2026 ISBE Career Connections Conference

High school students are most successful when they can clearly articulate who they are, what they bring to the workplace, and how their strengths connect to future career pathways. This highly interactive session introduces the Leadership Lab, a toolkit-based framework designed to help high school students develop leaders identity as a core employability skill aligned to CTE Career Pathways and Programs of Study.
Participants will experience the Leadership Lab exactly as students would—engaging in short, high-impact activities that build self-awareness, professional communication, and career confidence. Educators will explore practical strategies that integrate seamlessly into existing CTE coursework, CTSOs, advisory periods, internships, and work-based learning experiences. Emphasis is placed on helping students translate leadership behaviors into resume-ready language and interview responses valued by employers.
The Leadership Lab is grounded in four pillars: Strengths and Career Identity; Voice, Agency, and Professional Communication; Leadership and Employability Skills Valued by Employers; and Career Pathway Alignment with Real-World Application. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools they can implement immediately to strengthen student engagement, clarity, and workforce readiness.