2024 Conference Program

If you are only attending the pre-conference DEI Immersive Experience,

10:00 am - 5:30 pm BHG Registration Table in the Lobby

Conference Check-in for Sponsors and Attendees

Check in

11:30 am - 5:30 pm

DEI Immersive Experience

The DEI Immersive Experience, on Monday, February 12, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida, is a transformative five-hour event designed exclusively for human resources professionals and business executives passionate about fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within their organizations.

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11:30 am - 12:00 pm

Lunch

12:15 pm - 12:30 pm

DEI Introduction

Brandon Hall Group's COO, Rachel Cooke, will kick start this transformative day with some opening remarks and will go through an overview of the day to fuel everyone up and inspire!

Speaker:
Rachel Cooke, COO, Brandon Hall Group

David Forry David Forry
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Coral C

Fearless and Transparent Conversation with Nellie Borrero, author of UNWAVERING: Rejecting Bias, Igniting Change, Celebrating Inclusion

Keynote Session


Join us for keynote session featuring Nellie Borrero, Global Inclusion & Diversity Senior Strategic Advisor at Accenture, who is a global DEI expert and author of UNWAVERING: Rejecting Bias, Igniting Change, Celebrating Inclusion. Whether you're seeking ways to evolve your journey, claim your space or simply pause with the goal of obtaining clarity as to how you should approach your next career move, join this transparent and motivational fireside chat where Nellie shares how she led diversity strategy and developed award-winning DEI programs that transformed Accenture and the cultural experience of its people.

Speakers:
•Nellie Borrero, Managing Director, Senior Strategic Advisor - Global Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture
•Carolina Cardoso, Associate Director, North America Inclusion and Diversity, Accenture

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Coral C

Accelerating Belonging Through Employee Resource Groups

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are the forefront of trust and connections where they create a sense of belonging, foster engagement and drive business outcomes.

Moderator: Rachel Cooke, COO, Brandon Hall Group
•Yolanda Friend, Managing Director North America Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture
•Angel Rúa, Human Resources Advisor, Strategic Business Solutions, Chevron

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

A Fireside Chat ft. Diverse Leaders

A Fireside chat featuring diverse leaders, Fernando Rasario, Chief Product Officer (CPO) - Vice President - Head Of Engineering, iuvity and Founder of Exeqpath LLC, and Jesse Cortez, VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at McKesson, offers a dynamic conversation where individuals from various backgrounds share insights, experiences, and perspectives. This enriching dialogue fosters inclusivity, highlighting the importance of diverse voices in leadership and promoting a more comprehensive understanding of challenges and opportunities in different sectors.

Speakers:
•Fernando Rasario, Chief Product Officer (CPO) - Vice President - Head Of Engineering, iuvity and Founder of Exeqpath LLC
•Jesse Cortez, Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at McKesson Corporation

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm Coral C

Equitable Futures: Unveiling Workforce DEI Strategies

In an ever-changing and increasingly diverse workforce, pursuing Equitable Futures is paramount. This session is your gateway to uncovering cutting-edge Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies designed to reshape the future of work. Join us as we unveil approaches that these DEI leaders are deploying in their organizations to build more equitable and inclusive workplaces.
Key takeaways:
•Critical elements for designing a Framework
•Strategy to Execution
•Embedding DEI throughout the organization
•Creating a culture of belonging
•Innovative and practical strategies for attracting and hiring talent that encompasses DEIB

Moderator: Roberta Gogos, VP and Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
Speakers:
•Mishel Horta, Head of DEIB, DHL Express Americas
•Pedro Suriel, SVP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Raymond James
•Jamahl Green, Managing Director, Human Resources Executive, Wells Fargo & Company

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm

Speed Networking

3:00 pm - 3:20 pm Coral C

Cultivating Change: The Power of Sponsorship, Mentorship, and Allyship

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives thrive when supported by powerful and enduring forces—sponsorship, mentorship, and allyship. Join us for a compelling session that explores how these three pillars can drive transformative change within organizations and communities.

Moderator: Claude Werder, Senior VP and Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Verdell Osborne, Senior Manager, Learning and Development, Blue Cross Blue Shield

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
3:20 pm - 3:30 pm

Break

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm Coral C

Innovative DEI Strategies Showdown: Shark Tank Edition

Get ready for a high-energy, pitch-perfect session where groundbreaking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies take center stage in a Shark Tank-style showdown! In this exciting and interactive session, innovative DEI advocates and professionals will step into the spotlight to present their game-changing ideas for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Sharks:
•Rachel Cooke, COO, Brandon Hall Group
•Carolina Cardoso, Associate Director, North America Inclusion and Diversity, Accenture
•David Chestnut, Learning and Development Leader, Accenture
•Michael Rochelle, Chief Strategy Officer, Brandon Hall Group

🏆Winners of the Shark Tank Showdown will be awarded with new Apple Airpods

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Exhibit Hall

Certificate Ceremony

Attendees of the DEI Immersive Expereience will be rewarded with an Inclusive Advocate certificate at the conclusion of the conference.

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Exhibit Hall

Attendee Meet and Greet

A cocktail and networking hour for Conference and DEI Immersive Experience attendees.

7:30 am - 8:45 am Outdoor Courtyard and Oceana AB

Breakfast

Meals and Breaks

8:45 am - 10:00 am Oceana AB

What Future-Ready Looks like in Human Capital Management

General Session

The pace of change and disruption has accelerated dramatically, leaving many organizations struggling to adapt their human capital management strategies. This general session brings together winners of 2023 Brandon Hall Group awards to share how they have transformed their approach to managing their workforce to meet the challenges of today and prepare for the uncertainties of tomorrow.

Moderator: Michael Rochelle, CSO, Brandon Hall Group
•Daniel Morales, Leader, People Analytics and Strategy, Mckinsey
•Tamara Jovene, Vice President, Global Learning, IHG
•Kelly Woltornist, Head of Global Learning, Takeda

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
10:00 am - 11:15 am Oceana and Coral Foyers

Expo and Refreshment Break

Meals and Breaks

Attendees can meet our conference sponsors and attend 15-minute “tech talks” in breakout rooms adjacent to the expo floor.

10:10 am - 10:25 am Coral AB

Catalyst Leadership Development - Partnering for another win

Did you know that you can win more than once for your project? Synovus did just that with two subsequent Brandon Hall awards for their Catalyst leadership development program. Join us to talk about what they did to keep winning and how they decided to utilize a combination of internal and external resources to achieve success.

Bonus: Walk away with an internal vs external resource decision-making tool.

Speakers:
•Willette Roundtree, Sr. Director of Talent Management and Development, Training Pros
•Chenier Mershon, Relationship Manager, TrainingPros
•Lori Fancher, Relationship Manager, TrainingPros

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
10:30 am - 10:45 am Coral DE

Kroger Helps Pharmacists Explore their Passion for Serving Patients

In a world of burnout and high turnover, Kroger offered their 6,000+ pharmacists an experiential journey of self-care, leadership development and operational excellence. The result was rekindled energy for their profession, patient care, and for Kroger Health’s vision and mission. Join us to hear about the innovative, experience-driven program that Kroger called Project Passion.

Speakers:
•Laura Hoppa, Principal Consultant, TiER1 Performance
•Laura Raney, National Health & Wellness Director, Kroger Health

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
10:50 am - 11:05 am Coral AB

Cultivating Excellence: Flexco's Transformative Leadership Development Journey

In this session, you’ll discover how Flexco, fulfilled its commitment to its core value "Investing in People First." To build a robust leadership pipeline, Flexco embarked on a strategic journey to create a leadership training solution aligned with the organization's timelines and needs. With a team of internal experts and external L&D partners, including TTA, Flexco successfully designed and implemented a breakthrough leadership development initiative, The Leading Others Program.

Speakers:
•Suzanne Laine, Learning & Development / Distributor-End User Training, Flexco University
•Jerry Gschwind, Learning Strategy Consultant, TTA

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Oceana D

Conquering the "Great Reflection": How to Attract and Retain Top Talent

The past two years have seen a shift in employee expectations and priorities, dubbed the "Great Reflection." Workers today expect meaning, purpose, flexibility, and personal development from their jobs. The session will feature a discussion between Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award winners as well as hands-on learning through small-group exercises.

Moderator: Matt Pittman, Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Akshay Loomba, Vice President & Head of Talent Acquisition, Unifi Services
•Juana Yepes, Leadership Capability Lead, GAF
•Roger Carillo, Senior Vice President, Global Talent, Learning, and Organization Effectiveness Lead, Mondelēz International

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Oceana C

How Does HR Make Data its New Currency?

As HR becomes a valued data-driven strategic partner, leaders and practitioners must continue to improve their understanding and capabilities around data and analytics. This session will include case studies from Excellence Award-winning organizations and small-group discussions to share success stories among attendees. Attendees will leave this session with ideas and strategies to make data a crucial asset.

Speaker:
• Sarah Tobey, Director of People Analytics, Mckinsey & Company

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David Forry David Forry
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Coral C

Establish L&D as a Strategic Investment to Maximize your ROI

Join us for a data-packed session focused on discovering powerful strategies to effectively quantify the success of your learning programs. Learn to craft robust evaluation strategies and identify key metrics that drive meaningful conversations around learning outcomes and ROI. Unlock the potential to strategically invest in impactful L&D programs that deliver tangible results through research insights and practical applications.

Speakers:
•Kylie Stair, Chief People Officer, Litmos
•Jill Stefaniak, Chief Learning Officer, Litmos

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm Outdoor Courtyard and Oceana AB

Lunch

Meals and Breaks

Network with your award-winning colleagues in the Florida sunshine in the middle of winter.

1:15 pm - 1:45 pm Coral C

LMS + TMS: A Love Affair for Learning Operations Success (Fast Track)

Just like it takes two to tango, it takes both a Learning Management System (LMS) and a Training Management System (TMS) to make learning programs successful. Yet for most L&D professionals, when it comes to managing instructor-led training (ILT) and vILT, the only tools they’re pairing with their LMS are xls spreadsheets – which doesn’t quite make for the best love story of all time.

Speaker:
• Peter Olyarchuk, Learning Solutions Director, Training Orchestra

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David Forry David Forry
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm Coral DE

Navigating Team Leadership in a Disengaged World: How to Equip Leaders and Managers for Success

In an environment characterized by hybrid work, continuous disruption, and disengagement, organizations need to empower today’s leaders and mangers to enhance collaboration, improve engagement, and nurture cohesive, agile team environments. This session will examine new research and innovative approaches to onboarding, personalized development, and AI-driven coaching in the flow of work designed to increase leader and manager effectiveness and support high-performing teams.

Speakers:
•Niko Drakoulis, Founder and CEO, SurePeople
•Demetra Anagnostopoulos, Chief Success Officer, SurePeople

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm Coral AB

Human-Centric Learning In The Age Of AI

How are Learning and Development teams going to upskill and reskill their workforces in response to generative AI, and what do learning leaders need to do to help their companies stay competitive through the AI revolution? Join Katie Sheketoff, Director of Global Leadership Development at Marriott International, and Jacob Nikolau, Head of Product Marketing at NovoEd, for an energetic session on how the workforce is going to change through the AI revolution and 5 tips for how L&D organizations should structure their programs in 2024 to align to and thrive though, this wave of technological and organizational change. Anchoring to Katie’s global leadership development portfolio, which reaches 30,000 Marriott employees per year, we’ll also talk about how generative AI is making content more commoditized and personalized learning easier than ever before but still fails to solve the most critical variable for driving impact at scale: human centricity.

Speaker:
•Katie Sheketoff, Director of Global Leadership Development, Marriott International
•Jacob Nikolau, Head of Product and Customer Marketing, Novoed

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
1:45 pm - 2:00 pm

Passing Break

Meals and Breaks

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Coral C

How to Make Wellness Your Secret Weapon for Business Success

Employee well-being is becoming a top priority for leading enterprises looking to improve employee retention, engagement, and productivity. In this interactive session, attendees will learn strategies to create a culture of holistic wellness and the business case for investing in the overall well-being of employees- starting with your own personal journey!

Speaker:
•Monika Mikiciuk Senior Director of Sales Training for Empower

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David Forry David Forry
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Oceana C

Getting Your HR Tech Stack to Actually Stack Up

The effective use of HR technology is becoming critical for attracting talent, enabling employees, and creating efficient operations. In this session, attendees will learn strategies for optimizing their HR tech stack to improve UX and unlock value. The session will feature a discussion between Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award winners as well as hands-on learning through small-group exercises. Attendees will gain perspectives on building a best-in-class HR tech portfolio tailored to their strategic goals.

Moderator: Claude Werder, SVP and Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Melanie Wilson Disney, Human Resources Director, Weigel's
•Kelly Woltornist, Head of Global Learning, Takeda

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Oceana D

Tomorrow’s Leadership Today: See into the Future of Senior Leadership Development

What does the future of leadership development look like? Learn how industry pioneers at Brandon Hall Group Award-winning organizations have innovated to produce cutting-edge leadership development and deliver big value to the organization. Get inspired to drive impact in your own organization by hearing their tales from the field enabling executives to deliver enterprise impact, developing senior leadership capabilities, ensuring success in new roles, and more!

Speakers:
•Rick Cheatham, Chief Marketing Officer, BTS
•Meghan Mariner, Senior Vice President, BTS
•Lance Wilke, Senior Vice President, BTS
•Tara Castaneda, Senior Director, BTS

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Exhibit Hall

Expo and Refreshment Break

Meals and Breaks

Attendees can meet our conference sponsors and attend 15-minute “tech talks” in breakout rooms adjacent to the expo floor.

3:05 pm - 3:20 pm Coral DE

Leadership Bench Strength and Succession – Effective Strategies for Building a Leadership Pipeline

If there are never strong internal candidates for senior leadership and executive vacancies, we’ve failed at leadership development. When we hire from the outside, we pay more to get less. Despite costing more, external hires perform worse and quit more.

Speaker:
•Alex Draper, CEO & Founder, DX Learning Solutions

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David Forry David Forry
3:25 pm - 3:40 pm Coral AB

Achieving L&D Maturity: From Training to Learning to Development

L&D teams serve up learning, but how many are delivering true development?

Learning has to be connected to so many other parts of both the business and the employee experience, but it often occurs in a self-contained silo, disconnected from the very things it is supposed to be impacting. This session explores the areas L&D teams must consider to turn their learning efforts into true talent development. Attendees will discover the initial steps to take on the path to mature their L&D programs.

Speaker:
•David Wentworth, VP, Learning & Talent Development Platform Evangelist, Schoox

David Forry David Forry
3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Oceana C

Implementing Artificial Intelligence Is More Than A Technology Play

Thrasio implemented a complete artificial-intelligence-powered, omnichannel solution that uses predictive insights to achieve 1-minute first reply times, 48-minute full resolution times, 94 percent CSAT, 87 percent one-touch tickets, and 80 percent employee satisfaction. This was all done by decreasing the total cost of ownership by 45 percent. Artificial intelligence, automation, and other advanced technologies played a massive role in achieving these results. Organizational development was equally responsible. The skill and talent development enabled employees to understand the benefits of the technology, embrace their role in the deployment, and own the accountability of the positive outcomes. Disprz’s artificial intelligence platform was critical in this success. This 15-minute presentation will provide practical, live examples of Thrasio’s journey and Disprz’s role in organizational development.

Speaker:
•Gershwin Exeter, Vice President, Global Services, Thrasio

David Forry David Forry
4:05 pm - 4:20 pm Oceana D

How to Build Personalized Learning Experiences with the Right Technology

Discover how extended enterprise learning systems provide ultimate flexibility for personalized learning experiences, leveraging features like multi-tenancy, AI-powered customization, and innovative extensibility options that redefine "moment of need." Don't miss this opportunity to explore the future of learning and empower your organization with the tools to succeed in our evolving learning landscape.

Speaker:
•Karren Swindells, Sr. Director, Customer Engagement & Strategy, Thought Industries

David Forry David Forry
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Coral DE

Empowering Business Success: Data Literacy and Skills-First Strategies for Talent Management

In this conference session, we’ll explore the critical role of data literacy and a skills-first approach in driving business success. This engaging sesion will explore best practices and strategies of how to foster a data-literate workforce. It will delve into the benefits of and how to apply a skills-first approach to support talent management efforts. It will include real-world examples with lessons learned and practical activities. 

Speaker:
•Taryn Hess, Ph.D. Principal, Talent Enablement & Transformation, EPAM Systems

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David Forry David Forry
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Coral C

Unlocking Human Potential: Positioning Yourself for Skills-Based AI Success

Embrace the future of Human Capital Management in our engaging session, Unlocking Human Potential: Positioning yourself for skills-based success. This session is your opportunity to explore the intricacies of skills tracking and development, and understand the profound impact it has on employee engagement, retention, and the evolving landscape of AI-driven learning. Join Maija Mickols, AI Product Manager at Docebo, for a groundbreaking session that will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to unlock human potential in the digital age. Be part of the conversation that shapes the future of learning and development in organizations.

Speaker:
• Maija Mickols, AI Product Manager, Docebo

David Forry David Forry
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Coral AB

Fearless Feedback: Amplifying the VoE with AI

Organizations worldwide strive to understand and retain their employees. While surveys are commonly used, they often limit open-ended questions because text is difficult to analyze. This untapped data can be used to fix broken systemic processes. Explorance MLY, with its unique text analysis capabilities, empowers organizations with targeted insights into employee experiences. As the only AI-powered Voice of the Employee solution tailored to HR and L&D leaders, it analyzes feedback data in terms they understand. Join us for a live Explorance MLY demo and delve into our AI approach in L&D.

Speaker:
• Michael Cohen, General Manager Metrics That Matter, Explorance

David Forry David Forry
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Outdoor Courtyard and Exhibit Hall

Welcome Reception

Meals and Breaks


Includes wine tasting in outdoor courtyard.

7:30 am - 8:45 am Outdoor Courtyard and Oceana AB

Breakfast

Meals and Breaks

8:45 am - 10:00 am Oceana AB

How Will Generative AI Transform Human Capital Management?

General Session

Generative AI represents an enormous opportunity to reimagine how enterprises attract, develop, and retain talent. In this general session panel kicking off the second day of the conference, Excellence Award-winning companies will share their vision for harnessing generative technologies to transform human capital management.

Moderator: Mike Cooke, CEO, Brandon Hall Group
•Angela Beatty, Global Lead for Talent, Rewards, And Employee Experience, Accenture
•Maria Taylor, Chief Learning Officer, United Airlines
•Brad Watt, CLO, Colgate-Palmolive
•Dr. Ashwin Mehta, Global Learning Technology & Innovation Lead, Bayer Pharmaceutical (MAPV)

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
10:00 am - 11:15 am Exhibit Hall

Expo and Refreshment Break

Meals and Breaks

Attendees can meet our conference sponsors and attend 15-minute “tech talks” in breakout rooms adjacent to the expo floor.

10:15 am - 10:30 am Coral AB

What Would You Do With More Time? AI-supported, Human-centered Experiential Learning at Scale.

Today’s learning leaders are taking advantage of AI by shifting to programs that focus on human experiences that enable learners to practice new skills, behaviors, and mindsets. This form of engaging and effective experiential learning is more scalable and affordable than ever, thanks to AI and innovative authoring systems.

Speaker:
•Mike Vaughan, CEO, The Regis Company

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David Forry David Forry
10:35 am - 10:50 am Coral DE

Archways to Opportunity: Empowering McDonald’s Restaurant Employees by Enhancing Language Skills

Uncover the secrets behind McDonald’s award-winning "English Under the Arches" program in this insightful session led by a prominent industry expert from the McDonald’s Archways Team. This initiative not only breaks down language barriers but also strengthens the fabric of the organizational culture, aligning seamlessly with the company’s core values. Learn about the evolution of this program, learnings along the journey and the tangible results that underscore its popularity.

Speaker:
•Lisa Schumacher, Director of Education Strategies and Workforce Policy, McDonald's Corporation

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David Forry David Forry
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Oceana C

Unlocking Potential at All Levels: The Transformative Value of Coaching Across the Enterprise

Coaching has evolved from an executive-focused practice to an enterprise-wide capability driving performance, engagement, and growth. This session will include case studies from Excellence Award-winning organizations and small-group discussions to share success stories among attendees. We will explore how to maximize the impact of coaching programs at their organization.

Moderator: Claude Werder, SVP and Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Jill Juran, Talent Solutions Manager & Professional Coach, Cox
•Bette Kidane, MS, Senior Director of Learning & Development, Intermountain Health

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Oceana D

Converting Performance Management from Paperwork to ‘Peoplework’

Even after years of evolution, performance management is often viewed as cumbersome and demotivating for both employees and managers. This session will discover approaches for focusing performance management on enabling people’s strengths, supporting continuous growth, and aligning activities with business objectives. It will include case studies from Excellence Award-winning organizations and small-group discussions to share success stories among attendees.

Moderator: Matt Pittman, Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Ryan Grad, Leader of Talent Management, The Kroger Company
•Jaime Goff, Director of Leadership Development, Christus Health

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Coral C

Empowering Educators: An Award-Winning Online Education Initiative Centered on Strategies for Fostering Mental Health and Wellness

In this session, Meg O’Rourke, who is a Senior Mental Health Consultant at the Center for Childhood Resilience at Lurie Children's Hospital, will share her experience on how REACH helps teachers better support their students while focusing on their wellness.

Speakers:
•Meg O'Rourke, LCSW, Senior Mental Health Consultant Center for Childhood Resilience, Lurie Children’s Hospital
•Leslie Bodnar, Chief Marketing Officer, Learning Pool

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm Outdoor Courtyard and Oceana AB

Lunch

Meals and Breaks

Network with your award-winning colleagues in the Florida sunshine in the middle of winter.

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Oceana C

Developing Great Leaders: The Most Important Do's and Don'ts

The need for resilient, agile leadership has never been greater. Attendees of this session will gain insights into designing leadership programs focused on driving strategic business priorities, leading through ambiguity, and thriving in volatile times. The session will cover techniques for developing authentic, inspiring leaders while avoiding common pitfalls that waste leadership development resources. It will feature a discussion between Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award winners as well as hands-on learning through small-group exercises.

Moderator: Todd Smith, Executive Director of Enterprise Learning & Development, Estee Lauder
•Kati O'Brien, SVP of Talent Management vs Talent Acquisition, Staples
•Rico Maranto, Senior Manager of Leadership Development, WM
•Kimberly Currier, Global VP, Leadership Development, HR, AECOM

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Oceana D

Workforce Reboot: Next Practices in Upskilling and Reskilling

As technologies and business models rapidly evolve, upskilling and reskilling workers are imperative for organizational agility and resilience. This forward-looking session will explore effective strategies for continuously adapting employee capabilities to meet emerging demands. You will gain insights into how to anticipate future skill requirements, close workforce gaps proactively and enhance your continuous learning culture. This session will include case studies from Excellence Award-winning organizations and small-group discussions to share success stories among attendees.

Moderator: Claude Werder, SVP and Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Jarrett Heitzman, Virtual Reality Program Owner, GE Vernova
•David Chestnut, Learning and Development Leader, Accenture
•Bob Gerard, Learning Ingenuity Lead, Accenture

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Coral C

Slaying the Monster: Proving Learning’s Business Impact

Despite considerable effort, many organizations still struggle to tie learning programs to business priorities and assess their true impact on performance. Through a discussion between Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award winners and hands-on learning in small-group exercises, this session explores how to optimize learning measurement to demonstrate workforce capability uplift and business results. You will leave with new perspectives to optimize your organization’s learning measurement practices and clearly demonstrate the business value of learning.

Moderator: Matt Pittman, Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
•Brad Watt, CLO, Colgate-Palmolive
• Matt Burke, Senior Learning Director, U.S. Bank

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm

Passing Break

Meals and Breaks

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm Coral AB

Creating High-Impact, High-Performance Learning Solutions with AI (Sponsored by Infopro Learning)

The L&D industry stands at the powerful intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative design methodologies to enhance performance outcomes. With an intelligent design framework, L&D leaders are moving towards the strategic deployment of AI-driven solutions to optimize and elevate performance across various domains, from business processes to workforce excellence and beyond.

Speaker:
•Dr. Ashwin Mehta, Global Learning Technology & Innovation Lead, Bayer Pharmaceutical (MAPV)
•Arun Prakash, Executive Vice President & Chief Learning Architect, Infopro

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm Coral C

How Majesco Accelerated Job Readiness with Hands-On, Performance-Driven Learning

90% of organizations say their learning doesn’t demonstrate skill proficiency. But the highest-impact organizations are investing in skill validation and hands-on learning that does more than provide knowledge and instead looks at behavior and outcomes. Majesco, a global leader in cloud insurance software solutions, took on high employee turnover, an ineffective training program, and a need to accelerate time to competency, by shifting to performance-driven skill development.

Speakers:
•Sarah Danzl, Chief Marketing Officer, Skillable
•Jennifer Messersmith, Chief Learning Officer, Majesco

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David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm Coral DE

Demystifying AI

In a landscape awash with the buzz of Generative AI, it’s time to demystify the technology and harness its true potential for learning and development. Graham Glass, a visionary in the field of training technology and an AI expert for leading news platforms such as CNN and CBS, invites you to explore the tangible applications of Generative AI that are reshaping the way we learn, train, and innovate.

Speaker:
Graham Glass, Founder and CEO, CYPHER Learning

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David Forry David Forry
3:15 pm - 5:30 pm

Free Time

Meals and Breaks

5:30 pm - 6:15 pm Exhibit Hall and Outdoor Courtyard

Pre-ceremony happy hour

Meals and Breaks


Doors to the Awards Gala open at 5:45pm in Oceana AB

6:15 pm - 9:00 pm Oceana AB

Awards Gala

General Session

Featuring a keynote speaker and a ceremony and videos honoring award winners from 2023.

9:00 pm - 10:00 pm Outdoor Courtyard and Exhibit Hall

Gala Afterparty

8:00 am - 9:00 am Outdoor Courtyard and Oceana AB

Breakfast

Meals and Breaks

9:00 am - 10:45 am Oceana AB

The Innovation Lab: Leading-Edge Technologies Driving Future Excellence

General Session

The conference concludes with a highly interactive session that will use dynamic demos and thought-provoking discussions to inspire you to assess, adopt and maximize AI-driven technologies that can accelerate your people strategy and business performance to bold new heights.

9:05 am - 9:55 am Oceana AB

A Fresh Take on a Proven Practice: How Apprenticeships Accelerate Learning at Scale

In this session, featuring the Harvard University Next-Level Lab and Accenture, you will:
• Learn how to build a supercharged, learning-powered apprenticeship program from a Harvard researcher
• Team up with your peers to put these tips into practice
• Hear first-hand how Accenture has developed apprenticeship networks with partners across the country to train thousands of apprentices for jobs of the future.

Speakers:
•Tessa Forshaw, Researcher, Instructor, Presidential Scholar, Harvard University
•Christine Nanan, Senior Manager, Skilling, Accenture
•Robin Boggs, Managing Director, Corporate Citizenship, US, Accenture

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
10:00 am - 10:45 am Oceana AB

Radically Reimagining Systems Training at Verizon

For almost a decade, Verizon’s Global Learning & Development team has searched for more authentic, cost-effective ways to prepare new hires and embedded learners to navigate complex business systems and associated processes while delighting their customers.

Verizon’s Learning Technology Team scoured the marketplace to find that no single solution exists to holistically solve this complex problem. Therefore, a reimagined solution was created combining five separate elements into a seamless and immersive experience that begins in new employee and agent onboarding and carries through to reinforcement opportunities and guided performance support on the job, in the flow of work.

The reimagined solution leverages the power of AI and RPA, including a robust, high-fidelity simulated replication of the production process paired with a conversational chatbot (using natural speech or text) which is orchestrated by Hybrid-Attended Robotic Process Automation (HA-RPA) for asynchronous or classroom training.

Speakers:
•Christy Bratton Jones, Director, Verizon
•Karl Sonta, Associate Director, Verizon

David Forry David Forry
David Forry David Forry
11:00 am - 11:05 am

Conference Concludes

Earn Credits When Attending #Excellence24

HRCI: The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

Qualifying sessions: Conquering the “Great Reflection”: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent, How Does HR Make Data its New Currency?, How to Make Wellness Your Secret Weapon for Business Success, Getting Your HR Tech Stack to Actually Stack Up, Unlocking Potential at All Levels: The Transformative Value of Coaching Across the Enterprise, Converting Performance Management from Paperwork to ‘Peoplework’, Developing Great Leaders: The Most Important Do’s and Don’ts, Workforce Reboot: Next Practices in Upskilling and Reskilling, and Slaying the Monster: Proving Learning’s Business Impact.

SHRM and ATD: Professionals can earn valuable Professional Development Credits (PDCs) at the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Conference, February 13th-15th. This premier event is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Association for Talent Development (ATD) to provide 17.5 PDCs for attendees. The conference features dynamic sessions led by top executives and experts in HR, talent acquisition, and talent development. Attendees gain insights into the latest trends and best practices to bring back to their organizations. By participating in Brandon Hall Group’s acclaimed Excellence Conference, talent leaders can stay ahead of industry changes while satisfying recertification requirements with SHRM and ATD accredited PDCs.

Attention: Professionals attending the DEI Immersive Experience ONLY will receive 5 PDC’s.