Bianca Baumann

Design thinking has become a buzzword in our industry. Sadly, it has also become a go-to strategy for many learning solutions. replacing the more traditional needs assessments (spoiler alert: these are two very different things!).

An often misunderstood, non-linear process, it’s challenging for L&D professionals to understand the power of Design Thinking. It certainly has its place in envisioning and creating outstanding learning experiences, but not every project lends itself to Design Thinking. With all the buzz, it is sometimes also difficult to understand how Design Thinking can truly be leveraged in L&D to improve performance, change behavior, and support workforce transformations.

This interactive session will answer all of these questions and lay the foundation for every L&D Professional to use Design Thinking in the right way, at the right time. We will use Design Thinking to ideate on how to teach Design Thinking to others, it will be fun!

Sean Bengry

Senior Learning & Development Leader

Transforming L&D: Expansion, Acceleration, Innovation

Explore the future of Learning & Development in our session, "Transforming L&D: Expansion, Acceleration, Innovation." Understand how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing training and development, offering new ways to scale, personalize, and innovate. Gain practical insights to boost efficiency, tailor learning experiences, and anticipate upcoming trends in L&D.

This presentation is perfect for professionals looking to harness AI's potential to enhance educational outcomes. Join us to elevate your L&D strategies and prepare for the transformative shift in professional learning.

Britne Jenke, CPACC, CPTD, SHRM-SCP

Consultant

Making Work Accessible and Inclusive

Are you creating a workplace that is accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities - and to everyone?

In this interactive session, we'll explore types of disabilities and assistive technology, discuss best practices for creating accessible content and testing the content you already have, and brainstorm ways to incorporate accessibility throughout the entire employee experience. You'll leave with checklists, templates, and other resources to get started on making your workplace more accessible - today!

Hernan Chioso, CSPO, SPHR

Founder, ProductizeHR

The AI Potential: An L&D Transformation

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of AI in learning and development. We'll explore how AI is being integrated into various aspects of L&D, from personalized learning platforms to chatbot-based coaching and adaptive learning systems. We'll also discuss how AI can enhance learning analytics, generate personalized learning resources, and support continuous improvement.

But it's not just about the technology - we'll also delve into the ethical implications of using AI in L&D. We'll examine topics such as bias and diversity in AI-generated content, data privacy and security in AI-enhanced platforms, and the importance of transparency and explainability in AI-powered tools. We'll provide practical guidance on how to navigate these issues and ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly in L&D. Finally, we'll offer best practices for implementing AI in L&D, based on real-world examples and case studies.

Jona, Wright, EdD

Founder, TalentThrivePartners

 Leaders, Put Your Safety Glasses On: Looking Through the Lens of Psychological Safety

Psychological Safety is a term that is used frequently, but maybe not as understood as it could be. In order to create transformational change, leaders, team members and organizations as a whole need to ACT in a transformational way.

In this interactive session, we will define psychological safety and the four stages of psychological safety (inclusion, learner, contributor, and challenger), define and reflect on the behaviors in each stage and begin to assess your own levels of psychological safety. This work can be taken back to teams and organizations. With facilitated guidance, begin to ponder, prioritize, plan, practice (discover what a focus can be for you and your team) and perform (what will this look like in action?).

Megan Clifford LCSW-R

CEO Wellness Associates of Greater Rochester LLC

After this session, you will be able to define and give examples of multiple types of trauma and how they impact the workplace. You will also learn to identify typical reactions and the six guiding principles of a trauma-informed workplace. You will receive tools to perform a workplace trauma-informed assessment, discuss what you are already doing to support employees and leave this session with at least three action items you can immediately implement in your organization.

Lori Sussle Bonanni

Founder and Communications Consultant, elssus

Mindful Communication: Who Are You Unknowingly Excluding?

In a world where there is a long-overdue focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility, communicating effectively and mindfully is critical. Adjusting how one communicates ensures the intended messaging will reach and resonate with the desired audience.

In this session, attendees will learn: 

• How to identify and acknowledge who one may inadvertently be excluding through communications (or lack of)
  
• How to think more broadly about how people consume the content you create + Ten mindful ways to communicate
  
• Strategies for expanding your audience reach

Maryellen Dance, LMHC

Director of Corporate Training

Effective Leadership for Anxiety in the Workplace

We are all familiar with the word "anxiety", but what does this mean? How does this show up in the workplace and more importantly, what do we do about it?

This session focuses on changing our view of what anxiety is as well as how we interact with anxiety. Whether we are aware or not, we are leading people who are struggling with anxiety and it's our responsibility as leaders to understand and help mitigate anxiety in the workplace. Doing this not only makes a happier work environment, but a more productive work environment.

In this session:

• Leaders will look at anxiety in a different way. 
• Leaders will understand what things they may be doing that are inadvertently making anxiety (their own or others) worse. 
• Leaders will walk away with strategies that can be immediately implemented in the workplace.

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, MSW, MPA, CFRE, CDP

Founder & Chief Strategist, Equity Warrior Strategies

Sydney E. Bell

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practitioner and Educator

Utilizing a Strengths-Based Approach to Empower Equity Champions

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion continue to remain a priority for organizations across all industries. However, many organizations still struggle to empower all their stakeholders to get buy-in to their DEI vision and goals. This struggle leads to issues such as a lack of organizational trust, employee turnover, negative communication reputation, and a decrease in resources.

Everyone has a role in addressing these issues, which means everyone has a role in DEI work. But everyone does not have to have the same role.

In this session, we will explore how you can utilize assessments like StrengthsFinder to help the employee identify their strengths, choose a DEI role best for them, build their professional capacity, and help organizations strategize and implement DEI work. By embracing a strengths-based approach talent development professionals can motivate leaders to take DEI action, empower them with skills to execute strategies, and enable their organization through transformative change.

Attendees will learn current DEI trends including industry challenges and best practices, learn how to help leaders identify their strengths and choose the best DEI role, learn how to help professionals develop their DEI roles, and learn how to enable change in organizations by helping them organize their teams based on strengths.