What is the HR Innovation Roundtable?

A powerful closed-door workshop bringing together 35 HR executives from leading global
brands for intimate discussions about specific challenges and transferable solutions.

Agenda: Day 1

June 26th, 2024

1:30-1:45 PM

Arrival Reception & Welcome

What You Will Learn

Welcome to Kyndryl’s Global Headquarters at One Vanderbilt, one of the 30 tallest buildings in the world and a skyline-defining tower in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Kyndryl is one of the newest members of the Fortune 500 that was created following the separation of IBM’s Managed Infrastructure Services business. With 90,000 highly skilled employees around the world, Kyndryl has the world’s best talent that designs, runs, and manages the most advanced and reliable technology infrastructure each day.

A shining beacon on the skyline, One Vanderbilt is a triumph of visionary placemaking and the epitome of the 21st-century workplace. Located in the city’s premier business district, with unrivalled access to Grand Central Terminal the space offers best-in-class connectivity, infrastructure, and technology readiness; making it perfectly tailored for the future workplace and to facilitate Kyndryl’s mission to advance the vital systems that power human progress.

1:45-2:15 PM

10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship

Speaker:

What you Will Learn:

The world's highest-performing teams understand that they will not win through leadership alone but through teamship—a profound shift from today’s time-poor, overstretched leaders and the hierarchical, hub-and-spoke model to a new peer-to-peer approach of sharing the leadership load with a team of peers who strive to elevate each other, the team, and the organization. Teamship delivers the ultimate competitive advantage.

• The power of Co-Elevation behaviors and how they can dramatically improve team performance

• Strategies for leveraging both human and AI perspectives to drive innovation and bold thinking

• Insights on building resilience, accountability, and sustained alignment around a shared vision

2:15-2:45 PM

How Kyndryl’s CEO is Leading Culture Change in an 80,000+ Person Start-Up

PanelistS:

What You Will Learn

Kyndryl's culture, known as The Kyndryl Way, lies at the heart of the company's turnaround story. Chairman and CEO Martin Schroeter emphasizes that their journey is about building a services-oriented culture that influences how they engage with each other, customers, and communities. The Kyndryl Way was shaped through a collaborative culture exchange among leaders and employees worldwide, requiring trust, empathy for diverse perspectives, and full transparency. They put The Kyndryl Way into practice to meet customers where they are and deliver transformative solutions to address their unique business challenges. The Kyndryl Way is defined as:

• Restless to continuously anticipate, learn, and innovate

• Empathetic to serve with trust and transparency

• Devoted to shared success

• Flat to empower accountable, inclusive teams

• Fast to cultivate simplicity everywhere

• Focused to deliver exceptional services

2:45-3:15 PM

Kyndryl's Culture and HR Transformation Journey: Everything All at Once

PANELISTS:

What You Will Learn

In today's fiercely competitive talent landscape, Chief HR Officers grapple with fostering a positive work culture that attracts and retains top-tier talent. Becoming an employer of choice can be advanced quickly as Kyndryl has proven in their short 3-year existence where they have transformed their HR processes and systems to support business transformation, nurture employee engagement and instill culture. Rosemarie and Mark will share that even during an incredibly complex transformation, the keys to success are leading with intention, aligning business strategies, effective governance, and change management practices. Practical insights will be shared on how to transform culture, foster inclusion, and build people systems to support their business model.

• Grounding HR process in Culture: How to leverage culture within an HR transformation

• Aligning HR and Business Strategy: How to ensure HR initiatives directly contribute to business goals and growth

• Transformative Leadership Development: Practical methods to cultivate leaders who drive organizational change

• HR Systems and Change Management: How to orchestrate effective change management to get the organization onboard with transformation

3:30-4:30 PM

The Paradigm of Employee Experience: Employees are now in Charge

PanelistS:

What You Will Learn

Organizations face increasing pressure to adapt to technological advancements and shifting workforce expectations. A well-designed EX strategy directly influences an organization's ability to attract and retain top talent, foster innovation, and maintain competitive advantage. Chief HR Officers play a crucial role in aligning EX initiatives with broader business objectives and must ensure cross-functional collaboration takes place to influence change and offer moments that matter. By enhancing EX, companies can achieve higher productivity levels, reduce turnover, and improve overall performance.

• Integrating EX with Business Strategy: Learn how to align your EX initiatives with your organization’s strategic goals to drive both employee satisfaction and business performance

• Leveraging Technology for EX: Explore how AI and other technologies can be used responsibly to enhance the employee experience without compromising human interaction

• Best Practices for Hybrid Work Models: The most effective ways to manage remote and in-office work arrangements to maximize employee engagement and productivity

4:30-5:30 PM

Insights from Kyndryl’s Executive “Culture Crew”: Strategic Culture Transformation at the Leadership Level

Panelists:

What You Will Learn

The CHRO has a critical role in empowering their fellow C-Suite Executives to become the change agents of organizational transformation, aligning culture and business strategy seamlessly. Today's Executive Leadership teams are grappling with unprecedented challenges in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. This session addresses the critical issues including the strategic importance of cultural transformation and its impact on business success. Ignoring these shifts can lead to stagnation, diminishing competitiveness, and a demotivated workforce unprepared for future demands. But by understanding and leveraging culture as a catalyst for transformation, CHROs can architect a thriving environment that aligns with and accelerates overall business objectives.

• Uncover actionable insights into embedding a culture-first approach within your organization's transformation strategy

• Learn how to work collaboratively across executive teams to create a unified commitment to culture

5:30-5:50 PM

Closing Remarks From Day #1

SPEAKERS:

A wrap up of the days content, actitivies and networking and the actions we can collectively take to build better workplaces and ways of working. Also a look ahead to what Day #2 will offer and some of the exciting topics and exchanges coming up.

5:50-7 PM

Networking, Hors d’oeuvre & Cocktails

Get to know your esteemed peers over some hors d'oeuvre and deliciously prepared cocktails. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with stunning views of New York City in the presence of your peers to learn, share and ponder over the key topics of what has taken place and what’s ahead for the upcoming day.

Agenda: Day 2

June 27th, 2024

8-8:40 AM

Registration & Breakfast followed by Welcome Reception

PanelistS:

Join us nice and early to grab a tasty bite to eat and your daily dose of caffeine to set you up for a full-on day of learning, sharing and innovating. At 8:30 AM hear a few words from our event MC (Matt), event host (Maryjo) and event partner (Will) on what to expect over the course of the day.

8:40-9:10 AM

Disrupt Yourself: The Key to Success in Uncertain Times

Speaker:

What You Will Learn

Join us for an enlightening session with Whitney Johnson, acclaimed Thinkers50 Management Thinker, as we explore the transformative power of disruptive innovation. In today’s rapidly evolving market landscape, the ability to adapt and innovate is more crucial than ever. This session delves into how disruptive companies and ideas revolutionize industries by fulfilling unmet needs and creating new market opportunities.

• Understanding Disruption: Gain insights into the theory of disruptive innovation and how it can be a powerful tool in both public and private sectors

• Applying Disruption to Your Path: Whether you are looking to pivot your business, propel your career forward, or inspire your team to embrace innovative thinking, this session will provide you with the frameworks to apply disruptive innovation effectively

• Managing Change: Learn how to navigate the S-curve of learning and mastery, a crucial skill for thriving in an era of constant disruption

9:10-10:30 AM

Empowering Teams for Success: The Crucial Role of Leadership in Today’s Business Landscape

PanelistS:

What You Will Learn

CEOs and CHROs are aligned on developing leadership and workforce capabilities and strengthening organizational culture. As labor shortages continue, CHROs have the ability to connect the dots between culture, leadership, retention, and productivity by investing in developing the workforce and its leaders. By boldly committing to workforce and leadership development, HR teams can effectively balance team development and dynamics to drive organizational achievements, particularly in a rapidly changing business environment.

• Strategies for Cultivating a Positive Work Culture: Learn how leadership can actively foster an environment that promotes engagement, collaboration, and well-being among employees

• Enhancing Team Adaptability: Gain insights on equipping teams with the skills and mindset needed to adapt to new challenges and opportunities swiftly and efficiently

• Navigating Change Management: Understand the critical role leaders play in guiding their teams through transitions and the tactics that can help mitigate the impact of change on performance and morale

10:45 AM-12:05 PM

The Impact of Becoming a Skills-Based Organization on Team Dynamics and Performance

PanelistS:

What You Will Learn

The shift towards a skills-based organizational structure represents a critical evolution in workforce management that CHROs must consider to stay competitive in today's dynamic business landscape. This transition from traditional job titles to focusing on specific skills addresses several pressing challenges, including adapting to rapid technological changes and meeting increasingly complex business demands. Failure to evolve into a skills-based approach can leave organizations struggling with talent mismatches, reduced agility, and missed opportunities for innovation. By prioritizing skills over titles, companies can tap into wider talent pools, enhance employee productivity, and promote fair access to opportunities, leading to improved retention rates and alignment with strategic goals. This approach not only supports operational efficiency but also drives long-term growth by ensuring that the workforce is equipped to meet future challenges.

• Transitioning Strategies: Learn effective strategies for moving from a job-based to a skills-centric organizational structure, ensuring a smooth transition that minimizes disruption while maximizing benefits

• Aligning Skills with Business Goals: Discover methods to integrate a skills-first approach with overall business strategies, ensuring that the shift supports sustainable growth and enhances organizational adaptability

• Revamping Talent Management: Gain insights on how to overhaul talent management and recruitment processes to focus on skills rather than traditional qualifications, which can lead to a more diverse and competent workforce

12:05-12:45 PM

Turning Intentions into Outcomes: Advancing Gender Parity in the Workplace

Panelists:

What you will learn

In today's globalized economy, achieving gender parity in the workplace is not just a moral imperative but a business necessity. Despite significant progress, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across various industries worldwide. This panel discussion brings together leading Global HR Executives to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and discuss the challenges and opportunities of fostering gender equality in the workplace. By addressing systemic barriers and promoting inclusive policies, organizations can unlock the full potential of their workforce, drive sustainable growth, and contribute to a more equitable society.

• Strategic Approaches to Gender Parity: Discover effective strategies and policies that have successfully promoted gender equality in multinational corporations

• Cultural Considerations and Global Implementation: Learn how to navigate cultural differences and implement gender parity initiatives across diverse geographical regions

• Leadership and Accountability: Understand the role of leadership in driving change and how to hold organizations accountable for progress in gender equality

• Measuring Impact and Success: Gain insights into the metrics and tools used to measure the effectiveness of gender parity programs and their impact on organizational performance

1:45-3:05 PM

How to Navigate the Shift from Productivity Metrics to Human Performance in the Modern Workplace

PanelistS:

What You Will Learn

Traditional productivity metrics, focused solely on outputs, often fail to capture the comprehensive value of employees, potentially leading to productivity paranoia and negatively impacting morale and efficiency. In a boundaryless work environment, emphasizing human capabilities like creativity and empathy is essential for organizational success. CHROs must navigate the shift away from these old paradigms to avoid issues like employee burnout and disengagement. By redefining productivity to align with both business and human outcomes and implementing new metrics that prioritize employee well-being and innovation, organizations can enhance overall performance and employee motivation. The panel will explore how CHROs can champion these changes, promoting a culture that genuinely measures and values human performance.

• Redefining Productivity: Learn how organizations can shift from traditional output-focused metrics to more meaningful measures of human performance, which consider factors like employee well-being, creativity, and their ability to innovate​

• Innovative Measurement Strategies: Discover how using new sources of data and technology can help create transparency and trust, allowing for a more accurate assessment of what drives human performance​

• Leadership's Role in Cultivating Human Performance: Understand the critical role of leaders in this transition, from setting the vision to operationalizing new performance metrics that prioritize human capabilities such as empathy and creativity​

3:20-4:40 PM

Transforming Teams: How AI is Changing Every Part of HR—and Every Role in the Company

PanelistS:

What You Will Learn

AI is already transforming HR, but expect this pace of change to exponentially increase where every role becomes more data-driven and efficient. AI tools are facilitating instant access to HR resources, streamlining strategic talent management, and employee experiences through conversational interfaces and automated processes. The advent of autonomous learning platforms indicates a shift towards personalized, AI-generated content in development programs. Moreover, AI in people analytics promises deeper workforce insights by integrating varied data sources. However, the implementation of AI in HR necessitates careful attention to data quality, privacy, and ethical considerations. As Chief HR Officers and their teams adapt to these changes, they will play a pivotal role in leveraging AI to foster innovation and operational efficiency within their organizations.

• AI in Recruitment: Discover how AI transforms recruiting, enabling precise talent matching and streamlining the hiring of specialized roles through advanced data analysis

• AI in Talent Management: Enhance strategic talent management by enabling the creation of dynamic growth plans, unbiased performance feedback, and equitable pay structures, ultimately driving more informed and fair HR practices

• AI in EX: Understand how AI transforms employee experience by enabling conversational interfaces and automating processes, significantly improving efficiency and personalization in HR interactions and recruitment

• Building the best Human + Machine Interactions: Reflections on how differently things are done because of the integrative power of AI and what the future holds for the AI-driven HR function of tomorrow

4:40-5 PM

Closing Remarks From Day #2, Thanks and Close

SPEAKERs:

A recap of the second day and all that was discussed, shared and what we learned. An opporunity to reflect on how we can better places to work at and remiagine how work gets done. And actionable advice on next steps to put in place before the next meeting at Merck’s Global Headqaurters in Rahway, New Jersey on October 21-22, 2024.

Apply to Attend

Please fill out your details in the form below.

We reserve the right to reject any registrations if your role is to provide HR services, products, or consultancy offerings.
The HR Leaders Innovation Roundtable is strictly reserved for Executive level HR Practitioners (both generalists & specialists).

Why Should You Attend the Innovation Roundtable?

Members

Hosted at Global Headquarters of Kyndryl, NYC

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