12196: Resilience in the Workplace: Lessons from War Survivors for Leadership and Innovation

Imagine an employee who has navigated life-threatening adversity, rebuilt their community, and developed problem-solving skills under immense pressure. This workshop explores how the unique strengths of war survivors—resilience, adaptability, and innovation—can translate into extraordinary leadership and workplace success. Participants will gain strategies to integrate these insights into leadership and organizational practices, fostering meaningful change. Drawing on insights from emotional resilience and post-traumatic growth, this workshop provides actionable tools to create trauma-sensitive, inclusive workplaces that support employee growth and well-being. By leveraging these qualities, participants will learn to enhance leadership capacity and foster innovation within their organizations. The session aligns with the key priorities of the Management Consulting (MC) and Organization Development and Change (ODC) Divisions. For MC, the workshop highlights innovative leadership strategies and frameworks to address diversity and inclusion challenges. For ODC, it supports themes of organizational transformation and human-centered practices, offering tools to build inclusive cultures for employees from conflict-affected backgrounds. Through evidence-based research, case studies, and interactive activities, participants will engage with real-world scenarios, collaboratively develop actionable tools, and explore frameworks that harness the resilience of diverse employees. This session bridges theory and practice, fostering impactful dialogue and collaboration.