2026 CHRO Summit Agenda
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Wednesday, March 4
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | DaVinci Lawn & Terrance
Welcome Reception
Enjoy drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and good company as you mingle and
get to know fellow attendees.
Thursday, March 5
8:00 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. | Salons III–IV
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Reports of the Membership and Nominating Committees
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer / Salons I–II
Check-In and Breakfast
Pick up your name badge and conference materials at our check-in desk
located in The Ritz-Carlton Foyer. Then, prepare for the day with a
breakfast buffet in Salons I-II.
8:20 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. | Salons III–IV
The CEO-CHRO Partnership: A Fireside Chat
Optum CEO Patrick Conway and CPO Kristi Hummel will discuss how they collaborate to transform healthcare delivery for millions of Americans. Discover how their strategic alignment on talent, technology, and operational scale enables Optum to tackle the industry's most pressing challenges—from rising costs to access barriers to quality outcomes. This intimate conversation will explore how purpose-driven leadership, workforce innovation, and technology create competitive advantage while delivering measurable value for customers and patients. The discussion offers a rare opportunity to learn from executives leading one of healthcare's most influential organizations through a period of unprecedented industry transformation.
9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer
Morning Break
Recharge with coffee and light refreshments in the foyer while connecting with peers between sessions.
9:40 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Salons III–IV
Leading the Hybrid Human-AI Workforce
AI is an emerging co-worker, not just a tool. Wharton Professor Ethan Mollick, moderated by Parker Mitchell from Valence, explores the shift from "using" tech to collaborating with it. He positions the CHRO as the R&D leader for work, responsible for navigating the "Jagged Frontier"—the specific zone where human expertise meets machine capability.
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Ethan Mollick
Innovation Expert & Artificial Intelligence Thought Leader; Professor of Entrepreneurship
The Wharton School
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10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer
Relocation Break
Recharge with coffee and light refreshments in the foyer as you navigate your way to the first of two breakout sessions.
10:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
AI Breakout Sessions Round One
Choose two from a selection of four AI-focused breakout sessions—attend one before and one after lunch.
Salon V
Developing the AI-Enabled Workplace
Focus on developing workforce capabilities for an AI enabled workplace, with skills and learning as the starting point and AI as an enabler. Rebecca Hinds, PhD will anchor the session with research and case examples, followed by CHRO perspectives and discussions on what members are trying, what is working, and what is not.
Napoli
Measuring What Matters: The Real ROI of Enterprise AI
As generative AI moves from experimentation to execution, CHROs are under pressure to demonstrate business impact — not just efficiency gains. In this session, leaders from Workday and Danaher share how they are defining, measuring, and communicating the ROI of AI investments across talent, productivity, and operating models. Panelists will discuss what early value looks like, what metrics resonate with CEOs and boards, and what it takes to turn test-and-learn pilots into repeatable enterprise wins.
Salon VI
Inside Implementation: How Enterprise HR Leaders Are Deploying AI at Scale
In this hands-on breakout, walk through what AI implementation really looks like inside a global organization. From identifying priority use cases to navigating change management, governance, workforce readiness, and IT integration, this session offers a transparent look at the decisions, trade-offs, and leadership rhythms required to move beyond pilots and deliver meaningful business impact. Ideal for CHROs who want a grounded roadmap for scaling AI responsibly and effectively.
Siena
Early Lessons from CHROs Leading AI Adoption
Three CHROs share short “case stories” (what we tried, what worked, what didn’t) followed by guided peer conversations. The focus is on honest trade-offs, not polished success stories.
11:55 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. | Salons I-II
Informal Networking Luncheon
Get to know or reconnect with attendees during this informal networking luncheon—an easy opportunity recharge ahead of the afternoon discussions.
12:55 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
AI Breakout Sessions Round Two
Choose a second AI-focused breakout session from the four options
listed above.
1:55 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer
Afternoon Break
Grab a beverage and a quick snack in the foyer as you pause and reconnect before the final two sessions of the day.
2:05 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Salons III–IV
World-Class HRBPs: Insights from CAHRS and Real-World Practice
Dive deep into how the HRBP role has transformed — and where it’s headed. In this session, we’ll explore findings from the Cornell Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS)’s “World Class HRBP Framework,” and discuss what defines a world-class HRBP today. You’ll hear real-world stories of how organizations have restructured their HRBP model to meet modern business demands—and leave with actionable ideas to elevate your own HRBP function.
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Christopher J. Collins
Professor of HR Studies, Director of MILR ProgramSchool of Industrial and Labor Relations
Cornell University
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3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Salons III–IV
Caregiving as a Workforce Imperative:
Closing the Awareness and Access Gap
Although 81% of employers say they offer caregiving support, 61% of employees don’t know it exists—and caregiver stress continues to climb. This panel unpacks what effective caregiver support looks like in practice: financial wellness programs, communication strategies, and benefits designs that actually reach employees. Leave with a clearer understanding of both the opportunity and the organizational risks of inaction.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer
Evening Reception
7:00 p.m. | Salons III-IV
Summit Dinner & Entertainment
Enjoy an expertly prepared three-course meal and special entertainment by the CHRO Association Staff Band, Consensus.
Afterward | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer
The CHROs’ Nest Lounge Reimagined!
Join fellow attendees for a special after-dinner reception featuring all new entertainment and activities!
Friday, March 6
7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Salons III-IV
Networking Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Salons III-IV
Leadership in a Restless World: Geopolitics,
Governance, and Resilience
From cybersecurity to shifting alliances, the external environment is increasingly volatile. Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and Commander of U.S. Southern Command, offers a strategic briefing on the geopolitical forces shaping the business climate. Now Vice Chair at The Carlyle Group, he shares exactly what CHROs should be watching—and why steady leadership is the ultimate risk mitigation tool. Attendees will receive a signed copy of his book, The Admiral’s Bookshelf.
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | The Ritz-Carlton Foyer
Morning Break
Recharge with coffee and light refreshments in the foyer.
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. | Salons III-IV
From Policy to Practice: Navigating Workforce Priorities Under the Trump Administration
CHROs and General Counsels face shared responsibility for navigating today’s evolving enforcement environment. Join the Association’s experts for an interactive conversation on how employers are aligning legal, HR, and compliance strategies across DEI, immigration, AI, and employee benefits issues. This session will highlight where exposure is emerging on the federal and state levels, how leading companies are coordinating internally to manage risk, and practical steps for maintaining compliance while supporting business and talent strategies.
10:50 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. | Salons III-IV
What “Human Thriving” Means in the Workplace
Employees are carrying more than work. Many are navigating loneliness, constant news, social divisiveness, climate-related disruption, and anxiety about how AI will change jobs and identity. With external instability draining workforce resilience, CHROs must move beyond traditional wellness to a holistic strategy of "Human Thriving" and human-centered leadership. Panelists will share how intentional work design and leadership habits can sustain energy, purpose, and connection to reduce depletion while maintaining high performance.
11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Salons III–IV
Closing Remarks
