AGENDA

Check in, receive your event materials, directions to the event area and answers to any questions you may have.

Join us to officially kick off SPARK TALENT 2025!

Interactive Workshop

More information coming soon.

Interactive Workshop

More information coming soon.

Stretch your legs, chat with some of our sponsors and get a refreshment.

Interactive Workshop

More information coming soon.

Interactive Workshop

More information coming soon.

Start your morning off right with breakfast and networking opportunities.

Kick off the day two of SPARK TALENT 2025 with speaker sessions!

General Session

Speaker: Ross Sparkman

Author and Senior Director, Workforce Strategy, Walmart

More information coming soon.

Move your body, grab a refreshing drink and chat with some of our sponsors.

General Session

Speaker: Bertand Dussert

Vice President, Talent Acquisition, Staples

More information coming soon.

Move your body and chat with some of our sponsors.

General Session

Speaker: Blair Bennett

Senior Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, PepsiCo

More information coming soon.

Grab a bite to eat and chat with your fellow attendees.

General Session

Speaker: Peter Louch

Founder and CEO, Vemo Inc.

More information coming soon.

General Session

Speaker: David Hamill

Director, Human Capital Programs, Federal Aviation Administration

More information coming soon.

New room, new ideas to SPARK!

General Session

More information coming soon.

General Session

Speaker: Sarah Sheffer

Senior Manager, HR Data & Analytics, ADM

In this session, we will cover the essential steps of creating and implementing a people analytics strategy that can deliver powerful insights while operating with limited resources. In today’s environment, many organizations face budget constraints, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the value people analytics can bring. This session will provide practical, budget-friendly strategies for leveraging existing resources to build a data-driven HR strategy that aligns with your organization’s overall goals.

In this session you will learn:

• How to identify the most important data and metrics to track, even with limited resources.
• Cost-effective data collection methods, including using existing HR systems and low-cost tools.
• Simple yet impactful ways to analyze data and turn insights into actionable recommendations.
• How to align people analytics with broader business goals, even without expensive tools.
• Strategies for effectively communicating your insights to leadership and showing ROI on people analytics.

Take a few minutes to stretch and move to a new room with us.

General Session

Speaker: Jennifer Kirkwood

Executive, HR/Talent & Data, Partner, Responsible AI, IBM Consulting

Generative AI isn’t just an evolution in talent acquisition. And this is not yesterday’s session of basics in GenAI. This session is your gateway to a new era of hiring strategies. How we find the people and skills, engage and retain talent is shifting faster than ever. Those who fail to adapt risk falling behind. In the true language of the business, the ability to impact the bottom-line numbers is critical to survival.

Join industry leader, with deep expertise in HR Tech & (Gen)AI, Jen Kirkwood, as we explore how generative AI is unlocking a new frontier in talent acquisition – from sourcing, skills and engagement to the new skills a recruiter must master, and the governance which is shaping these talent strategies. This session sizzles in excitement! Join us and step into the future of talent acquisition.

In this session, you will learn:

• The application of generative AI and the business metrics it impacts.
• Most effective AI governance and compliance guardrails for talent.
• The Real-World impact leading companies have by leveraging generative AI and revolutionizing their hiring.
• How recruiters can work smarter and faster to elevate their careers.

General Session

Speaker: Peter Lynch

Chief People Officer, Cardinal Group Companies

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a disruptor—it’s a game-changer for Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition. The rapid rise of AI is reshaping industries, workflows, and career trajectories at an unprecedented pace. While many fear AI will eliminate jobs, the true risk lies in failing to adapt. The professionals and organizations that integrate AI into their strategies will not only survive but thrive in this new landscape.
In this transformative keynote, TEDx speaker Peter Lynch will explore how AI is redefining the very fabric of talent management, recruitment, and career development. Through compelling real-world stories, He will explore the intersection of AI and human authenticity, uncovering how professionals can future-proof their careers, harness AI for innovation, and maintain their distinctiveness in an era of automation.
The key to future-proofing your career and your workforce isn’t resisting AI—it’s harnessing it to amplify human strengths. AI can accelerate decision-making, optimize talent acquisition, and predict workforce needs with unmatched precision, but it cannot replace the human qualities that drive culture, creativity, and innovation.
This keynote is both a wake-up call and a roadmap—offering leaders, recruiters, and professionals an actionable strategy to stay ahead of the curve. The future of work belongs to those who embrace AI without losing their human edge.

In this session you will learn:

• The AI-Enabled Workforce – Understand how AI is transforming hiring, talent forecasting, and workforce management, and what that means for your strategy.
• Adapt or Get Left Behind – Discover the essential skills and competencies that will keep professionals and organizations competitive in an AI-driven economy.
• The Human Advantage – Master what AI can’t replace: culture-building, creative problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and leadership.
• Action Plan for AI Integration – Walk away with concrete steps to embrace AI in recruitment, workforce planning, and career development—ensuring you stay ahead of the curve.

More information coming soon!

Start our last day together with breakfast and networking opportunities.

Kick off the final day of SPARK TALENT 2025!

General Session

Speaker: Meghan Rhatigan

Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition Experience, Marriott International

More information coming.

Move your body, grab a refreshing drink and chat with some of our sponsors.

General Session

Speaker: Ross Mahaffey

Head of Tech Recruiting, Vanta

More information coming soon.

Stretch and grab a little snack before the next session.

General Session

Speaker: Tabitha Wright

Head of Talent Programs, GE HealthCare

In today’s fast-changing workforce, having the right talent ready at the right time isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. Join Tabitha Wright, Head of Talent Programs at GE Healthcare as she guides you through the strategies and structures needed to build a dynamic talent pipeline that ensures your organization stays ahead. From identifying key roles and sourcing top talent to succession planning and retention, you’ll gain practical tools to future-proof your workforce.

Join us to explore proven talent pipeline strategies that drive business continuity, foster diversity and inclusion, and create a steady flow of skilled, engaged talent to meet your organization’s evolving needs.

In this session, you will learn:

• Define and optimize your talent pipeline to support long-term business goals.
• Identify critical roles that require a consistent, high-quality talent flow.
• Leverage diverse sourcing strategies, including partnerships with universities, military programs, and internships.
• Develop talent from within through structured training, mentorship, and upskilling programs.
• Align talent pipelines with succession planning to ensure leadership continuity.
• Build inclusive hiring practices that strengthen workforce diversity.
• Use data and analytics to measure pipeline effectiveness and make smarter hiring decisions.
• Engage and retain high-potential candidates, keeping them connected until the right opportunity arises.

General Session

More information coming.

New room, new ideas to SPARK!

General Session

More information coming soon.

Let's close out SPARK TALENT 2025 with a bang.