As the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown approaches, certainty about the future remains in short supply. But employers continue working hard to take care of their workers through this pandemic. And that means, of course, that HR technology continues to evolve—in many cases at a faster pace than ever.
Enter Spring HR Tech, the first-ever spring conference that will bring together the HR community to see how technology can help them accomplish their goals, whatever they might be in these fast-changing times. The second virtual and free HR Tech conference, complete with a state-of-the-art virtual HR tech marketplace featuring hundreds of vendors, will be March 16-19 and you can register here.
Beyond the marketplace, the daily agenda features keynotes from such thought leaders and industry experts as analyst Josh Bersin, author Torin Ellis and CEO Mimi Brooks.
Related: 3 realities about today’s HR tech market
Jeanne Achille
“HR technology has been elevated beyond business-critical infrastructure, beyond HR, payroll and benefits,” says conference chair Jeanne Achille, who also chairs the Women in HR Tech Summit at HR Tech each fall. “During what turned out to be a redefining year for all organizations, it’s HR technology that helped hold teams together; develop new leaders; and provide a path forward. It consistently demonstrated how an HR tech investment intended for one function could deliver numerous outcomes. As we learn the new order of business, we’re excited to feature keynote presentations from those who are shaping the next generation of HR technology.”
Here’s a quick look at some of the keynotes. For more information, visit HRTechConference.com.
In the opening keynote at 11 a.m. March 16, Bersin, global analyst and dean of the Josh Bersin Academy, will discuss HR technology to expect in the coming year and how it can bring about critical workplace changes.
Later, at 4:45 p.m., talent acquisition expert Jackye Clayton will discuss why and what type of new tactics and strategies are required to make diversity recruiting successful in 2021.
On March 17, Brooks, CEO of consulting firm Logical Design Solutions, will start the day at 11 a.m. by addressing how organizations need to adjust their culture, leadership models and other strategies to build resilience for the future.
Also featured that day is a panel discussion of HR leaders, moderated by industry analyst John Sumser, on the topic of demands and changes facing CHROs right now using the results of Human Resource Executive®‘s annual “What Keeps HR Up at Night” survey as a starting point. That will be at 3 p.m.
At 11 a.m. March 18, Katy Tynan, a principal analyst for Forrester, will talk about the importance of and ways to invest in the leaders who truly are at the front of an organization’s transformation. (Hint, they aren’t all Zoom-ing from the C-suite.)
That afternoon at 4:45 p.m., Jason Averbook, author and consultant, will talk about “Changing Work for Good: A Whole Person Approach to Digital Transformation.”
Torin Ellis will discuss inclusion and workplace culture during his keynote address at Spring HR Tech, a virtual and free event in March.
And diversity strategist, author and practitioner Torin Ellis will give the closing keynote at 11 a.m. March 19 on permanent changes needed to reframe the conversation around inclusion and workplace culture.
Also on Friday, in a nod to emerging solutions, Steve Boese, chair of the fall HR Technology Conference & Exposition®, will showcase six start-ups in an HR Technology Pitchfest Preview, a rapid-fire session that will provide a peek at some of the newest HR tech available. That session starts at 2 p.m.
Those sessions and dozens more will give attendees a head start with the rapid pace of change happening in HR, says Rebecca McKenna, vice president of global events and publisher of Human Resource Executive®.
Rebecca McKenna
“The virtual Spring HR Tech event has been developed to support HR leaders with the changes in the pandemic’s wake,” McKenna says. “HR technology vendors are responding and will inspire with their solutions for resilience and adaptivity. They will also help leaders look ahead to the future of jobs and to the technology and vendors needed to create a workplace culture of belonging, to propel your digital transformation and to support your growth strategies.”
After a challenging 12 months, Achille says, learning from and looking ahead with these experts will put attendees in an excellent position for whatever lies ahead.
“While we wouldn’t want to learn the lessons of 2020 again in the manner we did, there’s no doubt that it’s time to prepare for a new future of work,” she says. “That’s what makes our spring event so crucial to 2021–it will give HR professionals a clear perspective on what matters most to today’s hybrid workforces and workplaces.”
Related: 9 key lessons from HR Tech 2020