Live 2026: Seattle

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

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8:30AM PT - 5:30PM PT

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TOPIC

NAVIGATING THE REVOLUTION IN HR: HOW PEOPLE LEADERS CAN BE EMPOWERED IN AN ERA OF AI AND RAPID CHANGE

In the accelerating digital transformation, people leaders have the opportunity to shape the new world. AI isn’t just changing how work gets done, it’s redefining the nature of work itself. As automation takes on more of the routine and the repeatable, it’s opening more space where humans can excel. The challenge for HR leaders is to rethink how their companies operate and evolve, as well as responding to shifting employee expectations and legitimate concerns about an uncharted future. Rather than asking how people will keep up with technology, the question now is how technology can elevate people, enabling more meaningful collaboration, enhanced creativity, faster learning, and smarter decision-making. At our conference of HR leaders, we’ll explore new frontiers in talent acquisition, skills-based workforce planning, learning and development, employee well-being, total rewards, and inclusion. All of these probing conversations will explore what it means to design a workplace for the next era: one where technology enhances, rather than replaces, human potential.

From Day One Is Proud to Welcome Our Title Sponsor, HackerRank!

From Day One is a Recertification Provider for SHRM and HRCI. This session is eligible for 4 credits.

Previous Speakers

2025

Shannon Peterson

Head of People Analytics

Verizon

Shannon Peterson

Shannon spoke about using people analytics to understand employee experience, predict trends, and guide HR decisions during an executive panel discussion. 

Roz Francuz-Harris

Vice President, Talent Acquisition

Zillow

Roz Francuz-Harris

In a panel about “Making Talent Acquisition and Development More Efficient, Inclusive, and Personalized,” Roz spoke about using technology to improve hiring and talent development.

Stacey Walker

SVP, Chief People Officer

Fortive

Stacey Walker

In a fireside chat, Stacey spoke about using talent investment, skills development, and AI to drive business growth and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

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Schedule - ALL TIMES SHOWN BELOW ARE U.S. Pacific Time

08:30 AM - 09:30 AM

Breakfast

09:30 AM - 09:35 AM

Opening Remarks

09:35 AM - 09:40 AM

Opening Remarks by Our Title Sponsor, HackerRank

09:40 AM - 10:00 AM

Fireside Chat

10:00 AM - 10:25 AM

Hire for the Agentic Era (Thought Leadership Spotlight)

Every wave of technology, from industrial machines in the 1920s to AI today, has sparked the same fear: that workers will be replaced. History tells a different story. In this session, HackerRank CEO and Co-founder Vivek Ravisankar explores what's actually happening with developer hiring right now. With tens of thousands of engineering roles still open globally, demand isn't going away. But the job itself has changed. Developers are becoming orchestrators of AI agents, and the traditional algorithm-puzzle interview no longer predicts success. Vivek will share how leading companies are rethinking technical hiring across three dimensions, what the new skills profile looks like, and what HR and talent acquisition leaders need to know to make the shift.

Speaker:

Vivek Ravisankar, CEO & Co-Founder, HackerRank

10:25 AM - 11:10 AM

Personalizing Benefits While Keeping Costs in Check (Panel)

Employers are rethinking benefits as workers demand options that reflect their real lives, whether it’s fertility care, virtual physical therapy, or coverage for treatments like GLP-1s. At the same time, rising costs are forcing companies to weigh innovation against sustainability. How can employers design benefits that meet diverse employee needs without driving costs out of control? How can data and employee feedback guide smarter, more personalized benefits strategies?

Speakers:

Vivian Hung, Head of Total Rewards & HRIS, Enphase Energy

Tristan Orford, VP, Total Rewards and M&A, SentinelOne 

Nick Rettenmyer, VP, Total Rewards, Shield AI

Paris Ramsey, VP, Health Solutions, Aon 

Cara Dochat, PhD, Clinical Specialist, Sword Health

Moderator:

Alexis Hauk, Healthcare Communications Specialist & Journalist 

11:10 AM - 11:35 AM

Finally, Leadership Development at Scale: Equipping Every Manager With an AI Personal Trainer (Thought Leadership Spotlight)

For years, we've faced an impossible trade-off: give executives personalized coaching and real practice, while the economics make it nearly impossible to offer that same depth of support to middle and frontline managers. AI changes everything about that equation. For the first time, we can deliver truly individualized support to every manager—guidance that adapts to their specific needs, real-time practice for high-stakes conversations, and even help with team-building that doesn’t need a facilitator. Leading companies like Google, Hershey, and Airbnb are already seeing impressive results from this approach. In this session, you’ll see this new model in action—and what it means for leaders and teams—whether you’re rethinking your organization’s approach or exploring how AI is transforming leadership development.

Speaker:

Jennifer Dulski, Rising Team

11:35 AM - 12:05 PM

Structured Networking & Coffee Break

12:05 PM - 12:50 PM

How HR Leaders are Driving Smarter Health Care Spend (Breakout)

This session explores how HR leaders are rethinking healthcare spend as a strategic investment rather than a fixed cost. We'll discuss how to translate complex healthcare data into clear, actionable insights that drive smarter decision-making, along with methods for validating claims, contracts, and network performance through advanced analytics. Attendees will also learn how to build internal capabilities that enable organizations to proactively influence healthcare spend throughout the plan year - creating more effective, data-driven benefits strategies. 

Speaker:

Julie Taffera, First Vice President, Alliant Insurance

12:05 PM - 12:50 PM

Breakout by Campfire

12:50 PM - 01:50 PM

Lunch

01:55 PM - 02:35 PM

Designing an Employee Experience That Engages, Recognizes, and Supports (Panel)

A great employee experience considers all facets of a worker: from their well-being, to compensation, to how they are recognized, and more. What does it take to create an environment where employees feel genuinely engaged and supported as they grow and develop? How are new technologies and tools like AI reshaping employee satisfaction, from automating routine tasks to enhancing engagement and enriching talent development? What role does well-being play in the employee experience, and how can employers ensure they are taking a holistic approach? 

Speakers:

Katie Bunker, VP, HR, North America, Cotiviti

Maris Krieger, Senior Director, Talent & Learning & Development, Hearst Corporation

Kabri Lehrman-Schmid, Project Superintendent, SeaTac Construction Leader, Hensel Phelps

Chinmay Malaviya, Co-Founder and CEO, Ridepanda 

Moderator:

Diana Opong, Independent Reporter & Host 

02:35 PM - 03:00 PM

A Thought Leadership Spotlight by Eightfold

Speaker:

Rebecca Warren, Senior Director, Talent Centered Transformation, Eightfold

03:00 PM - 03:30 PM

Coffee Break

03:30 PM - 04:15 PM

Future-Proofing HR With AI: How to Lead, Adapt, and Keep the Human Touch in a Tech-Driven Era (Panel)

Nearly 60% of HR leaders say AI adoption is one of their biggest challenges, yet many admit they aren’t ready to address the ethical, legal, and cultural risks that come with it. What are the most promising uses of AI in HR and people management, and where should it be off-limits? What risks do organizations face if they move too slowly to adapt? What new opportunities does AI create for talent acquisition, learning and development, engagement and retention?

Speakers:

Dani Monaghan, SVP, Global Talent Enablement, Expedia Group 

Amanda Myton, Head of Learning and Development, Snowflake

Shannon Flynn, VP, Corporate HR, Fortive

Moderator:

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Business Reporter, the Seattle Times

 

04:15 PM - 04:40 PM

Fireside Chat

Speaker:

Todd Reeves, Chief People Officer, Zoom

Moderator:

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Business Reporter, the Seattle Times

 

04:40 PM - 04:45 PM

Closing Remarks

04:45 PM - 05:15 PM

Evening Reception

VENUE

Seattle Art Museum

The conference will take place at the Seattle Art Museum, a vast gallery and event space in the heart of Seattle.

1300 First Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101
Apr 28
8:30AM - 5:30PM