Live 2025: Minneapolis

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

|

8:30AM CT - 5:10PM CT

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TOPIC

In a Time of Conflict, an Opportunity for People Leaders to Embrace Positive Change

People leaders face a welter of challenges right now, from employee disengagement to financial pressure to policy uncertainty from Washington. Yet HR professionals can seize the moment as an opportunity for transformative change, guided by positive values and an investment in their people. Companies will be primed for future growth if they embrace an environment of trust, continuous learning, advanced technology, purposeful leadership, data-driven insights, and a skills-based talent strategy.  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 competencies and performance, and produce better managers. You’ll discover the most innovative approaches in such fields as talent acquisition, employee benefits and total rewards, 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-

ALL TIMES SHOWN BELOW ARE U.S. Central Time

08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Breakfast
08:30 AM - 09:30 AM  |  Johnson Great Room
09:30 AM - 09:35 AM
Opening Remarks
09:30 AM - 09:35 AM  |  Memorial Hall
09:35 AM - 09:55 AM
Fireside Chat
09:35 AM - 09:55 AM  |  Memorial Hall

Becca Hagen, Head of Human Resources, Securian Financial

09:55 AM - 10:20 AM
Thought Leadership Spotlight
09:55 AM - 10:20 AM  |  Memorial Hall
10:20 AM - 11:05 AM
How to Foster a Corporate Culture of Continuous Learning and Development (Panel)
10:20 AM - 11:05 AM  |  Memorial Hall

Employers who make reskilling and upskilling a continuous part of their culture can cost-effectively develop the talent they need while strengthening their employer brand, attracting and onboarding top talent. How can companies best identify employees ready to transition into new roles and empower them with the right learning opportunities? What are the most effective educational, training, and coaching techniques that emphasize active learning, talent and leadership development? How can corporate leaders foster a culture of continuous learning, training development, curiosity, and career mobility to retain and grow their workforce?

Panelists: 

Roz Tsai, Ph.D., VP, Talent, Learning, & Org Effectiveness, Thrivent 

Peter Grimm, AVP, Training Development & Design, Sedgwick 

Natalie Canadeo, VP, Human Resources, Epicor 

Corey Criswell, Chief Leadership Officer, America's, Adeption

11:05 AM - 11:30 AM
The $200 Billion Mistake:How Traditional Rewards Programs Miss the Mark (Thought Leadership Spotlight)
11:05 AM - 11:30 AM  |  Memorial Hall

Although it has been well-established that meaningful rewards can boost employee engagement and performance–and despite employers spending nearly $200 billion annually on rewards and recognition—less than half of employees feel valued at work. In this session, the 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.  

Speaker:

Brie Harvey, Head of Market Research for Achievers Workforce Institute, Achievers 

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Structure Networking / Coffee Break
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM  |  Johnson Great Room
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Boosting Bottom Lines: The Power of Employee Recognition and Rewards Across Multiple Generations (Workshop)
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM  | 

When employees feel appreciated for their contributions on the job, they’re more productive, and engaged, they cope better with stress, and they’re less prone to absenteeism. In this work- shop, we’ll show how an increase in the number of employees at a company who’ve received recognition or praise for good work has a direct, positive effect on their employer’s bottom line. We’ll explore the results of a study by Gallup and Workhuman of nearly 8,000 workers that found a pattern that “when employees feel valued for who they are and what they do ... they act differently, in ways that positively impact their teams and organizations.” Bianca Carr, Chief Revenue Officer, GiftCard Partners, will tell how the thinking behind employee recognition has evolved and how her company helps employers easily incorporate gift cards into their incentive and reward programs through the Engage2Reward Platform. 

Speaker:

Bianca Carr, Chief Revenue Officer, Giftcard Partners

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Engage to Thrive: Strategies for Bridging Gaps and Building Connections in the Modern Workplace (Workshop)
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM  | 

Join Workvivo by Zoom for an exclusive workshop where leaders will explore the latest insights on employee engagement, well-being, and connection in today's evolving workplace. Through facilitated conversation, we'll examine key challenges, including fostering meaningful engagement for frontline workers, rebuilding human connections in hybrid environments, and bridging generational gaps within the workforce. In this interactive session, participants will explore and share actionable strategies for empowering managers, creating inclusive cultures, and boosting team engagement. This collaborative dialogue with industry peers will generate practical ideas you can implement in your organization. Let's work together to build workplaces where everyone feels valued, connected, and inspired!

Speaker:

Jason Midtdahl , Senior Experience Solution Engineer, Workvivo by Zoom

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
The Science Behind Trust: How to Navigate Change With Adaptable Teams (Workshop)
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM  | 

In this session, you’ll gain insights into the pitfalls of workplace change initiatives and discover the pivotal role trust plays in effective change management. Learn to foster adaptability and resilience within your teams and leave armed with practical tools to enhance team dynamics and organizational culture. Elevate your company with strategic knowledge and immediate, actionable takeaways for corporate transformation and leadership empowerment.

Speaker:

Zach Smith, Chief Activation Officer, Co-founder, Activate 180

12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Lunch
12:45 PM - 01:45 PM  |  Johnson Great Room
01:45 PM - 02:30 PM
The New Essentials of Worker Productivity That’s Sustainable and Attainable (Panel)
01:45 PM - 02:30 PM  |  Memorial Hall

At a time of rising labor costs, HR leaders and their C-suite colleagues need to make sure they’re finding the right combination of productivity-boosters for their workers. What is proving most effective in approaches to new technology, organizational development, as well as improved communication and engagement between managers and workers? How can employers use new tools to ease distracting stressors like financial anxiety and time-management issues, as well as boost employee satisfaction and wellness? How can HR and TA leaders become more adept in workforce planning to match the right workers with future organizational needs? How can HR and TA leaders become more adept in workforce planning to match the right workers with future organizational needs?
 

Panelists: 

Kelly Johnson, SVP, HR Advisory Services Lead, U.S. Bank 

Dustin Wellik, VP, HR Strategy & Solutions, 3M

Jodi Hill, VP, Global Talent Attraction and Engagement Strategic Initiatives, Wells Fargo 

Steve Davis, National Sales Manager, Business Partnerships, Global Payments

02:30 PM - 02:55 PM
Thought Leadership Spotlight
02:30 PM - 02:55 PM  |  Memorial Hall
02:55 PM - 03:25 PM
Coffee Break
02:55 PM - 03:25 PM  |  Johnson Great Room
03:25 PM - 04:10 PM
Employee Recognition and Rewards: How Managers Can Be Empowered (Panel)
03:25 PM - 04:10 PM  |  Memorial Hall

Recognizing workers for their accomplishments–as well as who they are–is essential to boosting motivation and building a strong 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? What role do recognition and rewards play in aligning employee behaviors with core values and fostering a more cohesive workplace culture?
 

Panelists: 

Jen Bailey, Vice President of Total Rewards and HR Shared Services, Allina Health

Yen Ly, VP, Total Rewards, Xcel Energy 

Lukas Mudra, VP, People, Inclusion and Culture, UnitedHealth Group

04:10 PM - 04:35 PM
Fireside Chat
04:10 PM - 04:35 PM  |  Memorial Hall

Kweilin Ellingrud, Author of The Broken Rung and Senior Partner, Director of McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), Head of Diversity and Inclusion, McKinsey

04:35 PM - 04:40 PM
Closing Remarks
04:35 PM - 04:40 PM  |  Memorial Hall
04:40 PM - 05:10 PM
Evening Reception and Book Signing
04:40 PM - 05:10 PM  |  Johnson Great Room

Author Kweilin Ellingrud will sign complimentary copies of her new book, “The Broken Rung”

VENUE

McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota

The conference will take place at the McNamara Alumni Center, with architecture that is stunning, inspired by the Minnesota landscape of wood, water and copper.

200 SE Oak St, Minneapolis, MN 55455
May 13
8:30AM - 5:10PM