2021 Agenda

The virtual Exhibit Hall will be available to attendees from 10/7/2021 until 10/22/2021.

Stay tuned for more details.

Master of Ceremonies: Celeste Headlee, award-winning journalist and author, We Need To Talk, Do Nothing and Speaking of Race @celesteheadlee

Melanie Foley, EVP, chief talent & enterprise services officer, Liberty Mutual @libertymutual

Target Storytellers Presentation featuring Laysha Ward EVP, chief external engagement officer, Target @target

Dawn Frazier-Bohnert, EVP, global diversity, equity & inclusion officer, Liberty Mutual @libertymutual

Malala Yousafazi, Nobel Peace Prize-winner & co-founder, Malala Fund @malalafund
in conversation with Audie Cornish, co-host, NPR’s All Things Considered @npraudie

Working remotely dramatically changed how we engage and communicate, forcing us to have sensitive conversations that we would typically have in-person only – virtually. Not surprisingly, this has led to much miscommunication, reduced employee engagement and a dissolution of trust. So, what can you do now to rebuild trust in important work relationships? Anne Morriss (along with her co-author Francis Frei) spent decades studying why trust breaks down and will share with you the strategies to restore it. From how you refine your team relationships and work together to avoiding sidebar conversation that could alienate others, you will leave this session with clear strategies to boost trust and get your team back on track.

Speaker:  Anne Morriss, executive founder, The Leadership Consortium & co-author, Unleashed @annemorriss

Executive Spotlight:  Dr. Tiffany Dotson, VP, enterprise learning & development, Liberty Mutual @libertymutual

The past year forced our hand on digital interaction, causing us to substantially increase our reliance on it. Many of us are craving distance from the constant online chatter and Cal Newport spent years investigating how to disconnect. In this session, attendees will learn how to decide which tools they truly need, and under what conditions. By rethinking our reliance on these tools, we can scale back and still get our work done as well as keep up with the demands of family and friends.

Speaker:  Cal Newport, productivity expert and author, A World Without Email @calnewport2

Executive Spotlight:  Jen Fisher, chief well-being officer, Deloitte US @deloitte

Of all the ways COVID changed our lives, the toll it has taken on our mental health may be the most long-lasting. The isolation, loneliness and losses have created a huge emotional impact on us and our loved ones. In her podcast, The Verywell Mind, Amy Morin shares guidance and tips for improving psychological well-being and cultivating mental strength. Join this session to learn her tips for mitigating the stress and anxiety, so you can strengthen your health and find joy again.

Speaker:  Amy Morin, psychotherapist, Northeastern University, podcast host & author, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do @amymorinlcsw

Imagine a workplace where people of all genders, colors and races can rise to every level of leadership — and where the lessons we learn about diversity, equity and inclusion actually transform the things we do, think and say in our workplace. In this session, Stovall will share her recipe for pragmatic and long-lasting inclusivity. Her three-part strategy for building an inclusive workplace will show us how we can build on all the progress and intentions of 2020 to make it a lasting reality.

Speaker:  Janet Stovall, senior strategist, NeuroLeadership Institute & diversity pragmatist @janetmariestov

Host:  Alessandra Sapiz, VP, global events, Cisco @cisco

Host:  Carla Grant Pickens, VP, global chief diversity & inclusion officer, IBM @ibm

The pandemic’s effect on small businesses was enormous, but what about those more well-established businesses? For more than 20 years Rebecca Minkoff has been hustling as a fashion designer and her designs are now distributed in more than 900 stores worldwide. But when the pandemic closed down storefronts, Minkoff survived by changing the way she does business. Hear her story of grit and resilience to not only build a global brand, but how she re-vamped to ensure its survival. Attendees will learn how to make tough choices, take risks and pivot in the face of adversity.

Speaker:  Rebecca Minkoff, fashion mogul & entrepreneur @rebeccaminkoff

Moderator:  Alicia Menendez, award-winning journalist & author, The Likeability Trap

Executive Spotlight:  Samantha Price, SVP, director, talent management, Broadway Bank @broadwaybank

Session description coming soon.

Speaker:  Amy Cuddy, social psychologist, award-winning Harvard lecturer, & best-selling author @amyjcuddy

Master of Ceremonies: Celeste Headlee, award-winning journalist and author, We Need To Talk, Do Nothing and Speaking of Race @celesteheadlee

Introduction: Puja Jaspal, VP, people, policy and purpose, Cisco @cisco

Indra Nooyi, former chairman & CEO, PepsiCo @indranooyi

Ali Wong, actor, comedian & best-selling author @aliwong
in conversation with Lisa Ling, executive producer & host, This Is Life, CNN @lisaling

Many leaders underutilize members of their teams while relying and, overestimating others, often beyond their level of competence. Not only is this unequitable and bad for business, but it makes team cohesiveness a serious challenge. In this session, Kim Scott, whose first book, Radical Candor, became a cultural touchstone and was translated into 20 languages, will share her latest research into how we can respect everyone’s individuality while still working together collaboratively. She will share her practical framework to be an upstander instead of a bystander and to help teams get more work done with less drama. Join this session to learn the tools to lead your team with new norms of collaboration and respect that will create better relationships and improve results.

Speaker:  Kim Scott, author, Radical Candor and Just Work @kimballscott

Executive Spotlight:  Jae Borgard, VP, business operations, client product group, Dell Technologies @dell

The changes we had to embrace this year were monumental and caused many of us to feel overwhelmed. But, what if now you could cultivate a growth mindset that could help you enjoy—and thrive during—times of significant change in your life? In this session, Cassandra Worthy will share practical strategies that will help you leverage your decision-making skills to champion change. This framework will help you quantify your strengths and areas of growth, as well as the softer skills required to effectively manage change. Her practical strategies will inspire you to become more enthusiastic about change, and capable of finding your power and resilience during turbulent times.

Speaker:  Cassandra Worthy, founder & CEO, Change Enthusiasm @cassandra_worthy_speaker (IG)

Executive Spotlight:  Tamara Fields, Austin office managing director; south market unit director of operations, Accenture & TX CFW board treasurer @accenture

Fears are often unwarranted, but 2020 brought real danger and many unimaginable fears to life. Because our fears reveal what we care about the most, it constricts who we are and obstructs our intuition, often keeping us from making big decisions. In this session, fear expert Michelle Poler will share how she pushed herself outside of her comfort zone and tapped into her full potential. This session will challenge you to live alongside what scares you, yet still find meaningful happiness.

Speaker:  Michelle Poler, author & creator, Hello Fears, a movement that has inspired more than 50 million people @hellofears

Executive Spotlight:  Barbara Borgonovi, VP, intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance systems, Raytheon Intelligence & Space @raytheon

More details to come.