Healthcare Businesswomen's Association
16–18 November
Houston
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2026 HBA Annual Conference

Leadership Strategy Labs

Interactive working sessions designed to help you apply leadership concepts directly to your role. Guided by a facilitator and supported by experienced industry leaders, each lab combines structured reflection, table discussion, and real-world perspective. These are not panels. You will actively engage, work through your own context, and leave with clear actions you can take forward.

Choose Your Leadership Journey

Your leadership challenges are not one-size-fits-all, and your conference experience should not be either. Follow a curated track aligned to your role or the leader you are becoming, or choose individual sessions based on what matters most to you right now.

Whether you follow an existing path or design one of your own, each choice is intentional, giving you the flexibility to focus on what will have the greatest impact on how you lead and what you build next.

Strategic Enterprise Leader Pathway

You are making decisions that shape direction, performance, and people’s lives—often without complete information and under constant pressure to move forward. This track helps you strengthen how you think, act, and build as a leader so you can navigate complexity, make sound decisions in uncertain environments, and lead with responsibility across systems, stakeholders, and outcomes.

Workforce ROI

  • Higher-quality decision-making under uncertainty and time pressure
  • Stronger alignment between strategic decisions and workforce impact
  • Increased ability to navigate tradeoffs across performance, people, and resources
  • Leadership behaviors that support ethical, accountable, and sustainable outcomes

Day 1

You carry more than authority. You carry consequence.

You are making decisions in an environment where change is constant, information is incomplete, and the impact of your choices extends far beyond your role. This lab focuses on how you think as a leader when the stakes are high and the answers are not always clear.

Day 2

Impact is measured by what changes.

In complex organizations, decisions often require balancing competing priorities across people, performance, and resources. This lab focuses on how you translate those decisions into outcomes that create meaningful change.

Day 3

The future reflects what you build now.

The decisions you make today shape not only outcomes, but the systems, capabilities, and leadership pipeline that carry forward. This lab focuses on how you build with intention in environments where tradeoffs are unavoidable.

Functional Leader Pathway

You are responsible for how work gets done across people, systems, and increasingly, AI-enabled workflows. This track helps you operate, extend, and scale your impact so your function not only delivers results but contributes meaningfully to broader organizational performance.

Workforce ROI

  • Improved productivity through better integration of people, systems, and workflows
  • Increased cross-functional execution and reduced silos
  • Stronger alignment between team output and enterprise outcomes
  • Scalable team capability that sustains performance over time

Day 1

Managing people is no longer enough. You are running a system.

Your role now requires you to bring together people, intelligent systems, and evolving workflows in a way that produces results. This lab focuses on how you operate as a leader at the center of that system.

Day 2

Your team is not the boundary of your impact.

Your impact is defined by what happens beyond your immediate team. This lab focuses on how you extend your influence across functions by connecting people, systems, and decisions.

Day 3

You are building capacity, not just results.

Results matter, but what your team is able to sustain matters more. This lab focuses on how you build capability across people, processes, and systems so performance continues as demands evolve.

Emerging Leader Pathway

You are building your path forward in an environment where roles are evolving and expectations are rising. This track helps you take ownership of your growth, focus on work that matters, and position yourself for what comes next.

Workforce ROI

  • Increased visibility of individual contributions and leadership potential
  • Stronger alignment between individual work and organizational priorities
  • Faster readiness for expanded roles and responsibilities
  • Improved retention of high-potential talent

Day 1

Stop waiting to be chosen. Become undeniable.

Opportunities are not always assigned. In many cases, they are claimed by those who step forward before they feel ready. This lab focuses on how you show up, communicate your value, and take ownership of your growth.

Day 2

Your work must change something that matters.

Not all work carries equal weight. This lab focuses on how you identify and prioritize work that sits at the intersection of what your organization needs, what your manager values, what customers or patients experience, and what drives you.

Day 3

Your next chapter starts before you feel ready.

There is no perfect moment to take the next step. This lab focuses on how you move toward what you want next, even when the path is not fully defined.

Culture and Talent Architect Pathway

You are shaping how people perform, grow, and stay engaged in an environment where work, expectations, and technology are constantly evolving. This track helps you design the conditions, systems, and pathways that enable sustained performance and future leadership development.

Workforce ROI

  • Improved employee engagement, retention, and sustained performance
  • Stronger alignment between performance expectations and business outcomes
  • More effective evaluation of people and AI-enabled work
  • A healthier leadership pipeline that supports future organizational needs

Day 1

Trust determines performance.

When the pace of change increases, trust becomes the factor that determines whether teams move forward or stall. This lab focuses on how you build trust through consistent actions, expectations, and leadership behaviors.

Day 2

Performance is being redefined. Measure what matters now.

Performance is no longer defined by effort or output alone. This lab focuses on what strong performance looks like now and how leaders assess it in practice.

Day 3

Today’s culture becomes tomorrow’s reality.

Culture is shaped by how work is designed, who gets opportunities, and how people develop over time. This lab explores how you create pathways for growth while adapting to new ways of working.

Transformation Leader Pathway

You are leading in environments where change is constant and outcomes are not always predictable. This track helps you lead through disruption, sustain momentum, and turn transition into forward progress.

Workforce ROI

  • Increased success rate of transformation initiatives
  • Greater adoption of new ways of working
  • Improved organizational agility and responsiveness
  • Stronger alignment and engagement during periods of change

Day 1

Transformation tests the leader.

Change is no longer a moment. It is the environment you are operating in every day. This lab focuses on how you show up as a leader when direction is not fully defined and outcomes are still forming.

Day 2

Momentum decides whether change endures.

Change efforts often begin with urgency but lose energy as priorities shift. This lab focuses on how you sustain progress once change is in motion.

Day 3

Every ending can begin something new.

In a world of continuous change, transitions are unavoidable. This lab focuses on how you lead through endings in a way that creates new opportunities.

Leadership Strategy Lab FAQs

Learn more about the Leadership Strategy Lab experience, session formats, participation opportunities, application process, and expectations for selected facilitators and industry experts.

What is a Leadership Strategy Lab?

Leadership Strategy Labs are interactive working sessions designed to help participants apply leadership concepts directly to their roles and organizational contexts.

These are not traditional presentations or panel discussions. Participants will actively engage in discussion, reflection, decision-making, and problem-solving alongside peers and experienced industry leaders.

How are Leadership Strategy Labs different from traditional conference sessions?

Leadership Strategy Labs are intentionally designed as applied learning experiences rather than presentation-style sessions. Instead of primarily listening to speakers, participants will actively work through leadership challenges, discuss real-world scenarios, explore practical strategies, and apply insights directly to their own work.

What is the difference between a facilitator and an industry expert?

Facilitators and industry experts play distinct but complementary roles.

Facilitators:

  • Lead all three sessions within an assigned leadership pathway
  • Guide the participant experience and session flow
  • Work closely with HBA staff to develop the session curriculum and participant activities
  • Facilitate discussion, reflection, and applied learning exercises
  • Integrate industry expert perspectives into the experience

Industry experts:

  • Participate in one individual session within a pathway
  • Share real-world leadership perspectives and experiences
  • Contribute practical insights, examples, and lessons learned
  • Engage participants in discussion and application activities
  • Support the facilitator in creating a meaningful learning experience

Each session will include one facilitator and two industry experts.

Do facilitators create the sessions entirely on their own?

No. Facilitators are not expected to build sessions independently from scratch. HBA staff will partner closely with facilitators throughout the development process.

Facilitators will work within defined interactive formats while helping shape the participant experience through their facilitation approach, leadership perspective, and collaboration with industry experts.

What kinds of session formats will be used?

Leadership Strategy Labs use structured interactive formats designed to support applied learning. Examples include:

  • Real-world decision cases
  • Table-based working sessions
  • Stakeholder or system mapping exercises
  • Future-focused application sprints
  • Guided reflection and discussion activities

The emphasis is on participant engagement and practical application rather than lecture-style delivery.

How interactive are the sessions expected to be?

Interactivity is central to the experience. Participants will actively engage throughout the session through table discussion, reflection, exercises, problem-solving, and application activities.

Selected facilitators and industry experts should be comfortable creating dialogue and engaging participants rather than delivering formal presentations.

Are slides or formal presentations expected?

Leadership Strategy Labs are not designed as presentation-driven sessions. Limited visuals or framing slides may be used where appropriate, but the primary focus should remain on participant interaction, discussion, and application.

What are the Leadership Strategy Lab pathways?

The five leadership pathways are:

  • Strategic Enterprise Leadership
  • Functional Leadership and Operational Execution
  • Emerging Leadership and Career Growth
  • Culture, Talent, and Workforce Strategy
  • Transformation and Change Leadership

Each pathway includes a three-session progression across the conference.

Do attendees need to attend all three sessions within a pathway?

No. Participants have flexibility in how they engage with the experience. Attendees may:

  • Follow a full three-session pathway across all conference days
  • Attend individual sessions across multiple pathways
  • Customize their own leadership journey based on their priorities and interests

Each session is intentionally designed to function both as part of a broader pathway and as a standalone experience.

Will attendees pre-register for Leadership Strategy Labs?

No. Attendees will select Leadership Strategy Lab sessions onsite during the conference.

When will the Leadership Strategy Labs take place?

Leadership Strategy Labs will take place during dedicated session blocks across all three conference days:

  • Monday, 16 November 2026
    4:30 PM–5:45 PM CT
  • Tuesday, 17 November 2026
    9:15 AM–10:30 AM CT
  • Wednesday, 18 November 2026
    9:00 AM–10:15 AM CT

Each session is 75 minutes long.

How many Leadership Strategy Lab sessions occur at the same time?

There will be five concurrent Leadership Strategy Lab sessions during each session block, with one session aligned to each leadership pathway.

Can I apply for more than one pathway?

Yes. Facilitators may select up to two leadership pathway preferences, and industry experts may indicate interest in up to five Leadership Strategy Lab sessions across leadership pathways.

Selected facilitators will ultimately be assigned to one leadership pathway, while selected industry experts will participate in one individual Leadership Strategy Lab session only.

Can I apply for both facilitator and industry expert roles?

Applicants should select the role that best aligns with their experience, strengths, and preferred level of involvement. Facilitator and industry expert roles require different types of participation and responsibilities.

Individuals whose experience aligns with both roles are welcome to submit separate applications for each. However, selected applicants will participate as either a facilitator or an industry expert, not both.

What makes a strong facilitator application?

Strong facilitator applicants typically demonstrate:

  • Experience leading interactive leadership development experiences
  • Skill facilitating discussion and participant engagement
  • Ability to guide applied learning and reflection
  • Experience working with leaders in complex organizational environments
  • Comfort collaborating with staff and industry experts
  • Ability to create meaningful experiences for participants with different engagement styles
What makes a strong industry expert application?

Strong industry expert applicants typically demonstrate:

  • Real-world leadership experience navigating complexity or uncertainty
  • Practical lessons and perspectives participants can apply
  • Willingness to engage in discussion rather than presentation
  • Ability to help participants think differently about leadership challenges
  • Experience operating within evolving organizational environments
What kinds of leaders are best suited for Leadership Strategy Labs?

The HBA is seeking leaders from across the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem, including biotech, biopharma, medtech, digital health, clinical research, consulting, and related industries.

Ideal applicants bring practical leadership experience, thoughtful perspective, and a willingness to engage participants in meaningful conversation and application.

Will selected facilitators and industry experts receive complimentary registration?

Yes. Selected facilitators and industry experts will receive complimentary registration for the 2026 HBA Annual Conference.

What level of collaboration is expected before the conference?

Selected facilitators and industry experts should expect ongoing collaboration leading up to the conference, including:

  • Participation in preparation calls
  • Email collaboration with HBA staff
  • Session development discussions
  • Coordination with fellow facilitators and industry experts, as applicable
What are the important application dates?

Please refer to the Leadership Strategy Lab microsite for the complete timeline and submission details, including:

  • Application opening date
  • Application deadline
  • Applicant notification timeline
  • Session development and preparation milestones
Are Leadership Strategy Labs intended to promote products or services?

No. Leadership Strategy Labs are designed as educational and leadership development experiences. Product promotion or sales-oriented presentations are not permitted.

How will facilitators and industry experts be selected?

Applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Alignment with the selected leadership pathway or pathways
  • Depth of leadership experience
  • Ability to support interactive learning
  • Relevance of perspective and expertise
  • Fit with the overall session design and participant experience goals

Final placement decisions will be based on alignment between applicant experience and session needs.

What kind of participant experience is the HBA trying to create through Leadership Strategy Labs?

Leadership Strategy Labs are designed to help leaders move beyond passive learning into active application. Participants should leave with:

  • Practical insights they can apply immediately
  • New ways of thinking about leadership challenges
  • Meaningful peer discussion and reflection
  • Greater confidence navigating complexity and change
  • Clear actions to take back into their work environments