NSLS members have access to exclusive events held by the NSLS National Office. These events can be attended by any NSLS member and are a great way to develop your skills even further, learn practical tips and tricks, and network with the larger NSLS community of over two million members.
To get started, explore upcoming events below and RSVP to save your seat—space is limited so grab your spot while you can!
You can also see details from our Spring 2025 events.
Want to ensure you don't miss out on any events? Opt-in below to receive weekly updates via text message.
November 5, 2025, 4:30 - 5:30 PM ET
Hosted by: Chelsea Desormes
Join us for an interactive workshop where you’ll explore real-world leadership challenges, practice resilient responses, and learn from fellow members. This is a hands-on session designed to help you strengthen your ability to adapt, grow, and lead with confidence, even when setbacks arise.
This workshop builds on the LTD topic of Resilience and will help you deepen your understanding through discussion, reflection, and action. Active participation is expected—you’ll get the most by showing up ready to share, listen, and engage.
November 13, 2025, 3:00 - 3:45 PM ET
Hosted by: Karissa Tedesco
Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about courage, confidence, and recognizing the influence you already have. In this interactive session, you’ll uncover how the roles you hold every day have already prepared you to lead, overcome fear, and make an impact wherever you are.
In this session, you will:
Reflect on the key roles you hold in your life and what they reveal about your leadership.
Identify common fears that hold people back from leading boldly.
Recognize the ways you’re already overcoming those fears in your daily life.
Build the confidence to lead with authenticity, purpose, and action.
Leave ready to embrace your full potential, lead with intention, and step confidently into every role you play.
November 18, 2025, 4:30 PM ET
Hosted by: Samantha Kerr
Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes once you hit “submit” on a job application? In this engaging session, a seasoned C-suite recruiter shares stories from real hiring searches (with names changed, of course) and offers a rare peek into how companies make their decisions.
You’ll gain practical insights on what organizations are truly looking for today—from nonprofits to early-stage companies to large public corporations—and how you can position yourself for success at any level.
We’ll explore:
How to highlight the skills employers value most in today’s job market, including adaptability and curiosity around new tools like AI.
How to network with purpose and create a long-term career strategy that fits your definition of success.
What sets exceptional candidates and emerging leaders apart—and how you can apply those same traits in your own journey.
October 30, 2025
Hosted by: Jenna Fontanez
Back by popular demand! In this follow-up to Through a Recruiter’s Lens, recruiter Jenna Fontanez returns with a fast-paced recap of key resume insights — plus a deeper dive into your biggest questions about what recruiters really look for.
This session condenses the most valuable takeaways from Part One and gives you extra time to ask, clarify, and workshop real scenarios. Jenna will share fresh recruiting tips, discuss current hiring trends, and answer live questions about resumes, interviews, and standing out in today’s competitive job market.
Whether you attended the first session or are joining for the first time, you’ll gain practical, recruiter-approved strategies — and the chance to get personalized feedback from an industry pro.
October 23, 2025
Hosted by: Danielle Mariani
In this highly interactive networking experience, you won’t be left hoping to “find your people”—we’ll do that for you. Before the event, you’ll complete a short survey that helps us understand your career goals, interests, and current challenges. We’ll use your responses to create curated breakout groups designed to help you make connections that matter.
During the session, you’ll engage in guided conversations and activities to:
Exchange insight and encouragement with members who share your goals or can offer fresh perspectives.
Identify one specific next step toward your professional or personal growth.
Build supportive relationships that continue beyond the event.
Come ready to share your story, support others, and walk away with connections that truly count.
October 15, 2025
Hosted by: Jennifer Braddock
Meeting new people doesn’t have to feel awkward — especially when you’re surrounded by fellow NSLS members who get it. Connect & Belong is your chance to meet new faces, swap stories, and discover shared interests in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Whether you’re outgoing or a little shy, this session makes it easy to jump in and start building genuine connections through guided activities, fun icebreakers, and small group conversations. Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave with new connections that could shape your NSLS journey—and maybe even your future success.
October 8, 2025
Hosted by: Jennifer Braddock
Between classes, work, and life responsibilities, it’s easy for your schedule to feel overwhelming. This interactive workshop moves beyond the basics of planners and to-do lists to introduce strategies you may not have heard before.
Through hands-on activities and peer sharing, you’ll learn how to manage your energy, design your week with intention, and stay consistent even when life gets busy. Walk away with simple but powerful tools to shift from feeling overwhelmed to feeling in control.
October 2, 2025
Hosted by: Jenna Fontanez
Ever wonder what really happens to your resume after you click “submit”? In this engaging session, you’ll step into the recruiter’s shoes and learn how resumes are reviewed, filtered, and selected. We’ll explore the tools and systems recruiters use, reveal common pitfalls that keep strong candidates from moving forward, and highlight what makes a resume rise to the top.
This won’t be a passive lecture — you’ll get to practice thinking like a recruiter through interactive polls, small-group discussions, and a live resume critique exercise. Together, we’ll analyze sample resume excerpts, debate what stands out (and what doesn’t), and even collaborate on rewriting a “weak” bullet into one that gets noticed.
You’ll leave with insider insights and practical strategies to strengthen your own resume so it makes it to a recruiter’s desk — and increases your chances of landing that interview.
September 25, 2025
Hosted by: Bill Cates
Most people don’t realize it, but they’ve been the victims of a quiet heist—not from a masked bank robber, but from the money system itself. For decades, wealth-building knowledge has been gate kept, leaving many of us with broken money stories and myths that create stress, limit opportunity, and keep us stuck.
In this dynamic interview with Bill Cates, co-author of The Hidden Heist, we’ll uncover how limiting money beliefs quietly rob us of financial stability and lasting wealth—and how to break free.
You’ll learn:
Where your money story comes from (and why it might be holding you back).
The biggest money myths that keep people anxious and stuck.
How to stop “robbing your future self” and start building wealth now.
The money secrets that still aren’t taught in school.
This fun, relatable, and eye-opening webinar will change the way you think about money, reduce your financial anxiety, and give you action steps to start building wealth and living more abundantly.
September 16, 2025
Hosted by: Jennifer Braddock
This event is designed to help members of the NSLS build meaningful professional and personal connections. In this interactive session, participants will discover simple strategies to break down barriers, practice networking skills in a supportive environment, and walk away with new contacts who share their drive for growth and leadership.
Whether you’re an experienced professional or new to making connections, this event will equip you with practical tools to confidently expand your network and leverage it for success in your academic, career, and personal journey.
September 11, 2025
Hosted by: Lillian Collazo
This interactive session helps participants understand their personal conflict management style, explore when and how to adapt it, and apply a structured process for resolving disputes. Through a self-assessment, guided discussion, and real-world practice scenarios, you’ll learn the five conflict styles, their strengths and challenges, and strategies to navigate them effectively.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with practical tools to approach conflict with confidence, strengthen relationships, and enhance your effectiveness in both academic and professional settings.
September 4, 2025
Hosted by: Jennifer Braddock
Need help getting integrated into the NSLS community? Start here.
Whether you're feeling unsure of where to start or excited to dive in, New Member Networking Night is designed to help you connect, get clarity, and feel like part of something bigger. This session is your first step toward finding your place in the NSLS—and building the relationships that will shape your experience.
You’ll meet fellow new members through a mix of fun, low-pressure group activities and small-group conversations that go beyond “What’s your major?” With guided prompts focused on your goals, passions, and leadership interests, you’ll start forming the kind of connections that can turn into Success Networking Teams, collaboration partners, or supportive friends. Along the way, you’ll also learn about key NSLS resources and ways to get involved that match your interests and schedule.
By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with:
Real connections with other new members
A better understanding of how to engage with the NSLS community
More confidence about what’s next in your NSLS journey
A sense of belonging—and momentum
August 28, 2025
Hosted by: Julie Johnston
Is public speaking not your forte, but expected to be part of your job? Are you in a role that requires you to give presentations because you are the most informed person to do it? Well it's time to rise to the occasion and polish up your presentation skills so that you sound as confident and intelligent as you truly are.
Workshop Description: We will dive into some simple yet effective tips and tricks to help you prepare and present more effectively and confidently. We will have opportunities to experiment and practice in small groups, ask questions and commiserate over shared public speaking fears and failures that brought you to this place of opposition to presenting. The goal is to gain some great insight and perspective, so that you can be better prepared and confident for your next public speaking opportunity.
Why Attend? Many of us are expected to do presentations and speak publicly for work and yet are rarely trained how to do it well. The most effective way to improve your public speaking skills is by practicing and getting feedback. We will create opportunities to learn and practice together in a safe, non-judgmental environment. All attendees should be prepared to participate and engage with the other attendees.
Who Should Attend? Anyone who is not comfortable with public speaking but would like some simple yet effective tips and tricks to better prepare for future public speaking opportunities.
August 21, 2025
Hosted by: Betsy Hays & Tori Terhune
Think of this session as a YES/AND exercise for internships. YES, we love internships and want you to do them! AND, there are many other opportunities for you to get useful experience while studying.
In this session we'll cover the myriad of options you can explore as part of your coursework and elsewhere, as well as how to leverage them into resume points and/or LinkedIn features. It's all about being intentional and constantly open to ideas, as well as creating some of your own.
August 12, 2025
Hosted by: Betsy Hays & Tori Terhune
If you’re posting, scrolling, or even just lurking on social media, you already have a digital footprint. We want to make it work in your favor.
In this session, we'll cover how to use social media to boost your job search, build a standout online presence, and show up in a way that feels like you. You'll get easy tools to save time and plan ahead, find out how to connect with the people who matter to your career, and know how to avoid awkward moments online. Whether you're applying for internships or landing your first big job, this session will help you show up with confidence online.
August 6, 2025
Hosted by: Jennifer Braddock
This a high-energy, 45-minute networking event designed to help NSLS members break the ice and build real connections—fast. After a quick warm-up on elevator pitches and conversation starters, you’ll dive into the Connection Sprint: a rapid-fire round of timed one-on-one chats, rotating every 5 minutes with fun, leadership-focused prompts like “What goal are you most excited about this year?” or “What’s one lesson that shaped your leadership journey?”
You’ll meet 6–8 new peers, practice sharing your story, and leave with meaningful contacts and potential collaborators. We’ll wrap up with a reflection and shout-out circle to highlight standout moments and spark follow-ups. Bring your curiosity, positive energy, and something to take notes on—the best connections are the ones you keep growing.
Tori Terhune and Prof. Betsy A. Hays are co-authors of three books: the award-winning Land Your Dream Career in College: The Complete Guide to Success, Life After College: 10 Steps to Build a Life You Love, and Win & Wow: Public Relations Secrets for Everyday Success.
Tori is a social media coach with 15+ years of experience, and Prof. Hays is the lead public relations professor in the department of Media, Communications and Journalism at Fresno State as well as the faculty director of career readiness for the University. Tori's YouTube podcast Social Media Simplified helps people save time, post confidently, and turn scrollers into community, all while saving time and sanity. Prof. Hays's weekly podcast is Handled(ish): Productivity for the Imperfect, designed for people who want to elevate their productivity, but are not looking for perfection.
Bill Cates, CSP, CPAE, is a successful entrepreneur, hall of fame speaker, bestselling author, and adventurer. Bill built and sold two book publishing companies and has spent over 30 years training financial advisors. Bill is the author of eight books, including his newest book, The Hidden Heist – Stop Robbing Yourself of Lasting Wealth. Bill also hosts the Top Advisor Podcast, ranked in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide.
Inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame, Bill’s expertise has been featured in Success Magazine, Entrepreneur, Money, and The Wall Street Journal. An avid adventurer, Bill has reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Everest South Base Camp, camped in the Arctic Circle, and toured as a drummer in a rock band. Bill’s mission is to equip the next generation with lessons in money that their parents didn’t teach them, couldn’t teach them, or to which they weren’t listening.
Chelsea Desormes, M.Ed., is a dynamic learning experience designer passionate about creating engaging, human-centered professional development. She blends data-driven insights with interactive strategies to deliver impactful learning experiences. With a Master’s in Education specializing in instructional design and adult learning, Chelsea has led transformative programs across industries, focusing on leadership development, cross-cultural facilitation, and collaboration. Whether in-person or virtual, she thrives on fostering meaningful learning that drives real-world results.
When she’s not designing learning experiences, you’ll likely find Chelsea baking up something sweet, crafting her next DIY project, or planning her next adventure. She firmly believes that instructional design and baking have a lot in common—both require creativity, precision, and just the right amount of spice!
Danielle Mariani serves as the Senior Culture and Organizational Strategist at the NSLS with 7 years of experience in higher education and employee engagement. She focuses on enhancing organizational effectiveness, change readiness, and internal communications across all levels, and enjoys transforming everyday occasions into dynamic learning experiences.
Danielle holds dual degrees in Psychology and Social Work from Rutgers University, and is a Prosci-certified Change Management professional.
Jenna Fontanez is a dynamic Human Resources leader with over 13 years of experience driving talent acquisition, performance management, and leadership development across corporate and non-profit sectors.
She holds a Master’s in Industrial and Labor Relations from Baruch College (CUNY) and currently serves as the Director of Talent Management at the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), where she builds talent strategies that fuel organizational growth.
Jennifer Braddock is a learning professional at the NSLS with 12 years of experience in the higher education classroom. She teaches soft skills, communication, technology and many other topics but most enjoys bringing positive energy to events dedicated to the growth of participants. She earned a PhD from the University of Florida and now resides in California with her family.
Julie Johnston is a Leadership Development and Communication Coach at Humessence & Speech Coach at Speeko.
Julie's diverse professional journey speaks volumes about her adaptability and leadership capabilities. With experience in operational management for creative businesses at all stages, she has thrived in both in-person and remote leadership roles across various global cities.
Julie's dedication to coaching and mentoring extends from directing musical theater for children to training adults in voiceover, improv, public speaking, and interview techniques. Julie's passion lies in talent development, career growth, and team motivation. As the creator of the Game Changers program at Humessence, she focuses on developing leadership skills in emerging leaders. Moreover, her role as the President and Founder of the Mantua Toastmasters Club and as a lead Speech Coach with Speeko, the leading AI speech coaching platform, highlights her commitment to fostering confidence through effective communication.
Julie's collaborative spirit, infectious energy, and strategic mindset make her impactful when nurturing and developing teams. Her continuous efforts to empower individuals and enhance communication underscore her role as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
Karissa Tedesco, M.S.Ed, is a dedicated and dynamic leader in student and client success with more than a decade of experience in higher education, program development, strategic operations, and professional staff management. With a proven track record of driving revenue growth, leading high-performing teams, and enhancing engagement across diverse populations, she has excelled in roles supporting both universities and nationwide leadership organizations. Karissa’s passion for empowering individuals to reach their highest potential has guided her work in student affairs, leadership development, and account management—always grounded in compassion, communication, and intentional relationship-building.
Away from the office, Karissa’s foundation in teamwork and performance began long before her career. A competitive cheerleader since the age of 10, she carried her love of the sport into college and continued to give back as a coach after graduating. Today, she brings that same energy, resilience, and joy into her personal life as a devoted wife and proud mother to her adventurous two-year-old son, Vincenzo. Karissa remains driven by purpose, always striving to uplift others while embracing the beautiful balance of leadership, family, and lifelong learning.
Lillian Collazo, CPTD, is a Talent Development Specialist at the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). She first joined NSLS as a student member in 2014 and was inducted in 2015. In 2018, she returned to her alma mater, Kingsborough Community College, as a Career and Internship Advisor and served as the NSLS Chapter Advisor. She also gained experience as a lecturer in higher education and in the non-profit sector. In 2021, Lillian started working at NSLS as a staff member, starting as an Account Manager before moving into Human Resources.
In her current role, she focuses on employee development, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, leadership development, and career pathing. Lillian holds degrees from Kingsborough Community College and Brooklyn College, including a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences that help employees thrive.