Our Events
Omaha 7x7x7
This high-level and dynamic Leadership Exchange Event forum, led by a committed group of local business leaders and 7 speakers with unique and exciting passions and ideas, builds a network of valuable connections and accelerates community dialogue on 7 different topics relevant to challenges and opportunities facing business leaders today. Hosted in partnership with the Creighton University Heider College of Business. Our next 7x7x7 will be held in 2021. Detail to be announced.

The Omaha 7x7x7 brings together Omaha’s business leaders for an event featuring local leaders and experts with unique and exciting passions and ideas. Learn something new and connect over drinks and discussion on contemporary leadership topics.
The 7x7x7 format takes its origins from public intellectual dialogue forums – where people gather for high-level conversations on topics varying from science, philosophy, humanities, health, business, politics, and in this case, centered around business & community leadership in Omaha. The event features 7 speakers speaking for 7 minutes each on 7 different topics. It is both educational and enlightening, with a goal to spark new thinking and dynamic conversation on 7 unique topics. Attendees will then break into circle conversations over drinks & appetizers to engage in interactive dialogue on content presented in smaller groups.
Learn more about the ICAN 7x7x7 Event experience by watching this video.
Check out all the former 7x7x7 presentation videos here!
DATE
2021 details to be announced
LOCATION
Creighton University Heider College of Business
Harper Center 4th Floor Ballroom
602 N 20th Street
Omaha, NE 68102
Click here for a PARKING map.
EVENT AGENDA
4-4:15 p.m. Check-In & Networking
4:15-5:45 p.m. 7 Speaker Presentations
5:45-6:45 p.m. Circle Conversations over Drinks & Appetizers
Closing Note to be provided by:
Todd Darnold, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Leadership Programs
Endowed Chair, Charles “Mike” Harper Endowed Chair in Business Leadership
Creighton University Heider College of Business
HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
$700 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Please note, we do not offer refunds for our events. If you find you can no longer attend, please offer your registration to a colleague or friend to attend in your place. Their name & e-mail can be sent to ican@icanglobal.net
Past Omaha 7x7x7 speakers include:
Watch each of their 7 minute presentations here!
2019:
Patrick Dees
CEO
WoodmenLife
Topic: Future Focused Leadership Principles
Sarah Waldman
Executive Director
TeamMates Mentoring
Topic: Leadership Lessons from Mentoring
Mindy Simon
Chief Information Officer
Conagra Brands
Topic: A Pane of Glass
Buey Ray Tut
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Aqua Africa
Topic: Functioning in Disfunction – My Insights
Elizebeth Murphy
President
Emspace + Lovgren
Topic: 7 Things I Learned from Starting a Business at 27
Nate Dodge
President
NP Dodge
Topic: Reflections on Value Based Leadership
Nicole Bianchi
Partner
Bravium HD
Topic: What your people are too afraid to tell you & what you can do about it
2018:
Judy Ricketts
Managing Director, Investor Services / TD Ameritrade
Topic: A League of Your Own
Todd Schmaderer
Chief of Police / Omaha Police Department
Topic: Leadership in Times of Crisis
Arun Agarwal
CEO / White Lotus Group
Topic: Building a Company where Max Profit & Community Development don’t have to be mutually exclusive
Beverly Kracher
CEO, Executive Director / Business Ethics Alliance
Topic: The Ethics of Humor
Paul Maass
Chief Executive Officer / The Scoular Company
Topics: Navigating Your Authentic Path to Successful Leadership
Terry Lee
Senior Performance Development Consultant / Securities America
Topic: In it to W.I.N. It
Mindy Millward
Founder & Managing Partner / Executive Business Advisor / Navalent
Topic: Leveraging Your (super)Powers on the Way to the Top
2017:
Todd Simon
Owner & Senior Vice President / Omaha Steaks
Topic: Omaha Steaks at 100 years – Reflecting on our community and our business
Karen Ganzlin
Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer / TD Ameritrade
Topic: A Business Imperative – Our Journey to Becoming a More Diverse Workforce
Jeff Kutash
Executive Director / Peter Kiewit Foundation
Topic: Boomtown Omaha
Cydney Franklin
Senior Program Director / Seventy Five North Revitalization Corp.
Topic: Realizing Long-term Neighborhood Vibrancy
Richard Azizkhan, MD, PhD (hon)
President & Chief Executive Officer / Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
Topic: Certain Leadership for Uncertain Times – A Road to Distinction
Richard E. Putnam
Managing Partner / Baird Holm LLP
Topic: Herding a Very Smart Group of Cats
Ariel Roblin
President and General Manager / KETV Newswatch 7
Topic: The Responsibility of Local Journalism
2016:
Tim Burke
President/CEO, Omaha Public Power District
Topic: Intentional Leadership through Transformation
Kenny McMorris
CEO, Charles Drew Health Center
Topic: Improving Population Health: Adding Health to Healthcare
Lieutenant Colonel Ian Dinesen
Commander, 55th Security Forces Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base
Topic: Contemporary Leadership in a Modern Military Organization
Michael Alley
Principal, Alley Poyner Maccchietto Architecture
Topic: Cultivating a Creative Culture on the Island of Misfit Toys
Senator Heath Mello
Nebraska State Legislature
Topic: Consensus-Building in Challenging Times
Jay Noddle
President & CEO, Noddle Companies
Topic: Seeing our Community through Development
Mark Hasebroock
Founder, Dundee Venture Capital
Topic: Technology, Relationships and Fate
2015:
Clark Lauritzen
First National Bank, Executive Vice President
Topic: Know Thyself – Leading as Who You Are
Tom Warren
President / CEO, Urban League of Nebraska
Former Chief, Omaha Police Department
Topic: Leadership and Civic Engagment
Jason Lauritsen
Director, Best Places to Work, Quantum Workplace
Topic: “I Was Wrong” and Other Things Great Leaders Say
David Arnold
Managing Director, Straight Shot
Topic: The Passion for Distinction – Life Hacks for Advancing Your Career
Dr. Bradley Britigan
Dean, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Topic: Building the Future Health Care of Nebraska
Dan Houghton
Co-Founder & EVP
BuilderTREND Solutions
Topic: Building and Leading a Winning Team
Van Deeb
Motivational Speaker & Author
Omaha Planning Board, Founder, DEEB Realty
Topic: The Choices we Make as Leaders
2014:
Steve Grandfield
EVP / COO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
Topic: Agile Business and Leadership
Willy Theisen
Restaurateur & Entrepreneur, Omaha Business Hall of Famer
Topic: Trust & Ethics in Client Awareness and Appreciation
Phil Haussler
Quantum Workplace
Director of Product
Topic: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership
Willie Barney
CEO, Empowerment Network, Omaha 360
Topic: Collaborative Leadership with Measureable Results
Mark Evans
Superintendent, Omaha Public Schools
Topic: Leadership in Challenging Times
Stuart Chittenden
Chief Curiousity Officer, David Day Associates
Founder of Squishtalks
Topic: The Art of Conversation and Empathetic Leadership
Dave Nelson
Founder and Creative Director, SecretPenguin
Topic: The Tiny Decisions that Make the Biggest Impact on Business, Employees and Life