Leadership is a journey—and sometimes the best way to keep moving forward is to take time to learn, reflect, and grow.
The Standley Systems leadership team recently had the opportunity to attend a live stream of the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) 2026 at Life.Church’s North Oklahoma City campus. Attendance at GLS is an important part of Standley Systems’ Leadership Academy program, our ongoing investment in developing leaders who are equipped to grow themselves, serve their teams, and help move our organization forward.
Over two impactful days, our leaders stepped away from their daily routines to invest in themselves, strengthen their leadership skills, and spend meaningful time learning together.
Hosted by Paula Faris, this year’s Summit featured an incredible lineup of speakers, including Craig Groeschel, Vanessa Van Edwards, Julio Garcia, Jim Collins, Priscilla Shirer, Alison Levine, Andy Stanley, Ryan Leak, Arthur C. Brooks, Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, and David Ashcraft.
Throughout the conference, our team was challenged to think differently about what great leadership looks like—not only in the workplace, but in the way we show up for the people around us.
A theme that resonated with our team was the importance of growing forward. Growth isn’t about having everything figured out or following a perfectly straight path. It’s about taking what we learn, applying it, and continuing to move forward with purpose. That also means staying curious—asking better questions, seeking new perspectives, listening with an open mind, and being willing to challenge the way things have always been done.
Curiosity keeps us learning. Intentionality turns that learning into action. Together, they help us grow forward as individuals, as leaders, and as a team.
Among the many lessons and conversations sparked by the Summit were the importance of being intentional about noticing patterns we need to protect and patterns we need to disrupt, creating better conversations that improve both productivity and sentiment, and continuing to embrace servant leadership.
Our leaders were also challenged to think about the “cliffs” we encounter throughout our careers and leadership journeys—those moments that require courage, preparation, and a willingness to keep moving forward. We were reminded that the journey to success is rarely a straight line. There will be unexpected turns, setbacks, and opportunities along the way. What matters is our willingness to stay curious, adapt, learn from the journey, and keep growing forward.
These lessons are exactly why experiences like GLS are incorporated into the Standley Systems Leadership Academy. Developing strong leaders requires more than learning processes or managing day-to-day responsibilities. It requires creating intentional opportunities to step outside of the everyday, hear new perspectives, challenge our thinking, and bring those lessons back to our teams.
Beyond the lessons from the stage, one of the highlights of the Summit was simply having the opportunity to spend time together. Sharing ideas, discussing takeaways, asking questions, and learning alongside one another gave our leadership team a chance to recharge while continuing to strengthen the relationships that help move Standley Systems forward.
Of course, stepping away for two days is only possible because of the incredible people who keep everything moving.
We are especially thankful for the Standley Systems team members who continued serving our customers, supporting one another, and taking care of business while our leaders took time to recharge and pour into their own growth. Great leadership is never just about the people with leadership titles—it is built on a great team.
We returned from GLS 2026 encouraged, challenged, and energized to put what we learned into practice. More importantly, we returned with a reminder that leadership development doesn’t end when the conference does. It happens in the conversations we have, the questions we ask, the patterns we challenge, the people we serve, and the choices we make every day.
Through our Leadership Academy and opportunities like the Global Leadership Summit, Standley Systems is committed to investing in our people and building leaders who are ready for what’s next.
We’re committed to staying curious, growing forward, and continuing to level up together—for our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve.