Earlier this month, members of the EmberHope team joined leaders from across the Wichita community for the 2026 Global Leadership Summit (GLS), hosted locally by Lead Wichita at INTRUST Bank Arena.
The two-day Summit brought together leaders from businesses, nonprofits, churches and organizations throughout the community to learn, connect and reflect on what it means to lead with purpose. For EmberHope President and CEO Nickaila Sandate and Associate Director of Development Erica Whitney, the experience offered something equally valuable: a reminder that meaningful leadership isn’t always about how quickly we move forward. Sometimes, it’s about the people we invest in along the way.
Creating a Ripple Effect
For Nickaila, who has attended the Summit previously, this year’s experience reinforced the influence leaders can have far beyond their own roles or organizations.
“My biggest takeaway from this year’s Global Leadership Summit was the powerful reminder that we as leaders have the ability to inspire others while also being inspired. Every decision we make, every person we invest in, and every culture we help shape creates a ripple effect.”
That ripple effect is especially meaningful at EmberHope, where relationships are central to our work with children, youth, and families.
“The Summit reinforced that when leaders inspire hope, cultivate trust, and empower others to reach their potential, transformation becomes possible not only within organizations, but within communities and for those who will follow,” Nickaila said.
Throughout the Summit, speakers challenged attendees to rethink leadership as something bigger than individual achievement. Leadership doesn’t require having every answer. Instead, it requires courage, intentionality and a willingness to create an environment where others can grow.
For Nickaila, that message closely reflects EmberHope’s approach to leadership and service. “Our greatest impact often comes not from what we accomplish ourselves, but from the people we encourage, develop, and empower along the way,” she said.
Sometimes Moving Forward Means Slowing Down
For Erica, attending GLS for the first time offered a new perspective on something many leaders struggle with: the desire to see results quickly.
Polar explorer and mountaineer Alison Levine’s story of climbing Mount Everest particularly resonated with her. “Her journey was not something that happened overnight, and that challenged me personally because I often find myself wanting to move quickly and see immediate results, regardless of the task,” Erica shared. “She reminded me that reaching the top requires patience and perseverance, and sometimes taking a step back is necessary in order to ultimately move forward.”
Author and speaker Priscilla Shirer reinforced a similar lesson through a much more everyday comparison: the difference between quickly heating something in a microwave and allowing a meal to slowly develop in a crockpot.
“That comparison really resonated with me because we live in such a fast-paced society,” Erica said. “It reminded me of the importance of slowing down, trusting the process, and allowing things — and relationships — to develop over time rather than always looking for immediate results.”
It’s a lesson that extends well beyond individual leadership.
Investing in Relationships That Last
As EmberHope’s Associate Director of Development, Erica works closely with donors, churches, businesses and community partners whose support helps advance our mission. The Summit reinforced the importance of giving those relationships the time and attention they deserve.
“Building relationships with donors, churches, businesses, and community partners is at the heart of what we do at EmberHope,” Erica said. “It is important to take the time to genuinely get to know people, understand their goals and passions, and discover where those align with our mission of improving the lives of children and families impacted by foster care.”
Strong partnerships aren’t created in a single conversation, meeting or event. They grow through listening, trust and a shared commitment to something bigger.
“Slowing down does not mean we are moving backward,” Erica said. “It can actually help us build a stronger foundation for long-term impact.”
That idea echoed another message Nickaila carried home from the Summit: leadership is ultimately an investment in people.
Bringing Leadership Back to Our Mission
At EmberHope, our mission calls us to walk alongside children and families during some of the most challenging seasons of their lives. That work requires more than programs and services. It requires meaningful relationships and also teams who feel equipped, encouraged, and connected to the purpose behind their work.
“The Summit always renews my commitment to lead with vision, purpose, and hope,” Nickaila said. “It challenged me to continue investing in others and strengthening a culture where every team member understands the profound impact they have on the lives of those we serve.”
For EmberHope, strengthening leadership internally ultimately strengthens our ability to serve externally.
“EmberHope staff know that healing and transformation happen through meaningful relationships, through connections we make with others,” Nickaila said. “By fostering a culture of encouragement, collaboration, and continuous growth, at EmberHope we can better equip our teams to provide the trauma-sensitive, faith-rooted care that helps children and families move from crisis toward hope.”
Inspired to Keep Leading
Both Nickaila and Erica left the Summit with renewed perspective and encouragement for other EmberHope team members who may have an opportunity to attend in the future.
“I would tell them that the Global Leadership Summit is more than a leadership conference; it is an opportunity to be inspired, challenged, and reminded of why your work matters,” Nickaila said. “The Summit experience provides tools and fresh ideas, but even more importantly, it reignites purpose.”
For Erica, the experience was also proof that leadership development isn’t limited to a particular title or position.
“I walked away with practical leadership insights and personal reminders that I can apply to both my work and relationships,” she said. “I think it would be worthwhile for everyone to experience the Summit at least once, especially anyone who is looking for encouragement and new perspective in their leadership.”
Perhaps one of the greatest reminders from this year’s Summit was that progress doesn’t always look like moving faster. Sometimes it looks like slowing down long enough to invest in someone, strengthen a relationship, develop a team or reconnect with the purpose behind the work.
“I left the Summit inspired by what is possible when people come together around a shared purpose,” Nickaila said. “The Summit was a powerful reminder that hope, leadership, and service still have the power to transform lives.”
At EmberHope, that’s a reminder we carry with us every day as we work together to inspire positive change in the lives of children, youth, and families across Kansas.
