Conference Date: Wednesday, October 12 | Wisconsin Center District | Milwaukee, WI

Proposal Submission Deadline: Presenters must complete and submit this form by Friday, May 20, 2022 to be considered as a Change the Narrative Speaker at WCWI’s 32nd Annual Employee Wellbeing Conference.

Conference Description: 
Believe. Craft. Cherish. Act.
Boldly uniting with four guiding principles to strengthen what tomorrow looks like for employee wellbeing
WCWI's four guiding principles hold us all accountable to create meaningful, impactful, and sustainable employee wellbeing strategies. The principles emphasize a mindset that positions the wellbeing of people as the ultimate outcome and they form a framework for bold action to strengthen what tomorrow looks like for the wellbeing of our people, our organizations, and our communities. 

WCWI's Change the Narrative Talks are a new Conference experience for 2022. As the future of work continues to unfold- infused with the complexities and experiences of the world around us-WCWI's Change the Narrative Talks will highlight individuals who have ideas or stories that describe boldness, bravery, and are beyond the usual limits of conventional thinking and action for employee wellbeing. They will also expand upon and showcase the mindset of WCWI's Guiding Principles in action.

WCWI believes that as a field, we must reframe wellbeing through a wider and deeper lens and that will contribute to employee wellbeing being valued as a fundamental strategy and business priority for all organizations. The best way to start is to simply make space for stories, experiences, needs and values of what really matters most. If you feel called to change the narrative of employee wellbeing, we want to hear you! Apply to share your leading voice during WCWI’s Change the Narrative Talks! 

About WCWI's Change the Narrative Talks

• Each talk will take place on the main-stage during the final session of WCWI's Annual Employee Wellbeing Conference
• Each talk will be no longer than 10-15 minutes
• The session will be high energy and is open to no more than 6 total talks
• Speakers will be selected based on their application and fit with the intended experience of this session which is to bring thought-provoking topics to the main stage
• Speakers should submit applications that describe what they plan to speak about and how their unique talk will facilitate discourse, tell courageous stories, influence new ideas, seek impact, and inspire attendees with future-ready compassion
• Speakers can choose to create and utilize accompanying audio/visual (slides, music, video, etc) but it's not required
• The talks will be recorded
• Speakers will have a microphone and a confidence monitor if they choose to use slides

Speaker Terms of Agreement:
Please read all terms carefully. By submitting your application, you are consenting to comply with all criteria and speaker terms.

• Promotion of speaker's own business or services is strictly prohibited. Speakers cannot promote their own products, books, or businesses, or those of a company which employs them
• WCWI Change the Narrative Talks are NOT lectures, biographies, or solely personal stories. Speakers must have a unique idea/opinion/exemplified experience/thought-provoking concept in order to be considered
• Speaker agrees to meet with the WCWI staff for preparation/meetings/practice for up to three potential practice meetings
• Speaker will provide a headshot and bio for publication on website and use in Conference materials
• Speaker agrees to promote WCWI's Annual Employee Wellbeing Conference to their network using the provided promotional messaging and templates
• Speaker will receive 5 invites for discounted conference registration to be provided to individuals in their network that are not currently WCWI members
• All speaker applications will be reviewed by WCWI staff and a representation of the Board of Directors. Applications will be reviewed for fit to the overall intention of the session experience
• As part of the review process, speakers may be asked to send in a short video describing their Change the Narrative talk and/or attend a call for deeper understanding of their application
• For each speaker application that is accepted, WCWI offers complimentary admission to the Annual Conference and a reimbursement of mileage travel expense. We do not offer an honorarium or stipend for WCWI's Change the Narrative Talks.
• Speakers will be selected and notified no later than June 2022 .

If you are not selected for a WCWI's Change the Narrative Talk, WCWI may explore your presence at Conference in a different capacity and/or hold your submission for consideration of other speaking opportunities for our future Learning Agenda. We appreciate your interest, time, and effort in submitting a proposal!

To complete this RFP, you will need the following items. The RFP must be completed in one sitting; partial responses cannot be saved. Please be sure you have this information available before proceeding.

* Draft Title
* Draft Description
* Bio and Headshot Upload
* Resume Upload
* List of speaking engagement from the last 18 months

Believe in the significance of wellbeing.
Wellbeing is essential and it’s a right that should be afforded to all. Employers have the power, influence, and responsibility to catalyze wellbeing in organizations as foundational (people), strategic (organizational), and systemic (community). Everyone is at their best when they're grounded in their own wellbeing.

Talks that connect to this principle will highlight the importance of first believing that wellbeing is significant and how that shows up in organizations through: purpose, operationalized values, valuing people and their experiences, zooming out to see the bigger picture of how wellbeing is impacted across multiple pathways, shifting wellbeing from a solution to the ultimate outcome.

Craft the narrative.
We remain students of the human experience. We continuously listen and respond to our employees' voices and to the needs of people. We tell the stories of the data, the workforce, Wisconsin’s employers, and our fellow wellbeing strategists.

Talks that connect to this principle will highlight the importance of understanding that wellbeing derives from peoples' unique experiences and circumstances so we must be continuously learning and expanding through listening, observing, and gathering new information. Speakers will describe how to honor the dynamics and complexities of wellbeing with strategies to craft a new narrative for why and how to impact employee wellbeing.

Cherish growth.
Change is inevitable, and we accept change and the accompanying challenges through our resilience. Growth is born from creativity and innovation and the continuous desire to flourish and be better. Employers who cherish the growth and development of their employees are directly supporting their wellbeing.

Talks that connect to this principle will highlight the intersection of growth and wellbeing and will describe strategies or examples of cherishing and honoring the strengths and uniqueness of people, and providing abundant opportunities to grow, develop, aspire, and accomplish. Topics could include growth mindset, psychologically safe teams, equity and belonging, and enabling people to flourish.

Bravely act together.
We courageously expand the scope of care to transform the wellbeing of Wisconsin’s workforce. To do this, we strive to see through all lenses, act with empathy and compassion, seek diverse perspectives and ideas, and make space that is welcoming for all. If we - and organizations - have to call on bravery, we’re doing it right.

Talks that connect to this principle will describe teams, leaders, collaborations that are bravely acting together to expand the scope of care for wellbeing in organization. Topics may include stories about activating a wider scope of wellbeing and the conversations, compassionate considerations, inclusive mindsets that are required to bravely break the mold.