Executive Leadership in Complex Times (Retreat @ Nudlaghi Leadership Institute)

Overview

Executive leaders across Alaska are navigating unprecedented complexity—rapid social change, workforce strain, political polarization, and the ongoing pressure to deliver impact with limited resources. This retreat offers nonprofit and Tribal executives a rare opportunity to step away from daily demands, reconnect with their purpose, and strengthen the leadership practices required in today’s environment.

Through facilitated dialogue, reflective practice, and peer learning, participants explore how to lead with clarity, steadiness, and adaptability. The retreat emphasizes the internal capacities leaders need to stay grounded, make principled decisions, and support their teams through uncertainty. It also creates space for meaningful connection among peers who understand the unique challenges of executive leadership in Alaska.

What You’ll Explore
- Approaches for leading organizations through complexity and change
- Tools for strengthening executive presence and decision‑making
- Strategies for supporting staff and organizational culture during periods of strain
- Practices for resilience, reflection, and long‑term sustainability
- Peer insights from leaders facing similar statewide challenges

Who Should Attend
Nonprofit, Tribal, and community Executive Directors and CEOs seeking space to reflect, connect, and strengthen their leadership in a rapidly changing environment.

Facilitators: Kameron Perez‑Verdia & Tonio Nguyen
Kameron Perez‑Verdia brings more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience and currently serves as CEO of the Alaska Humanities Forum. He has been a member of the Anchorage Assembly since 2019 and previously served on the Anchorage School Board, including terms as Vice President and President. Originally from Utqiaġvik, Kameron holds a BA in Communications from the University of Puget Sound and an MBA from the University of Denver. He enjoys exploring Alaska’s outdoors with his wife and two daughters.

Tonio Nguyen is a Learning Architect and Change Facilitator whose approach to transformation is shaped by the people and landscapes of Alaska and by two decades of work with rural and Indigenous communities worldwide. He has taught and facilitated in Vietnam, India, Mongolia, New York City, Washington, DC, and across rural Alaska. Tonio collaborates with educators, nonprofits, Tribes, and community groups throughout the United States. Based in Anchorage, he spends his time exploring the backcountry, engaging in creative design, and sharing s’mores with friends in the great outdoors.