Agenda

Keynote

The Business Case for Learning: Rethinking How L&D Creates Value

Learning plays a far greater role in business performance than it is often given credit for — but we don’t always talk about it that way. In this opening keynote, an industry expert will explore how learning creates enterprise value, why traditional proof points often fall short, and how L&D leaders can reframe their work in terms that resonate with the business. This session sets the tone for the event by grounding every conversation that follows in a shared belief: learning is not just supportive — it is strategic.

Peer-led Vendor* Clinic

LMS vendors

*We are a vendor-free community, so these “vendor clinics” are a special opportunity to dig-in, ask tough questions, and get candid feedback — not a sales pitch.

Open, peer-led discussions where you can find workarounds and share successes (and frustrations) with the LMS vendor integral to your program’s success. If you aren’t a customer but are considering an investment in a particular vendor, you can get an honest assessment from other brands who use the tool. In this clinic, we’ll focus on:

Meet up with a buddy or make a new friend during this open networking lunch hour. 

Following our afternoon of conversations and case studies, we’ll all go out for a fantastic dinner together. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect with your fellow members before a big day of brainstorming, discussion, and collaboration.

The conversations over coffee and eggs at this event are often more lively than any other conference’s happy hour — so plan to arrive on-time (and hungry).

This networking breakfast is intentionally designed to make it easy to meet and connect with peers who share a similar L&D focus. There’s no structured discussion or prompts — just time and space to build relationships, exchange perspectives, and kick off the day with meaningful connections.

Panel

Centralized, decentralized, or federated? The L&D org structure showdown

Panelists coming soon!

During lunch, we’ll host industry-based discussion tables so members can connect with peers navigating similar business models, workforce dynamics, and learning challenges. Participants can choose the table that best reflects their industry:

EXAMPLE TOPICS:

• Managing L&D intake and prioritization
• Funding and resourcing L&D programs
• Driving manager accountability for development
• Balancing standardization and flexibility in L&D

EXAMPLE TOPICS:

• Incentives, nudges, and signals that increase learning participation
• Driving adoption of learning platforms after launch
• Scaling mentorship and coaching programs
• Onboarding beyond orientation

EXAMPLE TOPICS:

• AI governance and guardrails in L&D
• Deciding when L&D builds, buys, or partners
• Prioritizing which skills to build for the future
• Designing and using L&D dashboards

Panel

The future of learning: What changes, what stays, and what matters most next

Panelists coming soon!