UMW Women’s Leadership Colloquium Coffee Talk

May’s Coffee Talk, led by Alicia Turner, CEO & President at North Compass Solutions LLC, will be an intriguing session on “Affirming Workplace Relationships.”

Affirming Others. Strengthening Ourselves. Working Better Together.

Strong working relationships are at the heart of every successful team—but they don’t happen by accident. In this engaging and interactive session, participants will explore what it truly means to create affirming working relationships and how those relationships directly impact communication, performance, and workplace culture.

This session goes beyond theory to provide practical tools that can be applied immediately.

Participants will:

– Understand what affirming working relationships are—and why they matter
– Identify whether their current workplace relationships are supportive or strained
– Learn simple, powerful strategies rooted in care, curiosity, and communication
– Gain tools to strengthen relationships with colleagues, leaders, and teams
– Explore how to affirm themselves at work—even in challenging environments

This session is designed to be highly interactive, relatable, and actionable—giving attendees space to reflect, engage, and leave with clear next steps they can implement right away.

Whether you are leading a team or contributing as an individual, this experience will help you show up more intentionally, communicate more effectively, and build stronger, more affirming connections at work.

Networking is one of the most powerful tools for your professional development. At Coffee Talk, you’ll have the chance to share experiences, learn from others, and grow alongside professionals from across the Fredericksburg region.

Affirming Your Emotional Intelligence
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 | 8:00 AM | 718 Venue
Speaker: Beth Williams, Executive Director for Human Resources at University of Mary Washington