As the Senior Vice President of McDonalds Learning and Development function for McDonalds, Bethany Tate Cornell oversees a global team that enables employees of every generation, age and background to have choice and agency in how they learn. Throughout her distinguished career, her leadership has helped employees grow personally and professionally, accelerating business results and transforming culture for the companies and communities where employees work and live.

Known for reimagining learning solutions in complex industry giants like Boeing, Gap, Inc., and General Electric, Bethany partners with colleagues around the world and across functions to swiftly harness the power of technology as it unfolds in the workplace through remote work, on-demand learning, mobile customer service and more.

Today, Bethany drives McDonalds Learning & Development organization to contribute to the Accelerating the Arches growth strategy, specifically driving our ambition to make Hamburger University an admired, world-class brand. By making learning relevant, on-demand, accessible and experiential, her organization is accelerating capabilities in McDonalds restaurants, corporate offices and leadership at every level.

A long-time champion of Diversity and Inclusion, Bethany is devoted to strengthening employee engagement and belonging that fuels high performing teams. She is deeply proud of her role as the Co-Executive Sponsor of the McDonalds Pride network, dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community at McDonalds headquarters in Chicago and our restaurants and communities around the world.

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, Glaserheld 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, Glasercontinues 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Katie Lackey serves as Vice President of Global Learning and Talent Management at Honeywell, a multinational conglomerate known for its cutting-edge technology and solutions across various industries. In this role, Katie leads the development and execution of strategic initiatives to cultivate a high-performing, inclusive, and skilled workforce across Honeywell’s global operations. With a strong background in human resources and organizational development, she leverages her expertise to drive employee engagement, professional growth, and talent optimization. Katie is known for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. She is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within Honeywell, ensuring the company’s talent strategy aligns with its business objectives. Prior to her current position, Katie held various leadership roles in talent management and organizational effectiveness.

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.