Resilient Leadership: Embracing Change, Creating Pearls
Session #1 of the CIBC’s Inclusive Leaders’ Employee Network (ILEN) 2025 Speaker Series was presented by the dynamic Charles Weathers, MBA. The session was held May 8th, 2025, from 2 to 3 PM CT via Zoom.
This year’s Speaker Series theme, The Pearl in the Oyster, is meant to bring a positive lens to the constant, but inevitable, change people are experiencing in the workplace and in the world every day. Resilience is about thriving through change, and being able to grow personally and professionally despite obstacles and uncertainty.
The Pearl in the Oyster:
Pearls are formed as a defense mechanism against an irritant, such as grit or sand. The oyster’s natural reaction is to cover up the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl, a thing of beauty which would never have existed without initial irritation. The concept of a precious gem developing from a negative event is an apt metaphor for resilience in the face of change. Resilience is a trait every leader needs to bring to their teams and attitudes at work. Charles Weathers will bring his powerful and engaging speaking style, as well as narratives and examples from his extensive work with companies large and small, to bring this metaphor to life throughout the two-part series.
