Beginning as a middle school teacher in Hawaii before moving to India and then to Kosovo as a Peace Corps volunteer, Jessica Abshire has spent more than a decade developing leaders around the world. Shifting her focus to corporate America, Jessica completed a master’s at Georgetown University in 2018 and currently works as a program specialist in organizational development, where she specializes in leadership development, performance management, and organizational development.

William Arruda is a motivational speaker, trainer, and the world’s leading authority on the topic of personal branding. He has been credited with turning the concept of personal branding into a global industry and has delivered learning experiences for many of the world’s most revered brands, including American Express, BP, Google, Gucci, LinkedIn, and Microsoft. He’s a bestselling author and a senior contributor to Forbes, where his column has received more than 17 million views.

Rocky Bandzeladze received his doctorate degree in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University. His academic work focuses on how leaders build inclusive and engaging organizational cultures, which he calls relational leadership. He holds an MBA from California State University, San Marcos, and two BA degrees in economics. Rocky is a founder of Agora Space Technologies Inc.—a fast-growing supply chain company in the aerospace industry. He currently serves as the company’s chief operation officer. Rocky has 25 years of leadership experience driving large-scale growth in financial organizations. He has expertise in organizational transformation, P&L management, and strategic planning and implementation. As an executive vice president, Rocky spearheaded the business banking division for Banc of California, focusing on businesses in the $3 million to $100 million annual revenue range. Rocky has unique insight into how different-sized companies operate across various industries. Before joining Banc of California, Rocky served as strategy manager at California Bank & Trust, leading strategic initiatives statewide in a turnaround environment for a major division of the bank.

Morgan Blount is the associate director of people experience and DEI for a health and wellness organization in Charlotte, NC. In this role, she leads DEI, engagement, and talent and culture initiatives. She has over 13 years of HR experience at various Fortune 500 organizations, including Target, Macy’s, and Citi. In addition to working in the field, Morgan also teaches human resources management and organizational leadership as an adjunct professor.

LaKisha C. Brooks, MSc, MEd, is the director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the International Coaching Federation and the former president-elect for the Greater Atlanta chapter of ATD for 2020. LaKisha previously worked for the Adidas Group under the Reebok brand, managing the field retail training, and she served as a coaching and mentoring board advisory board member for HR.com. She is also a contributor to ATD’s Organization Development Handbook.

Holly Burkett, PhD, SPHR, is an accomplished change agent, learning leader, and talent builder who is passionate about helping organizations develop resilient leadership capabilities that foster high engagement, well-being, and performance. A Prosci-certified change practitioner, certified Stakeholder Centered Coach, ROI Institute Associate, and Conference Board researcher, she is a sought-after speaker and coach. She is also the author of the award-winning Learning for the Long Run and a contributor to ATD’s Organization Development Handbook.

Rachel Cooke is the founder of Lead Above Noise, specializing in engaging and developing talent. She has been named by Inc. magazine as a Top 100 Leadership Speaker, and has had work featured in Thrive Global, Bloomberg, Fast Company, Business Insider, and more. She hosts Macmillan’s Modern Mentor podcast, delivering tips for achieving workplace success. Rachel holds her master’s degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University and her bachelor’s degree in human development from Cornell University.

Kelly Charles-Collins, keynote and award-winning TEDx speaker, retired trial attorney and law firm partner, speaker, mentor, and author, is a sought-after authority in courageous conversations, unconscious bias, and women’s empowerment.

A transformative speaker, Kelly’s media features include ABC, NBC, CBS, Time.com, Forbes, Fast Company, Authority magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, and more. She’s the author of Conversations Change Things: The “PER”fect Framework for Courageous Conversations.

Luke Davis brings 15+ years of experience as a leader in higher education and nonprofit operations, education, and leadership. He currently serves as the vice president of the International Coaching Federation leading the advancement of the global coaching profession. He holds credentials as a Certified Association Executive (CAE), Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and Society of Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

Anastasia Dedyukhina, PhD, is a global thought leader on digital well-being, two-time TEDx speaker, bestselling author of Homo Distractus, and founder of the international network of 100+ digital well-being coaches, Consciously Digital. Anastasia has spoken at more than 1,000 global conferences, including Mobile World Congress, National Wellness Conference, CIPD, ATD, and more, and has appeared numerous times in the national and international press, including BBC, ITV, Metro, Guardian, CDC Radio, El Pais, and more.

Collin George served in the US Army active component from 2007–2015 and currently serves in the Army as a reservist. During his time in both the active and reserve components, Collin has held a broad range of leadership responsibilities, from company leadership to his current position as a battalion commander. He has led soldiers in multiple combat tours in Afghanistan to missions in the Pacific theater to support various training mission types.

In 2015, Collin joined Talent Matters LLC. Talent Matters is a full-service talent management firm that provides predictive talent analytics and training that help people and organizations grow. Collin’s areas of expertise include the effective use of assessment tools for talent decisions and leadership development training.

His academic experience includes a BS in business administration from Carson Newman University and an MBA from Syracuse University. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff Officers College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Lola Gershfeld, CEO of EMC LEADERS Inc, is an organizational psychologist and company culture advocate. She is a developer of a groundbreaking and empirically supported approach, the Emotional Connection process, or EmC, which is based on the science of attachment and adult bonding. EmC has shown significant effectiveness in dealing with workplace conflicts, team dynamics, and employee engagement. With more than 900 cases, Lola and her company, EmC Leaders, have helped teams and companies gain the necessary skills to create strong relationships and safe environments to facilitate growth, improved culture, and higher productivity. Lola leads several EmC research projects on the effectiveness of emotional connection and workplace conflict, engagement, and turnover intentions. She is the co-author of Emotional Connection: The EmC Strategy: How Leaders Can Unlock the Human Potential, Build Resilient Teams, and Nurture Thriving Cultures and the author of The Connected Culture, the EmC Master Class, and EmC Trainer Certification online courses. Lola serves on the UC Santa Barbara Women Leadership Advisory Board and is a co-host of the podcast The Leader in You.

Alexis is the org design practice lead for August Public. She is an expert in org design, change management, and the future of work. She has worked with some of the world’s most respected companies to design and implement new ways of working that are more agile and equitable. Before becoming a partner at August, Alexis was the org design lead at Zappos.com and a design lead at IDEO’s Design for Change Studio. Alexis has presented at conferences including SXSW, Culture First, and Transform.

Ryan Gottfredson, PhD, is a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. Ryan is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Success Mindsets and The Elevated Leader. He is also a leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton.

April Hennessey is director of innovation and DEI practice lead for Blanchard. She is a learning experience designer, consultant, strategist, and innovator who drives business results through enterprise-aligned, award-winning solutions. She is thrilled that her work allows her to merge her playfulness as a tinkerer in the Innovation Lab with her passion for inclusion and accessibility. She lives with her wife, three kids, two cats, two rabbits, and a puppy and serves in two elected positions.

Dr. Sy Islam has more than 10 years of experience in a variety of corporate, academic, and applied settings. He has served in management, consultant, and research roles. He is an associate professor of industrial-organizational psychology and collaborates with organizations through consulting engagements in his areas of expertise. He is a passionate advocate for industrial-organizational psychology and uses the techniques and tools of I/O psychology in his consulting practice.

Cheryl Jackson is a business consultant with a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology. She has more than 15 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries, including big box retailers, manufacturing, healthcare, finance, defense, and travel. Cheryl is driven by helping employees thrive through engagement with their work. She accomplishes this through the design of strategic human resources and talent management solutions.

David is a seasoned L&D executive with 17+ years of experience in operations, strategy, and leadership. He’s an expert in curriculum design, instructor-led and virtual training, content development, and adult learning theories. With an MBA and multiple certifications, he’s designed training programs for thousands of learners and developed learning strategies for organizations. In 2021, David won the TiER1 Performance Excellence in Learning & Performance Award for building healthier, higher-performing organizations.

Alli Lake, PhD, PCC, is the director of strategic initiatives for ICF Coaching Education. She has more than eight years of experience in higher education and association management focused on leadership development, volunteer management, collaboration, and learning and development. Alli holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Credential from the International Coaching Federation and is certified in Gallup CliftonStrengths, EQi 2.0 and EQi 360, Mental Health First Aid, and mindfulness.

Annie McManus leads GP Strategies’ employee engagement practice. She provides consulting on measurement strategy and data analysis, and she partners with her clients to equip their employees to have more great days at work. She has partnered with hundreds of clients across all industries (especially government, insurance, banking, retail, energy, and manufacturing) on their internal employee engagement strategy, advising clients on all aspects of their measurement strategy.

Beth Messich is the principal and founder of Beth Messich Coaching and Consulting. A seasoned L&D and talent management executive and leadership coach, Beth has spent the past 15+ years creating learning and talent solutions for companies ranging from early-stage startups to mature global brands. She collaborates closely with clients to create strategies, resources, and programs that are authentic to the organization and reach the best outcome.

Jodi Petersen, Co-Founder and CEO of MentorStrat, has a vision to make mentoring accessible for all by teaching organizations how to create and scale mentoring programs aligned with their top talent and DEIB objectives. As the mother of biracial children and an adult son with a TBI, Jodi is a passionate ally for people who face discrimination and exclusion. Jodi donates a portion of the team’s time leading a mentoring group for practitioners currently working in the mentoring space.

Tina builds on 20 years of operations, technology consulting, and HR leadership experience to provide facilitation and coaching solutions to organizations ready to unleash the potential of their people. She co-creates talent programs that drive business outcomes and deliver human results, partnering with leaders from prominent organizations, including Fabletics, FOX Sports, National Wildlife Federation, SAP, and Savage X Fenty. She lives in Los Angeles with her writer husband and two pet parrots.

An award-winning leader featured in CLO magazine and named Diversity Changemaker of the Year, Mary Schlegel is passionate about developing learning solutions that unleash the unique potential of each individual. Under her leadership, Labcorp’s Reverse, Diverse Mentoring Program earned a Gold Brandon Hall Award for best advance in mentoring for DEI. Mary credits her determination to the powerful examples of her immigrant mother and father with disabilities and her experiences as an LGBTQ+ woman of color.

Alex Suchman is CEO and cofounder of Barometer XP (BXP), a company that uses games to spark insightful conversations about how team members can better communicate and collaborate toward shared goals.

Prior to BXP, Alex founded a consulting firm that helped small organizations through simple systems, stronger organizing techniques, and better planning. She received her MPP from the George Washington University and her BA from Colby College, and she is a certified PMP & DISC coach.

Sarah Sprott is the director of talent development at Candid. She leads all staff learning initiatives and employee engagement events. Prior to joining Candid, Sarah spent a decade working in learning and development in NYC. She received a BA in political science from Michigan State University and a JD from Charlotte School of Law. Sarah began her career with Teach For America, teaching ninth grade English. In her free time, she enjoys being an opera lover, foodie, and travel enthusiast.

Karen Thrall is an executive coach who specializes in communication, culture, leadership, and sales. Author of Deal With It Now or Deal With It Later, she is an accomplished speaker and trainer with more than 20 years of experience in providing unique insights and actionable strategies that help companies accelerate their growth and ignite people’s love for their work, their teams, and their customers. Karen and her husband live in California, and she loves hiking trails and exploring craft breweries everywhere.

Reid Tolley has 35 years of global experience in business leadership, private businesses, human resources, talent development, and executive coaching.

Reid has subject matter expertise in organization design, change process, talent management, identifying and developing emerging leaders, workforce engagement, performance management, training and education, and human resources general practice. He has significant global work experience with manufacturing, professional services, higher education, and the US military.

Reid’s experience base is often utilized to create lasting competitive advantage through developing and leveraging robust talent benches and developing both senior and emerging leaders. He regularly engages with clients as a facilitator for leadership team building and talent-related planning.

Markus Voelker holds master’s degrees in psychology, cultural anthropology, and international law. Early in his career, he focused on training and organizational development as part of international development efforts. After corporate organization development experiences as human capital manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Andersen Consulting, he joined the United Nations System to head several corporate learning teams with the ambition to make organization development sustainable.

Catherine W. Corey, MPA, SPHR, ACC, CAE, is chief goodness officer at Good for the Soul Consulting. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across industries, she helps organizations cultivate talent and get results through coaching, facilitation, training, and HR and OD leadership. The common thread in Catherine’s work is ensuring safe spaces for uncomfortable and necessary conversations because, from a place of genuine psychological safety, people can accomplish extraordinary things together.

B.J. is a training manager at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture. He has more than 16 years of experience in training and organizational development. Before joining APHIS in 2017, he served in the Peace Corps, both as a volunteer and on staff. B.J. holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wabash College and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Amanda Wickramasinghe is a scholar-practitioner. She has been in education and international affairs for more than a decade in multiple industries. Additionally, she has been teaching in graduate programs for global leadership, organizational leadership, human resources management, and international studies. She oversees education initiatives for ERA brokers and collaborates with international organizations for global assignments for Wickra Consulting. Amanda is an advisor on multiple international outreach and research committees, creating strategic partnerships. Amanda has traveled extensively internationally and interviewed global leaders for her contributions to literature about foreign policy. As an advocate for international leadership, her research spans global competencies, international relations, educational technology, and global policy. Amanda earned her EdD and PhD at Pepperdine University. Most recently, Amanda was one of the recipients of the inaugural post-doctoral fellowship at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine. Amanda was appointed to the Board of Visitors and was recognized as an Inaugural 40 under 40 Honoree at Pepperdine University.

Colette Williamson has been working for Southwest Airlines as a training and development leader since 2010. She is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience. She began her career in Canada in education, but she decided to combine her passion for training with her love for travel and began her journey with Southwest Airlines. Colette is currently a senior leader in the Talent & Leadership Development Department. She is passionate about leadership development, hospitality, and corporate culture.

Peter Williamson is a professional golfer turned entrepreneur who uses his love and knowledge of games, design, and philanthropy to catalyze change in communities. In addition to cofounding Barometer XP, he leads a DC-based creative agency called Game Genius, co-chairs a local giving circle, sits on two nonprofit boards, and is an active Global Shapers member. Peter has a BA in studio art and geography from Dartmouth College.

Tonya Wilson is president and founder of AFC Consulting Group. She is a business leader, entrepreneur, consultant, and coach with more than 20 years of expertise in organization effectiveness, change management, and DEI. As a practitioner of I/O psychology and organization development, she uses evidence-based tools to connect people to strategy. She is a contributor to the ATD Handbook for Talent Development (DEI), the ATD Body of Knowledge (culture and inclusion), and the upcoming ATD Consultant Handbook (OD consulting). She is also the SME designer for the ATD DEI in Talent Development Certificate Program. She facilitates change management and DEI for ATD. Her mission statement is “setting you up to win.”