Category: 2026 Speakers

Head of University Strategy and Outreach

Session: Unlocking Team Potential: How the Six Working Genius Types Drive Success 
Time: April 10th, 8:30 – 9:30 am

Professional background: Masha Trenhaile serves as Head of University Strategy and Outreach for Bayer Crop Science, where she identifies strategic university partnerships, fosters relationships with faculty and administrators, and develops talent pipelines across leading research institutions. A licensed and certified Six Types of Working Genius facilitator, Masha brings over 15 years of experience bridging the worlds of business development, operations, and strategic relationship building. She earned her Master of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has built a distinguished career creating meaningful connections between industry and academia, including working on developing the Research Park at the University of Illinois. Masha’s current work includes orchestrating large-scale university engagement programs such as Bayer R&D Hackathon Series and the Bayer’s “Bring Them In” initiative as well as spearheading partnerships that advance agricultural research and innovation. An active community leader, she has served as a director for the Public Art League and board member for Sinfonia da Camera and has been a generous sponsor of the Krannert Center for Performing Arts. Originally from Ukraine, Masha is passionate about helping organizations unlock their team’s potential and applying the Six Types of Working Genius framework to enhance productivity, satisfaction, and collaboration in professional settings. 

Personal background:  I wasn’t supposed to move to the U.S. permanently. But a few days after my family arrived in Oklahoma where my mother would be a visiting professor, the Soviet Union collapsed, and my native Ukraine became an independent nation. I finished high school and college in Oklahoma but came to Champaign-Urbana to the University of Illinois to study for a master’s in advertising; during my first day of Graduate Student orientation, I saw the man (Brent) who eventually became my husband. I continue to live in Champaign – Urbana and have two kids, Misha and Leeza. If you have ever watched Masha and the bear, that cartoon is about me. 😊 

CIO, Gies College of Business
ctidrick@illinois.edu

Session: Leading with Integrity from the Inside Out
Time: April 9th, 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Chris is a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years’ experience driving digital transformation in higher education. As the Chief Information Officer at Gies College of Business, he leads strategic initiatives to enhance data-driven decision-making, student success, and operational efficiency. He’s also helped facilitate the IT Leadership Workshop for the last 11 years. Before moving into management and leadership roles in 2012, he built websites and applications for University of Illinois Extension. He regularly shares his insights through podcasts, speaking engagements, and writing as @thinkfeellead on Substack.