Executive Club of Champaign County
Sponsored by Five Foot Productions
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Lodgic Coworking, 1807 S. Neil Street, Champaign
Confidence through Criticism: Turning Feedback into Leadership Strength
Feedback can be one of the most powerful tools for growth—or one of the quickest ways to lose confidence if we don’t know how to process it well. In this engaging session, we’ll explore how leaders can respond to feedback with clarity, curiosity, and self-trust, instead of defensiveness, spirals, or increasing self-doubt and impostor syndrome.
Participants will learn a simple framework grounded in psychological safety, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence to help separate useful insight from emotional reaction. You’ll leave with a practical strategy to receive feedback without losing your voice—so criticism becomes a catalyst for stronger leadership, deeper confidence, and continued growth.
Speaker Heidi Esther is an Emotional Intelligence professional who helps organizations reduce turnover and strengthen communication, trust, and engagement. She also coaches burned-out professionals to unearth their Peculiar Genius and build careers rooted in confidence, joy and ease.
With over two decades of experience in strategic communication, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership, Heidi creates safe, empowering spaces for meaningful and lasting change. She is a certified Emotional Intelligence Life Coach, workplace skills facilitator, and mindfulness practitioner.
When she’s not helping people feel seen and connected, Heidi enjoys life with her partner, two teens, and two dogs — often with coffee, cookies, or a cozy blanket close by.
Book a consultation for you, or your workplace: HeidiEsther.com/calendar/#consult
Luncheon Agenda:
11:30 am: Doors open and check-in
11:45 am: Lunch is served (Blue Dragonfly Catering)
Noon: Program starts
Please note dietary restrictions on your registration and we will try to accommodate by informing our chef.
Registration Information:
This event will be hosted in person. The location is at the Lodgic Coworking, 1807 S Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820
Registration includes lunch and is $25.00 for members and $30.00 for non-members.
The registration deadline for the luncheon is Monday, April 13, 2026, at Midnight.
No refunds or credits will be given. Registration can be transferred to another person. We often have a waiting list; please email us if you are unable to make it and we will fill your seat ExecutiveClubofChampaignCounty@gmail.com.
Non-Members: We love having non-members join our lunch! You are welcome to register on your own, with a current member, or email our Outreach Chair, Caitlyn Floyd to be a guest of the board!
