Overview
We live in an ever-changing world, and our work as leaders involves creating both a shared vision to help our employees move forward and an environment of reassurance and stability in times of turbulence. Whether change comes in response to a crisis or as part of an opportunity to grow or evolve, it can still cause feelings of anxiety and uncertainty for our teams.
What enables someone to become an adaptive and resonant leader when rapid world changes are altering our workplaces, our expectations, and our daily lives? This session explores the core foundations of leadership and examines the unique challenges facing our organizations and their leaders during these uncertain times.
Topics that we’ll cover in this course include:
• The challenges of leading in an age of permanent whitewater – a time of turbulence and constant change
• The difference between leading and managing
• The six dimensions of a whitewater leader
• Resonant vs. dissonant leaders and their impact on others
• How to guide people through turbulence and uncertainty
• Leadership strategies for building community
• Techniques for creating a shared vision
• Strengthening leadership resilience and developing resilience in others
• Developing presence – becoming a mindful leader
You will leave this course with a deep understanding of your strengths as a leader, areas where you could most enhance your leadership effectiveness, and a plan for your development as a resonant leader.
Registration for Fall 2025
Location: Grainger Hall, Wisconsin School of Business, UW-Madison
Date: December 2, 2025
Fee: $289
Register here for Fall 2025 or call 608-262-2451 to register. BONUS: Place 2 or more paid leadership courses in your cart, and use discount code SBDC10 for 10% off. Classes must be purchased in the same transaction.
Registration Deadlines
| Registration type | Date | Fee |
| Earlybird | Earlybird closes: 11/11/2025 | Earlybird Registration Fee: $260.00 |
| Late Registration | Late Registration begins: 11/24/2025 | Late Registration Fee: $318.00 |
| Course registration closes | December 1, 2025 | — |
Registration & Cancellation policies
- Payment will be required at time of registration. You must have either a credit card or valid UW-Madison funding string to be able to register.
- Cancelations at least 24 hours before the program begins will incur a $25 cancellation fee. Cancelations less than 24 hours before the start of the program will incur the full program fee. To cancel, call registration at 608-262-2451. Please note that in the case of a cancellation (by either the participant or the SBDC), participants can only be transferred one time into a new course.
Disability Statement: Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu to request accommodations.
The Small Business Development Center at UW Madison is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.
Instructor
Jeff Russell
Jeff Russell, (MS, UW-Madison) co-director of Russell Consulting, Inc., specializes in helping organizations achieve their goals by successfully responding to the challenges of continuous change. With a focus on leadership, strategic thinking, leading change, and performance coaching, Jeff has guided organizations as diverse as Fortune 500 firms, social and public sector organizations, and small family businesses toward their goals. Jeff received his Masters Degree in Industrial Relations from the UW-Madison where he serves as an ad hoc faculty member for the Small Business Development Center. Jeff also is an adjunct faculty member at UW-Milwaukee, and UW–LaCrosse.
Jeff and his wife and business partner Linda have co-authored nine books. Recent publications include: Change Training, Strategic Planning Training, Change Basics, Strategic Planning 101, Ultimate Performance Management, and, most recently, Fearless Performance Reviews (McGraw-Hill, 2012). For more information on Jeff and his work, visit Russell Consulting, Inc.’s website at www.RussellConsultingInc.com.
The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Office of Business & Entrepreneurship within the Universities of Wisconsin.
It is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact us at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu or call (608) 263-2221.