Leading My Legacy: Reflections from Development Days 2026
There are certain weeks each year that remind us why investing in people matters. For me, Development Days is one of those weeks.
This year’s theme, Lead Your Legacy, challenged us to think beyond our day-to-day responsibilities and reflect on the impact we leave behind through our actions, relationships, and contributions. It was a week dedicated to learning, growth, connection, and service - and one that I will remember for a long time.
While Development Days is an event I have enjoyed attending for years, this year was different. I had the opportunity to serve as a Co-Chair, helping lead the team responsible for bringing the event to life. It was an experience that pushed me outside of my comfort zone, challenged me to grow as a leader, and gave me a deeper appreciation for the incredible volunteers and organizers who make events like this possible.
Leadership Through Service
One of the biggest lessons I learned throughout this journey is that leadership often looks different than we expect.
Leadership isn’t always standing on a stage. Sometimes it’s empowering volunteers to own new ideas. Sometimes it’s helping remove roadblocks so others can succeed. Sometimes it’s listening, adapting, encouraging, and trusting a team to accomplish something bigger than any one individual could achieve alone.
As Co-Chair, I had the privilege of working alongside an incredible group of volunteers whose passion and dedication transformed ideas into reality. Watching people step forward, take ownership, and bring their talents to the table was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
A Week Focused on Growth
One of the things I love most about Development Days is that it gives us permission to pause.
In a world filled with deadlines, meetings, and project deliverables, it can be difficult to carve out time for personal and professional growth. Development Days creates that space.
For one week, employees from around the globe come together to invest in themselves, learn from one another, and explore new ways of thinking.
This year’s event included a variety of experiences designed to support growth from multiple angles:
Inspiring keynote presentations
Interactive workshops
Volunteer opportunities
Innovation showcases
Networking sessions
Skill-building experiences
Each element reinforced the idea that learning is not something we finish, it is something we continue throughout our careers and lives.
Learning from World-Class Speakers
One of the highlights of the week was hearing from keynote speakers Jefferson Fisher and Eduardo Briceño.
Jefferson Fisher shared powerful insights on communication, influence, and how the words we choose can shape our relationships and outcomes. His message reinforced the importance of intentional communication, something that applies whether we’re leading teams, collaborating with colleagues, or navigating everyday conversations.
Eduardo Briceño challenged us to think differently about growth and performance. His perspective on continuous learning reminded us that improvement doesn’t happen by accident; it requires deliberate effort, curiosity, and the willingness to embrace challenges.
Both speakers left attendees with practical ideas that can be applied immediately, regardless of role or experience level.
From Learning to Action
One of the most exciting additions this year was the introduction of hands-on workshops at World Headquarters and several watch party locations.
While presentations provide inspiration, workshops create opportunities for action.
Participants weren’t simply listening - they were practicing, discussing, collaborating, and applying new skills in real time.
The addition of these workshops reflected an important shift: moving beyond learning about concepts and toward experiencing them firsthand.
It was incredible to see the energy and engagement these sessions generated throughout the week.
Celebrating Innovation
Another highlight was the Innovation Showcase.
Innovation happens every day across our organization, but opportunities to see that innovation gathered in one place are rare.
The showcase provided a platform for teams to share their work, exchange ideas, and inspire others through creative problem-solving.
Walking through the showcase served as a reminder of what can happen when talented people are given the opportunity to think boldly and challenge the status quo.
Building Community Through Connection
Beyond the speakers and sessions, some of the most meaningful moments happened between scheduled events.
Conversations in hallways.
Introductions between colleagues who had never met.
Stories shared over coffee.
Ideas sparked through networking.
Development Days creates opportunities for connections that might never happen during the normal course of business. Those relationships often become catalysts for future collaboration, mentorship, and innovation.
Giving Back Together
The volunteer event was another meaningful component of the week.
Leadership is not only about professional growth - it is also about service.
Taking time to support our communities reinforces the idea that our impact extends beyond our immediate teams and organizations. It was inspiring to see employees come together around a shared purpose and contribute to something larger than themselves.
My Biggest Takeaway
As I reflect on the week, I keep coming back to the theme: Lead Your Legacy.
Legacy isn’t built through a single achievement. It’s built through consistent actions over time. It’s reflected in how we support others, how we continue to learn, how we respond to challenges, and how we choose to show up every day.
Serving as Co-Chair reminded me that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating opportunities for others to succeed.
I am incredibly grateful to the volunteers, presenters, organizers, attendees, and leaders who made this year’s Development Days possible.
Thank you for your energy, your ideas, and your commitment to growth.
Here’s to continuing to lead ourselves, lead others, lead the business, and lead through action long after Development Days has ended.
Because the legacy we leave behind is ultimately written by the impact we have on the people around us.
