The 2025 TENN Talks

Non Partisan Data - Turning Numbers into Knowledge for Tennessee's Future

Join us for our next TENN Talks session as we explore how Tennessee can approach data through a non-partisan lens. From education and workforce to government and community impact, data shapes the way decisions are made and policies are built. This conversation will highlight how leaders across sectors can better collect, share, and use data responsibly.

Panelists:

• Mandy Spears (SP Class VIII) - Sycamore Institute, Executive Vice President

• Chris Candelaria - ThinkTN, Research Director

• Amy Owen, Tennessee Education Research Alliance, Executive Director

Booked on Leadership

Leadership doesn’t stop in the classroom or at a retreat - it continues in the pages we read and the conversations we spark.

Join us for this special TENN Talks session with:

Lisa Uhrik (LT Class XII)

Tammy White (LT Class XI)

Bridget Sisney (LT NEXT Class XI)

They share how community leadership programs can be enriched by weaving in books and secondary sources that inspire, challenge, and deepen understanding. This conversation will also mark the launch of Leadership Tennessee’s membership-wide book club, beginning with Class XII’s program year. Together, we will explore how reading and reflection can strengthen our networks, broaden perspectives, and create new avenues for impact across Tennessee.

Pathways from the Classroom to Careers

This conversation will explore how Tennessee is creating and expanding opportunities for students as they transition from education into the workforce.

Panelists:

Bryan Coker - Maryville College

Jacquene Rainey - TCAT Julia Roberts - THEC

Adrianne Battle - MNPS

LT NEXT Led: Rising Voices Forum Voice and Vision from the NEXT

Join us for an energizing TENN Talks session spotlighting LT NEXT alumni from across Tennessee who are already shaping culture, building trust, and leading with purpose.

Meet the Panelists:

Jessie Wang - LTN Class VI

Destiny Brown - LTN Class IX

Matt Szalaj - LTN Class X

Together, they’ll explore what leadership looks like now, the values that guide them, the challenges they’ve faced, and the support that truly matters for rising leaders.