Synopsis:While many organizational leaders reference employee engagement and can generally describe its importance, a shared definition and understanding of its influence is less common. Additionally, the connection between corporate and academic knowledge of this critical topic is often misaligned.This session provides an overview of how leaders and organizations can elevate their broader awareness and focus on employee engagement. Key insights and outcomes from this webinar include:• Well-known definitions for employee engagement• Key theories related to employee engagement• Current challenges for employee engagement• How leaders can directly influence their teams' engagementSpeaker Bio:> Robert Richardson has been involved in quality management since 1997 in a variety of roles within the financial services and healthcare sectors. Key focal areas have included deposit operations, electronic services, commercial and personal lending, human resources, and customer/patient experiences.> In 2023, Robert was conferred his Doctorate of Business Administration with his applied research focusing on Leadership Effectiveness in the NonProfit Sector. That work led to the development of an assessment instrument to identify areas of opportunities for improved outcomes with key stakeholders.> In addition to his professional engagements, Robert has served and continues to serve in leadership roles with nonprofits that focus on vulnerable persons and marginalized groups.> He comes to us from near Orlando, Florida.