Chicago CHRO Community
Executive Summit

Governing Body members host this dinner for attendees to launch the event with an evening of peer networking.

Since 2020, employers have increased spending on employee programs by 20% — giving them more choice, more flexibility, more tools, more technology, more data and more systems. However, utilization of these programs is under 10% on average, and only 52% of employees say they have a good understanding of their total rewards. Join this session to understand how to unwind the maze of employer programs and amplify employee experience in the process.

This keynote will explore:

• The role of HR transformation in attracting and retaining talent, while fostering engagement and holistic wellbeing
• Strategies for optimizing total rewards programs and benefits offerings
• How to help employees live healthy, financially secure lives with a simplified, AI-driven employee experience

It’s a great time to be CHRO, as the people impact gap is the corporate performance gap. But HR teams whose primary value is managing cost and risk are hitting an impact wall; struggling to impact productivity, manager effectiveness and growth. Some CHROs are breaking out, taking their teams beyond siloed specialties into business-first HR teams that solve systemic issues.

This session will cover:

• Practical examples of how the CHRO can borrow from the CFO playbook
• The impact of revenue growth, retaining critical talent and improving diversity
• How to overcome the obstacles to a data-driven HR team

HR and diversity leaders have an important role to ensure DE&I remains a top organizational priority in today’s environment. 

Join this interactive discussion to explore strategies for:

• Navigating a dynamic landscape while safeguarding against burnout and fatigue
• Finding the right balance between effective communications and legal considerations with DEI efforts
• Cultivating an enduring culture of inclusion in a socially charged environment

New pay transparency legislation, high inflation and rising wages have impacted the way CHROs are approaching compensation strategy. How can HR leaders balance legal compliance, talent attraction and cost optimization? 

Join this session to discuss: 

• Advancing pay transparency in your organization
• Developing a compensation strategy to attract talent while managing costs
• Best practices in change management to prepare executives and hiring managers for pay transparency

Work as we know it has changed a great deal in the last few years. With varying levels of boldness, organizations are attempting to meet employee expectations while balancing both business needs and long-term planning. So how can CHROs build a future of work strategy that is realistic and sustainable, yet future-ready?

Join this session to discuss:

• Navigating market disruptions and demographic shifts
• Balancing employee demands for flexibility with business needs
• Developing a long-term future of work vision
  

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Now more than ever, companies — of all sizes — are being challenged to up level their talent strategies. By striking the perfect balance of incorporating human + data, companies are able to eliminate archaic HR practices, showcase a unified business strategy, strengthen diversity and inclusiveness, and empower employees.

Join this session to explore:

• Assessing the ever-evolving talent landscape and discussing how data has become an ever-present part of HR
• Identifying archaic talent practices and revamping them to be more modern, forward-thinking, and inclusive for the workforce
• Outlining how companies — of any size — can start striking the right balance and setting their organization up for success

A sense of belonging has emerged in research as a key predictor of employee engagement and organizational success. Employees who feel a sense of belonging at work are more engaged, have higher job satisfaction, better mental health and increased productivity.

Join this session to explore:

• Conditions required to activate a culture of belonging
• Practical steps to ensure every employee feels a sense of connection
• Key pillars critical for HR leaders to drive belonging

With workforces changing rapidly, it’s never been more important to have a secure organization design strategy. HR leaders around the globe are transforming their approach to put employees at the heart of the enterprise, break down siloes and maximize efficiency. How are CHROs successfully executing these changes while communicating transparently?

Join this session to discuss:

• Reevaluating organization design and identifying friction
• Maintaining clear and concise communication with employees
• Adapting to new ways of working with structural change

Economic pressure can limit the resources and capacity for HR to focus on maintaining a strong organizational culture. However, in a time where employees see each other in-person less frequently and talent retention remains imperative, CHROs need to keep organizations on the path of modernizing and strengthening culture.

Join this session to discuss:

• Seizing the moment to revamp culture for the future of work
• Defining and integrating company values into organizational culture
• Leveraging a connected culture as a driver of talent retention

Speakers want action, not just applause. But busy executives don’t have time to learn complex communication models or esoteric storytelling processes — they need a simple, effective speaking framework that can help them not only connect with any audience, but also elicit real change. Enter the "Swarm Effect."

Join this session with Arthur Zards — a thought leader, TEDster and provocateur — to:

• Hone your skills in executive influence
• Adopt a more authentic and engaging approach to speaking
• Take your next presentation from “understandable” to “compelling"