THEME: BUILDING
PURPOSE, AGENCY & TRUST

Gathering the best minds to share our playbooks and help design cultures that enable companies to succeed, employees to thrive, and communities to flourish.

Programming pillars: AI, Leadership, Cognitive Hospitality, Navigating Geopolitical Headwinds

Summit 2025

Changing the world through the workplace, together.

Talent 2030: Driving Value through Inclusion

2025 Keynote Graphics for Website Sessions (9).png

Michelle Gethers

Chief Diversity Officer & Head of Corporate Responsibility, Visa (Ret.)

Ross Buhrdorf

CEO ZenBusiness, Inc.

Diana Ellsworth

Partner McKinsey & Company

Abstract

By 2030, demographic shifts, technological advancements, and evolving market demands will redefine the workforce, and companies that attract, retain, and develop diverse talent will have a competitive edge. This keynote argues that inclusion is an economic and business imperative for the future of work while exploring how inclusive talent strategies drive profitability, innovation, and long-term resilience in an increasingly complex global economy. Leaders will gain data-driven insights and tactical ideas to more effectively integrate inclusion into talent management, leadership development, and strategic priorities. We cannot ignore navigating politically charged narratives, but this conversation will take a business lens (e.g., growth, retention, and workforce agility) to highlight inclusion as an often-missing driver of sustained success. Through real-world examples, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to evolve and improve inclusion strategies in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Key Takeaways

Inclusive talent strategies drive profitability, innovation, and resilience, making them essential for long-term business success.
The time is now to evolve, strengthen, and embed inclusion efforts before organizations further lose talent and productivity.
There are tactical, research-backed ways to improve inclusive behaviors and integrate them into talent management, leadership development, and culture priorities.

Room 104

Dr. Greg Wallingford

Rev. Steven Tomlinson, PhD

Asst. Dean Professional Fulfillment & Well-being Dell Medical School

Assoc. Prof. Leadership & Administration Seminary of the Southwest

Leaders can drive burnout that degrades their teams' performance on the job. This session highlights research on leadership behaviors that foster high performance in high-stress environments by leveraging research from the medical field. Learn how doctors in one system are learning to adopt them.

Cognitive Hospitality - How Does Science Inform Effective Leadership Today?

Room 200

Room 106

Sr. Director, Product Marketing Microsoft

Employee Needs & Customer Wants: How AI Can Transform Your Organization’s Engagement Across Employee and Customer Experience

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, two pillars stand tall: your employees and your customers. Imagine harnessing the power of AI to elevate experiences for both. Join us in this engaging workshop where trailblazing organizations share their blueprint of integrating AI into their operations and workplace culture. Discover how a self-service agent can revolutionize the employee experience to how a sales lead qualification agent can transform customer interactions. Hosted by Karan Nigam, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Microsoft, this interactive discussion will feature insights from AI pioneers and Microsoft's own journey.

Karan Nigam

Dave Warren

HR Digital Portfolio Manager Chevron

VP Global Sales, Microsoft TTEC

Leah Quartano Bowling

Christie Smith, PhD

Founder The Humanity Studio

Jeremy A. Tucker

Founder Major Futures

The New Power of Personal Brands for Business Leaders - And How It Can Foster Purpose, Agency & Trust in the Workplace and Beyond

Join Christie Smith PhD, Founder of The Humanity Studio a Human Leadership company, and Jeremy Tucker, Founder of Major Futures a Strategic Brand Growth firm, as they discuss the new ways that business leaders can craft strong personal brands built to foster purpose, agency and trust in the workplace, and in the world.

Room 200

Room 204

Drew Goldstein

Taylor Lauricella

Partner McKinsey & Company

Assoc. Partner McKinsey & Company

Beyond RTO: Focus More on Practices than Policy to Create a High-performing Workplace

Learn why strategies to enhance collaboration, connectivity, innovation, mentorship, and skill development are the key to ensure your working model works for your organization and your people. Whether teams are in person, remote, or hybrid, these practices are essential to create a healthy organization with sustained productivity.

Sherry Alexander

Dana Larsen

VP, Talent Acquisition & Inclusion NXP

VP, Global Talent & Organization Development NXP

Room 206

Tim Carter

Assoc. Partner McKinsey & Company

The Journey of Leadership: Learn to Lead from the Inside Out

Embracing a human-centric approach to leadership—one that prioritizes the needs and well-being of employees, fosters inspiration and gives them a sense of purpose—is now more important than ever. Those who invest first in their own inward journey find they can more effectively inspire and empower others. Join a discussion on the qualities that redefine leadership as outlined in McKinsey’s new book, The Journey of Leadership, assess your personal leadership style, and learn practical strategies used by top CEOs.

Pavilion Patio

CEO, JDI co-founder, Culturati

Josh Jones-Dilworth

Improv in the Workplace

We'll cover (and practice) improv fundamentals as well as how to use improv in the real world, in formal and informal ways alike. We'll also share some of our individual crucibles as leaders and find out together what happens when we apply improv tools and frameworks in an intentional way.

Room 206

Format & Venue

The event begins with a welcome reception at and keynote on Sunday, April 6 followed by our signature, small group CEO dinners around Austin. A full day of programming is scheduled for Monday, April 7. Departures are on Tuesday, April 8. Detailed agenda below.

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Format & Venue

Programming

Programming Pillars

Sunday, April 6

3:00 PM | Event registration & check-in for accommodations open

Lobby of the Holdsworth Learning Center

Campus on Lake Austin: 4907 Ranch Rd 2222, Austin, TX 78731

Campus on Lake Austin is a private, gated facility with limited ingress/egress. Attendees, please confirm your arrival option by completing the logistics questionnaire in your inbox. Email us with any questions.

Sunday, April 6

6:30 PM | Transition to sprinters for offsite dinners.

Circle Drive in front of the Holdsworth Learning Center.

6:30-7:30 PM | Onsite Happy Hour for McKinsey & Company and Microsoft dinner guests.

Libation Bar in the Holdsworth Learning Center.

7:00-9:00 PM approx. | Signature CEO Dinners around Austin.

Attendees will be assigned.

7:30-9:30 PM | Onsite McKinsey & Company and Microsoft dinners.

Attendees will be assigned.

9:00 PM approx. | Sprinter transportation from offsite dinners back to Campus on Lake Austin.

9:00-11:30 PM | Libation Bar open for continuing conversations.

Monday, April 7

6:00-9:00 AM | Event registration & check-in for accommodations open

Lobby of the Holdsworth Learning Center

6:00-8:00 AM | Breakfast

Dining Room in the Holdsworth Learning Center

6:30-7:30 AM | Yoga & sound bath

South Lawn in front of the Pavilion, mats provided. Yoga attire recommended.

Attire for the day: business casual.

Monday, April 7

10:00-11:00 AM | Breakouts

Classroom buildings across from the Holdsworth Learning Center.

Cognitive Hospitality - How Does Science Inform Effective Leadership Today? | Dr. Greg Wallingford, Dell Medical School & Rev./Prof. Steven Tomlinson, Seminary of the Southwest - Room 104

Employee Needs & Customer Wants: How AI Can Transform Your Organization’s Engagement Across Employee and Customer Experience | Karan Nigam, Microsoft, Leah Quatrano Bowling, TTEC & Dave Warren, Chevron - Room 106

The New Power of Personal Brands for Business Leaders - And How It Can Foster Purpose, Agency & Trust in the Workplace and Beyond | Christie Smith, PhD, The Humanity Studio & Jeremy Tucker, Major Futures - Room 200

Beyond RTO: Focus More on Practices than Policy to Create a High-performing Workplace | Drew Goldstein & Taylor Lauricella, McKinsey & Company with Sherry Alexander & Dana Larsen, NXP - Room 204

The Journey of Leadership: Learn to Lead from the Inside Out | Tim Carter, McKinsey & Company - Room 206

Improv in the Workplace | Josh Jones-Dilworth, JDI - Pavilion Patio

No pre-registration. Breakout session seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Monday, April 7

8:30 AM | Opening Remarks

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

8:40-9:10 AM | Keynote "From HR Leader to AI Innovator: Navigating the Microsoft Transformation in HR" with Christopher J. Fernandez Chief AI Officer & Corporate Vice President of HR, Microsoft & Laura Butler, Chief People Officer, TTEC

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

9:15-9:45 AM | Keynote "Leading Through Change: the Role of the People Function" with Tiffanie Boyd, Global Chief People Officer, McDonald's & Brooke Weddle, PhD, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Washington, D.C.

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

Monday, April 7

11:10 AM - 12:10 PM | Breakouts

Classroom buildings across from the Holdsworth Learning Center.

Geopolitical Resilience: Take a Proactive Approach to Navigating Complexity and Uncertainty | Dale Swartz, McKinsey & Company - Room 104

The Future of Work: How to Think About the Future of Roles & Skills in the AI Era | Charlotte Seiler & Wendy Miller, McKinsey & Company - Room 106

The Economics of Inclusion Deep Dive | Michelle Gethers, Visa (Ret.), Jonathan Njus, WK Kellogg Foundation, Holly Price & Diana Ellsworth, McKinsey & Company - Room 200

Catalysts: Powerful Purpose and Tools for Turbulent Times | Dean Carter, Modern Executive Solutions - Room 204

AI Native Companies: A Blueprint for Future Dominance | Matthew Duncan, Microsoft & Amit Malhotra, buybuy BABY - Room 206

No pre-registration. Breakout session seating is on a first come, first served basis.

12:20 - 1:20 PM | Lunch

Dining Room in the Holdsworth Learning Center

Monday, April 7

1:30 PM | Welcome back

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

1:35-2:05 PM | Keynote "AI as a Superpower in Education" with MacKenzie Price, Co-founder, 2Hr Learning & Eugene Sepulveda, CEO & co-founder, Culturati

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

2:10-2:40 PM | Keynote "Catalysts: Chaos is a Ladder" with Dean Carter, Chief Experience Officer, Modern Executive Solutions

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

Monday, April 7

4:15 PM | Welcome back

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

4:20-4:50 PM | Keynote "Essential Leadership: Thriving in an Era of AI, Global Shifts, and Distributed Teams" with Christie Smith, PhD, Founder, The Humanity Studio

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

4:55-5:25 PM | Keynote with Mike Maples, Jr., co-founding Partner, Floodgate & Rev. Steven Tomlinson, PhD

Pavilion in the Holdsworth Learning Center

Tuesday, April 8

4:00-11:00 AM | Sprinter transportation to AUS.

Circle Drive in front of the Holdsworth Center.

6:30-8:30 AM | Breakfast.

Dining Room in the Holdsworth Center.

11:00 AM | Latest check-out and departure.

Campus on Lake Austin is a private, gated facility with limited ingress/egress. Attendees, please confirm your departure option by completing the logistics questionnaire in your inbox. Email us with any questions.

FAQs

Dress Code | Business casual

Accommodations | Two nights' accommodations are included onsite at Campus on Lake Austin. All attendees are encouraged to stay. Official check-in is at 3 PM on Sunday, April 6. Latest check-out is by 11 AM on Tuesday, April 8th. There is a 24 hr gym onsite.

*Please note that this is a private facility. Outside guests are not permitted. All attendees will be checked by security at the gate.

Transportation | VIP sprinters will pickup from the AUS airport on Sunday, April 6 between 10 AM-5 PM and return to AUS on Tuesday, April 8 between 4-11 AM. There is extremely limited ingress/egress. Attendees must confirm their arrival & departure options via the emailed logistics questionnaire as there is a restricted drive-in list and rideshare may not be allowed on Sunday.

F&B | We provide the following... Dinner on Sunday, April 6 at 7 PM. Breakfast from 6:30-8:30 AM, lunch from 12:20-1:20 PM, and dinner at 7 PM on Monday, April 7. Breakfast from 6:30-8:30 AM on Tuesday, April 7.

**Please note that this is not a traditional hotel. F&B options are only as outlined above. There are snacks available for purchase behind the front desk and free of charge for overnight guests in each floor-level lounge of the accommodation buildings. We also provide snacks throughout the day on Monday.