Zina B. Sutch, PhD

Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, Small Business Administration

Dr. Sutch serves as an Assistant Administrator at the Small Business Administration, leading Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights efforts for SBA employees and Small Business Owners across the country. She previously led government-wide policies and guidance to assist Federal agencies in building diverse workforces and inclusive and engaged organizational cultures that leverage diversity in her role as Director of Diversity and Inclusion and then Deputy Associate Director of Outreach, Diversity Inclusion at the Office of Personnel Management. Prior to serving in this capacity, Dr. Sutch held positions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leading the Office of the Executive Secretariat and the Office of Diversity, Recruitment and Work/Life. Dr. Sutch started her education career as a classroom teacher and moved into leadership positions serving as Education Director then School Principal and Director in the private and public school sectors. She has held faculty appointments at George Mason University, Bowie State University, and currently teaches for American University’s Key Executive Leadership Programs. Her most recent publications include: “Want to Develop Your Leaders? Change the End Goal,” “What Jerry Seinfeld Taught Me About Employee Engagement,” “How to Lead a Loving Organization,” “Overriding our Instincts to Become Caring Leaders,” and “All You Need is Love: How to Nurture Compassionate Love in the Workplace.” Her co-authored book Leading with Love and Laughter – Letting Go and Getting Real at Work was released in Spring 2021.

Panel Information

Tuesday, July 26

10:15 AM EST

Developing Those I Lead - A Leader Imperative

Individual performance fuels the ability for teams to be successful and for organizations to meet their missions. Yet few managers have found the right path to developing the talent they oversee. In today’s fast paced, post-pandemic environment, leaders who know how to uncover and grow the skills of those they lead enjoy greater organizational success, individual commitment, and less turnover. This session explores key components of developing those we lead including the role of developmental coaching, creating a learning environment, and using delegation as a tool for growth.

Wednesday, July 27

10:15 AM EST

The Magic of Leading with Love and Laughter

Love and laughter are magical. They have the power to build bonds, forge trust, and improve productivity. Yet many leaders are uncomfortable with letting go and connecting at the most human level. Some see it as unprofessional, others as silliness with no purpose. But this is far from the truth. From physical and emotional benefits, all the way to mission accomplishment, love and laughter are the most essential, foundational parts of our leadership. Nothing real happens without them. This session will engage attendees with the latest science supporting love and laughter and the impact it can have on our organizations and those we lead. Participants will learn how to harness love as their most effective leadership strategy and the importance of love as the foundation for any leadership approach. They will also discover how laughter can be used to build trust and camaraderie among diverse teams in the workplace.