Burnout is not a personal failure—it is a workplace signal. And it is one that leaders can no longer ignore. Across industries, teams are stretched thin, managers are overwhelmed, and high performers are quietly disengaging. Burnout shows up not just in employee well-being, but in missed goals, eroded trust, and cultures that struggle to retain top talent. 

In this high-impact, action-oriented session, Jackie Ferguson shares three simple, evidence-informed strategies that leaders and employees can implement immediately to reduce burnout and create a culture of sustainable performance. 

Jackie will help you identify the real organizational drivers of burnout—and show how clarity, care, and connection can be activated through small, consistent actions at every level of the business. 

You Will Learn: 

• How to talk about bandwidth and normalize conversations about capacity and support—without stigma or guilt. 

• When to give (and ask for) control with autonomy, prioritization, and flexibility to reduce stress and boost engagement. 

• How aligning tasks to personal strengths boosts performance and protects energy. 

• How to know your people beyond the job to understand what drives—or drains—them and respond with compassion when life spills into work. 

Burnout doesn’t disappear overnight—but change starts with one intentional action. In this session, you’ll learn how small shifts in communication, connection, and leadership can spark lasting transformation—for yourself, your team, and your culture. 

About the Speaker

Jackie Ferguson, CDE

Co-Founder & VP of Content, Programming, and Products

The Diversity Movement, a Workplace Options Company

Jackie Ferguson is a bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and Vice President of Content, Programming, and Products at TDM. As co-founder, she has championed diversity-led initiatives that transform workplaces and communities. Her bestselling book, The Inclusive Language Handbook: A Guide to Better Communication and Transformational Leadership—now sold in 15 countries—has reshaped how people communicate, and her follow-up edition for nonprofits continues that impact. A certified diversity executive and sought-after speaker, Jackie has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and other major publications.

She is also the creator and host of Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox, one of the world’s top diversity-focused podcasts, where she amplifies the voices of trailblazers and thought leaders. Recognized among the 2023 Inc. Female Founders 200 and honored by Fast Company and Inc. Magazine for her team’s groundbreaking work, Jackie has spent more than two decades advocating for social and economic equality. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter and is motivated by a simple goal: to leave the world a little better for the next generation.