Oklahoma Christian University is bringing a four-time Olympian and a bestselling leadership author to Oklahoma City next month for its first-ever Leadership Summit. The Oct. 12 event pairs a registration-only morning conference with a free evening lecture open to the public at OC's Baugh Auditorium, built around the themes of leadership, character, faith and purpose.
According to The Journal Record, the summit will feature speaker and author Jon Gordon, track and field standout Chaunté Lowe, and Oklahoma Christian University President Ken Jones. The morning session is designed for people across business, ministry and civic sectors, along with athletes, coaches and the general public, while the evening lecture at Baugh Auditorium is free, though attendees must reserve a ticket for venue seating, per the same report.
Jones described the summit as being about “bringing conviction to life” and said he hoped to welcome people from all walks of life “to learn and grow together,” according to the article.
Who's Headlining the Summit
Gordon is billed in the report as a 19-time bestselling author and speaker whose work centers on leadership, culture and teamwork. His own website describes him somewhat differently, calling him an “18x bestselling author” and a “top 3 leadership speaker” on its homepage, while his biography page states he is “the author of 32 books including 19 best sellers and 5 children's books,” according to Jon Gordon's website. The discrepancy in bestseller counts appears across his own promotional materials as well as the summit announcement.
Gordon's body of work includes titles such as The Energy Bus, The Carpenter and The Power of Positive Leadership, and his biography page notes that The Energy Bus alone has sold more than 3 million copies. He also consults with CEOs, professional sports coaches, championship teams and other high performers, per the same page. At the OC event, Gordon is expected to speak to the idea that leadership is based on impact rather than title or position, per The Journal Record.
An Olympian's Perspective on Leadership
Lowe brings a different résumé to the stage. The Journal Record describes her as a professional athlete and motivational speaker who is a four-time Olympian, an Olympic medalist, a three-time world championship medalist, an American record holder, and a wife and mother of three.
Space at the Oct. 12 summit is limited, and organizers are directing interested attendees to register through the OC Leadership Summit registration process, according to the report. Beyond the confirmed lineup and format, further details on the day's full agenda have not been made public.
