CHRO Summit

07:30 AM - 08:30 AM ET

Registration and Networking Breakfast

08:30 AM - 08:50 AM ET

Setting the Stage: Research Insights and Today’s Mission

We will set the stage for the day’s conversations with a discussion of the mission and the format of the Summit, how each attendee’s insights will become part of the event, and the major themes revealed by recent research from The Conference Board.

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

Rita Meyerson, EdD, Principal Researcher, Human Capital, The Conference Board

08:50 AM - 09:00 AM ET

The One-Sentence HR Manifesto

Attendees at each table will co-create and share a one-sentence manifesto on what they believe should define their mission as we approach 2026.

09:00 AM - 09:30 AM ET

Focusing In: What the Board and C-Suite are Facing Now, and What the CHRO Can Provide

In turbulent times, Boards, CEOs and CHROs can get distracted with all of the "blips" they see coming at them on the radar. How can CHROs understand which blips to focus on and how to provide perspective? What are Boards looking for from their CHROs today? And what do they need to hear?

Lucien Alziari, Executive Vice President, Senior Advisor & Former Chief Human Resources Officer, Prudential Financial, Inc.

Virginia Gambale, Chair of the Board Nutanix, Technology Leader, Investor and Board Director, Nutanix

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

09:35 AM - 10:10 AM ET

The CHRO as Strategic Partner

In times of unprecedented change – technological, social, political, environmental – the role of the CHRO as a strategic partner is critically important. In this conversation, we will explore what it means to be a strategic partner today; the biggest challenges and opportunities ahead; and advice for increasing C-Suite and Board influence.

Kari Knight Stevens, Executive Vice President, CHRO and Corporate Secretary, The Cigna Group

Judy Werthauser, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Walmart U.S.

Blair Jones, Managing Director, Semler Brossy

Rita Meyerson, EdD, Principal Researcher, Human Capital, The Conference Board

10:10 AM - 10:25 AM ET

Break

10:25 AM - 10:55 AM ET

How HR Will Drive Value in 2025 and Beyond

In a span of less than five years the meaning of work has undergone multiple massive waves of transformation – forces that are reverberating and interacting in unprecedented ways. In this session we will discuss how HR is serving as a driver of value while our organizations navigate the uncharted waters of 2025 and beyond.

Greg Vert, Human Capital Applied AI Leader, Deloitte

Marlon Sullivan, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, Johnson Controls

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM ET

Speed Debates on the Future of Work

What is your most controversial opinion on the future of work? What are the best arguments for it, and against it? In this interactive exercise, we seek to open minds and create connections by asking attendees to debate with their neighbors several thorny propositions on the future of work– and then switch sides after 60 seconds. Each topic will be revealed immediately before the debate.

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM ET

Leading the AI Transformation

AI is a tool and a driver of transformations that will encompass organizational design, job definitions, talent development, change management, the employee experience and much more. In this conversation, we will explore how HR leaders are piloting the human-centric transformations needed for a tech-empowered future.

Amy Coleman, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Microsoft

Matt Rosenbaum, Principal Researcher, Human Capital, The Conference Board

Sonia Vora, Former Chief Human Resources Officer, Gates Foundation

Rick Hefner, PhD, Executive Director, Caltech Center for Technology & Management Education

11:50 AM - 12:30 PM ET

HR in the AI Era: Championing Human Potential

Organizations poised to thrive over the coming decade won't merely adopt AI—they'll harness human–AI collaboration at scale. In this evolving landscape, CHROs stand uniquely positioned to lead by shaping culture, reimagining talent strategy, and unlocking human potential across every level of the business. In this session we'll discuss real-world tactics for how to position the workforce for lasting success.

Rachel Kay, Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer, Hearst Corporation

Raúl Valentín, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, ABM Industries

Maree Prendergast, Global Chief People Officer, VML

Vicki Walia, Chief People Officer, Prudential Financial, Inc.

Parker Mitchell, Founder & CEO, Valence

12:30 PM - 12:40 PM ET

Digest, Reflect and Discuss the Morning

Attendees will discuss at their tables their three biggest “aha” moments from the morning. We will use digital tools to collect, summarize and share the group’s observations.

12:40 PM - 01:40 PM ET

Lunch

01:40 PM - 02:15 PM ET

Reinventing the Talent Marketplace

In this session, we will explore the skills needed now to take our organizations forward in 2025. How are organizations transforming the way talent is identified, evaluated, recruited, retained, and developed? Can skills-based approaches to talent lead to more agile and adaptive organizations?

Michael Fraccaro, Mastercard Fellow and Former Chief People Officer, Mastercard

Debbie Dyson, Chief Executive Officer, OneTen

Robin Erickson, PhD, Head of Human Capital Research, The Conference Board

02:20 PM - 02:55 PM ET

Driving Opportunity, Engagement, and Performance

In this discussion we will explore evolving approaches to building cultures of belonging, opportunity and access for all. What is changing? What will continue? And how are organizations maintaining employee trust in core values while being buffeted by polarizing forces from multiple directions?

Ayana Champagne, Corporate Vice President, Head of People & Organization, Novo Nordisk

Rumbi Petrozzello, Head of Strategy, Consulting, Seramount

Daniela Proust, Senior Vice President, Head of People & Organization, Siemens USA

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

02:55 PM - 03:15 PM ET

Break

03:15 PM - 03:55 PM ET

Roundtables

Join a Roundtable for small group discussions related to Summit themes, such as: 1. Navigating the Future of Belonging and Connection 2. Aligning Incentives for Executive and Employee Talent 3. Rethinking Workplace Wellbeing 4. Rewriting HR Playbooks with AI 5. From Candidate Fraud to Data Leaks: Avoiding AI Pitfalls 6. A Culture Measurement Framework for the Board and C-Suite 7. Identifying and Growing Employee Skills 8. RTO vs. Workplace Flexibility 9. How Change is Changing 10. Leadership Development

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM ET

From Risk to Resilience

If we have learned anything in recent years, it is that the forces of change are easily powerful enough to exceed the limits of our imaginations. But while we cannot predict the future, we can prepare our organizations to navigate continued volatility across multiple dimensions. In this session we will explore how organizations are assessing the risks ahead, and enhancing their resilience in response.

Maral Kazanjian, Chief People Officer, Moody’s Corporation

Janet Faircloth, SVP of Thought Leadership, Aon

Nikki Olszyk, Wellbeing & Rewards Benefits Manager, RSM US LLP

04:35 PM - 05:10 PM ET

Culture and Wellbeing as a Strategic Priority and Value Creator

The pandemic triggered a paradigm shift in the prioritization of employee wellbeing, and subsequent years have only confirmed its importance. In this capstone session, speakers and Summit participants will discuss wellbeing as a priority and driver of value; strategic partnerships across the C-suite to enhance wellbeing; and examples of initiatives that provide crucial employee support when it is needed most.

Andrew Slentz, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Office Management, Hess Corporation

Courtney Ramey, Chief Operating Officer, E4E Relief

Rita Meyerson, EdD, Principal Researcher, Human Capital, The Conference Board

Beth Simonetti, Program Director, CHRO I Council and CHRO II Council, The Conference Board, Executive Advisor, Former CHRO, TD SYNNEX

05:10 PM - 05:25 PM ET

Reflection and Closing Remarks

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

05:25 PM - 06:30 PM ET

Networking Reception