Pre-Conference Focus Day

How can HR move beyond isolated initiatives to drive impact on what matters most to the business? This session explores how Edwards Lifesciences’ Organization Effectiveness team partners within HR and with business leaders to focus on the enterprise’s top strategic imperatives and bring an outside‑in, systems perspective to decision‑making. Drawing on insights from Edwards’ culture, organization, and talent work, the discussion highlights how strategy is translated into organizational action, shaping structure, skills, and ways of working in the age of AI, and shares practical questions HR leaders can use to strengthen alignment, effectiveness, and impact at scale.

• How can a rapidly scaling biotech empower every employee, from scientists to HR, to use AI confidently and effectively while maintaining a lean people function?
• Learn how Asimov rolled out a company wide AI initiative, introduced “vibe coding” to non-technical teams, embedded AI into recruiting and performance tools, and equipped employees with practical skills to automate workflows and accelerate decision making
• By leveraging AI powered applicant screening, manager enablement tools, and everyday productivity use cases, the organization is reducing manual workload, improving hiring efficiency, and enabling a team of one to support 30% annual growth, freeing capacity for higher value strategic work

Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Focus Day Chair

This session explores how organizations can leverage AI to transform traditional coaching and workforce productivity models. Learn practical strategies for implementing AI-driven coaching platforms and embedding AI tools across functions to unlock efficiency, reduce costs, and enable cultural and operational transformation.

• Overcoming adoption challenges and addressing privacy concerns
• Embedding AI into recruiting, performance, and everyday workflows
• Driving measurable improvements in engagement, retention, and productivity

Output Focused Action Session Facilitated by the Chair

Building on the Q&A insights, this roundtable invites participants to share experiences and strategies for embedding AI into organizational processes while maintaining trust and agility.

Together, we’ll explore how to balance innovation with employee confidence and create frameworks that sustain cultural alignment during rapid transformation.

• How do you build trust and overcome resistance when introducing AI into people processes?
• What practical steps help non-technical teams adopt AI confidently?
• How do you measure the ROI of AI-driven coaching and productivity initiatives?
• What cultural shifts are essential to make AI a catalyst for growth rather than disruption?

• HR business partners play a central role in guiding functions and teams to bridge the gap between technological innovation and real-world employee impact – all while upholding culture and values. This session explores how to lead and support a workforce through this oftentimes challenging transition
• How Genentech’s Commercial, Medical, and Government organization has approached the disruption of longstanding workflows with AI to amplify ingenuity and upskill its workforce, without sacrificing our culture
• Practical tips on how to use your business partners as strategic drivers to maximize the impact of these initiatives while ensuring our people and culture remains a competitive advantage, and demonstrating that a people-first culture is the essential engine of the business, even as the tools we use to support our people evolve

• How can organizations move beyond outdated practices and equip leaders with the skills needed to navigate unprecedented challenges?
• Explore strategies to upskill senior leadership, foster cross-functional teamwork, and create capacity for innovation – while leveraging AI as a tool for empowerment rather than efficiency alone
• Learn actionable steps to future-proof your organization, including how to address the growing skills gap at board level and build a culture of adaptability that drives sustainable growth

Interactive Q&A Session

This interactive Q&A explores how HR leaders in biotech can foster psychological safety while introducing AI-driven tools for recruitment, performance management, and workforce planning. Gain practical insights into building trust and transparency in AI-enabled processes, ensuring employees feel valued and secure during organizational transformation.

Roundtable Discussion

This roundtable builds on the Q&A session by focusing on how organizations can adapt culture and behaviors to remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. Explore how AIpowered tools can support personalized skill development while maintaining human connection and trust.

• How can organizations embed agility and resilience into their culture?
• What approaches help employees embrace change without losing alignment with organizational goals?
• How do you ensure AI-driven skill development remains ethical and human-centric?
• What practices foster trust and inclusion during technological transformation?

Discover how leading HR and business innovators are practically harnessing AI to unlock productivity, enhance decision‑making, and accelerate strategic impact. This candid fireside chat explores real use cases, lessons learned, and the mindset shifts required to adopt AI responsibly and at scale, offering attendees clear, actionable inspiration for what’s possible right now.