ORU's Empowered to Lead Conference Equips Leaders Across Multiple Sectors

(Left to right) Matt Pinnell, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor; Dr. Curtis Ellis, ORU Dean of the College of Arts and Cultural Studies; Debra Wimpee, Broken Arrow Mayor; Dave Rader, Oklahoma State Senator; Tome Dawson, Campus Group Leader at Life.Church, G.T. Bynum, Vice President of Community and Government Affairs at Saint Francis Health System, and John Brown, Vice Mayor and City Councilor for the City of Jenks

Leaders from government, business, ministry, and education convene for a day
of personal development and real-world impact.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 31, 2026-Oral Roberts University's (ORU) David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership hosted the Empowered to Lead Conference, bringing together leaders from government, business, ministry, and education for a day of practical instruction, meaningful conversation, and leadership development. The one-day conference and certificate program, based on the book "Empowered to Lead" by ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson, was designed to help participants strengthen their leadership abilities, evaluate their personal leadership practices, and become better equipped to serve with purpose, integrity, and lasting influence.

(Left to right) Congressman Kevin Hern, ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson, and Chairman and CEO of Regent Bank Sean Kouplan.

"Leadership is more than holding a position-it is answering the call to serve others with courage, character, and Spirit-empowered purpose," said Dr. Wilson. "Through the Empowered to Lead Conference, the David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership brought together leaders from multiple spheres of influence. Participants were equipped to lead with wisdom, influence with conviction, and bring lasting transformation to their organizations, communities, and the world."

Congressman Kevin Hern, who represents Oklahoma's First Congressional District, opened the conference with a keynote presentation titled Empowered to Lead. Drawing from his experience in business and public service, Hern encouraged participants to lead with vision, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility.

"I've spent most of my life either building businesses and creating jobs or serving the people of Oklahoma in Congress," said Hern, "and one thing I've learned from both is that in order to be an effective leader, you must have principles and purpose. You have to know what you're working toward, be able to make tough decisions, find pragmatic solutions, and stay focused on your mission and delivering results. I appreciated the opportunity to share my experiences with business leaders from across Oklahoma who are working every day to grow their businesses, create opportunity, and strengthen their communities."

Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell also shared leadership insights based on his experience in public service, economic development, and statewide advocacy.

"Real leadership isn't about a title-it's about who you become before you have a position," Pinnell said. "I learned that on this campus long before I ever set foot in public office. Every leader, whether you're running a business, a classroom, a church, or a state agency, has the same charge: lead with integrity, lead with humility, and lead in a way that leaves the people around you better off. That's what the Green Centre for Global Leadership is building here at ORU and exactly what Oklahoma needs more of-a place that doesn't just teach leadership as a theory, but actually forms leaders, in every sphere, who lead with character and conviction."

Sean Kouplen, Chairman and CEO of Regent Bank, delivered The Heart of a Leader, a session focused on the character, values, and relationships that sustain effective leadership.

"I am truly honored to speak at the ORU Empowered to Lead Conference," Kouplen said. "I believe, to be an effective leader, we must be led and empowered by God. This is the first conference I have seen focus on this important truth, and I am so honored to share the stage with such an amazing group of empowered leaders."

(Left to right) Heather Turner, Executive Director of the David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership, Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, ORU Provost, Christi Gillespie, Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Archie, Tulsa City Councilor Shannon Wilburn, Co-founder of Just Between Friends, and Dr. Cin Khaw Kham, Lead Pastor of Far East Mission Church.

Throughout the conference, participants heard from leaders representing a variety of professional fields. Sessions included the Leadership Across Sectors panel, the Leading Under Pressure panel, interactive leadership labs, and a leadership assessment and application exercise. The program gave attendees opportunities to consider how foundational leadership principles can be applied across different industries, organizations, and areas of service.

The conference concluded with a keynote presentation from Dr. Wilson, who challenged attendees to embrace leadership as a responsibility to lead with vision toward a better future. Participants also had opportunities to network with speakers and other attendees, followed by a tour of the ORU campus.

Heather Turner, Executive Director of the David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership, organized the conference as an experience that would move participants beyond inspiration and into practical application.

"The Empowered to Lead Conference demonstrates what is possible when leaders from diverse sectors come together around a shared commitment to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact," Turner said. "Our hope is that every participant left inspired, encouraged, and connected, with greater clarity about who they are as a leader, practical tools to strengthen their leadership, and a renewed sense of the influence and responsibility God has entrusted to them."

Conference speakers and panelists included:

• Kevin Hern, U.S. Congressman of Oklahoma
• Sean Kouplen, Chairman and CEO of Regent Bank
• Dr. William M. Wilson, ORU President and author of "Empowered to Lead"
• Matt Pinnell, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor
• Dave Rader, Oklahoma State Senator
• Christi Gillespie, Oklahoma State Senator
• G.T. Bynum, Vice President of Community and Government Affairs at Saint Francis Health System
• Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, ORU Provost
• Tome Dawson, Campus Group Leader at Life.Church
• Heather Turner, Executive Director of the David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership
• Dr. Charles Scott, ORU Vice President of External Affairs
• Debra Wimpee, Broken Arrow Mayor
• Anthony Archie, Tulsa City Councilor
• Shannon Wilburn, Co-founder of Just Between Friends
• Dr. Cin Khaw Kham, Lead Pastor of Far East Mission Church
• John Brown, Vice Mayor and City Councilor for the City of Jenks
• Dr. Curtis Ellis, ORU Dean of the College of Arts and Cultural Studies

About "Empowered to Lead" by Dr. Billy Wilson

Leadership is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities of our generation. Across every sphere of society-business, government, education, and the church-the call is the same: We need leaders who can be trusted.

In "Empowered to Lead," Dr. Billy Wilson, president of Oral Roberts University and a respected global leader, shows how to develop the character and skills that sustain impactful leadership. Drawing on decades of executive leadership and global ministry, Dr. Wilson offers a Spirit-empowered road map for leading with integrity, courage, and vision in the twenty-first century.

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 182 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.