Leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about action, vision, and the willingness to grow. The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) Split 2025 is bringing together leaders from business, non-profits, education, and beyond to explore what it means to lead with purpose.
We spoke with Neissa Gallahar, one of the event organizers, about why leadership matters, how GLS is shaping conversations in Split, and what attendees can take away from this experience.
With a background in coaching, leadership development, and organizational culture, Neissa has worked with teams across industries—from ministry and nonprofits to healthcare, hospitality, and business. She believes in the power of being coachable and helping individuals break through limitations to become more effective leaders.
Here’s what she shared about GLS Split 2025 and the impact of strong leadership.
What inspired the idea behind GLS Split 2025? How do you see it making a difference for Split and beyond?
-Successful businesses, schools, hospitals, nonprofits, and churches all depend on successful leadership. All of these organizations will never be better than their leaders. If we want to improve as a city and as a region, we need to be deeply invested in growing our leaders. Sometimes if you ask people who their competition is they will say, “The restaurant next door, or a place across town.” While that is true, Croatia’s real competition is Portugal, Spain, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries. The only way that we can compete with them is if we collectively work on getting better. While planning this event, one of our organizers Geoff Bratton, who has started a few restaurants in the region said, “No one goes to a city because there is one good restaurant. They go because the city has good restaurants. Plural. They go because of the restaurant scene.” When we collectively focus on learning and becoming better, everyone wins.
How has GLS evolved since it started in Zagreb in 2012, and what inspired its expansion to Split this year?
-The Global Leadership Summit has been held in Zagreb since 2012. GLS is an international conference dedicated to leadership development that is held annually in more than 120 countries. The event features renowned leaders from a variety of fields – business, church, non-governmental organizations and education – sharing practical advice and leadership insights. GLS helps people improve their leadership skills and contribute to positive change in their communities.
What does leadership look like in action, beyond the title?
-Leadership in action is a life of servanthood, emphasizing humility, integrity, and responsibility rather than power or status. Leadership is about having a vision of what is possible, and then having the focus to guide and serve others to accomplish that goal. GLS also has a strong DNA that is rooted in Christian principles. It also brings together people from a mix of faith backgrounds and presents leadership principles in a way that everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their faith background. However, a key idea that drives our investment in leadership is the belief that God has given every person unique talents and gifts that he wants us to develop and grow. When we use those talents to serve others and keep the focus of our lives on God, rather than just seeking personal gain, everyone around us will be better off. In short, best-practice leadership is serving, guiding, and inspiring others with wisdom, humility, and faithfulness. It is not about power but about being a faithful steward of the people and responsibilities God entrusts to us.
Split has such a unique culture. How does the city’s identity influence this event?
-GLS Split is intentionally filled with panels of local leaders to help contextualize proven leadership practices. We are also taking the time to have local reflection panels after the key speakers and to help people process what was being said. This is a hybrid event where some of the key speakers are joining the room via video. There will be some aspects of the talks that might not all apply directly to doing business in Split, but a lot of the key principles being taught, definitely translate. By having local panels to help people process and think about the content presented, we will help people better apply things to their lives.
What’s the best way for attendees to use this event to build connections and grow professionally?
-When possible come with your team from work, community or church to learn and grow together. This will equip you to walk away with leadership tools and the accountability to use them. Also, take the time to meet people who are outside of your circle. Introduce your friends to other people they might not know. An event like this is a great way to network and connect with other people who want to grow professionally as leaders. The very fact that people are willing to admit that they have more to learn and show up to an event like this, reflects an open mindset. We don’t expect people who have been in business for 30 years and think they know it all to attend. The people who come to these events want to learn and grow, and those are the people we should have in our lives.
What’s the one thing you hope people take away from this event to use in their lives or work?
-This event has a variety of speakers who will connect with people in different ways, but if people only take away one thing from this event is this, “The only way my organization or business is going to get better is if I improve as a leader.” Sometimes when things aren’t going well, we look for people to blame whether it’s our immediate boss, our politicians, or the bureaucracy. A lot of these things are out of our control and they are very hard to change. However when we adopt a learning mindset and realize that we as leaders can grow and impact our sphere of influence, we turn from feeling helpless to feeling empowered. If we can affirm the God-given talents and abilities in those who come and inspire them to continue growing as leaders, this event will be a success.
What’s the one thing you hope people take away from this event to use in their lives or work?
-This event has a variety of speakers who will connect with people in different ways, but if people only take away one thing from this event is this, “The only way my organization or business is going to get better is if I improve as a leader.” Sometimes when things aren’t going well, we look for people to blame whether it’s our immediate boss, our politicians, or the bureaucracy. A lot of these things are out of our control and they are very hard to change. However when we adopt a learning mindset and realize that we as leaders can grow and impact our sphere of influence, we turn from feeling helpless to feeling empowered. If we can affirm the God-given talents and abilities in those who come and inspire them to continue growing as leaders, this event will be a success.
Join the Conversation on Leadership
GLS Split 2025 isn’t just another conference—it’s a space for growth, connection, and transformation.
If you’re ready to challenge yourself, expand your perspective, and invest in your leadership, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
✨ Find out more and join the event here: GLS Split 2025
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