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August Webinar LP (2)

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Human First, Leader Second: A Male Perspective on Emotion During Change

This conversation centers men's voices but its lessons are for everyone.

When we talk about leadership and change, the conversation usually centers on strategy, performance, and results. We rarely talk about emotion, especially from the perspective of men. Yet every leader, teammate, father, partner, friend, and colleague experiences change emotionally. The question is whether we create space to acknowledge and learn from them. What happens when we make room for a more honest conversation?

Join Cassandra Worthy as she opens this important conversation before handing the discussion to moderator CJ Gross and an all-male panel for an honest, thoughtful dialogue about emotion, leadership, work, and life during times of change. Together, they'll explore the expectations placed on men, the realities of leading through uncertainty, and why embracing emotion isn't a weakness—it's a critical part of being human and leading others well. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to better understand the role emotion plays in leadership, relationships, and navigating change together.

Whether you identify as a man, work alongside men, lead men, or simply care about building more emotionally healthy workplaces and relationships, you'll leave with new perspectives and practical insights that extend far beyond the workplace.

Know someone who would benefit from this conversation? We encourage you to share this event with the men in your life, your colleagues, and your network. 

Sometimes the most meaningful conversations begin with a simple invitation.

 

During this interactive discussion, we'll explore:

  • How men experience and process change in today's world.
  • The expectations and pressures many men face at work and in life.
  • Why emotional awareness strengthens leadership rather than weakens it.
  • Personal stories of navigating vulnerability, resilience, and growth.
  • Practical ways to create healthier conversations about emotion in teams, workplaces, and everyday life.
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Meet Our Guest Moderator

 

Christopher "CJ" Gross

CCMP, SHRM-CP

 

📍 Connect with CJ on LinkedIn

🌐 https://cjgrosstalks.com/

Christopher "CJ" Gross is a Leadership & Change Strategist, organizational consultant, and Founder of Jabbar HR Solutions. He helps leaders navigate the human side of change by strengthening workplace culture, building trust, and equipping organizations to lead transformation with confidence and emotional intelligence.

With expertise in change management, leadership development, organizational culture, human resources, and emotional intelligence, CJ has partnered with corporate, nonprofit, government, and educational organizations to improve leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and organizational performance. His clients have included Microsoft, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the National Education Association (NEA), United Airlines, and the Project Management Institute (PMI).

CJ is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) through the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP Global), a Certified Change Practitioner through Change Enthusiasm Global, and is certified in Social and Emotional Intelligence. His work combines globally recognized change practices with practical leadership strategies that help organizations build resilient cultures and successfully navigate change.

He is also the bestselling author of What's Your ZIP Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace, which explores how our lived experiences influence leadership, workplace culture, and organizational success.

In addition to his consulting work, CJ is the Co-Founder and Master Facilitator of the Ignite Men's Executive Retreat, an annual leadership experience in Puerto Rico designed to help executive men address burnout, strengthen emotional resilience, cultivate authentic leadership, and build meaningful connection in both their professional and personal lives.

Drawing from his experience working with executive teams, leadership groups, and men's leadership retreats, CJ brings a practical and deeply human perspective to conversations about how men experience emotion, resilience, and leadership during times of change.

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Meet Our Panelists

 

Riaz Meghji

Human Connection Keynote Speaker

 

📍 Connect with Riaz on LinkedIn

🌐 https://riazmeghji.com/

 

Riaz Meghji is a human connection expert and author of the book Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships.

His insights have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Financial Post. After one conversation led him to take a dramatically different career path that changed his life for the better, he became dedicated to exploring the ways that authentic human connection can change lives and organizations.

In addition to being a respected thought leader and author on the topic of human connection, Riaz is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience. He has interviewed experts on current affairs, sports, entertainment, politics, and business.

Riaz has hosted for Citytv's Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, TEDx Vancouver, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

He is a natural storyteller with a proven ability to conduct engaging, in-depth conversations across various disciplines.

Off-camera, Riaz dedicates himself to philanthropy and causes he cares about, including Canuck Place Children's Hospice. He holds a degree in business from Simon Fraser University and studied leadership communication at Harvard Extension School and the Canadian Management Centre.

Meet the Panelists