2025-08-26 –, Potter Auditorium - Kenneth C Rowe Management Building
In Agile environments, high-performing teams rely on more than just technical expertise, they succeed when emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusivity are central to their culture. In “Leading with Empathy: Building Inclusive, High-Performance Teams in Agile Environments,” I’ll share how leaders and teams can foster a supportive, diverse, and collaborative atmosphere that leads to stronger outcomes. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to create psychological safety, enhance communication, and embrace diversity, ultimately building teams that perform at their best.
In today’s fast-paced Agile and DevOps environments, success isn’t just about technical expertise, it’s about creating teams that are inclusive, emotionally intelligent, and able to communicate effectively under pressure. Drawing from my experience as a social entrepreneur and DEI consultant, I’ll share strategies to help you lead with empathy and build stronger team dynamics. This session will focus on fostering trust, embracing diversity, and encouraging collaboration in high-performing teams.
You’ll learn:
- How to create a culture of psychological safety and openness through empathetic leadership.
- Ways to enhance communication and collaboration, especially in high-pressure situations.
- How to build diverse teams that take shared ownership of success and innovation.
- The importance of continuous feedback and inclusivity to support team growth.
This session is ideal for anyone in Agile or DevOps environments looking to elevate their team culture and ensure all voices are heard, valued, and empowered to contribute meaningfully.
Key Takeaways:
- Actionable strategies for inclusive leadership and team-building.
- Techniques for using emotional intelligence to improve team communication and trust.
- Tools for creating psychologically safe spaces where innovation can thrive.
- Insights on fostering feedback loops that promote growth and inclusivity.
Jacquelyn Miccolis is the Founder and Executive Director of the Creative Community Impact Association, a federally incorporated non-profit focused on empowering creatives and community builders through inclusive programming, collaboration, and advocacy. She works at the intersection of creativity, accessibility, and community, creating spaces where diverse teams can connect, grow, and build meaningful outcomes together.
With education and formal training in psychology, community development, technology, and inclusive design, Jacquelyn brings a multidisciplinary approach that informs her leadership style and commitment to fostering empathy, equity, and trust, values essential in both creative and agile team environments.
A lifelong social entrepreneur, Jacquelyn previously founded and operated Sparkles n’ Sawdust Studio, a brick-and-mortar business in downtown Halifax, and later launched Supernova Events, a social enterprise supporting community and inclusion on a regional scale.
Jacquelyn leverages her expertise in web design and development, combining design principles with custom code to create digital solutions that support her community and creative initiatives.