Here at the California HR Conference, we agree with Afdhel Aziz when he says HR professionals have the power to change the world. While American culture is shaped by a wide variety of factors, workplace cultures are influenced from within with human resources professionals leading the way. The choices made by HR in empowering, guiding and educating those in the workplace micro-culture ultimately impact culture outside the 9 to 5.

The past few years have been a whirlwind of critical discussion and public debate about how modern society functions, versus how it ought to, and HR has been right in the thick of it. From the long ago identified gender based wage gap and coversations about diversity in the C-Suite, to the more recent #MeToo groundswell, HR stands at the forefront of issues that impact generations of people. A recent Forbes article points to a perfect example:

While the world is evolving, women are still lagging behind when it comes to leadership roles in business. Today, only 26 women are in CEO roles at Fortune 500 companies, making up 5.2% of the female population, according to a report by Pew Research. The stats stay virtually the same for women CEOs of Fortune 1000 companies at 5.4%, showing that there is little movement of women making up these high-ranking positions as company leaders. [Source]

Yet midst this unfortunate data, we can find hope in examples of successful influence against traditional norms in the work place:

According to a Morgan Stanley report, “more gender diversity, particularly in corporate settings, can translate to increased productivity, greater innovation, better products, better decision-making, and higher employee retention and satisfaction.” [Source]

In order to increase gender diversity in leadership and reap these benefits in the near future, organizations – and people, including men and women – need to empower and equip women. That includes training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities such as the California HR Conference where HR professionals will not only obtain the information needed to transform HR within their organization and remain compliant locally and federally, they will make new industry connections, grow their confidence, be energized in their career, and even have the opportunity to sign up for professional coaching to set – and exceed – their future goals.

How is your organization empowering and developing women? What is your organization’s strategic plan to increase Executive and Board Room gender diversity?

Bring a +1 to CAHR18

We have a challenge for you. If you’re attending #CAHR18, no matter what gender you identify as, think about a woman you know in HR who has potential to rise to the C-Suite in her career. Someone whose future might benefit from attending CAHR18.

Once you’ve thought of her/them, invite them as your +1. Invite her to attend with a 1-Day Pass to all sessions, or an Expo-Only pass. (We’ve even got an Expo+ pass for something in-between.) Empower her to see how important she is to the future of HR and help her begin her journey of developing today.

Professional Development as Self-Love

If you’re a woman who works in HR, don’t forget to empower yourself as well by investing in your professional development at #CAHR18 and positioning yourself to make the connections, bring home the insights, and prioritize yourself, your competitive edge, and your future.

No professional development budget? No problem.

We believe in accessible continuing education for HR professionals and our registration rates are almost half the cost of national conferences. Simply start with a 1-day conference pass, expo-only pass, or expo+ pass. Add the Conference On Demand product to your cart for access to all the concurrent sessions and learning opportunities.

Next year, consider budgeting for the full CAHR19 offering so that you don’t have to miss out on any unique content or events!

Hear from female HR executives, gain practical tools to shape your workplace culture, and much more at these CAHR18 sessions:

• Five Professional Development Track Concurrent Sessions (Sponsored by Robert Half)
  – Lead Like You Give a Damn with Dave McKeown
  – Culture Wars: Determinants for Leading a Healthy Organizational Culture with Dr. Andrew Stenhouse
  – The New HR Leader: A Bona Fide Disruptor with Stacey Lewis
  – Eliminate the Wimp Factor. Just Say It! with Shari Harley
  – Executive Presence: Stand Out, Speak Up and Claim Your Seat with Jeff Hiller

   

• The 5 Second Rule | Keynote presented by Mel Robbins (sponsored by Global Upside)

  You already know that the opportunity for growth and expansion lies in your ability to step outside of your comfort zone, but you still won’t do it, and here’s why: Knowing what to do will never be enough. It’s not as simple as “Just do it”. If it were that simple, we would all have everything we want. There’s something really foundational that has to happen before we can take action, and that is that we must learn to conquer our own feelings. Join me (Mel Robbins) to learn how five seconds can help you bust through personal and professional plateaus and live your best life.

• Future Proofed: Reimagining HR Jobs in the Artificial Intelligence Economy | Concurrent session presented by Dr. Terri Horton

  As organizations increasingly use AI systems to transform business strategy, create greater efficiencies and gain market advantage, roles across the enterprise are being reimagined, to include roles in human resources. It is projected that by 2025 AI systems will replace 45% of tasks associated with most jobs, which means that many roles within organizations be reimagined. This is particularly the case for HR roles in talent acquisition and employee engagement. This means that human resource professionals will need to acquire new skills and interdisciplinary expertise to future proof their brands, work along side AI systems, and continue to deliver strategic value to the organizations they serve.  

• CHRO TED-Style Talks | Keynote with HR Executives Laurie Shakur from Nielsen Portfolio Division, Mindi Cox from OC Tanner, and Paul Wolfe from Indeed 

  Why hear from one senior HR leader when you can hear from three? This year, you’ll have access to top executive HR leaders who will bring you strategies, tools and actionable plans they have used to drive organizational success. Seeking innovation in HR? Working on strategy in HR? Establishing succession planning in HR? Use our conference mobile app to schedule in this keynote session because it’s not to be missed.

• High-Trust Culture Blueprint – Building a Great Workplace for All | Wednesday Mega Session Panel including Dina Barmasse-Gray, SVP of Human Resources at the Cheesecake Factory, Mark Rutherford, SVP of Human Resources at First American Financial Corporation, and Moderated by Julian Lute from Great Place to Work

  Companies that intentionally align their workplace practices and policies to corporate goals win on both employee experience and in the marketplace. Discover and explore the key factors that companies like The Cheesecake Factory and First American Financial on Fortune and Great Place to Work’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list employ to build a superior brand experience to attract and retain talent and beat the market. Hint: it’s based on making unique, memorable experiences that serve your company’s needs and making sure leaders have the tools and knowledge to bring all their employees, regardless of who they are or what they do for the organization, along for the ride.

• The Higher They Are…How To Prevent #MeToo From Toppling Your Organization | Concurrent session with Helene Wasserman
  This interactive session will blend multimedia, a guest speaker, and a group discussion to examine the varied and far-reaching legal and business implications of a sexual harassment claim against a high-profile employee. Helene Wasserman, Co-Chair of Littler’s Jury Trial and Litigation Practice Group, along with a guest investigator with years of experience handling the thorniest harassment cases, will provide practical recommendations for employers in all industries to protect their organizations in this rapidly changing employment landscape. Some of the hot-button issues we will address include: • Will the #MeToo movement change what it means to be a whistleblower? • How can you maintain company privacy and protect lawful non-disclosure agreements? • How can third-party reporting systems be used as an alternative to Human Resources? • How can you mitigate the risks associated with terminating the alleged harasser? In this lively session, you will be the judge, while learning critical compliance strategies.
• How to Love Your Work in the 21st Century | Keynote presented by Afdhel Aziz, Co-Author of “Good is the New Cool” and Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Conspiracy of Love  (Sponsored by Kindle)

  Worldwide, a Gallup poll showed that 87% of people are dissatisfied and disengaged with their jobs. We are in a moment where doing meaningful work with ladders up to a higher social impact has become the goal of many people. But how do you go about finding your purpose in your work? How do you find ways to link it to the purpose of your organization? How do you inspire purpose in your teams? In this honest and inspiring talk, best-selling author Afdhel Aziz (author of ‘Good is the New Cool’) reveals insights and tips to help you find meaning in your work.

• Third Space Thinking | Mega Session presented by Dr. Ernest Wilson III, USC Annenberg Center for Third Space Thinking Based on five years of research, the Annenberg Center for Third Space Thinking has identified five competencies that are critical to success, but are undersupplied in the market– Adaptability, Cultural Competency, Empathy, Intellectual Curiosity, and 360-Degree Thinking. Third Space Thinking will help HR professionals and their organizations make better decisions, unlock innovation, break down silos, assess talent and build higher performing and more diverse organizations. Become a more effective problem solver to help break down organizational barriers and drive collaboration in the world of talent recruitment, management and retention. Frame big problems and opportunities for your organization and to think strategically about HR by adopting a Third Space Thinking mindset.

View all CAHR18 sessions

Empowering Solutions Stage Sessions in the Expo

Monday 10:55am:

• Play to Your Strengths: Negotiation Approaches for Female HR Professionals Megan Karsh, Stanford Law School HR Career Solutions Stage  
• How to Lead When You Are NOT in Charge Shawn Herrera, Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School HR Learning Solutions Stage

Monday 3:40pm:

• Creating a Better Employee Career Experience through Mindfulness Genine Wilson, Kelly Services HR Career Solutions Stage

• The Importance of Employer Brand – Modern Outplacement Tools Marilyn Stemper, CareerArc HR Business Solutions Stage

• CIVILITY – From Today’s Policies & Posters to Tomorrow’s Risk Management and Reputation Steve Ambrose, Red Hot Healthcare HR Learning Solutions Stage

Tuesday 10:35am:

• Using Mindfulness and Purpose to Grow Your LQ (Leadership Quotient) Genine Wilson, Kelly Services HR Career Solutions Stage

Tuesday 10:55am:

• Develop Professionally through PIHRA Volunteer Leadership Liliana Argüello, PIHRA HR Career Solutions Stage

Tuesday 1:10pm:

• Propelling Your Career Forward Josh Chambers, PIHRA Career Center HR Career Solutions Stage

Tuesday 3:40pm:

• Future – Proof Brand You Haydee Antezana, Haydee Antezana International HR Career Solutions Stage

View all Solutions Stage sessions

Share this page with your +1 you want to empower using the share buttons on the right hand edge of the screen. If you’re not yet registered for CAHR18, register for a full pass below, or an Expo/Expo+ Pass here today and join us at the Long Beach Convention Center August 26-29!