About

Speakers

Pricing

FAQs

Partners

Leadership Starts with You.

The Highlands College Leadership Conference is a premier event designed to empower leaders with the insights, skills, and strategies needed to make a lasting impact in their businesses, communities, and organizations. Presented by Founders Advisors, this in-person Conference brings together passionate individuals from a variety of fields who are eager to grow in their leadership capacity and align their efforts with purposeful, mission-driven work.

Whether you're a business executive, educator, church leader, or aspiring leader, this conference offers a dynamic learning experience that will inspire and equip you to lead with excellence and integrity.

Proceeds from the Highlands College Leadership Conference directly support the mission, vision, and goals of Highlands College—America's Ministry Leadership University. By attending, you contribute to the development of future leaders, advancing our commitment to equipping individuals for transformative impact in the world.

Join us for a half-day of inspiration, networking, and practical leadership development—all while supporting the next generation of leaders!

Read more about the Leadership Conference

Join us for a half-day of inspiration, networking, and practical leadership development—all while supporting the next generation of leaders!

2025 Speakers

Ryan

Leak

Read Bio

Dr. John C.

Maxwell

Read Bio

Chris

Hodges

Read Bio

John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 30 million books, has been identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association® and the world’s most influential leadership expert by Business Insider and Inc. magazine. Dr. Maxwell has also received the Horatio Alger Award, as well as the Mother Teresa Prize for Global Peace and Leadership from the Luminary Leadership Network. His organizations—The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation—have trained millions of leaders from every nation in the world. For more information, visit JohnMaxwell.com. Because of his passion for leadership training, John has requested all event proceeds from Leadership Conference benefit Highlands College, a higher education institution where learning, mentoring, relationships, and spiritual growth are top priorities.

Ryan Leak

Ryan Leak is a dynamic speaker, New York Times best-selling author, and strategic advisor renowned for his ability to inspire and transform individuals and organizations. As the CEO of a leadership development firm based in Dallas, Ryan and his team train over 30,000 leaders annually — from Fortune 500 companies to professional sports teams. His unique talent for turning setbacks into opportunities, emphasizing the importance of resilience and the value of learning from failure, makes his teachings impactful and actionable with a splash of humor.

Ryan's passion is helping leaders push past autopilot and level up in their lives and careers. He spreads this empowering message through coaching, speaking, and leveraging the power of video to reach thousands through his online platforms. He is the author of the USA Today bestselling book "Chasing Failure," the Wall Street Journal bestselling book "Leveling Up," and his latest work, "How to Work with Complicated People." His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Good Morning America and The Today Show.

With an engaging personality and a deep understanding of human dynamics, Ryan continues to motivate and equip people to overcome challenges and succeed in their endeavors. He is also widely known for planning a viral proposal and wedding on the same day.

Most importantly, Ryan is married to his best friend Amanda and is the proud assistant coach for his son's basketball team. Whether through his powerful keynote speeches, best-selling books, or social media presence, Ryan Leak inspires over 50,000 individuals every month to chase their dreams and achieve their full potential.

Chris Hodges

Chris Hodges is the founding and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands. Since it began in 2001, Highlands has grown to have campuses across the state of Alabama, and we’re known for our life-giving culture and focus on leading people to an intimate relationship with God.

Pastor Chris has a deep passion for developing leaders and planting life-giving churches. He co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) in 2001, which has launched hundreds of churches across the United States. He also founded GrowLeader, specializing in training and resourcing pastors and churches to help them break barriers and reach their growth potential. Chris is also the founder and Chancellor of Highlands College, a ministry training school that trains and launches students into full-time ministry careers.

Chris and his wife Tammy have five children and live in Birmingham, Alabama, where Church of the Highlands began. He speaks at conferences worldwide and is the author of Fresh Air, Four Cups, The Daniel Dilemma, What’s Next?, Out of The Cave, Pray First, and co-authored Jesus, the High Road Leader with John C. Maxwell.

What Others
are Saying...

“”

The speakers and connection time before and between events. Truly the best leadership conference I have attended. Everything done with excellence. Well done!!

—Participant, post-conference survey

This has been SENSATIONAL! THANK YOU!

—Rob G.

Learning so much. I am so thankful for this Conference. Life-changing. So much to unpack from today. Thank you to all three of you. [Ed's] message was about all relationships in life not just in the workplace. So life-changing.

—Kristina K. (Helena, AL)

Excited to continue to grow personally. One leadership trait I have learned (sometimes the hard way) is to OWN your mistakes and use them to make better decisions.

—Bryan B. (Spotsylvania, VA)

I'm not my problems, fears, or worries!! Thank you, Jesus. I'm the most qualified to help the person I used to be!! What a word.

—Jacenta T.

Thanks to everyone who put this on! Wonderfully inspiring.

—Philip J. (Montgomery, AL)

Took 3 pages of notes and want my staff to be a part of this with me next year!

—Participant, post-conference survey

Pricing

Individual

$99.00

Group

Discount!

Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more!

$89.00

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the name of the event?

The event is now called the Highlands College Leadership Conference (formerly known as the Impact Leadership Conference).

Is there a cost to attend the Conference?

Yes, the cost is $99 per person. However, if you are registering a group of 10 or more, the cost is reduced to $89 per person. All proceeds from the Conference support the mission, vision, and goals of Highlands College—America's Ministry Leadership University.

What is included in the registration cost?

The registration cost covers all event sessions, materials, and boxed lunch provided during the Conference.

Are there any group discounts?

Yes, if you are attending as part of a group of 10 or more, you can register at a discounted rate of $89 per person.

Can I get a refund if I am unable to attend?

All registration costs for the Highlands College Leadership Conference are non-refundable. By registering for the event, you acknowledge and agree that no refunds will be issued for cancellations or no-shows.

How do I register for the Conference?

You can register for the Conference on our official website. Simply follow the registration instructions, and you will be prompted to enter your payment details.

Can I still attend if I don't register early?

We encourage early registration to secure your spot, as space is limited.

Is the Conference in-person or virtual?

The Highlands College Leadership Conference is an in-person event only.

Where will the Conference be held?

The Highlands College Leadership Conference will be held at Highlands College in Birmingham, AL.

What topics will be covered at the Conference?

The Conference will focus on leadership development, equipping leaders with practical tools and insights to enhance their impact in their respective fields.

Will the Conference be streamed?

We believe the in-person experience is invaluable for connecting with speakers and other attendees and therefore the Conference will not be streamed. We hope you can join us in person!

Will there be a recording available to view the Conference later?

At this time, we will not be providing a recording of the Conference. We encourage you to attend in person to fully engage with the sessions and make the most of the event.

Will hotel accommodations be provided?

As a half-day event from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. CT, hotel accommodations for Conference are not provided.

For guests who would like an extended-stay in Birmingham, the Highlands College campus is conveniently located near hotels, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, and more.

leadership conference attendees walking up stairs

Highlands College

At Highlands College—America's Ministry Leadership University, we are dedicated to developing Christ-centered leaders through a holistic approach of academic instruction, ministry training, character formation, and spiritual development—equipping every student to lead within the local church and ministries worldwide and to live a life of eternal impact.

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Community Partners

Organizations and individuals have the opportunity to become conference sponsors by joining the HC Community Partners program. Partners network with other business leaders who want to collaborate and develop neighborly connections with Highlands College. Community Partner benefits include promotion, exclusive events, and in-person access to the Highlands College Leadership Conference.

Partner Opportunities

THANK YOU

December 3, 2025

Leadership Starts with You.

2025 Speakers

Ryan