What does Servant Leadership mean to you? I ask this in an intentionally subjective way because I’ve found that the definition of Servant Leadership is just that, and really, to an extent, that’s the point (more on this later). Servant Leadership is the basis for the National Development Leadership Conference (NLDC). It is all about providing resources to help individuals discover what Servant Leadership means to them and then sharing tools to instill those practices in a personalized manner. The NLDC is the first resource in this learning journey.

The National Development Leadership Conference

The NLDC is an annual event hosted by MLCV at Grand Casino Hinckley in June. Its 2015 origin stems from a bounty of conveyed interest through the success of our internal Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures Leadership Conference (MLCV LC), which began a few years prior in 2013.

After a positive workplace culture response to the Servant Leadership curriculum, the gathered perception was that the MLCV LC was working. Leaders and Associates could feel the change, noting that it’s about looking at things through the lens of others. Tribes and companies outside MLCV soon witnessed the transformative shift and wanted in. That’s when the NLDC was born.

Because of the fulfilling performance of the internal conference, each year, the NLDC speakers match those of the previous year’s MLCV LC. The doors are open to anyone, and its attendance and impression have continued to prosper — selling out for five years.

The inaugural year brought in around 200 participants, while the following year hit nearly 450. Tribes that enter the door just once become constants. Like the Sioux from North Dakota, sending in 50 attendees each time. Or the Kansas Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, who shared with Joe Nayquonabe, MLCV’s CEO, that they rebuilt their entire curriculum around the Servant Leadership philosophies learned from the conference.

The effect reaches non-Tribal organizations, too. Minneapolis’s Federal Ammunition, the leading ammunition seller nationwide, continues to add guests since first attending in 2019. With nearly 40 in attendance, they pull the experience — everything from the kickoff party to the down-to-earth hospitality — and embed it within their teams. Exceedingly, they hosted Def Leppard and Sawyer Brown for their 50-year Associate party, inspired by takeaways of the NLDC.

NLDC 2022 Participants and Speaker — NLDC 2022

The NLDC isn’t just about the curriculum or the entertainment. It’s about connecting with other people. MLCV intentionally creates a networking environment where open, honest, and educational conversations can transpire. During the three-day conference, MLCV hosts a private CEO networking event to build relationships over leadership strategy for business owners and CEOs, including ours.

The conference outcomes are intended to have a trickling effect on the community. The curriculum, experience, and those crucial conversations are sent with guests to share and exchange insights with others.

Andrea Bolin, MLCV’s Chief of Staff and Chair of the NLDC Committee, describes the conference as a chance to give back. “It’s a gift back to other Tribes to share about Servant Leadership and help them with their development.”

Servant Leadership

When considering the definition of Servant Leadership, it’s important to remember we are all different. We have different backgrounds, personalities, learning styles, heck — just different styles all around. Investigating those contrasts is what makes Servant Leadership so personal and so affecting.

It is best to think of it as a two-fold process. First, it’s only effective if the person using it feels connected and can do so in a way that compliments their background, personality, and style. Only once we know how to serve ourselves best can we best serve others. Secondly, Servant Leadership is about the other person. It’s about honoring those differences and offering Leadership in a way that makes the most sense for all involved, resulting in cultivating relationships.

The Future of the National Development Leadership Conference

The NLDC wouldn’t be possible without the behind-closed-doors work of the NLDC Committee. Made up of 12 MLCV Leaders, their planning sets the tone for the future of the conference.

For example, the committee has a vision to expand the celebration, opening the door for those on the waiting list per sold-out event year after year. However, their goal to ensure a personable, all-inclusive occasion guides their moves — staying true to who the NLDC and MLCV are.

This year, the conference is set for June 20 – 22, 2023, and will include speakers ranging from “The Evolution of Dance” creator Judson Liapsy to comedic speaker Mark Mayfield. It’s another sold-out affair.

Annually, NLDC participants leave having gained career-building insight, more robust relationships with colleagues, and motivation to be better leaders than the day before. But at the core, participants leave with a deeper understanding of who they are through the teachings of Servant Leadership.

This article was written by Hannah Torkelson, MLCV’s Senior Communications Strategist. Hannah is a storyteller and is responsible for capturing great moments within MLCV’s portfolio.