Live 2025: Washington D.C.

Tuesday, February 04, 2025
8:30AM ET - 5:30PM ET

Topic

The New Era of Investing in Humans

In the face of increasing pressure for productivity, how can companies grow while building a culture based on trust and values? Employers will need to take a greater stake in the future of their employees. In our conference of HR leaders and colleagues, we’ll explore breakthroughs in thinking about how to make work fulfilling, create a sense of community, help employees increase their skills and performance, and produce better managers. You’ll discover the most innovative approaches in such fields as talent acquisition, total rewards, benefits, learning and development, employee engagement, AI and HR technology, and inclusion and belonging.

From Day One is a Recertification Provider for SHRM and HRCI. This session is eligible for 4 credits from both organizations. The Activity IDs will be sent to attendees after the conclusion of the session. 



SCHEDULE

08:30 AM - 09:30 AM

Breakfast

09:30 AM - 09:35 AM

The Forum Opening Remarks

09:35 AM - 09:55 AM

The Forum Fireside Chat

10:00 AM - 10:20 AM

The Forum The 3 Most Costly Mistakes that Lead to Employees Feeling Unappreciated (Thought Leadership Spotlight)

Although it's been well-established that meaningful rewards can boost employee engagement and performance and despite the fact employers spend nearly $200 billion annually on rewards and recognition, less than half of employees feel valued at work.

In this session, Head of Market Research for Achievers Workforce Institute will share insights from their 2025 State of Recognition Report, explore the evolving landscape of employee rewards and uncover the most common reasons why many well-intended investments in traditional rewards programs fall flat and fail to drive cultural and behavioral outcomes.  

Brie Harvey, Head of Market Research AWI, Achievers 

10:25 AM - 11:05 AM

The Forum The Connection Solution: Bringing Workers Together for Development and Insight (Panel)

In widely reported surveys, workers say they’re lonely and disengaged–and that their employers don’t care about their personal development and sense of fulfillment as much as they did during the pandemic era. How can employers build more community opportunities for their workers to make connections, offer mutual support, find learning opportunities, and share insights? What cultural initiatives can companies pursue, as well as technological support to foster new and abiding connections? What new approaches can employers take to support and supplement their employee resource groups (ERGs)? 

Panelists: 

Matt Waesche, Chief Learning Officer, Talent Solutions Center of Expertise - BAE Systems, Inc. 

Michael Trusty, VP and Head of Learning Officer - Fannie Mae 

Victor Arguelles, VP, Global Learning Design and Development - Marriott International 

Adrienne Prentice, Founder & CEO - Keep Company 

Moderator: 

Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, Journalist, Contributing Editor - From Day One

11:10 AM - 11:30 AM

The Forum Create Connections. Cultivate Cultures (Thought Leadership Spotlight)

We humans have an inherent need to belong and be part of a group. This need dates back to our earliest days when survival depended on being part of a community. Building connections and maintaining relationships – these weren't just nice-to-haves; they were essential for our very existence. The need for a sense of belonging is hardwired into our DNA. Understanding and leveraging this fundamental human nature creates an incredible opportunity to elevate employee experience and build a thriving culture that undoubtedly leads to better business results. Join the keynote, Create Connections & Cultivate Cultures, to explore practical strategies and innovative tools that will elevate your organization's employee experience to new heights.

Mihae Ahn, VP of Marketing, LineZero

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Gallery Structure Networking / Coffee Break

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Hiring a Multigenerational Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities (Workshop)

Heather Tinsley-Fix, Senior Advisor, Employer Engagement, AARP

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

RidePanda Workshop

Chinmay Malviya, CEO/Co-Founder, Ridepanda

12:45 PM - 01:45 PM

Gallery Lunch

01:50 PM - 02:30 PM

The Forum Employee Recognition and Rewards: How Managers Can Be Empowered (Panel)

Recognizing workers for their accomplishments–as well as who they are–is essential to boosting motivation and building a strong, inclusive corporate culture. How do some employers miss the opportunities to recognize workers in a timely way? What can technology do to help scale recognition across an enterprise by empowering managers at every level? From the worker’s point of view, what kinds of recognition are most meaningful? Do younger workers respond differently than older ones? 

Panelists: 

Sunita Braynard, Acting Head of Total Rewards - Under Armour 

Boma Anyaogu, Ph.D., VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Compass Group 

Lena Hall, Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Viasat 

Julie Gu, VP, Revenue, North America - Prezzee 

Naomi Dishington, Director, Consulting - WorkHuman 

Moderator: 

Kristen Parisi, HR Reporter - Morning Brew

02:35 PM - 02:55 PM

The Forum Harnessing AI for Human Resources: Promises and Risks (Thought Leadership Spotlight)

Dr. Balaji Padmanabhan, Dean's Professor of Decisions, Operations & Information Technologies of the University of Maryland will provide a brief overview of AI, its applications and then focus on emerging issues in the HR context. Potential applications in areas like hiring, performance evaluation and nurturing talent will be discussed, with the goal of understanding potential vs hype, as well as to understand short-term and long-term risks as well. Emerging augmented AI scenarios will be put forth, encouraging organizations to rethink the nature of work itself in a fully AI-enabled enterprise.

Dr. Balaji Padmanabhan, Dean's Professor of Decisions, Operations & Information Technologies, University of Maryland

02:55 PM - 03:25 PM

Gallery Coffee Break

03:30 PM - 04:10 PM

The Forum Shaping the Dialogue: Delivering Meaningful Well-Being Support (Panel)

Prioritizing employee well-being is crucial for fostering a healthy, motivated, and productive workforce. What are the best available offerings for supporting holistic health, with seamless access to therapy and mental health care? How can engaging and effective communication simplify the complexities of navigating offerings, while helping employees feel informed and supported? How can organizations create a culture that prioritizes holistic well-being for employees? 

Panelists: 

Carlee Wolfe, AVP, Leader Development and Organizational Effectiveness - Hyatt 

Jodi Davidson - VP, Diversity & Inclusion - Sodexo 

Guy Westermeyer, Owner & Founder - WestComm 

Nicole Wolfe, VP of B2B Partnerships - Rula 

Moderator: 

Faith Pinho, Reporter - The Los Angeles Times

04:15 PM - 04:35 PM

The Forum Fireside Chat

04:35 PM - 04:40 PM

The Forum Closing Remarks

04:40 PM - 05:30 PM

Gallery Evening Reception


VENUE

The conference will take place at Convene, the leading hospitality company, passionate about hospitality, innovation, and changing the way people meet and work.