EDG2609. Your Year, Your Word: A Practical Framework for Reflective Goal-Setting

This session explores a deeply human and refreshingly personal approach to goal‑setting — one that begins with who you are, not just what you want to accomplish. Rather than relying on traditional SMART goals or productivity hacks, Emma Ball shares how choosing a single word to guide her year has shaped her growth as a leader, parent, and creative professional.

Through storytelling and gentle structure, attendees will be invited to reflect on their own personal and professional seasons, identify what they want more of, and create a growth goal that resonates on a deeper level. The session introduces a practical, repeatable method for selecting a “word of the year” aligned with your current chapter of life and work.

Participants will also explore how self‑awareness and emotional intelligence support confident, grounded leadership, and how simple practices — such as reflection, journaling, or personal rituals — can help sustain focus and intention throughout the year.

This session is especially relevant for emerging leaders and values‑driven professionals who want to show up more fully at work without sacrificing their humanity. Heartfelt, engaging, and rooted in real life, it meets attendees where they are — mid‑growth, mid‑shift, or mid‑struggle — and offers a doable, meaningful way to re‑center and move forward with purpose.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key elements of seasonal reflection that support personal and professional growth.
• Recall common practices that help maintain connection to a chosen theme throughout the year.
• Identify ways emotional intelligence and self-awareness support grounded, values-driven leadership and sustained personal growth.