SWAG-Creative Leadership by Dianne Devitt

For women, creative leadership isn’t about fitting a mold.
It’s about owning your voice, trusting your instincts, and leading with intention—at work and in life.
 
3 Key Takeaways you can expect from this presentation:
 
1. Creativity is a Leadership Skill
Innovation, empathy, and adaptability are not “soft skills”—they are strategic advantages.
 
2. Authenticity Drives Influence
When you lead as yourself—not a version you think you should be—you create trust, confidence, and impact.
 
3. Personal Growth Fuels Professional Power
Boundaries, self-awareness, and alignment off the clock directly strengthen leadership on the clock.
 
Dianne Devitt is a recognized speaker, author, educator, and creative thought leader who helps professionals and organizations turn creative thinking into real-world results—from individual achievement to impactful live events. Drawing on decades of experience working with leaders and teams across industries through her premier meeting and event production company, Dianne reframes creativity as a practical, essential skill for leadership, resilience, and performance.
 
She has served as president of local trade associations and on international boards within the hospitality industry. Dianne is the author of What Color Is Your Event? A Creative Resource Book for Planners and a co-author of Called to Lead: Leadership Strategies for Women.
 
Known for her engaging, human-centered approach, Dianne challenges audiences to move beyond fear and perfectionism, empowering them to lead with clarity, courage, and authenticity. As a professor at New York University for over 30 years, she was honored with the NYU Award for Teaching Excellence.
 
Dianne’s work inspires people to create environments where individuals feel safe to think differently, collaborate openly, and lead with confidence. A New York transplant to the Chicagoland area as of June 2021, she is still trying to fully understand the difference between a square and a slice.

2026 SWAG REBRAND
A space created exclusively for women!
To eliminate confusion between SBA Women in Business (WIB) events and the SBA Women’s Alliance Group, we are bringing all women-focused programming under one unified brand: SWAG – SBA Women’s Advocacy & Gratitude initiative. Moving forward, the Alliance Group name will be retired, and all activities will be organized under the SWAG umbrella.

MISSION:
SWAG unites, empowers, and elevates women in the Schaumburg Business Association through connection, professional development, gratitude, and community engagement.

WHO WE ARE:
SBA Women’s Advocacy & Gratitude (SWAG) is the unified home for all SBA women-focused events. Our goal is to create an inclusive environment where women professionals and allies can thrive through learning, networking, and shared experiences.

WHAT:
SWAG events will consist of monthly lunches, after-work socials, volunteer opportunities, and more.

2026 LUNCH DETAILS:
Dates: 2nd Thursday of every month, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Sponsorships: Table Sponsors at $275 per event

For sponsorships, contact Kayleigh Endicott at KBurnitz@SchaumburgBusiness.com