Employee Well-Being

09:05 AM - 09:35 AM ET

Organizational Well-being: Structurally Aligning Employee Well-Being with Business Needs

We’ve all heard that a “top-down” approach to well-being is a winning strategy, but how to execute within your organization may be a challenge. Join Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board and Julie Sexton, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Land O’Lakes, Inc. as they discuss a successful approach.

Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader, The Conference Board

09:35 AM - 10:15 AM ET

Thriving at Work: Empowering Managers to Drive Organizational Success

Managers are the engine of organizational performance, yet they’re often expected to lead without a map. They carry the weight of executing strategy, nurturing team dynamics, and building culture, all while managing their own well-being. No wonder only 21% of managers feel equipped to support their teams' mental health. That’s not just a gap, it’s a leadership emergency.

During this session, our speakers will deliver actionable insights to transform managers from unsupported middle layers into empowered agents of change. Through practical tools, scalable resources, and real-world examples, you'll learn how to help your managers lead with clarity, empathy, and effectiveness.

• Lead with Confidence: Discover the frameworks and training that enable managers to be the first line of support for employee well-being—without increasing their burden.
• Unlock Organizational Performance: Understand how investing in manager mental health leads to measurable improvements in engagement, retention, and productivity—backed by compelling data.
• Scale Support, Reduce Burnout: Explore tech-forward, scalable solutions that streamline communication, ease pressure, and build more resilient leadership.

Organizations that prioritize manager mental health see a 20% lift in engagement and a 23% boost in productivity. The impact is real, and the opportunity is now.

If you're ready to ignite meaningful change—this session will leave you informed, energized, and ready to lead the future of work.

10:45 AM - 11:20 AM ET

Escaping the Legacy PBM Trap

Drug prices are increasing and it’s costing American employers and patients. Legacy pharmacy benefit managers are part of the problem. We’ve all read about spread pricing and taking a percentage of the drug rebate but even worse, legacy PBMs are slow to move, lack innovation, and focus on negotiating discounts for a static list of drugs that aren’t the lowest cost options on the market. This leaves plans and patients paying a much higher cost than is necessary. Employers are catching on and more and more are choosing new types of PBMs that provide an alternative approach. Join SmithRx, a modern, full-service pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) dedicated to reducing the cost and complexity of pharmacy benefits. In this session, we'll discuss the current state of the PBM market, hear from employers who've made the transition from legacy to modern PBM and see the impact it's made on their drug spend and employee satisfaction.

10:45 AM - 11:20 AM ET

Rewriting the Rules of Care: Where Physical and Mental Health Meet

Over one-third of employees managing chronic physical conditions also face mental health challenges. What if your benefits strategy addressed both, seamlessly? For too long, physical and mental health have been treated as separate challenges—managed in silos, supported by different benefits and systems. But the reality is clear: they’re deeply connected. And when employers bring them together, something powerful happens.

In this session, you’ll hear how Cedars-Sinai redesigned their approach to health and wellbeing—integrating physical health programs with mental health support to create a seamless, whole-person experience. The result? Better care, stronger engagement, and meaningful outcomes for employees managing mental, emotional and physical health concerns.

• A clear understanding of how physical and mental health intersect—and why this matters for your people and your bottom line.
• A framework for designing benefits that feel more connected, more human, and more effective.
• Real-world insights from an employer that’s already putting integrated care into action—and seeing results.

12:20 PM - 12:55 PM ET

From Chaos to Clarity: Building Smarter Wellbeing Programs

Almost 90% of employees have access to wellness programs, but only about 23% actually use them. And that's costly. Disengaged workers cost employers an estimated $450 to $550 billion annually.

What’s sabotaging your wellness program, wasting resources, and leaving employees disengaged? The answer is simpler than you think. Join bswift’s VP, Engagement Sales, Meredith Dyson, and VP Partner Ecosystems, Kim Evans, for an eye-opening discussion that unpacks the secrets to making well-being programs actually work.

We’ll explore how claims data and employee feedback can help you identify and engage the employees who need support the most with the right resources to manage their condition, while continuing to provide value to those already taking positive steps in managing their well-being, too.

Plus, we’ll cover how the Mindful AI approach tackles common concerns and ensures data use remains safe and effective.

You'll leave this session with practical insights to simplify your well-being programs to better engage your employees and deliver real results.

12:20 PM - 12:55 PM ET

Inside the Strategy: How Benefits Leaders Are Approaching Comprehensive Obesity Care

Join a panel of population health decision-makers, including benefits managers and benefits leaders, as they discuss their role and approach to comprehensive health benefits plans, obesity management, and the coverage of obesity management medications (OMMs). Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from benefits leaders regarding how they have approached integrating OMMs into their employee health benefits plans.

The program will also examine how benefits leaders evaluated and implemented OMM coverage as an employee benefit, including the steps they took, the stakeholders and analyses involved, potential utilization management strategies, and the methods used to track utilization and measure effectiveness.

• Hear real-life examples from benefits leaders and learn how they evaluated obesity support for their employees
• Learn key steps to take while considering adding obesity management medication coverage at your own organization
• Explore opportunities to provide comprehensive obesity management coverage at your organization

This program is sponsored by, and the speakers are presenting on behalf of, Lilly USA, LLC.

03:50 PM - 04:30 PM ET

Virtual Cancer Care for the Distributed Workforce: How Hot Topic Transformed Care Across 800+ Stores

Reaching a distributed workforce has always been a challenge, and retail is a prime example. Communication, education, and engagement are the north stars for benefit leaders, but even the most valuable programs often go underused. Layer on cancer, and employees tend to disengage even further, until a diagnosis sets in and a crisis occurs.

Hot Topic, a forward-thinking national retailer, knew all too well the need to deliver cancer care that met and engaged their people where they were, while also taking control of their cancer spend for better outcomes and savings.

In this session, leaders from Hot Topic and Color Health share how they implemented a virtual, next-generation cancer care program across 800+ stores, driving real engagement, faster access to expert care, and measurable savings.

• How a hands-on, direct virtual cancer care solution can improve outcomes, especially in a distributed workforce
• Which engagement strategies moved the needle (and which didn’t)
• What's really driving the cost curve of cancer, and how quickly it can be shifted with the right model

Eric Ueno, Senior VP, Human Resources, Hot Topic

Janet (Frias) Acosta, Human Resources Benefits Manager, Hot Topic

04:30 PM - 05:10 PM ET

Breaking the Trade-Off: Better Health Outcomes Without Higher Costs

Employers face mounting pressure from skyrocketing specialty drug costs, point-solution fatigue, and the mandate to elevate employee experience. Boston Children’s Hospital tackled this challenge head-on by implementing a scalable model that blends personalized coaching, sustainable weight management, and targeted GLP-1 support.

• 100% improved dietary habits
• 93% of participants improved mood and focus

Measurable weight loss: Participants in the GLP-1 track lost an average of 1.15 lbs/week, while those in the lifestyle track lost an average of 0.41 lbs/week.

This session shares practical, actionable steps to optimize cost and enhance the employee experience without compromising either.