Chicago CHRO Community
Executive Summit

Disruption, change, and extended uncertainty are hallmarks of our time, but can lead even strong teams to fail. How can some teams outperform consistently in these conditions? The Alchemy of Talent is Dr. Pendakur’s proven model for high performing teams, backed by extensive research and his own experience leading teams across numerous complex organizations. This high-energy keynote will focus on the science and skills of trust and team connection, along with the innovation potential of harnessing team complexity.
Audience members will learn:

• How to harness team complexity as a driver for innovation
• A new toolkit for using trust to unlock team performance
• Innovative new approaches to increasing team connection and resilience

CHROs have more visibility and exposure across the enterprise than ever before. With shifting expectations from employees all the way to the CEO, it is critical now more than ever for CHROs to model the type of leadership behaviors necessary to build a high-performing organization from the frontline to the top of the organization.

In this session, you will learn:

• Seven leadership behaviors to boost company performance
• Strategies to create customer and shareholder value through winning employee experiences
• Key takeaways to develop change-ready leaders at your organization

The research is clear – the more frequently an employee is recognized at work, the better they feel about their well-being, engagement, belonging, manager and even their take-home pay. While frequent recognition helps protect against job hunting, productivity and salary freezes, just 40% of HR leaders report their approach to recognition is strategic.

Join this roundtable discussion to explore:

• Fostering a culture of belonging with recognition and reward strategies
• Connecting recognition to business outcomes
• Sharing tactical, practical advice for HR leaders

Almost every large-scale company is taking on some iteration of a productivity exercise that is forcing the hand of HR leaders to consider more cost-effective practices. Because of this pressure, the focus has centered around improving operational capabilities and strategic impact to increase efficiency within HR.

Join this executive boardroom to discuss:

• The Talent and Skills evolution and the challenges that come with it
• HR transforming from shepherding people at work to up-skilling talent capabilities and updating its operating model to be people first
• Leveraging the power of AI to digitally enable the workforce of the future to deliver on business outcomes

Corporate performance demands challenge CHROs to focus strategically to develop concise plans to present to the overall enterprise. Data and results can sometimes be muddled and difficult to filter through accurately. How can we be confident in the aggregated information presented to us and what can we do with it?

Join this boardroom to discuss:

• How to harness a powerful yet often underutilized company data set
• Boosting corporate performance and leveraging AI for enhanced HR influence and decision-making
• Improving the effectiveness of your business's key asset, your people managers

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.

Organizations everywhere have used Total Rewards programs to attract and retain talent by offering a buffet of benefits to highlight the investment they make in their people. Yet despite these efforts, research shows that workers feel these strategies often fail, not only in addressing their most important needs, but in enhancing their overall employee experience. This session will unveil the latest insights from the 2025 Global Culture Report and foster discussion to help you redefine your Total Rewards programs and provide the right mix of offerings to better communicate authentic care.   

Join this session to discuss:

• Why employee-centered care must be at the core of Total Rewards strategies that align with what matters most to employees
• Why recognition done well throughout an organization can make a difference in fostering positive mental health practices  
• How organizations can approach employee job transitions with the same care and attention given to new hires  

Most organizations have expanded benefits in both volume and scope, but many employees are frustrated with information overload and overall employee experience. How can CHROs build meaningful connections between the workforce and their benefits while navigating an ever-expanding technology ecosystem?

Attend this session to learn:

• Strategies for connecting employee insights to actions to power stronger engagement
• Ways to integrate employee experiences to increase adoption
• How organizations can leverage personalization and AI to help people feel seen and cared for

Employees who do not feel financially secure can struggle to stay productive and are more likely to suffer stress-related health issues. By incorporating financial health into well-being programs, HR leaders can address a critical factor impacting employees’ ability to show up and perform at work.

Join this session for insights on:

• Understanding workforce financial wellness as a strategic business initiative
• Equipping employees with money management skills to build readiness and resilience
• Driving program participation by addressing diverse financial needs and challenges

CEOs recently rated culture, engagement and morale as their top concern in a Gartner executive survey. CHROs have the opportunity to improve employee job satisfaction, mental health, productivity and lower burnout by making employees feel they belong.

In this boardroom, HR leaders will discuss:

• Identifying the framework to create models of belonging
• Establishing metrics and goals to help retention through sense of purpose
• Creating a culture that positively impacts employees