Justin Jones-Fosu to Serve as Keynote Speaker During W&L Enrichment Week Jones-Fosu seeks to inspire the audience to bring meaning to the workplace during his session on Jan. 3 at 9 a.m. in Stackhouse Theater.

By Brian Laubscher
December 5, 2023

The Washington and Lee University Office of Human Resources is pleased to announce that business speaker, social entrepreneur and meaningful work researcher Justin Jones-Fosu will serve as the keynote speaker for its annual Enrichment Week, held Jan. 3-5, 2024.

Jones-Fosu will deliver a presentation titled “Work and Live to a Different Beat” in Stackhouse Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 9 a.m. The talk will be preceded by a continental breakfast served in Elrod Commons starting at 8 a.m. Jones-Fosu will also facilitate a workshop on how to craft a meaningful life in Hillel 101 from 11:15 a.m. to noon.

Jones-Fosu spent over a decade working for Fortune 500 companies, eventually realizing that a change in perspective could make a significant difference in the way he approached his life and work. He founded Work. Meaningful. to inspire others to do the same. His engagement seeks to inspire individuals to own their mindset, meaning and performance at work and home. He will share an inside-out approach powered by practical research that empowers individuals to bring their best selves to work every day.

During the presentation, Jones-Fosu will invite audience members to the stage to beat away on African drums, which he uses as a metaphor for bringing meaning and demonstrating the impact of working and living to a different beat. Jones-Fosu creates an unforgettable experience that encourages the audience to take immediate action in how they show up for life and work.

“We are excited to bring Justin Jones-Fosu to W&L to inspire employees to bring even greater meaning to the work they do,” said Jodi Williams, executive director of human resources. “Justin’s energy and enthusiasm will challenge you to take action in your self-development! This will be an extremely interactive program and we hope our faculty and staff will attend, participate and celebrate colleagues while finding their own beat.”

Employees planning to attend and interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Kristy Crickenberger, assistant director of human resources for training and development, at kcrickenberger@wlu.edu.

Enrichment Week kicks off the new year by offering a variety of sessions and opportunities for all employees. This three-day employee engagement program serves to educate the W&L workforce about the resources that are available to them, while also creating myriad opportunities to network, reconnect with colleagues, and explore a variety of exciting hobbies and pastimes. Some examples include introductions to fly fishing and pickleball, AED and CPR training, dream interpretations, coffee brewing and crafting flexible work schedules.

The Enrichment Week schedule and registration page launched on Nov. 29 and sessions have been filling quickly. In response to the excitement of employees, the Office of Human Resources has expanded offerings by adding additional sessions and increasing the participant limit for several already existing sessions. For more information about Enrichment Week events and to sign up for the sessions, please visit the 2024 registration page.