Speakers

Dr. Ramona Arora is the Vice President- Enterprise Career Development at The Walt Disney Company, where she oversees the strategic roadmap, design, development, and deployment of leading-edge education, mentoring, and skilling programs for over 230,000 employees and cast members worldwide. Additionally, she manages the talent technology infrastructure and product management team for the company.

With roots as a high school teacher and varsity basketball coach, Ramona brings over twenty-five years of international experience focused on helping individuals maximize their potential and supporting organizations in developing their people in meaningful ways. Often referred to as a “talent tinkerer,” she infuses her expertise in career cognition, business strategy, mobility, and talent technologies to create modern, measurable talent solutions. She was recognized as the 2022 Chief Learning Officer of the Year by CLO Magazine while serving as Chief Learning Officer at Dell Technologies and is a recipient of the University of Texas at Austin President’s Award for outstanding contributions to the success of the University’s nationally ranked MBA program.

Ramona’s leadership is pushing the boundaries of HR talent strategies to drive business impact by transcending traditional approaches. She incorporates behavioral science, AI/ML, automation, kinesthetic and simulation-based experiences, data science, social learning, and even film.

Adaptive leader with broad business acumen. A strategic and innovative thinker with expertise in AI, UX/UI, digital, design, video, human behavior, change leadership, talent and leadership development, as well as, data insights & analytics. Culture maker and change influencer in large complex organizations with an entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional stakeholder management skills. Demonstrates personal credibility through strong communication, collaboration, achieving results, and trusted relationships. Able to navigate and perform in ambiguous circumstances. Able to work in a matrix organization and demonstrate cross-functional transformational leadership to deliver enterprise results. Highly skilled in leading global complex strategic projects and collaborating with top tech and omni-retail partners. Successful people manager and strengths-based coach and mentor.

Chrissie is a visionary Learning & Development executive with over 20 years of experience in designing and executing high-impact learning strategies that align with business and commercial objectives. She has extensive experience in fostering robust learning cultures across diverse industries in both the public and private sectors including retail, CPG, quick-service restaurants, healthcare, and startups.

Chrissie’s an expert in developing transformative solutions and systems that drive talent performance and organizational growth. As a highly regarded thought leader within the L&D community, she’s frequently consulted for innovative approaches and is known for creating and optimizing high performing L&D functions in dynamic and fast-paced environments. She’s been recognized globally as a leading Learning Professional and a leader of top-performing L&D teams.

Currently, as the new Chief Learning Officer for PepsiCo, she is leading the work to reimagine the future of learning; architecting a learning strategy and ecosystem that is unifying, agile, learner-centric, tech-enabled and delivers measurable impact for individuals and the organization.

Jeff is Chief Learning Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), overseeing the company’s learning and leadership strategy and execution. Jeff believes we have a special responsibility in the healthcare sector to stay on the cutting-edge – our skills, capabilities and performance directly translate to the medicines and therapies we deliver for our patients.

Prior to BMS, Jeff led learning, organization development and talent teams at Medtronic and Deloitte. At Medtronic, Jeff led learning and development evolution and supported the company’s multi-year culture change journey. At Deloitte, Jeff oversaw various functions including executive development, leadership development and performance management and related talent practices. Earlier in his career, Jeff advised Fortune 100 companies in the pharmaceutical and entertainment sector on human capital matters.

Jeff has a M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Psychology and French from Susquehanna University, where he served as a Presidential Fellow and was a member of the Honors program.

Jeff regularly speaks on topics related to talent, learning and innovation – having shared the stage with leading academics, NFL coaches and prominent educators. Jeff’s work has also been featured in publications such as People & Strategy and Harvard Business Review. Jeff’s professional affiliations include the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP).

Jeff is engaged in community service, having recently served on the board of Heights Philadelphia, a leading non-profit focused on college success, economic mobility and workforce success.

Jeff lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife and two school-aged daughters.

Visionary and strategic thinker executive with significant track record in building highly successful global teams to drive employee and client success. Recognized as an effective leader, expert communicator and change agent specializing in maximizing L&D’s impact on business performance. Experience as a Global Leader in Sales Enablement and Customer Service training.

Fred Delmhorst is Executive Vice President, Chief Talent Officer at Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company with operations in 54 countries. In this role, Fred is responsible for global talent and development, including technical learning, professional and management development. He also oversees all talent and succession practices, including the identification, assessment, and development of current and future leaders of the company. Fred has a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University where he has served as an Adjunct Professor in the department of Organization and Leadership.

People-focused Global HR leader with a track record of building strong teams, shaping culture, and driving business success. Skilled at developing strategies that align talent, skills, and technology to future business needs. Experienced in fostering inclusive workplaces, leading digital transformation in HR, and navigating complex workforce challenges. Passionate about helping organizations and individuals grow in a rapidly evolving world.

Ana Maria Sencovici (AMS) is an interdisciplinary Human Capital Leader with a stand-out track record of translating business needs into tangible, scalable talent solutions, with a focus on transformational and innovation-driven initiatives. She is currently the Chief Talent Officer of the Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), a vacation industry leader with a global fleet of 65 ships across five best-in-class brands traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations. In her role, AMS oversees the company’s learning, development and performance functions as well as its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in support of the organization’s mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly.

Prior to RCG, AMS was the global head of Change and Organizational Advisory Services at Genpact, a professional services firm where she managed a global team advising clients on learning, talent and change transformations, as well as designing award-winning employee development programs.  Previously, she served as the head of Learning and Development Bridgewater Associates where she stood up its first learning and development function and was a founding member of the company’s talent council.

AMS is an unabashed neo-generalist, a stubborn status-quo disruptor, and a passionate practitioner of applied empathy, embracing the tensions in the space of “and”:  the practical and the conceptual, the soft and hard,  and the slow and fast. She has an MBA in Change Management from the Wharton School of Business, an MA from Bryn Mawr College and a BA from Haverford College. AMS lives in South Florida with her husband, Juan, and two sons Luca and Mateo.

Eileen is a Training and Development executive with a track record of executing learning strategies that drive both organizational and employee growth.  She’s particularly driven by an environment and organization where training and development are leveraged in a way that unlocks employees’ ability to step into lifelong careers.

Eileen’s career spans multiple industries, global regions, and organizational levels. As Chief Learning Officer at Amtrak and before that as VP Learning Development & Performance for CVS Health, she builds and leads teams that run L&D as a mission critical Performance Enablement business function.

Eileen is a passionate proponent of excellence of the learning, training and development programming that embodies comprehensive Performance Enablement.  Not because they are nice to haves, but because they drive employee experience, corporate culture and ultimately through the cumulative results of our workforce, touch the lives of millions of customers. It’s imperative to Eileen and evident in her approach to leadership, that L&D is leveraged as both business driver and key lever in enabling long term, enriching employee careers.

Breanna King is a strategic leader in organizational development, known for her ability to design cultures that foster leadership growth, psychological safety, and organizational resilience. She began her career as a classroom teacher—a foundation that continues to fuel her passion for helping people grow through every stage of their professional journey.

With a career spanning over a decade, Breanna now serves as Vice President and Head of Organizational Development & Transformation at Chevron Federal Credit Union, where she oversees both the Learning & Development and Organizational Development functions. In this dual-role capacity, she leads initiatives that align people strategy with business outcomes, empowering teams to thrive amid change.

She has successfully driven enterprise-wide programs that elevate leadership capability, embed inclusive practices, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration. Her approach blends strategic foresight with coaching expertise, making her a trusted advisor to executives navigating transformation.

Rooted in a deep commitment to continuous learning, Breanna is a respected voice in the field and a champion for human-centered leadership in the credit union industry and beyond.

Emily Lin is the Chief Learning Officer at Mastercard. She’s a passionate and transformative leadership and development executive who is mission-focused on unlocking everyone’s potential to thrive and flourish in their careers and beyond. Emily is a strategic partner to our business, region and functional teams to ensure learning and development offerings serve as a critical enabler of strategy and execution.

Prior to joining Mastercard, Emily was at Citi working in various roles across consulting and learning and development. The majority of her career has been focused on strategy and transformation, coupled with the power that learning and development plays in driving transformative and sustainable organizational change.

Emily is a certified executive coach and change management professional, with deep international experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Maryland.

Lisa’s career has always been in the Automotive Industry – starting out in Customer Service and Sales/Account Management in the UK, transitioning to Toronto, Ontario in 2023 into a retail performance coaching role. Lisa has mostly worked in two key premium brands – BMW Group and now Volvo Cars since 2020. She excels in the arena of change management, process reengineering and performance improvement underpinned with a premium customer experience. She is currently holding the position of Head of Learning & Development at Volvo Cars USA and Canada, responsible for the Sales, Aftersales and Technical training for > 300 Volvo retailers and their teams.

A transformational leader and coach, Lisa is skilled at quickly assessing a complex business model and defining improvement plans that increase employee engagement, customer satisfaction and the bottom line. A strong relationship builder and resourceful collaborator, Lisa thrives under pressure and on the wins of continuous improvement alongside cost optimization and resource effectiveness.

Lisa was most recently awarded as one of 37 ‘All Stars’ by the industry magazine Automotive News for her efforts in tackling the challenges around female recruitment in the Automotive Technician space. She is passionate to support and raise awareness around Women in Automotive in general and loves to act as coach, guide and mentor to those targeting leadership roles in general.

Lisa is excited about the evolving car sales and service world, focused on a more sustainable and safe future for everyone – and is committed to creating premium, engaging learning programs for the Volvo retail teams to be on this journey with her.

Seanna McGough serves as the Head of Learning & Development at Regions. Her team is responsible for associate training, associate engagement and Leadership Development including coaching and team effectiveness work.

Seanna holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University. She holds the HRCI Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Society for Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designations and is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and serves on the Board of Directors for Workforce Development Partners. She was named one of St. Louis’ 40 Under 40 in 2011 by the St. Louis Business Journal. Seanna resides in Tampa with her husband Ric.

At ICW Group, Ryan serves as Chief Learning Officer, guiding our evolution from a traditional Learning & Development function to a Workforce Enablement organization that connects learning directly to business outcomes. His focus is on creating a skills-based ecosystem through dedicated Learning Academies that map capabilities, define career pathways, and accelerate performance. Ryan developed ICW Group’s ASCEND Leadership Competency Model and Maturity Framework, now brought to life in partnership with Deepsky Leadership to cultivate the mindset, behaviors, and skills of future leaders. Together with their new Learning Academy Managers, we’re reimagining how ICW Group grows talent—transforming learning into a strategic advantage that fuels culture and success.

Remberto “Rem” Jimenez is the Director of a Learning and Development , Business Operations, at Clear Channel Outdoor in New York City. Rem has spent the last 25+ years working in variety of sectors supporting the learning and development function through a variety of roles.  Rem earned his Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership from New Jersey City University.  

Rem has earned his Master of Arts and a post-Masters certificate in Educational, Communications, and Technology from New York University.  Rem is also an adjunct instructor of Educational Technology at New Jersey City University.

Rem has served as an editor and author or peer-reviewed academic articles and book chapters on educational topics.  He recently co-edited the “Handbook of Research on Current Trends in Cybersecurity and Educational Technology”

and authored book chapters and articles focused on active learning strategies, podcasting, workplace learning, and online learning in professional practice.

Keisha McNeil, a visionary leader and catalyst for change with 30 years of experience across various top-performing industries joined Edison in early 2017 and currently holds the position of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Head of Enterprise Learning at Southern California Edison.

She is a 2019 Edison Chairman Award winner who continues to partner closely across the organization on the performance analysis, design, development, and execution of learning strategies aimed at improving performance and drive business outcome. In her current role, she oversees Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts and leads the transformation of organizational culture. Her initiatives include fostering inclusivity through Business Resource groups, diverse talent programs, the Edison Lineworker Scholarship, and the Talent Accelerator Program. McNeil previously served as President of the Networkers Business Resource Group, an organization dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on Human Resource Management and a Master of Leadership and Organizational Studies from Azusa Pacific University.

Marquita Williams serves as the Executive Director of Organizational Learning & Development at AdventHealth. She is a published author and an adjunct allied health professor, with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She is a respected figure in the sonography community, having chaired the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography organization.

As a change leader, she is dedicated to fostering a more engaged organization, promoting a culture of lifelong learning, and encouraging an empowering mindset among employees. Her motivation lies in driving positive change and building strong partnerships with transformational leaders and organizations.

Bob is the Senior Director of Learning and Professional Development with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group where he has led a small but mighty team of 5 professionals since 2019. The team provides development opportunities for physicians and staff in the areas of relational skills, communication, leadership, and other professional skills. Starting his career as an elementary music teacher, Bob transitioned to teaching teachers before leaving K-12 education in 2015 to join the Oncology Training Department with AstraZeneca. Bob is passionate about purpose-driven work and aligning programs to an organization’s values. In his spare time, Bob can be found being goofy with his kids, writing his second novel, losing honorably in Rocket League, doomscrolling on Reddit, or singing whatever song has recently popped into his head (anyone up for Karaoke?).

In addition to spearheading internal learning, skill-building, and talent developmentstrategy at TAIT, Megan also oversees public-facing training endeavors to support both new TAIT projects and existing clients’ teams and venues. She also encourages and enables training for anyone looking to gain new skills in entertainment automation and the TAIT group’s automation platforms– Navigator, iQ, and Vector.

Megan joined TAIT in 2021, leading efforts to enhance the customer training experience and excited to combine her pass for theater and live events with over 15 years of professional experience in Learning and Development. In 2024, her role evolved to include the development of TAIT’s first Learning & Development Center of Excellence, providing additional support and training resources to TAIT team members. She holds an undergraduate degree in Theater and a Master of A in Instructional Design and Technology, both from the University of Central Florida. Megan has designed, developed, and implemented programs and coursework on a wide variety of subjects, including software applications, sales methodology effective communication and leadership skills. Her blended learning approach to solving challenges through training has brought success to customer service, sales, and technical teams.

“When people think about entertainment automation, we want them to instantly think of TAIT,” Megan says, “and a huge part of that is providing the right education and resources for new or established entertainment professionals to be successful.” These resources include self-paced online training, instructor-led classroom and onsite training, and customized unique training solutions to meet learners where they are.

Katy Jones is a strategic thought leader in the leadership and talent development space who customizes talent strategies to meet business demands and accelerates growth in leaders and teams. Katy joined Medtronic in February of 2024 as Vice President, Global Learning & Leadership Development, where she has responsibility for leadership development for entry-level employees to executives, along with the organization’s global learning strategy. Prior to Medtronic, Katy was the Head of Leadership Development for Walmart with responsibility for enterprise leadership development, manager enablement, and executive coaching. Katy built her L&D career at Walmart for 10 years through onboarding, internal consulting and facilitation, early talent strategy, employee experience, performance transformation, high potential and executive development, and foundational leadership development across the globe. In recent years, Katy won two Make a Difference Awards at Walmart, one in 2020 for her rapid response work on the corporate intern program and onboarding efforts during the pandemic, and another in 2022 for her work on implementing an HR competency model and development strategy for the Global People function. Katy’s team also was awarded the Josh Bersin HR Hero Award in 2022 for excellence in HR development.

Prior to Walmart, Katy worked in higher education, where she taught public speaking and communication studies, held a leadership role in academic administration, and developed and recruited faculty members. Katy has a BA in Public Relations from James Madison University and an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Arkansas.

Outside of work, Katy recently relocated to Minneapolis, MN with her husband, Kevin; daughter, Charlotte (6); and son, Patrick (4). When she’s not chasing her kiddos, Katy loves travel, live music, sports, and spicy food.

Andy is the Vice President of Organizational Development at Farm Credit Illinois. In that role Andy’s focus is on designing, developing and implementing all aspects of FCI’s development and training programs, including those for senior and emerging leaders; as well as act as a consultant and coach to drive strategic initiatives forward. The department is deeply involved with succession planning, coaching, leadership and sales training.

Before joining FCI, Andy spent 8 years with Growmark as the manager of the training department. He also spent over a dozen years with State Farm in multiple roles including time spent with Human Resources, Agency and Claims. He has a Masters in Communication from Illinois State and serves on the Advisory Board for the School of Communication.

Andy has been happily married to Dr. Danielle Miller-Schuster (PhD) for over 20 years and both of them are strong supporters of Illinois State University. They are rescue dog parents and supporters and have made Bloomington, Il their home. Dreams and Goals: Andy and his wife want to create a “retirement community” for senior dogs who have lost their owners and need a place to call home for the rest of their lives.

Dr. Justine Green is the Vice President of Learning & Development at Infinity Sales Group (ISG) in Boca Raton, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth and culture. In her role, Dr. Green leads the onboarding, training, and transition processes for new team members, while driving employee engagement and retention initiatives. She also coordinates all company events and facilitates a quarterly Leadership Development Program designed for emerging professionals.

A champion of organization, preparation, and team collaboration, Dr. Green fosters a structured, results-driven environment within both the Recruitment and L&D departments. Her strategic, adaptable approach to learning has been instrumental in ISG’s impressive growth—contributing to a 21% increase in company growth and a 48% reduction in turnover within just one year.

Dr. Green’s exceptional leadership and contributions have earned her recognition as a Social Impact Hero by Authority Magazine and one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education for 2025.

A lifelong educator, Dr. Green holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, a Master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Miami. Her diverse career spans roles in admissions at a prestigious NYC private school, as a learning specialist at the Office of Disability Services at the University of Miami, as an inclusive educator, private school administrator, and Principal. This wealth of experience has been crucial to her success in leading ISG’s Learning & Development and Recruitment efforts.

Beyond her work at ISG, Dr. Green is passionate about children’s education and social-emotional learning. She is the author of the award-winning children’s book series “Completely Me”, which promotes empathy and understanding of differences. When she’s not leading ISG’s recruitment and training efforts, Dr. Green enjoys spending time at home with her two children.

Lauren serves on the League’s executive management team where she plans and directs the delivery of innovative professional development services to member credit unions in the Carolinas. Signature League programs launched under her leadership include the Leadership Development Institute, TalentGuided Professional Coaching Services, and LAUNCH Conference. Internally, she supervises the association’s HR function and helps to develop company culture, learning, and development opportunities for League employees.

Lauren has more than 30 years of experience in financial services and extensive know-how in training, event and project management, customer service, and sales. Her experiences prior to the League include the development of more than 250 sales executives at Sallie Mae and leading large teams in several financial institutions in Boston, MA. With keen insight into staffing, operations, and development, Lauren is well positioned to help credit unions address challenges and find solutions to ensure success within today’s competitive culture.

She has a BS and AA from the University of New Hampshire, a Master’s degree from Oregon State University, and a project management certificate from Boston University. In 2018, she earned her
certification in Business and Professional Coaching through North Carolina State University’s Business
Coaching Certificate program. Lauren currently serves on the Executive Committee for the CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council.

A visionary Learning & Development executive with nearly two decades of experience, specializing in instructional design, curriculum development, and strategic training initiatives. A respected leader and change agent, adept at translating business objectives into impactful learning programs that drive organizational success. Passionate about innovation, having spearheaded AI-driven transformations to enhance efficiency and reskill teams for broader impact. Recognized as an industry expert through awards, speaking engagements, and a proven track record of fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Amy Kickham is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s leading distributor of beverage alcohol. Amy serves on the Executive Leadership Team and leads the Southern Glazer’s people and talent strategy to drive the Company toward achieving its business objectives.

She is an inspirational leader, believing that people are the company’s greatest asset and the key to organizational success. Staying ahead of the curve, Amy consistently evaluates and reengineers processes and technology to reinforce the employee value proposition and improve the overall employee experience.

Amy has over 25 years of experience in improving organizational initiatives that translate into cost savings, increased revenue, productivity, and innovation. She has demonstrated success in driving cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives by ensuring cutting-edge programs are in place to attract, develop, promote and retain superior talent. Her strategic insight and deep HR expertise have made her a key driver of cultural and operational excellence across the organization.

Dr Christopher McCormick is an international education specialist with over 30 years of experience in developing global competence. He helps professionals build trust, cultural sensitivity, and skills for intercultural communication.

Christopher has designed and delivered training solutions with a global dimension for clients across a range of sectors.

As a lifelong explorer and the spouse of a diplomat, Christopher shares his passion for discovery as a facilitator and coach to encourage curiosity.

Christopher grew up in Texas, then later studied and worked in New Orleans, Paris, Monterrey, Austin, Boston, Shanghai, London, Zug, Lucerne, Colombo, Phnom Penh, Beijing, and Bangkok. He obtained a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin, and he has served over 25 years in executive roles for EF Education First and as an adjunct faculty member of Hult Ashridge Executive Education. He is currently Chief Academic Officer of the Efekta Education group, focusing on innovation in learning design and technology for large scale language instruction. He also holds a Certificate and Diploma in Coaching from the University of Cambridge, where he taught on the coaching qualifications.

Christopher is based in Bangkok and London.

Britt Sinha, MBA, RD, is Vice President, Chief Learning & Wellbeing Officer at NewYork-Presbyterian. In this role Ms. Sinha is responsible for leading and growing the learning and development, and organizational development functions at NYP, as well as the enterprise’s health and wellbeing initiatives, people experience, and Culture & Belonging teams.

Ms. Sinha joined NYP as Corporate Director, Wellbeing, in 2013, and led the development and rollout of the enterprise’s first organization-wide employee wellbeing program. Prior to her roles at NYP, she worked at Hackensack Meridian Health for a decade in roles of increasing responsibility.

Ms. Sinha holds Bachelor of Science, Human Nutrition from Colorado State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Montclair State University.

Sharon Stolt is a seasoned learning strategist and organizational development leader with a strong track record of cultivating high-impact learning cultures. As Vice President of Global Learning & Development at Model N, she led initiatives to drive internal mobility, strengthen manager and leadership capability, and improve organizational performance through thoughtful employee engagement.

With a career spanning over two decades, Sharon has built a reputation for designing transformative learning experiences that align talent development with business strategy. She was the architect behind several flagship programs including the Visa Manager Experience, Visa University, and Model N’s DARE to Grow and DARE to Launch employee development programs.

Sharon’s approach to talent development blends behavioral science, instructional design, and strategic storytelling to drive measurable outcomes in engagement, performance, and leadership readiness. Most recently, she has been focused on building AI upskilling programs that equip employees and managers with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a technology-enabled future.

Known for her collaborative leadership style and deep commitment to inclusion, Sharon partners closely with cross-functional teams to embed learning into the flow of work. She brings a practitioner’s mindset, a passion for innovation, and a deep belief in the power of development to unlock both business and individual potential.

Penelope Rose is the Head of Global Talent Development and Engagement at Zoetis, the world’s leading animal health company. In this role, she leads the team responsible for shaping and delivering the company’s strategy for leadership and talent development, and cultivating an inclusive, high-performing culture where every colleague can thrive.

A dynamic facilitator and engaging speaker, Penelope is passionate about building a culture rooted in coaching, feedback, and continuous learning. She is a champion of change, resilience and learning agility – core capabilities that fuel both individual and organizational success.

Penelope holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University. Outside of work, she volunteers to support the LGBTQ+ community and local farming initiatives. She lives in West Michigan with her partner Jennifer and three children.

Amy Hernandez is a global talent leader and rare disease advocate with extensive experience guiding people strategies in high-growth life sciences organizations. A recognized expert in the full talent lifecycle, she leads initiatives spanning strategic attraction and acquisition, talent management, leadership enablement, and employee development. Amy is known for architecting scalable talent strategies that accelerate organizational capability while empowering individuals to grow, contribute, and lead with purpose. Drawing from her deep commitment to the rare disease community, she brings a human-centered and impact-driven perspective to building exceptional teams that advance meaningful scientific and patient-focused outcomes.

Daniel J. Smith, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at CCL focusing on leadership development research and evaluation. In this role, he publishes original empirical research and innovative thought leadership, performs client evaluation to quantify and present the impact of CCL programming, and works directly with clients to bring research insights into the foreground of their developmental experiences. His research is published in numerous academic journals and conferences, and in several modalities across the CCL ecosystem.

Marcia A. Dawkins, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scientist at CCL focusing on communication and cultural strategy. In this role, she leads research initiatives on storytelling, succession, corporate reputation, and organizational communication. Her thought leadership and award-winning publications have been featured in media outlets such as BBC World, NPR, AOL Originals, ABC News, HuffPo Live, and Chief Talent Officer, along with 50+ keynotes. Prior to joining CCL, Marcia was a communication professor at the University of Southern California, corporate consultant, and columnist.

Matthew is Senior Principal for Talent Strategy at Guild Education, where he partners with new and existing employer partners on their talent practices, HR platforms, and skilling strategies. He has 20 years of experience in leading and consulting on talent development and learning transformations in Fortune 100s.

He leverages his expertise in learning technology, learner experience, and talent mobility to help clients prepare their talent to execute on their business and human capital strategies. He also conducts research and thought leadership on topics such as the intersection of L&D and DEI, talent trends, and the future of work. He regularly shares his insights and best practices through webinars, podcasts, articles, and industry events.

Matthew is also a member of the Defense Business Board, where he provides independent and objective advice to senior defense leaders on proven and effective best business practices. He is a contributor to leading industry outlets such as CLO, TD, CTDO, and Training Magazine, and serves on the advisory board of Class, a learning technology company. He is passionate about advancing the field of human capital management and empowering employees and organizations to achieve their full potential.

Johanna is a seasoned executive leader with a proven track record of driving strategic transformation across talent management, organizational development, and leadership effectiveness. Renowned for her results-driven mindset, she excels at aligning human capital strategies with enterprise objectives to enhance employee engagement, foster a high-performance culture, and streamline organizational efficiency.

As Vice President of Workforce Development and Training at VITAS Healthcare, Johanna leads enterprise-wide initiatives. She collaborates closely with senior leadership to design and implement programs that improve retention, ensure regulatory compliance, and elevate both professional development and clinical training, delivering measurable outcomes across a complex, mission-driven healthcare system.

Johanna holds an MBA in International Business and is certified in multiple HR and leadership development methodologies. which underscore her expertise in driving transformational change within organizations.

Leadership Pipeline Institute is specialized in supporting organizations building an internal pipeline of qualified leaders and specialists, and in creating empowered, performance- and execution focused organizations. Our presence in more than twenty countries secures a seamless global delivery capability combined with local cultural understanding

Kent started working with the concept of leadership pipeline in A.P. Moeller – Maersk in 2004, where the project secured reliable executive succession plans and a 90% hit ratio on talent selection in the executive talent pool. Following this, in 2008, I was part of starting Leadership Pipeline Institute.

Since then we have built a unique insight on how to design educational and developmental initiatives that are applicable to corporate, non-profit and public organizations around the world.

Today, Kent is proud to say that we deliver leadership transition program and specialist transition programs to a great number of organizations all over the world helping them to build an agile organization, turn the people strategy into a commercial competitive edge, and transform the organisation into a talent factory.

With Stephen Drotter, author of The Leadership Pipeline and The Performance Pipeline, as Chairman, Leadership Pipeline Institute is the official research institute and leading global provider of solutions based on the Leadership Pipeline principles.

Steven Rudyk is Senior Director and Head of R&D Learning at Bristol Myers Squibb. He leads a global learning organization that partners across Research, Drug Development, and Patient Safety to build role‑based capabilities, ensure GxP compliance (GCP/GVP/GLP), and enable business transformation. Steven has launched enterprise learning programs—including an R&D‑wide orientation and peer‑led knowledge networks—while evolving operating models and vendor strategies to improve speed and scale. Steven is also passionate about empowering individuals to take ownership of their development and shaping learning environments that support both organizational transformation and personal resilience.

Long before his TEDx Talk was viewed over 600,000 times, Matt Confer made the decision to focus his career path on developing leaders through learning. Matt’s passion for leadership development was sparked early in his career while overseeing the roll-out of a leadership program for new hires at Deloitte Consulting. Now VP of Strategy & Business Development at Abilitie, Matt is keenly focused on Abilitie’s global client base which spans over 50 members of the Fortune 500. Through Abilitie’s leadership programs, Matt has seen first-hand the power of the team-based experiential learning environment. When he’s not exploring the hidden gems of Austin’s vibrant restaurant scene, Matt deep-dives into leadership development, professional development, and effective organizational leadership on his podcast, Learn To Lead. In addition to holding an MBA from Boston University, Matt also earned a BS in Economics from Wheaton College

Dan Marsella is a workforce transformation strategist with more than 14 years of experience advising enterprise leaders on how to use education as a lever for business performance. As Vice President of Enterprise Partnerships at Workforce Edge, powered by Strategic Education Inc., he partners with HR, operations, and talent executives to design education benefit strategies that unlock internal mobility, close skill gaps, and deliver measurable ROI. Dan brings a cross-industry perspective – spanning healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and beyond – grounded in a consultative approach that aligns workforce investment with organizational goals. He helps employers shift tuition assistance from a passive perk to a high-impact talent engine, equipping workforces to adapt, advance, and lead through change. A frequent collaborator with senior leaders navigating transformation, Dan is known for reframing how organizations view talent development: not as a cost, but as a strategic advantage.

John Jell is currently responsible for organizational development for Dole Packaged Foods in the USA, Dole’s largest global division. Prior to Dole, John oversaw building global HR L&D for Monster Energy being a consultant to them prior. Prior to consulting John spent time in Sales, Marketing and L&D with The Coca-Cola Company and Nestlé where he was approached for global L&D roles.  John has built or rebuilt many teams and trained thousands with a passion to put focus on front line leaders for three reasons: 1) most of his organizations only invested in senior leader development prior to his arrival, 2) the stress of performance issues and turnover is often highest at the front line leader level, and 3) front line leaders crave leadership development the most. He has been a master facilitator and instructional designer for over 25 years with a strong focus on core leadership skills and disciplines relevant for all levels.

For almost 20 years Kara Kirby has spent her time and focus helping organizations bring out the best in their people. She’s worked inside award-winning companies building learning programs for product, sales, and leadership audiences, and later founded Insights Leadership Group where she partnered with national clients to design transformative leadership and culture initiatives.
Now as a Relationship Manager with TrainingPros, Kara combines her corporate experience, learning strategy, and passion for people to help clients create learning solutions that inspire growth and performance. One of her core beliefs is that learning needs to be engaging to stick with people. She can’t wait to help you craft the absolute best experience.

Doug Donovan is the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, which introduced the world’s first online training platform for the skilled trades in 2011. His core mission is to rapidly close the critical skills gap—the industry’s greatest workforce enablement challenge. Interplay achieves accelerated career development for hands-on workers using advanced Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D simulation training. His award-winning simulations have already scaled upskilling efforts for over 80,000 individuals in essential fields like HVAC, Solar, and Electrical. Donovan redefined hands-on learning, demonstrating that immersive technology creates a highly efficient and measurable L&D solution. Prior to Interplay, Doug co-founded a software company; he holds a BA from UVA and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Katherine Lord is the Director of Organizational Member Experience for ICF Coaching in Organizations, where she partners with organizational coaching leaders and their teams to build, grow, and sustain impactful coaching cultures. Shaped by nearly a decade in association management, she curates programming and community experiences that transform membership into belonging and strategy into results. 

Drawing from her background in marketing, event management, and social work, Katherine brings a rare blend of heart and structure to her work. Her approach centers on listening deeply, responding with purpose, and designing experiences that meet real human needs. Her aim is to offer spaces where learning feels personal, communities feel human, and connection is a catalyst for meaningful, lasting change.

Corey Stewart is the Director of Operations for ICF Coaching in Organizations with more than two decades of experience leading organizational transformation across manufacturing, building materials, and membership-based enterprises. His career focuses on helping organizations scale through strong organizational structures, effective systems, and aligned talent practices that support long-term growth.

Corey brings deep expertise in operational excellence, organizational design, and talent strategy, delivering practical, scalable solutions that strengthen performance and capability. He is known for combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution, helping leaders build environments where people, processes, and purpose work together to drive sustainable results.

Al Dea is the Founder of The Edge of Work, a leadership development & consulting firm focused on helping leaders create organizations where their people can thrive. Al is a speaker, consultant, and researcher on the future of work, leadership development, and organizational strategy.

Jeff is Chief Learning Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), overseeing the company’s learning and leadership strategy and execution. Jeff believes we have a special responsibility in the healthcare sector to stay on the cutting-edge – our skills, capabilities and performance directly translate to the medicines and therapies we deliver for our patients.

Prior to BMS, Jeff led learning, organization development and talent teams at Medtronic and Deloitte. At Medtronic, Jeff led learning and development evolution and supported the company’s multi-year culture change journey. At Deloitte, Jeff oversaw various functions including executive development, leadership development and performance management and related talent practices. Earlier in his career, Jeff advised Fortune 100 companies in the pharmaceutical and entertainment sector on human capital matters.

Jeff has a M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Psychology and French from Susquehanna University, where he served as a Presidential Fellow and was a member of the Honors program.

Jeff regularly speaks on topics related to talent, learning and innovation – having shared the stage with leading academics, NFL coaches and prominent educators. Jeff’s work has also been featured in publications such as People & Strategy and Harvard Business Review. Jeff’s professional affiliations include the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP).

Jeff is engaged in community service, having recently served on the board of Heights Philadelphia, a leading non-profit focused on college success, economic mobility and workforce success.

Jeff lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife and two school-aged daughters.

Brian Glaser is a seasoned learning and development executive with a passion for leveraging technology to drive innovation and growth. As the Chief Learning Officer at Google, he leads the strategic direction of learning initiatives, ensuring that Google employees have access to cutting-edge resources and opportunities for professional development. With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, Glaser has a proven track record of designing and implementing high-impact learning programs that empower individuals and teams to thrive in dynamic environments. His visionary leadership has been instrumental in fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge-sharing at Google. Prior to joining Google, Glaser held leadership roles at several prominent technology companies, where he honed his expertise in learning strategy, organizational development, and talent management. He holds a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Stanford University and is committed to staying at the forefront of educational innovation. Beyond his professional endeavors, Glaser is deeply passionate about education and believes in the transformative power of learning to drive positive change in individuals and communities worldwide. He is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and actively champions initiatives to create a more inclusive learning environment at Google and beyond. In his role as Chief Learning Officer, Glaser continues to spearhead initiatives that empower Googlers to unlock their full potential, drive innovation, and make meaningful contributions to Google’s mission of organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful. His strategic vision, combined with his dedication to lifelong learning, makes him a driving force in shaping the future of learning at Google and beyond.

Jennifer is the Vice President of Walmart Academy, the learning arm of the world’s largest retailer, where she leads the design and delivery of learning experiences that enable over 2 million associates to build skills for now and the future. She has experience in various learning and development roles at Department of Defense, American Express, Walmart and Sam’s Club, where she has launched award-winning programs that have enhanced the learning culture, career development, and performance of the frontline and supply chain workforce.

Jennifer holds an Executive Program for Leadership Acceleration certificate from Harvard Business School Executive Education, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. She has published multiple articles on learning and development topics and has been recognized as a Top 50 Learning and Development Professional and a CLO LearningElite Finalist. She is passionate about creating learning opportunities that empower associates to achieve their career dreams and contribute to the success of the organization.

Sandra Humbles has over 30 years of experience and currently serves as Johnson & Johnson’s first Chief Learning Officer since 2021. She spearheaded the creation of a new learning and development framework for the company’s employees.

Previously, she was the Vice President of Global Education Solutions for MedTech, where she developed learning strategies and implemented Virtual Reality for surgeon education. Her work influenced educational approaches globally.

Currently, Sandra Humbles leads a global team focused on the future of learning and development at Johnson & Johnson. Her leadership aims to make learning a key component of the organization’s success. She is dedicated to fostering professional growth within the company, envisioning an integrated approach to learning and development that benefits all employees.

Her contributions have supported both individual progress and the realization of Johnson & Johnson’s goal to combine heart, science, and ingenuity for global health impact.

Ashley Walvoord is Verizon’s Chief Learning Officer, bringing a people-first approach to connecting learning and career development across the employee lifecycle. With a focus on creating a robust skills ecosystem, Ashley is committed to empowering employees at every stage of their careers, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities needed to thrive. She is passionate about leveraging innovative technologies to transform the learning landscape and align it with the rapidly evolving digital world. Under her leadership, Verizon’s talent practices in performance management, assessments, and skills development have been highlighted by leading organizations such as Forrester, Gartner, Harvard Business School, and SHRM.   Verizon’s learning and development programs have earned recognition from Training Top 10 Hall of Fame, CLO Learning Elite, Brandon Hall and ATD Best.

Ashley holds a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of South Florida, and has published multiple articles, chapters and presentations on the science of work and talent management.  Her leadership is marked by a profound commitment to inclusion, culture, and innovation and she is enthusiastic about giving back to the community, volunteering her time in business development for education, diversity, and social-emotional learning initiatives.

Shannon leads the Global Competence Development & Learning Organization at IKEA (Ingka Group), the leader in building sustainable life at home. Her organization is responsible for developing the global strategy for learning, competence development, skills, job architecture, and learning technology across 30 countries and 177,000 co-workers. With over 20 years in talent management, she has a strong background in supporting retail, digital, and corporate teams in talent acquisition, succession, learning, skills, and development. Shannon is passionate about delivering talent management programs that create equity for frontline employees, enhance leadership, and help teams achieve strategic goals.

Martin Stöckl is the Senior Vice President and Head of Leadership & Talent Development at Airbus, where he is responsible for fostering a strong culture of leadership and cultivating top talent across the organization. With over two decades of experience in human resources and organizational development, Martin has established himself as a thought leader in talent management and leadership training.

Before joining Airbus, Martin held several key HR positions in various global companies, where he demonstrated a consistent track record of driving strategic initiatives that empower employees and enhance organizational performance. His expertise lies in designing comprehensive talent strategies, implementing leadership development programs, and creating inclusive work environments that support innovation and growth. Martin holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology and is known for his ability to inspire teams and guide leaders through complex challenges. His passion for developing people and promoting diversity has earned him a reputation as a strategic partner and a champion of positive organizational change. In his free time, Martin enjoys mentoring young professionals, staying updated on industry trends, and participating in community service initiatives.

Charlie Gibson is a Practice Leader in Security, Risk and Compliance at AWS Professional Services, where he leads a team of cloud security and DevOps consultants while championing innovative approaches to organizational transformation. As an EQ Evangelist specializing in developing emotionally intelligent leaders for an AI-powered future, he helps organizations build cultures where innovation thrives through authentic connections and psychological safety.

Drawing from his experience guiding global enterprise transformations, Charlie has developed breakthrough leadership programs that blend Amazon’s culture of innovation with emotional intelligence principles. His workshops and executive coaching sessions help leaders navigate the complexities of digital transformation while fostering environments of trust, creativity, and continuous learning.

A passionate advocate for inclusive leadership, Charlie co-founded Glamazon@GlobalServices, AWS Professional Services’ LGBTQ+ Affinity Group serving Amazonians worldwide. His global perspective, shaped by MBA studies across Asia and extensive work with multinational organizations, enriches his approach to developing future-ready leaders.

As a Certified AWS Global Executive Briefing Leader, Charlie partners with learning executives across manufacturing, healthcare, media and entertainment, and financial services to build sustainable leadership development programs. His practical frameworks help organizations create learning cultures where emotional intelligence and innovation drive meaningful transformation.

Ana Maria Sencovici (AMS) is an interdisciplinary Human Capital Leader with a stand-out track record of translating business needs into tangible, scalable talent solutions, with a focus on transformational and innovation-driven initiatives. She is currently the Chief Talent Officer of the Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), a vacation industry leader with a global fleet of 65 ships across five best-in-class brands traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations. In her role, AMS oversees the company’s learning, development and performance functions as well as its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in support of the organization’s mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly.

Prior to RCG, AMS was the global head of Change and Organizational Advisory Services at Genpact, a professional services firm where she managed a global team advising clients on learning, talent and change transformations, as well as designing award-winning employee development programs.  Previously, she served as the head of Learning and Development Bridgewater Associates where she stood up its first learning and development function and was a founding member of the company’s talent council.

AMS is an unabashed neo-generalist, a stubborn status-quo disruptor, and a passionate practitioner of applied empathy, embracing the tensions in the space of “and”:  the practical and the conceptual, the soft and hard,  and the slow and fast. She has an MBA in Change Management from the Wharton School of Business, an MA from Bryn Mawr College and a BA from Haverford College. AMS lives in South Florida with her husband, Juan, and two sons Luca and Mateo.

Dr. Ramona Arora is the Vice President- Enterprise Career Development at The Walt Disney Company, where she oversees the strategic roadmap, design, development, and deployment of leading-edge education, mentoring, and skilling programs for over 230,000 employees and cast members worldwide. Additionally, she manages the talent technology infrastructure and product management team for the company.

With roots as a high school teacher and varsity basketball coach, Ramona brings over twenty-five years of international experience focused on helping individuals maximize their potential and supporting organizations in developing their people in meaningful ways. Often referred to as a “talent tinkerer,” she infuses her expertise in career cognition, business strategy, mobility, and talent technologies to create modern, measurable talent solutions. She was recognized as the 2022 Chief Learning Officer of the Year by CLO Magazine while serving as Chief Learning Officer at Dell Technologies and is a recipient of the University of Texas at Austin President’s Award for outstanding contributions to the success of the University’s nationally ranked MBA program.

Ramona’s leadership is pushing the boundaries of HR talent strategies to drive business impact by transcending traditional approaches. She incorporates behavioral science, AI/ML, automation, kinesthetic and simulation-based experiences, data science, social learning, and even film.

Ryan Smith is the director of leadership and career development at T. Rowe Price, a global asset management company, and is the driving force behind the organization’s leadership, career, and management development philosophy and strategy. His unwavering passion and extensive experience are channeled toward developing opportunities for senior successors, career mobility, high-potential leaders, and managers. Ryan’s collaborative approach with key stakeholders has led to the development and implementation of T. Rowe Price’s innovative and practical framework for enabling careers and developing leaders today and in the future.

Before joining T. Rowe Price, Ryan was the director of leadership and development at Truist Leadership Institute. At Truist, Ryan was responsible for operationalizing and strategizing leadership programs to foster transformational behavior and support inclusive environments. During his 15-year tenure with Truist, Ryan led leadership and professional development by shaping, influencing, and executing the organization’s learning strategies for 45K+ employees using innovative adult learning theories and blended learning solutions. Ryan’s collaborative nature enabled him to design and implement modern executive and mid-level leadership programs and shape the next generation of leaders by developing an aspiring leader program.

Ryan earned a B.S. and M.S. in industrial and organizational psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and is certified in the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-I 2.0), Situational Coaching, Change Style Indicator®, situational leadership, and consultative skills.

Ryan’s commitment extends beyond his professional life. He is deeply passionate about creating equitable access to quality leadership development and financial education, a commitment he demonstrates through his involvement in the Junior Achievement program. In his leisure time, Ryan enjoys exploring new places with his wife, Kimberly, and their two energetic boys, Tyler and Jayden. The Smith family shares a love for food and often embarks on culinary adventures, with Ryan being the designated comfort food chef. His family also describes him as a football fanatic (Roll Tide, Hail Commanders) and a smooth wedding dancer.

At Guild, Stephanie collaborates with leaders and executive decision-makers at Fortune 500 companies to cultivate strategic partnerships and implement premier educational programs. Her role involves coaching leaders on stakeholder alignment, change management planning, and crafting compelling business cases. Currently, she is spearheading an innovative initiative to revolutionize how Guild—and the industry at large—assesses the value and impact of skilling programs.

Before joining Guild, Stephanie accumulated 12 years of experience in HR strategy and transformation, global talent management, and organizational development. With a background in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, she excels at leveraging data-driven insights, cutting-edge technologies, and best practices to enhance organizational performance, culture, and engagement.

Stephanie has a track record of successfully leading large-scale, global initiatives that have significantly improved employee experience and performance. Her previous roles include impactful positions at Walmart, IndigoAg, and as Head of HR Strategy & Transformation at Tyson Foods, where she notably led the Guild partnership from inception to launch. She thrives on collaborating with cross-functional teams, driving transformational change, and delivering results that make a meaningful impact.

James Kulesa has been a driving force behind a culture of innovation and continuous improvement throughout his eighteen-year career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. His contributions have benefited companies including Novartis, Allergan, and Pfizer, where he developed a broad expertise in strategy and operations, program and change management, marketing, sales, and learning & development. Currently, James leads innovation, design, and global onboarding efforts for the Learning Center of Excellence at Regeneron. He plays a key role in orchestrating and implementing transformative strategies to elevate company capabilities to drive efficiency, effectiveness, and performance. James holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Rochester and is pursuing an Executive MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Marianne Merola and the other members of the Education Strategies team at McDonald’s successfully rolled out Archways to Opportunity (archwaystoopportunity.com), a comprehensive education strategy designed to benefit those who work in a franchised or company-owned McDonald’s restaurant in the US. Archways to Opportunity has helped employees on the path to success by providing ESL training in partnership with EF Education First, online high school diplomas in partnership with Cengage’s Career Online High School, college tuition assistance that can be used at any accredited institution, and education and career advising. Since Archways launched in April 2015, they have provided over $185 million towards college and high school completion, increasing access to education for over 82,000 restaurant employees.

Marianne holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from Loyola University Chicago. Her awards include Volunteer of Year from Poised for Success (www.poisedforsuccess.org) and McDonald’s Presidents’ Award.

Amy Cribb is a dynamic leader in enterprise learning and development, currently serving as the Sr. Director of Enterprise Learning, Development, and Culture at BorgWarner, a global vehicle technology company with an annual revenue of $15 billion, employing 40,000 people across 87 locations in 24 countries. With a formal background in high school education from Clemson University, Amy discovered her passion for adult learning early in her career. She transitioned into the fast-paced manufacturing sector, growing through various HR generalist and L&D specialist roles.

A breast cancer survivor, wife, daughter, and mother of two, Amy is also an avid world traveler. She brings a unique background and a deep commitment to employee development, believing in the potential of every individual. Amy excels at helping people see the best in themselves through comprehensive training programs, professional development coaching, and fostering a fun and engaging learning environment. Her dedication to her field is evident through her recent accolades, including two prestigious Brandon Hall Awards in 2024 for her and her team’s innovative learning and development initiatives.

Currently, Amy volunteers on an executive directing committee and offers pro bono career development guidance for breast cancer survivors looking to return to work after treatment. She resides in the upstate of South Carolina with her husband, Larry, their two children, Shelby & Jimmy, and their little farm of dogs, chickens, and tomatoes.

Arielle currently leads the strategy for the emerging talent programs for Danaher. In her role she is responsible for the future strategic direction of the emerging talent interventions and maintenance of standard work for consistent execution of the current talent programs. Arielle has 15 years of experience in early career talent acquisition, program management and talent development, and enjoys coaching associates, managers, and leaders to ensure the talent and business strategy is aligned.

Dr Christopher McCormick is an international education specialist with over 30 years of experience in developing global competence. He helps professionals build trust, cultural sensitivity, and skills for intercultural communication.

Christopher has designed and delivered training solutions with a global dimension for clients across a range of sectors.

As a lifelong explorer and the spouse of a diplomat, Christopher shares his passion for discovery as a facilitator and coach to encourage curiosity.

Christopher grew up in Texas, then later studied and worked in New Orleans, Paris, Monterrey, Austin, Boston, Shanghai, London, Zug, Lucerne, Colombo, Phnom Penh, Beijing, and Bangkok. He obtained a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin, and he has served over 25 years in executive roles for EF Education First and as an adjunct faculty member of Hult Ashridge Executive Education. He is currently Chief Academic Officer of the Efekta Education group, focusing on innovation in learning design and technology for large scale language instruction. He also holds a Certificate and Diploma in Coaching from the University of Cambridge, where he taught on the coaching qualifications.

Christopher is based in Bangkok and London.

Terrance Chatman is the SVP of Learning and Organizational Development at InvestCloud.

Terrance joined InvestCloud in June 2017, tasked with building and scaling a technical training function for InvestCloud’s internal technical frameworks and systems.  Over the years, Terrance’s global purview has expanded– directly working with the executive leadership team and taking on org-wide initiatives centered around employee performance, diversity and inclusion, knowledge management, and organizational capabilities.

Julie is a results-driven leader with extensive experience transforming workplace strategies and enhancing scalable learning frameworks within complex, matrixed organizations. As a growth-minded executive, she excels in driving innovation to tackle talent challenges by reshaping traditional methodologies. This past year, Julie has leveraged her real-world experience to guide organizations in shaping their skills strategies while serving on product advisory councils to advance emerging talent development technologies. Her dedication to lifelong learning and continuous professional growth is evidenced by her recent completion of AI-focused coursework at MIT CSAIL.

Julie is passionate about fostering high-impact learning cultures and is currently seeking a leadership role in a progressive organization that prioritizes collaboration, innovation, and a people-first culture to deliver positive business impact.

During her 21 years with ABS, Jennifer Harrison has held a variety of roles in software consulting, business development, marketing, PR, and training. For 10 years Jennifer worked in the learning technology and development space for ABS implementing their first LMS and in-house development team.

Starting in 2022, Jennifer has led the technical training development function for employees, which in addition to development includes the delivery of programs in our Academies located in Houston, Shanghai, Singapore, Busan, Doha, and Athens. In October 2024, Jennifer transitioned to Vice President, Training Solutions to focus on building a commercial training business line helping ABS clients meet their ever-growing needs to upskill their shoreside and shipboard personnel to meet new technologies and regulations.

Prior to joining ABS, Jennifer was a personnel manager for ships and a crew purser working onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. All in all, Jennifer has been in the maritime industry for nearly 30 years and still loves to cruise whenever she can find the opportunity.

Jennifer holds a B.A. in Organizational Psychology from University of Houston, a Master’s in Human Resource Development from Indiana State and an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University – Whoop!

Heather Stefanski is the Chief Learning and Talent Officer at McKinsey & Company, where she holds global responsibility for Learning & Development, Talent Management, and the firm’s People Data and Analytics teams.

With a 28-year tenure at McKinsey, she has served in a variety of people-related roles, including talent acquisition, professional development, and learning. Heather established McKinsey’s Talent Management function, creating a dedicated group within the firm’s broader People function. Currently, she leads the firm’s transition toward a development culture centered on skills-based capability building.

Before her leadership in the People function, Heather worked as a McKinsey consultant, advising clients on operational topics such as manufacturing, supply chain management, and product development and procurement.

She holds an MBA and an MA in Education from Stanford University, as well as a BS in Engineering and Operations Research from Princeton University.

Innovative Learning and Development Leader with a record of creating exemplary leadership development programs, driving operational efficiency, creating positive change, and increasing employee engagement for Franchise and Corporately owned organizations. With over 20 years in the L&D industry, Chenier is passionate about driving success for her clients by understanding their specific needs and finding the right consultant for every project. Known for strategically leading award-winning Learning and Development teams, implementing performance enhancing process improvements, and building, training, and developing high performing people and teams.

Matt Confer is the VP of Strategy at Abilitie, a Leadership Development company based in Austin, Texas that provides immersive business simulations. Abilitie’s leadership programs have been delivered to over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries around the world. Matthew has spoken on the topic of decision making at the TEDx Conference with a talk entitled “Before You Decide” that has been viewed over 500,000 times on the TED website. Matthew also hosts the Learn To Lead Podcast where he speaks with authors, professors, creatives, and business leaders about their leadership journey and how they are working to develop the leaders of tomorrow.

Katy Jones is a strategic thought leader in the leadership and talent development space who customizes talent strategies to meet business demands and accelerates growth in leaders and teams. Katy joined Medtronic in February of 2024 as Vice President, Global Learning & Leadership Development, where she has responsibility for leadership development for entry-level employees to executives, along with the organization’s global learning strategy. Prior to Medtronic, Katy was the Head of Leadership Development for Walmart with responsibility for enterprise leadership development, manager enablement, and executive coaching. Katy built her L&D career at Walmart for 10 years through onboarding, internal consulting and facilitation, early talent strategy, employee experience, performance transformation, high potential and executive development, and foundational leadership development across the globe. In recent years, Katy won two Make a Difference Awards at Walmart, one in 2020 for her rapid response work on the corporate intern program and onboarding efforts during the pandemic, and another in 2022 for her work on implementing an HR competency model and development strategy for the Global People function. Katy’s team also was awarded the Josh Bersin HR Hero Award in 2022 for excellence in HR development.

Prior to Walmart, Katy worked in higher education, where she taught public speaking and communication studies, held a leadership role in academic administration, and developed and recruited faculty members. Katy has a BA in Public Relations from James Madison University and an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Arkansas.

Outside of work, Katy recently relocated to Minneapolis, MN with her husband, Kevin; daughter, Charlotte (6); and son, Patrick (4). When she’s not chasing her kiddos, Katy loves travel, live music, sports, and spicy food.

Robert Garcia, Vice President & Chief Staff Officer of ICF Coaching in Organizations is responsible for leading the operations that enable global organizations to build coaching capabilities and develop a strong coaching culture. A pivotal leader in coaching culture development, Robert is renowned for his strategic approach to expanding organizational coaching capabilities. His global expertise is reflected in strong partnerships across 50+ countries. An executive coach, a seasoned professor, and an eloquent keynote speaker, Robert’s sessions are a confluence of insight and inspiration.

He has held senior level positions at Randstad, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Baptist Health, Florida International University (FIU), LHH, ADP, and United Healthcare.

Robert has an MBA from FIU and a Bachelor of Science in Management from NSU. He has 5 HR Certifications including the Senior and Global HR Professional.  He has the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) from ICF and is a Certified Association Executive. He is fluent in English and Spanish is a has presented in 6 continents and has visited 92 countries and counting.

Katherine Lord, MSW, LSW, serves as the Director of Organizational Member Experience at ICF Coaching in Organizations, where she leads efforts to enhance the value and impact of ICF membership for organizations. In this role, she collaborates closely with member organizations to deeply understand their unique needs and delivers tailored resources and strategic support to foster the development of coaching cultures that drive organizational success.

A dynamic communicator and visionary leader, Katherine brings extensive expertise in program development, stakeholder engagement, and association management. Her impressive track record includes building thriving member communities, forging strategic partnerships, and designing educational programs and initiatives that inspire growth, innovation, and connection. She has held influential leadership positions with prominent national associations, such as the Council on Social Work Education and the Club Management Association of America, further showcasing her ability to drive meaningful change and advance organizational goals.

Leveraging her natural curiosity, Michelle “Mickie” DeVeau, Psy.D. strives to develop and deliver innovative and customized solutions for her clients, always adapting to their needs, but never sacrificing excellence.

An experienced, resilient professional with demonstrated success across multiple industries, including health care, health insurance, telecommunications, sales, financial services, energy, pharmaceutical, higher education, government, and non-profit, Mickie has nearly 30 years of coaching and consulting experience. Throughout her career, she has led and supported organization-wide change efforts and designed and delivered enterprise-wide initiatives and training in the areas of coaching, mentoring, performance management, process improvement, organizational change management, conflict management, emotional intelligence, and communication.

As a director of the Leadership Institute within MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mickie provides oversight for all personalized development (i.e., leadership development beyond core programming and specific for multiplying leaders) coaching, mentoring, change enablement, and team science programs, interventions and consultation. The success and impact of the coaching programs at MD Anderson achieved the International Coaching Federation’s (ICF) Coaching Impact Award for Organizations and a “gold” designation with the MEECO Institute
(Measuring Employee Experience, Executive Coaching and Culture in Organizations), recognizing that our coaching programs represent bestin-class standards and execution, fulfill rigorous professional standards, address key strategic goals, shape organizational culture and yield discernible and measurable positive impacts. Our mentoring and change enablement programs have also been recognized as excellence in practice by ATD.

Mickie is a Professional Certified Coach with ICF, a Gallup certified strengths coach, and a certified facilitator for various leadership development and training programs, including The Leadership Challenge, Emotional Intelligence, Situational Leadership, Real Colors, Courageous Conversations and CoreClarity (strengths-based facilitation) and assessments such as EQi, Hogan Personality Assessment,
StrengthsFinder and Real Colors.

Prior to joining MD Anderson, she worked for the Philadelphia region’s largest health insurer, Independence Blue Cross. She earned her doctorate degree in Organizational Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University.