Servant Leadership In Action: Practical Strategies HR Can Use to Build Stronger Leaders and Stronger Workplaces
Nov 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Meeting In-personOrganizer
Erin Emery - Director of Programs
Location
ASEC Headquarters
46561 Expedition Dr
Lexington Park, MD, 20653
Pricing
FREE - Registration Still Required
Employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture are strongly influenced by leadership behaviors, yet many organizations still struggle with leadership models that prioritize authority over employee development. Furthermore, HR professionals are increasingly expected to serve as strategic advisors to leadership, yet many struggle with how to influence leadership behaviors that directly impact workplace culture.
This session explores how HR professionals can help shift organizations toward servant leadership—an approach that prioritizes empowering employees, removing barriers to success, and building trust across teams--and provide practical strategies HR professionals can use to coach leaders, influence organizational culture, and improve measurable workforce outcomes.
Participants will learn practical tools they can immediately apply to strengthen leadership practices within their organizations, including how to coach managers, develop servant leadership behaviors, and strengthen workplace culture. Through interactive exercises and real-world scenarios, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to improve leadership effectiveness and drive measurable business outcomes.
Participants will learn how to:
1. Explain the principles of servant leadership and how they differ from traditional leadership models.
2. Identify leadership behaviors that increase employee engagement and trust.
3. Analyze how leadership style influences HR metrics including turnover, engagement, and productivity.
4. Apply servant leadership strategies to common workplace leadership challenges.
5. Implement HR-driven initiatives that encourage servant leadership behaviors across the organization.
SPEAKER: Erin Emery - Vice-President of HR, Castellum
Erin Emery is Vice President of Human Resources at Castellum, where she leads the company’s Human Resources, Recruiting, and Training functions. With more than 25 years of experience in human resources and client service within the defense consulting industry, Erin brings extensive expertise in strategic HR leadership, talent acquisition, employee engagement, organizational development, and workforce strategy. As a member of Castellum’s executive leadership team, Erin partners with business leaders to align people strategies with organizational goals, strengthen the employee experience, develop and retain talent, and support the continued growth of the organization. Her approach to human resources combines strategic leadership with a strong commitment to people, culture, and service.
That commitment extends well beyond the workplace. As the daughter of a veteran, Erin has a deep personal connection to the military community and has dedicated significant time to helping veterans and their families successfully navigate the transition from military service to civilian careers. Her volunteer work has included career counseling, resume development, professional networking, and connecting veterans with meaningful employment opportunities.
Erin is the Co-Founder and Vice President of The American Veterans Advocacy (AVA) Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing military-to-civilian transition support to veterans, their families, and community members. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors for The ACE Group Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors for Southern Maryland SHRM, where she supports the continued development of the region’s human resources community. In addition, Erin serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the College of Southern Maryland, sharing her professional experience and leadership perspective with the next generation of professionals.
Erin holds a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She is also a licensed Realtor in the State of Maryland. Originally from Massachusetts, Erin has called Southern Maryland home for more than 25 years. She is the proud mother of two sons and remains deeply committed to serving the community she calls home.