IN-PERSON

Houston CHRO Executive Summit

October 17, 2023 | Hyatt Regency Houston West

October 17, 2023
Hyatt Regency Houston West

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Houston's top CHROs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CHROs today:

Developing empathetic leaders for the new world of work

Fostering resiliency while supporting the workforce through change

Identifying, growing and retaining employees with the skills your business requires

Houston CHRO Governing Body


The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven by CHROs, for CHROs.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Bill Ennis

Academy Sports + Outdoors
SVP, CHRO

Trish Moore

Shell USA
VP, Human Resources

Hilary Rota

Wood
Vice President, People & Organization

Shibu Varghese

MD Anderson Cancer Center
SVP, People, Culture, Infrastructure & CHRO

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CHRO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.

Community Networking

Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your Houston CHRO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, 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.

Agenda


October 16, 2023

October 17, 2023

6:00pm - 8:30pm  Governing Body Welcome Reception

Governing Body Welcome Reception

Join our Evanta Houston CHRO Governing Body members as they host a "Tour of Texas" wine-tasting event to kick off our Executive Summit. Food and drinks will be provided for attendees with an evening of peer networking.

7:45am - 8:30am  Registration & Breakfast

8:30am - 9:15am  Keynote

Unlocking Performance on Diverse Teams in Times of Uncertainty

Vijay Pendakur headshot

Vijay Pendakur

Talent & Culture Thought Leader and Agility Coach

Guest Speaker

In a time of extraordinary disruption and rapid change, extended periods of uncertainty can often lead to diminished team outcomes. But, skillful leaders can harness specific tools to enable their teams to flourish in complex times. This interactive workshop will focus on the science and skills of psychological safety and team connection, two proven drivers of team performance in moments of disruption.
Join this session with Dr. Vijay Pendakur to learn how to:

  • Leverage scientific evidence supporting the strong connection between diversity and business success
  • Upskill managers to lead psychologically safe teams
  • Harness the behavioral science of team connection to increase team resilience in extended periods of change

9:15am - 9:40am  Networking Break

9:40am - 10:25am  Breakout Session

What Succession Planning Technology Can (and Can’t) Do

Laura Gardiner headshot

Laura Gardiner

Director Analyst

Gartner

As the demand for talent continues, organizations are increasingly focusing on ensuring that they have the internal talent to take on leadership roles. Join Gartner Analyst, Laura Gardiner, to understand trends in organizational succession planning and learn how current technology and future innovations can meet changing demands.
This session will explore:

  • Where succession planning gets stuck
  • What to expect from succession planning technology market today
  • How innovations have the potential to impact scale, efficiency, and effectiveness

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

What the AI Revolution Means for CHROs

Paul Davies headshot

Paul Davies

SVP, HR Business & People Partners

ServiceNow

Chuck Kemper headshot

Chuck Kemper

CHRO

American Bureau of Shipping

Sue Netherton headshot

Sue Netherton

SVP, People, Training & Development

Waste Connections

Gartner predicts that by 2025, 94% of businesses will have already deployed some form of artificial intelligence. HR and People Team leaders need to know how AI is already changing and will continue to affect the way their teams work daily. From new employee efficiencies and processes to potential flashpoints and dilemmas, this boardroom discussion will cover it all.

Join this session to discuss:

  • Understanding common and emerging AI applications and their impact on employees and work
  • Getting ahead of AI’s implications in HR technology and workflows across the employee lifecycle
  • Leveraging the power of AI to safely transform hiring, reduce manual work, and focus on predictive actions

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Uncovering Friction – Addressing Organizational Design with Intention

Hilary Rota headshot

Hilary Rota

Vice President, People & Organization

Wood

Rose Valenzuela headshot

Rose Valenzuela

Chief Administration Officer

Unity National Bank

Michelle Byrd headshot

Michelle Byrd

VP, Human Resources

The Friedkin Group Inc

As the workforce evolves, CHROs are being called on to assess organizational design and move the needle forward on critical business priorities. That will require pinpointing design frictions employees face in the work environment to streamline their experience and increase productivity.
Join this session to discuss:

  • Exploring where there is friction within your organizational design structure
  • Understanding organizational design effectiveness beyond financial measurements
  • Working with stakeholders to implement meaningful changes

10:25am - 11:00am  Networking Break

10:30am - 10:55am  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

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.

11:00am - 11:45am  Breakout Session

Driving Purposeful Progress Through True Connection

Amy Leschke-Kahle headshot

Amy Leschke-Kahle

VP Performance Acceleration

ADP

Economic headwinds have forced organizations to solve the challenge of running lean while also boosting productivity. Faced with an increasingly burnt out workforce, HR leaders that can connect their employees' unique strengths to meaningful work will unlock efficiency and engagement.

This session will explore how to:

  • Help people contribute more of their best work
  • Leverage people data and intelligence to individualize the employee experience
  • Prioritize recognition, recruitment and retention in challenging times

11:00am - 11:45am  Executive Boardroom

Reimagining an Evolving Culture

John Grover headshot

John Grover

Senior Partner

Culture Partners

Victor Nivens headshot

Victor Nivens

VP of Human Resources

HEB Grocery

Shweta Kurvey-Mishra headshot

Shweta Kurvey-Mishra

SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer

MRC Global

Years into distributed work, employers are struggling to develop a cohesive culture across geographies, time zones, work locations and virtual platforms. How can CHROs identify culture weaknesses and implement a consistent organizational culture across the business?
Join this session to discuss:

  • Barriers to understanding and improving culture
  • How culture has evolved within the new world of work
  • Integrating culture change throughout the organization

11:00am - 11:45am  Executive Boardroom

Integrating ESG Across HR

Elizabeth Lieb Shuler headshot

Elizabeth Lieb Shuler

Director of Human Resources

Callon Petroleum

Edward McKissic headshot

Edward McKissic

Senior Vice President, CHRO & Chief Diversity Officer

Group 1 Automotive

The CHROs main role in ESG has historically been collecting and reporting metrics. But with shifting priorities of the enterprise and calls for transparency among shareholders and employees; many CHROs are now managing communications and sustainability for the organization.
In this sessions, CHROs will learn:

  • Linking CHRO priorities to ESG initiatives
  • Emerging ESG trends
  • Collecting information around existing practices


11:45am - 12:30pm  Lunch Service

12:30pm - 1:05pm  Keynote

Making the Shift to a People-Centric Experience

Meghan Stettler headshot

Meghan Stettler

Director

O.C. Tanner

The lingering aftershocks from the last several years have resulted in powerful shifts to the very foundations of workplace culture. Join Meghan Stettler from the O.C. Tanner Institute as she shares new research and actionable insights from the 2024 Global Culture Report, focusing on strategies to create people-centric experiences that allow all employees to stay, feel fulfilled, and do their best work.

Session insights include:

  • Leading with practical empathy
  • Supporting the unseen 80%
  • Achieving equitable flexibility while cultivating nimble resiliency amid change

1:05pm - 1:30pm  Break

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Breakout Session

Ask Me Anything – Tech Experts Weigh-in on AI

Paula Smetana Stuart headshot

Paula Smetana Stuart

CIO

Crescent Energy

Sean Barnes headshot

Sean Barnes

VP, Corporate Operations

Nine Energy Service

Darren Ruhr headshot

Darren Ruhr

Chief Administrative Officer

Precision Drilling

CHROs have rising and rightful concerns about the use of AI technologies. As AI continues to dominate the conversation, how can CHROs best prepare themselves and their organizations about both the risks and opportunities?
In this session, CHROs will be able to talk to technology experts about:

  • Implementing the right AI tools for employee efficiency
  • Minimizing associated risk, bias and ethics of AI
  • Trending technologies and forecasting future usage

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Recruiting Scarce Talent in 2023

Melinda Guerra-Reeves headshot

Melinda Guerra-Reeves

Chief Volunteer & HR Officer

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Lace Williams headshot

Lace Williams

Vice President, HR, Workforce Solutions

HP Inc.

CHROs are continuously looking to revamp the way they recruit and sourcing talent where competitors are not. When developing a strategic recruiting function, what are the untapped ways to find the best talent and improve business from the ground up?
In this session CHROs will address:

  • Finding nontraditional candidate sources
  • Diversifying your talent pool
  • Hiring to meet short and long term needs

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Learning & Development – the Key to Improving Workforce Management

Shibu Varghese headshot

Shibu Varghese

SVP, People, Culture, Infrastructure & CHRO

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Linda Borne headshot

Linda Borne

Vice President, Human Resources

McDermott International

Kelly Soudelier headshot

Kelly Soudelier

CHRO

Pemex


As organizations adapt to remain competitive amidst rapid change, it is key to keep L&D initiatives at the center of your HR strategy. Employers are vastly expected to improve their workforce’s skills and talent through training, but how can HR leaders ensure that they’re doing this effectively whilst optimizing cost and company time?
Join this session as HR leaders discuss:

  • How L&D can transform employee experience
  • The importance of evolving your workforce skills 
  • What technologies are needed to elevate L&D


2:15pm - 2:50pm  Networking Break

2:20pm - 2:45pm  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

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.

2:50pm - 3:40pm  Keynote

Revitalizing Culture With Modern Leadership

Trish Moore headshot

Trish Moore

VP, Human Resources

Shell USA

Reginald Banks headshot

Reginald Banks

VP HR, Org Development & Learning

Shell USA

There is a direct link between the way people manage and how it can transform a culture. HR plays a pivotal role in developing the frameworks and capabilities of modern leadership that builds culture and leads to organizational success.
In this session, CHROs will learn:

  • Mindsets and behaviors needed by leaders today
  • Implementing psychological safety into leadership and culture
  • Comprehensive approaches to developing aspired culture to achieve business strategy and performance

3:40pm - 4:00pm  Closing Reception & Prize Drawing

October 16, 2023

October 17, 2023

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering


Evanta cares about the health and safety of our community. Please review the following recommendations prior to attending the gathering.

Location


Venue & Accommodation

Hyatt Regency Houston West

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Houston West at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling (281) 558 8338. Please mention G-LIND to ensure the appropriate room rate.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $149 USD (plus tax) is September 25, 2023.

Your Community Partners


CHRO Thought Leader
Program Partners

Community Program Manager


For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Chase Schweitzer

Community Program Manager

+1 (971) 230-3571

chase.schweitzer@evanta.com