Laysha Ward - Keynote Speaker
Laysha Ward is an accomplished C- suite executive with 32+ years of leadership experience at Target, a Fortune 50 company with $104 billion in annual revenue and 400,000 employees. As a purpose- driven leader, she boasts a nationally recognized track record of success in delivering results for consumer-facing brands. From rural roots to the C-suite, Ward advanced from a frontline team member on the sales floor to a prominent executive role in her three decades at Target. She has remained deeply connected to her origins in rural Indiana, championing the ethos that true success is measured by the equitable opportunities we create for everyone. For Ward, leading with meaning is focused on progress over perfection.
In her first book, Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite, Ward offers a new approach to leadership that views your life and career as part of the same puzzle. Drawing from her own storied career, she makes the case that the key to a healthy, happy, and well-lived life is remaining aligned to your driving purpose in all areas of your life. Bestselling author Arthur Brooks deemed the upcoming book "an important primer on how to discover meaning in your life, and then bring it to your work as a leader."
Ward’s career is marked by her ability to navigate rapid change, solve complex problems, and lead innovative community-oriented programs. Her extensive experience includes serving as the head of the Target Foundation, where she championed initiatives like Target’s $1 billion pledge to education and its partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her leadership has also extended to the national stage, with a Presidential appointment to the Corporation for National and Community Service and several corporate and nonprofit boards. Her extensive board appointments include United Airlines and Denny’s Corporation and nonprofit organizations such as the Northside Achievement Zone and the Minnesota Orchestra. Ward's dedication to public service earned her an honorary doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 2019, where she later delivered the commencement address at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Ward is a Top Voice on LinkedIn where she has nearly half a million followers and pens the “Laysha’s Lessons” newsletter to share her executive insights on purpose-driven leadership. As a spokesperson and communicator, she has shared her expertise on numerous national platforms, including the Aspen Institute and the National Urban League, and has interviewed figures such as Glennon Doyle, Issa Rae and Chef Jose Andres.
With her deep expertise in business strategy, leadership, stakeholder engagement, and corporate responsibility, Laysha Ward provides valuable lessons on leading with purpose, fostering inclusive cultures, and positively impacting both business and community settings.