2026 CAP Alliance Annual ConferenceSunday, April 19, 2026 - Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School - St. Louis, Missouri The Future of our workSkills - Clients - Workplace |
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
(Speakers and times are subject to change as details are finalized for the conference.)
Sunday, April 19 — Arrival Day
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Welcome Reception (Optional)
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Monday, April 20 — Program Day
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Conference Overview & Opening (Don Halpin, Olin Business School)
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Welcome Remarks (Mike Mazzeo - Dean, Olin Business School)
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Keynote: A Fireside Chat with Maxine Clark (Founder, Build-A-Bear Workshop & Philanthropist)
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| Concurrent Sessions
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Concurrent Session Debriefs
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| Lunch |
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How Mentorship & Alumni Networks Power Career Growth (Aaron Mahl - SVP, PeopleGrove)
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| Mental Health Considerations for Career Coaches (Peter Ambrose, Jr. - Principal, Partners Behavioral Health) |
| Working Across Generations (Gisele Marcus - Vice Dean, Olin Business School) |
| Review & Day-One Wrap-Up |
| Conference Dinner & Networking |
Tuesday, April 21 — Program Day / Departure
| Day Two Overview |
| Keynote: Topic Pending (Lauren Herring - CEO, The IMPACT Group) |
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Leadership Focus (Brendan Mergard, PhD - CEO, Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Consulting)
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Break for Networking
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Lunch
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| Supporting the Career Needs of Working Professionals (Noel Paul - CEO, Gold Metal Careers & Consulting) |
| Mindset and Resilience during Trying Times: Perspectives from Positive Psychology (Tim Bono - Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Research & Analytics, WashU) |
| President’s Address (Julie Thornton, Chicago Booth) |
| Closing Remarks (Don Halpin, Olin Business School) |
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
 | Maxine Clark |
Maxine Clark is a renowned consumer retail leader, social entrepreneur, board member, and investor in women- and minority-owned businesses. She is Chief Inspirator of The Delmar DivINe, a groundbreaking collaborative hub for nonprofits, and the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, the iconic global retail brand known for redefining customer experience through personalization.
Maxine also teaches in Olin Business School’s Women in Leadership program, serves as CEO and President of the Clark-Fox Family Foundation, and sits on multiple boards focused on education, innovation, and community impact.
| Lauren Herring |
Lauren Herring is CEO of IMPACT Group, where she has led the company’s transformation into a global leader in employee career development, operating in more than 65 locations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Prior to her current role, Lauren was President of Global Services, overseeing international business development and operations.
An internationally recognized speaker on career development and global mobility, Lauren is the author of This Side Up! and Take Control of Your Job Search! and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. She is the recipient of numerous leadership awards and serves on several civic, nonprofit, and Washington University boards.
WELCOME
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GENERAL SESSION & SPEAKERS
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Mental Health Considerations for Coaches Vice President, Utilization Management – Optum Behavioral Health |
| Mindset and Resilience during Trying Times: Perspectives from Positive Psychology Associate Dean for Student Affairs / Director of Research & Analytics – WashU |
 | How Mentorship & Alumni Networks Power Career Growth Senior Vice President - PeopleGrove |
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| Supporting the Career Needs of Working Professionals CEO - Gold Metal Careers & Consulting |
| President's Address Director, Career Management – The University of Chicago Booth School of Business |
CONCURRENT SESSION & SPEAKERS
| Program Management Community of Practice Senior Associate Director Alumni Career Services – MIT Sloan School of Mgt. Senior Associate, Career Advancement Center – IE Business School, Madrid, Spain |
| Coaching Executive Presence Senior Director, Career Center for Working Professionals - NYU Stern School of Business |
ABOUT THE CAP ALLIANCE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The CAP Alliance Annual Conference is the only professional development event focused entirely on the needs of career services professionals serving Part-Time MBAs, Executive MBAs, and alumni of MBA degree programs. Alliance members attend to share best practices, hear from speakers, and generate new ideas with peers from top MBA programs from around the world. The 2026 CAP Alliance Annual Conference will be held at Olin Business School, Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.To join the CAP Alliance Annual Conference, your university must be a current member school. For more details on University Membership, please contact membership@capallianceglobal.org