and meaningful relationships in cultivating purpose and impact in the workplace. A dynamic and relatable speaker, Aaron has a gift for building deep connections with his trainees, helping them recognize their strengths, unlock their potential, and amplify the positive outcomes they create for others. His unwavering belief in the life-changing potential of career development shines in every classroom, training, and community setting—especially in his home base of Southwest Michigan, where he lives with his family and remains deeply engaged in local service. Aaron previously served as Director of Credentialing at the National Career Development Association, where he helped shape national standards for career services professionals. With over a decade of commitment to NCDA, his influence includes serving as a founding member of the Credentialing Commission, a Master Trainer for the Facilitating Career Development program, and seven years on the FCD Advisory Council. In each of these roles, Aaron has worked to elevate the quality, recognition, and impact of career development practices across the country.