The Business and Leadership Master Class, a one-day seminar focusing on business, leadership and neuroscience, will take place at the Knicely Conference Center on April 11 at 2 p.m. 

Samuel Hunt, a doctoral candidate in education leadership, is organizing the class. A chess tournament, in confluence with the seminar, will take place April 12 to13.  

Hunt said the chess tournament is a simulation for building a better mind that leads to better leaders and better business people, but the conference’s focal point isn’t the game. 

“It’s not about chess,” Hunt said. “It’s about being better at business and leadership. It’s to bring new ideas and concepts to both of those fields; chess is an additional factor.” 

Andrew Head, executive-in-residence, and Joseph Cangemi, emeritus professor of psychology, will speak at this year’s conference.  

Cangemi will talk about leadership. It all started from the idea that to be a better leader one needs to play chess. Chess allows one to think and move, and as a leader one has to think about what he or she is doing and about the consequences. 

“You don’t need a title to be a leader,” Cangemi said. “Leadership is influence, you can’t buy it and no one can give it to you.”

Those who participate will also receive a complimentary book, dinner, Master Class certificate and seminar.

There are early registration fees, starting with individual seats at $35, half-table at $250, which includes seven complimentary seats, and $400 for twelve complimentary seats.