The iEX talks return alongside an exciting keynote

The first and second VHA Innovation Experience (iEX) Virtual Series have concluded and the third event is coming soon, but today we’re looking at the main event—or the 2021 iEX Virtual Series Marquee Event to be more precise. While iEX may be spread out over four experiences this year, the Marquee Event will once again bring the same excitement as year’s past. The iEX Talks are returning alongside another intriguing keynote with a focus on resilience and innovation.

Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal, founder and chief resilience officer for Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI), will deliver a keynote called “The (Not-So-Surprising) Link Between Resilience, Innovation, and Creativity.” Stejskal will share the foundational elements of resilience that accelerate innovation. She will explain The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People along with tackling The Myths of Resilience that often derail innovation and creativity.

Stejskal is an international expert on resilience, in both leadership and life, whose mission is to positively impact others through the concepts of resilience. She is recognized as a leading global authority on resilience, wellbeing, and mental health. By leveraging over a decade and a half of original research on resilience, she developed the empirically based framework, The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People. Prior to founding RLI, she served as the former head of Executive Leadership Development & Talent Strategy at Nike, as well as Global Leadership Development at Cigna.

Stejskal’s dynamic ideas and engaging narrative will set the stage for the iEX Talks. The iEX Talks have year in and year out delivered powerful stories of innovation from frontline employees themselves, diving deep into the personal stories that drive many of VHA Innovation Ecosystem’s innovators to forge the future of Veteran care. This TED Talk-style speaker series provides VA innovators with a platform to showcase innovations that challenge beliefs, stir the imagination, and—most importantly—demonstrate real value and impact for Veterans.

Talks this year cover a wide variety of innovations, all with stories behind them that show the passion and dedication innovative VA employees have for changing and saving Veteran lives. Learn how extended reality efforts are impacting the mental health of Veterans on a daily basis and how the rapidly expanding PRIDE program is changing LGBTQ+ Veteran lives and their care. Discover how VA is leading the charge in researching the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and hear the stories behind a program that is helping Veterans with spinal cord injuries with their sexual health.

With 13 iEX Talks this year, all with inspiring stories and people behind them, you won’t want to miss a moment. Register now for the VHA Innovation Experience! You’ll also gain access to the iEX Virtual Series platform, where you can watch the first two iEX events, build out your event profile, network with fellow innovators and Veterans, and explore everything iEX has to offer.