Toronto CHRO Virtual Executive Summit

Now in the second year of COVID-19, the reality of pandemic-related fears and trauma have initiated a new form of climate change: a worsening psychological climate in the workplace. Many experts believe that employee wellbeing – a key factor in engagement and productivity – will take a long time to fully recover in a workplace that may look and feel far different than before.

Join this session with the CEO and CHRO of LifeWorks where they will discuss their partnership in:

• Orienting workplace culture more meaningfully around a corporate purpose that values employee wellbeing as an ESG priority.
• Ensuring mental health and wellbeing issues are addressed from a C-suite perspective to better support HR leaders on the front lines. 
• Strategies that reflect DEI factors, given the mental health challenges that marginalized populations have experienced in the pandemic.

Workforce needs and expectations around well-being solutions have vastly and permanently changed. Employees now expect well-being programs that support all dimensions of their lives, and organizations are looking to create sustainable health and well-being strategies that go beyond the typical norms of care and drive the broader business objectives.

Join this session to discuss:

• Accurately identifying gaps and understanding whole-person wellness needs in a hybrid environment
• Developing inclusive and engaging wellness programs for current and future workforce
• Understanding key data and insights around whole-person benefits to enable recruitment, retention and employee productivity

Prompted by the pandemic, social issues and a new hybrid workplace, CHROs are in the spotlight now more than ever. HR leaders are now tasked with greater accountability for driving business success, shepherding the workforce through change and ensuring culture and connection are in place across the organization. How can CHROs navigate the complexities of this new world of work; while also balancing their own personal well-being?

Join this Keynote session to explore how CHROs can:

• Align with the C-Suite and Board on critical issues to sustain progress made and advance business objectives
• Embrace a flexibility-first approach to empower employees and foster a culture of belonging
• Lean into continual change, build personal resiliency and manage leader burnout

After a year and a half of challenges, disruptions, and change, HR leaders across Canada are increasingly turning to their organization’s total rewards and recognition programs to build a strong workplace culture that can weather the storms of the Great Resignation, keep their teams connected in a hybrid environment, and foster a greater sense of belonging. 

In this boardroom session, HR leaders will share research and insights into:

• Bringing authentic employee experiences to life
• Creating connected teams in a hybrid environment
• Fostering a more inclusive culture of belonging

Driven by social responsibility, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have soared. Organizations can no longer sit on the sidelines as employees now expect a workplace with an inclusive culture, equitable development opportunities and a strong sense of belonging. What can be learned from progress made thus far, and how can CHRO’s level up their DE&I efforts to empower employees and create sustainable, lasting change?

In this session, HR leaders will discuss how to:

• Unify independent initiatives across the organization to create a cohesive and collaborative approach to DE&I
• Develop programs to elevate underrepresented talent and increase diverse representation in leadership
• Create accountability beyond the HR function to help drive DE&I initiatives across all aspects of the business

As we come upon the end of 2021, what initiatives are you most proud of as a leader? What are your passion projects in your professional and personal lives? Join this interactive and collaborative session to connect and celebrate the bright spots in a demanding career — and year.

Today’s organizations have had to adapt to a wide range of market challenges and the transformations on which CHROs tend to focus are the large, strategic initiatives. But more often than not, businesses need to transform on many levels, continuously, and with an operational focus on driving ever-greater efficiencies.

Join this interactive session to explore:

• HR’s role in transformation and organization design and how CHRO’s can play a more integral part in the business
• How HR leaders can spot trends and take a proactive, rather than reactive approach to transformation initiatives
• Leveraging data and technology to deliver more effective change

In any given week, 500,000 employed Canadians cannot work due to mental health issues. Facing one of the greatest health challenges of our time, CHROs must find new ways to build the innate resilience of employees to help reduce absence and burnout, improve productivity and increase retention. How can leaders take tangible steps to better support employees’ mental health and thereby increase overall organizational resilience?

In this session, HR leaders will explore:

• Key insights surrounding mental health impacts and long-term implications for the business
• How to understand the unique stressors of a diverse workforce and align programs accordingly
• Fostering a culture of connection in a hybrid environment to better support employee mental health and build individual resilience

The pandemic gave workers the time and motivation to reevaluate work, the relationship with their employer and the trajectory of their lives. As a result, CHROs now find themselves navigating what is truly a great resignation for some organizations, but not all. What can be learned from those who are winning on the talent stage, and how can organizations stay competitive in a candidate market?

In this Keynote session, HR leaders will discuss:

• How to balance heightened employee expectations and demands with organizational goals and constraints
• Evolving the employer brand and leveraging employee experience to combat attrition and drive key talent acquisition initiatives
• Looking beyond traditional talent sources and building a long-term, sustainable talent strategy for the future

Don't miss this opportunity to meet with CHRO practitioners and industry thought leaders who shared their insights on the agenda.
Come with questions from the sessions you attended in this gathering designed to foster peer connections and collaboration in the Toronto community.

Identifying future leaders is a constant struggle for many organizations. There have historically been subjective measurements to evaluate leadership capability and high potentials. Currently, new factors such as hybrid/remote work, resignations, and retirements are leaving employee development pipelines drained and organizations looking for new solutions for leadership development.

In this session, HR leaders will discuss:

• Identifying and measuring leadership potential, as well as performance readiness
• Removing historical biases to find the hidden gems within your organization
• How to be proactive rather than reactive in building a leadership pipeline

Recent studies have shown that employee experience practices greatly influence critical people outcomes such as performance, retention, connectedness and satisfaction. But to truly understand employee needs in this new world, and take measurable action to fulfill them, organizations need a more holistic approach.

Join this interactive session to discuss:

• Key practices that differentiate EX leaders from laggards
• Leveraging technology to better understand behaviors and amplify the employee voice
• Creating opportunities for feedback and action to drive a culture of trust and transparency

The labor shortage has organizations searching for creative ways to attract new talent and prevent attrition. As a result, many CHRO’s are re-evaluating their benefits offerings to maximize flexibility, increase engagement and support a workforce with diverse needs. But between budget constraints, bids for new and improved benefits in addition to increased employee demands, how and where do you compromise?

Join this interactive session to discuss:

• Key trends in employee expectations vs offerings, and which benefits are considered “deal breakers”
• Understanding the diversity of your workforce and designing personalized offerings to meet contrasting employee needs
• Sustainable solutions to help reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and foster a culture of wellness

Meet virtually for in-depth conversations with your colleagues