Former Chick-fil-A innovation leader Steve Nedvidek to headline Lipscomb University’s 'Smarter to Wiser, Faster' workshop for professionals May 11-12

Former Chick-fil-A innovation leader Steve Nedvidek to headline Lipscomb University's 'Smarter to Wiser, Faster' workshop for professionals May 11-12

Two-day immersive experience in downtown Nashville will help leaders strengthen decision-making, leadership capacity and practical workplace application with top experts in these areas

Kim Chaudoin | 04/21/2026

Register here

Lipscomb University will host "Smarter to Wiser, Faster," an immersive two-day workshop designed specifically for working professionals to strengthen their leadership, decision-making and capacity to navigate complexity in a rapidly changing workplace.

The workshop will be held May 11-12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Spark, Lipscomb University's downtown campus, located at 400 Commerce St. in Nashville. The cost is $1,800 per person and includes all sessions and workshop materials, a networking breakfast that begins at 7:30 a.m. and lunch at noon each day.

Built around Lipscomb's "Smarter to Wiser, Faster" framework, the workshop is designed to go beyond traditional executive education by helping participants not only gain knowledge, but also transform how they think, decide and lead. Through a combination of teaching, guided reflection and practical application, participants will explore how to lead with greater wisdom, clarity and effectiveness in real-world settings. Key topics include Systems Thinking & Creative Mindset, Perception & Detection, Courage & Resilience, Character & Stewardship, Unity-Building & Narrative, Discernment and Decision-making.

Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn about Chick-fil-A's journey toward systemically embracing the discipline of Innovation, the markers of organizational change mindset and the creation of businesses that value curiosity. The workshop will feature keynote speaker Steve Nedvidek, a retired, longtime Chick-fil-A innovation and marketing executive. During his 30-year career with Chick-fil-A, Nedvidek was on the front lines of Chick-fil-A's tremendous growth as he served in a variety of leadership roles in film and video production, marketing, creative services and innovation. He also helped launch Hatch, Chick-fil-A's innovation center, and played a key role in establishing innovation practices across the company. Today, he teaches education courses for major corporations and has spoken internationally to audiences from truck drivers to telecom executives.

"We are so excited to have Steve as a part of our workshop. Participants will benefit first-hand from his real world experience and learn about Chick-fil-A's keys to spectacular success," said Todd McCullough, chief innovation officer at Lipscomb University. "In a world that's changing faster than ever, it matters more than ever that leaders make wise decisions. As AI accelerates knowledge for everyone, human capabilities will be the differentiating factor,"

"Decisions that are grounded in purpose and integrity; curiosity to see change as positive; imagination to create new possibilities, and the skills to navigate organizational change. These are the focus of our 'Smarter to Wiser, Faster' platform. The levers of Perspectives, Experiences, Relationships and Content all play key roles in speeding development. At Lipscomb we're pioneering what it takes to be a wiser leader in an AI-powered world."

The workshop is intentionally designed to be more immersive, personal and practical than a typical leadership seminar, with built-in opportunities for individual and group reflection. Participants will leave with tools and frameworks they can begin applying immediately in their current roles while also engaging in a longer-term leadership development journey.

Expected outcomes of the workshop include helping participants launch a transformational leadership journey, learn how to assess their organization and team across six wisdom domains, apply brain science insights to decision-making and teamwork, activate the "Smarter to Wiser, Faster" platform in practice, learn strategies to leverage individual strengths for work and life, strengthen reflection as a leadership discipline and build meaningful relationships that extend beyond the workshop into their professional networks.

Additional workshop speakers will include faculty and industry leaders from across business, education, entertainment, media and vocational leadership:

• Lonnie Cochran, associate professor in Lipscomb's College of Education who previously spent 16 years in K-12 education. Her work focuses on teacher effectiveness, social-emotional competencies, mindfulness and educational leadership.
• Mike Fernandez, founding dean of Lipscomb's George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts, has led the growth of one of the university's fastest-growing colleges and is a thought-leader in leadership formation, innovation and institutional vision.
• Ron Harrell, founder of Harrell Media Group, is a veteran media executive and brand strategist whose leadership background includes roles with CBS Radio, Cumulus Media, ABC Radio, Hubbard Broadcasting, WAY Media and Hope Media Group.
• Rob Touchstone, director of Lipscomb's Center for Vocational Discovery and co-founder of The Well Coffeehouse, is an expert in entrepreneurship, business as mission and helping organizations lead at the intersection of compassion, strategy and sustainability.
• McCullough, who also serves as one of the workshop leaders, has spent more than 20 years helping organizations develop and execute growth strategies and has advised more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. In addition to his role at Lipscomb, he also teaches executives and students at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.

Registration is now open. For more information or to register, visit lipscomb.edu/S2WF.