BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260729T163000Z DTEND:20260729T180000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:IN-PERSON | The Inner Work We Carry | Presence Over Perfection DESCRIPTION:The Inner Work We Carry\n\nA three-part series on story\, presence\, and the quiet work that shapes how we lead and live.\n\n\n\nIn this three-part series\, Jessi Bixler shares what the years following a sexual assault actually looked like and what it meant to keep moving forward from something that didn't just stay in the past. Rather than focusing on the event itself\, these sessions center on what came after. The ways it showed up in everyday moments\, in relationships\, and in reactions that didn't always make sense at the time. Jessi reflects on what she began to recognize over time and how that awareness changed the way she made decisions\, led\, and showed up with others.\n\n\n\nFor women in leadership\, the connection is direct. We do not leave our experiences at the door. They shape how we interpret situations\, how we communicate\, and how we respond under pressure\, often without us realizing it. This is not a framework or a set of steps. It is an honest look at the internal work that influences how we lead\, whether we have named it or not.\n\n\nSession 2 (relational impact): Presence Over Perfection\n\nHow we show up for others matters more than getting it right\nAfter the assault\, the responses from others mattered in ways that were not always obvious. Some created space for connection\, while others\, even when well-intended\, created distance.\n\n\n\nIn this session\, Jessi shares the moments and relationships that shaped her experience in the aftermath. The people who stayed present without having the right words\, the ones who tried to fix what couldn't be fixed\, and the subtle ways those responses were felt long after the moment passed.\n\n\n\nShe connects those experiences to how people show up in leadership\, especially in difficult situations. The instinct to avoid hard conversations\, to move too quickly into solutions\, or to say something just to fill the silence. What emerges instead is a more grounded understanding of support\, one that is less about saying the right thing and more about being willing to stay present when it would be easier to step back.\n\n \n\nSign up for part three!\n\n\n\n\n \n\nJessi Bixler is an entrepreneur and marketing leader who builds at the intersection of strategy and purpose. As a business owner and community builder\, she brings a focused\, driven approach to leadership qualities she sharpened while serving on the Board of Directors and as Board Chair for MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault) and through her dedicated volunteer work with local organizations.\n\n\n\nJessi is a passionate advocate for survivors and a sought-after speaker on resilience and the complexities of recovery. In her debut memoir\, The Story We Share (2025)\, she explores the ripple effects of trauma on families and the long\, non-linear path toward healing. Her work bridges the gap between professional grit and deep empathy\, offering a perspective on faith that allows for both anger and hope.\n\n\n\nWhether she is leading a marketing team or speaking to an audience\, Jessi is committed to fostering environments where people can be honest about their experiences and find steadier ground together. She lives in the United States with her family and is happiest near the ocean with a good book. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
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\nThe Inner Work We Carry
\nA three-part series on story\, presence\, and the quiet work that shapes how we lead and live.
\n
\nIn this three-part series\, Jessi Bixler shares what the years following a sexual assault actually looked like and what it meant to keep moving forward from something that didn&rsquo\;t just stay in the past. Rather than focusing on the event itself\, these sessions center on what came after. The ways it showed up in everyday moments\, in relationships\, and in reactions that didn&rsquo\;t always make sense at the time. Jessi reflects on what she began to recognize over time and how that awareness changed the way she made decisions\, led\, and showed up with others.
\n
\nFor women in leadership\, the connection is direct. We do not leave our experiences at the door. They shape how we interpret situations\, how we communicate\, and how we respond under pressure\, often without us realizing it. This is not a framework or a set of steps. It is an honest look at the internal work that influences how we lead\, whether we have named it or not.\n


\nSession 2 (relational impact): Presence Over Perfection
\nHow we show up for others matters more than getting it right

\nAfter the assault\, the responses from others mattered in ways that were not always obvious. Some created space for connection\, while others\, even when well-intended\, created distance.
\n
\nIn this session\, Jessi shares the moments and relationships that shaped her experience in the aftermath. The people who stayed present without having the right words\, the ones who tried to fix what couldn&rsquo\;t be fixed\, and the subtle ways those responses were felt long after the moment passed.
\n
\nShe connects those experiences to how people show up in leadership\, especially in difficult situations. The instinct to avoid hard conversations\, to move too quickly into solutions\, or to say something just to fill the silence. What emerges instead is a more grounded understanding of support\, one that is less about saying the right thing and more about being willing to stay present when it would be easier to step back.
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Sign up for part \;three!

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Jessi Bixler is an entrepreneur and marketing leader who builds at the intersection of strategy and purpose. As a business owner and community builder\, she brings a focused\, driven approach to leadership&mdash\;qualities she sharpened while serving on the Board of Directors and as Board Chair for MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault) and through her dedicated volunteer work with local organizations.
\n
\nJessi is a passionate advocate for survivors and a sought-after speaker on resilience and the complexities of recovery. In her debut memoir\, The Story We Share (2025)\, she explores the ripple effects of trauma on families and the long\, non-linear path toward healing. Her work bridges the gap between professional grit and deep empathy\, offering a perspective on faith that allows for both anger and hope.
\n
\nWhether she is leading a marketing team or speaking to an audience\, Jessi is committed to fostering environments where people can be honest about their experiences and find steadier ground together. She lives in the United States with her family and is happiest near the ocean with a good book.

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\n LOCATION:IN-PERSON AT UMKC BLOCH EXECUTIVE HALL 5108 CHERRY STREET\, ROOM 414 KANSAS CITY\, MO 64110 You will receive an email from UMKC Parking 24-48 hours prior to the program. This will include a personalized link to the parking registration portal. To complete registration\, you will enter your vehicle information\, including your license plate number. Parking is available in the Cherry Street Garage and you are able to park in Lot 12\, Lot 14 or Lot 19\, or any of the other lots in red on the map (see here). UID:e.9235.26079 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260525T222044Z URL:https://members.centralexchange.org/events/details/in-person-the-inner-work-we-carry-presence-over-perfection-26079 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR