Wickedly Inclusive: Kibu at the Best Buddies Leadership Conference

👥 Event Profile

Attendees: Colby Burnette (Kibu Coach & Content Director), Billy Blanks Jr. (Kibu Coach & Content Director)
Event: Best Buddies International Leadership Conference
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Size: Over 3,000 attendees from across the globe
Purpose: Leadership development, global inclusion, and community building for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

💡 Why It Mattered

At Kibu, we spend our days building tools to help people with disabilities grow more independent: developing skills, learning on their terms, and stepping confidently into the world around them. But every chance we get, we connect with the community we serve, face-to-face.

That’s exactly what happened at the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference.

Held in Indianapolis, this is more than a conference. It’s a global gathering of self-advocates, peer leaders, supporters, and changemakers from across the disability space. People travel from across the planet to connect, learn, and celebrate what’s possible when inclusion becomes the default.

“The energy is unmatched,” said Colby. “From the moment you walk in, it’s just support. Real, genuine support from every angle.”

🌟 Moments That Moved Us

Every leadership event has highlights, but the ones from Best Buddies tend to stick with you long after the lights go down.

Billy shared a powerful story of a young woman who took the stage to speak about her experiences navigating health care with a disability. Her message was personal and urgent, and echoing across the room.

“She said, ‘I have rights. I should be able to have healthcare.’ The way she said it… everyone stood up. I was backstage and could feel the emotion through the walls,” Billy recalled. “She wasn’t just speaking for herself. She was speaking for so many.”

For Colby, the standout moments came from watching individuals who had never spoken publicly before stepping on stage. “They’d say, ‘I’m nervous, but this is something I’ve always wanted to do.’ And then they’d give this speech they wrote themselves. Everyone’s on their feet, cheering them on.”

One moment in particular brought things full circle: reconnecting with Shivam, a young man with autism who first met the Kibu team at last year’s conference. Inspired by his passion for classical music, Kibu helped him launch a video series on the platform. A year later, he was back and beaming with pride.

“He’s walking around telling people, ‘I’ve got my own show!’” Billy said. “That’s what it’s all about. You can see the confidence, the ownership. That’s legacy.”

🧠 Lessons in Leadership & Inclusion

This year’s theme, Wickedly Inclusive, brought a creative twist to the conference, drawing inspiration from the Broadway show Wicked, where being different is both a challenge and a gift.

The color scheme? Bright pink and green.
The stage design? Full-on theatrical.
The message? Clear: being different isn’t a weakness, it’s what makes you powerful.

“The whole idea is that she’s seen as the villain because she’s green,” said Billy. “But really, she’s good. She’s misunderstood. And that’s what the conference was about - reframing the way we see people without fitting them into a box.”

But beyond the visual energy and performances, the conference delivered real substance. During the day, participants dove into workshops on inclusive language, employment readiness, and independent living. Sessions were split between professionals, like direct support staff, and individuals with disabilities who were learning how to step into leadership roles.

“There’s so much training people don’t see on social media,” Billy explained. “Yes, it’s fun and loud and exciting…but it’s also deep. People are learning how to advocate, how to build a career, how to shape a life.”

🎤 Kibu in Action

The Kibu Team attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference ready to move, connect, and contribute. 

On Day 2, Billy Blanks Jr. led a full-venue dance routine that had thousands of attendees on their feet, joining forces with the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders to teach a TikTok dance that lit up the conference. 

Throughout the weekend, we hosted our own Kibu activity station where participants could dance, laugh, and learn together. And to top it off, the two powerhouse vocalists who portrayed Glenda and Elphaba in the summit’s Wickedly Inclusive theme performances - Echo Picone and Ricky Stevens - were brought in by Billy and the Kibu team. Together, they delivered unforgettable performances that added even more heart to an already electric weekend.

🔁 Kibu’s Why, Reaffirmed

For Colby and Billy, this conference was a prolonged moment of inspiration and clarity. It reminded them why Kibu exists in the first place.

“Best Buddies doesn’t just include. They challenge,” Billy said. “They treat everyone the same. They provide real opportunity and support. That’s what we believe in too.”

“There’s all this energy during the conference,” Billy noted. “But what happens when they go home? That’s where Kibu steps in. We give them the platform to keep learning, keep moving, and keep growing long after the event ends.”

“It’s about giving people ownership over their journey,” added Colby. “We’re helping them tell their story, build their skills, and keep progressing. For those big moments, but also everything in between.”

🔥 What We’re Bringing Back

Events like this are a catalyst for action, and have our team returning home excited to up our game and continue to make an impact. 

“Best Buddies lights a fire under you,” Colby said. “It makes you want to raise your game. As a person. As a team. As a company.”

“Every time we go, we see the standard Best Buddies sets,” Billy added. “And we come back thinking, how can we meet it and exceed it? What else can we do for the people we serve?”

That ambition has already sparked new ideas, so keep an eye out for what our team has up our sleeve(s)!

🙌 Final Word

As for advice to anyone thinking about attending the conference in the future?

“Drop the nerves,” said Colby. “This is the most welcoming, supportive, uplifting event I’ve ever attended.”

“Come open, and be ready to have your heart changed,” Billy added. “You’ll walk away better. Full stop.”

Inclusion isn’t a moment. It’s a movement. It’s growing stronger every time we show up, speak out, and support each other. At Kibu, we’re proud to be part of that movement. Want to see what empowerment looks like between conferences? 

Take a look inside our platform. You, your team, and those you serve will be glad you did!