The 2024 Kickoff Meeting was hosted at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort. This three-day summit brought together team leaders, DSLs, and recruiters to exchange ideas, sharpen skills, and set the stage for a successful 2025. Misa Dao, a student at the University of Florida, is entering his second year with Southwestern Advantage. He shared, “I’m really excited for Kickoff because I’ll have the chance to meet amazing people, learn more about the company, and further develop my leadership skills.”
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
Keynote speaker Jules Wilhelm, founder of EQ-Niversity™, delivered a standout presentation on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, offering practical strategies for developing stronger interpersonal skills and improving team dynamics. Wilhelm’s insights were a key takeaway for participants as they looked ahead to the next recruitment season.
Program Alumni Perspective
Program alumni Adam White also made a notable appearance, reflecting on his experiences with the company and offering guidance to current leaders. His talk emphasized the value of long-term relationships built within the program and how they contribute to ongoing personal and professional success. To learn more about our alumni success stories, visit our Testimonials page.
Company Workshops and Training Tracks
Training tracks tailored to different levels of recruiting experience played a central role, with sessions designed to meet participants at their respective stages. For brand new recruiters, sessions were geared toward goal-setting, learning the recruiting process, and building initial connections. Experienced recruiters were equipped with strategies for expanding their teams and re-engaging past recruits, while leadersreceived guidance on teaching others to recruit and how to use practical tools like F.A.R. (Family, Associates, Referrals) and ClickUp for managing team growth. Breakout workshops also covered a wide range of topics, from personal goal-setting and client retention to utilizing LinkedIn for professional development.
Mark Rau and other company leaders discussed 2024’s accomplishments, previewing exciting developments for 2025, while motivational stories and best practices were shared by top recruiters and team builders. Student leader Delaiah Pittman reflected on one of the key lessons from the three-day summit: “I learned how important it is to develop our personal brand and present ourselves professionally, not just in person, but also on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn.”
Team-Building Activities
Participants engaged in a variety of team-building activities, such as a scavenger hunt and photo book contest, which ran throughout the event, enhancing collaboration and creating a fun, competitive atmosphere. There were several networking opportunities, from casual outdoor meetups to structured group discussions, enabling attendees to connect and share ideas.
Driving Momentum Toward a Successful 2025
The event closed with a motivational call to action from DSL AJ Skalsky, who encouraged everyone to apply what they learned over the weekend and aim for continued growth in 2025. Attendees left energized and ready to implement new strategies as they build toward a successful recruiting season.
