Resilience has become one of the most valuable currencies in business, as leaders face constant change. This session explores how leaders can turn uncertainty, change and “perma-crises” into a strategic advantage by embedding resilience into their mindset, culture, and measurement frameworks.

Session insights draw on metrics from Ragan Communications’ Annual Benchmark Report across thousands of leaders, along with CEO Diane Schwartz's conversations with executives at leading brands worldwide. Hear real-world lessons that can be translated into your unique resilience playbook with practical ways to strengthen trust, retention and reputation through a measurable ROI.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn the five pillars of resilient leadership that help teams adapt and thrive during disruption
• Explore how to measure resilience as ROI, linking communications outcomes to tangible business impact
• Gain tools that build resilient cultures, from leadership messaging to employee engagement practices

Diane Schwartz is the CEO of Ragan Communications and the first female in the company's near 60-year history. She has extensive experience delivering profitable growth and transformations of established and emerging brands. Drawing on her journalistic roots and over 25 years of media expertise, Diane specializes in shaping bold strategies and mobilizing organizations' revenue streams.

A natural innovator, Diane has launched over 100 groundbreaking products, including Women's Retreats, Future of Communications Conference, AI Horizons, Ragan Certificate Programs and the Zenith Awards. With her guidance, the Communications Leadership Council at Ragan Communications has become the premier membership for leaders and their teams. In 2025, Ragan Communications was named to the Inc.5000 list of fastest growing companies.

A passionate catalyst for innovation, she has led acquisition strategy, integration, geographic expansion, brand building, and business development for over 10 new lines of business. At Ragan Communications, Diane leverages her business acumen to equip leaders with game-changing platforms that transform strategic vision into market-leading positions.

A frequent keynote speaker, Diane has served as a guest lecturer on communications and business at Columbia University, NYU, DePaul, and UMass Amherst. Certified in Organizational Leadership from Harvard Business School and Northwestern University's Advanced Leadership program, Diane serves on the boards of the Institute for Public Relations and Renewd and is the chair of the Communications Week board, extending her influence beyond Ragan to shape the future of the communications industry. Her contributions have been recognized with the prestigious President's Award from Access Intelligence and in 2025 with a Silver Stevie for Maverick of the Year.