Even the fastest land animal on the planet, the cheetah, needs to slow down once in a while.

This is a fact that business consultant and motivational speaker Julie Henry likes to remind her clients of, along with other laws of nature that she says can apply to business leadership. With businesses having to rapidly evolve to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, Henry hopes that her "Even Cheetahs Slow Down" webinar this Friday, April 17, will teach attendees that slowing down not only allows business leaders to adapt and embrace change, but makes them better at their jobs. 

Henry began her career as a zoologist at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and has worked in corporate positions at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and Busch Gardens, where she created team-building sessions that other companies could attend. She now owns her own company, Finish Line Leadership, which is dedicated to helping businesses. "I have a heart for leaders and helping them," says Henry. 

The webinar, hosted by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and HR Association, will focus on three unbreakable laws of nature that Henry will explain. She believes that since change is inevitable, we might as well learn to survive and adapt rather than be overwhelmed or afraid. "The first law exists within the title—even cheetahs cannot run at peak speed forever," Henry says. "I've been a consultant now for 12 years, and I believe we can learn a lot from nature and apply it to the business world. Using animal analogies allows people to think creatively about change." 

Henry will also discuss her "ABC"s of change, or practical steps business leaders can take, from strategic planning to day-to-day operations.  Finally, she'll touch on is the concept of burnout. "It's okay to step back sometimes," she says. "You become a model for your team, business and family." 

Henry hopes that attendees will not only learn from academic leaders and mentors, but from the intuition they have within themselves. "There is a time and a place to think innately about how you want to lead and adapt to change," she says. 

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and HR Association's "Even Cheetahs Slow Down" Webinar is Friday, April 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Registration is free.