Cammy Bean, Senior Solutions Consultant, Kineo

"We’re in the midst of some profound change happening in the L&D field, with the opportunities provided by Gen AI tilting the boat for many of us who’ve been doing what we’re good at for so many years. Many of us found our way to the L&D field quite by accident, finding our way onto a training team because of our deep subject matter expertise, our writing or facilitation skills, our technical chops, or some other creative talent that was needed to support training content development. So where do we re-skill and up-skill, lest we find ourselves under-skilled and obsolete? How do we stay connected to those core aspects of our own identities that pulled us to work in this field while continuing to provide value to organizations?

Let’s have a frank discussion about what’s next for us as individuals and professionals. We’ll workshop different tools to consider our strengths and weaknesses and reflect on the directions in which we want to move. Whether you are exploring your own career path in L&D or leading a team of L&D practitioners with an eye to their future development, together we'll create a clearer vision on direction and heading for what’s next as we chart a course into the vast and unknown future of talent development."

Chris Curtin, CEO, Connected Approach Partners

"In an era where leaders are navigating relentless change, complex teams, and rising pressure to perform, the need for emotionally intelligent, human-centered leadership has never been greater. Enter Kermit the Frog—a surprisingly profound model of what it means to lead with empathy, humility, bravery, and courage.

In this thought-provoking and refreshingly original workshop, Chris Curtin—CEO of Connected Approach Partners—invites attendees to explore The Tao of Kermit, drawing leadership lessons from one of pop culture’s most beloved and quietly powerful figures. From managing chaos with calm to lifting others up while staying true to one’s voice, Kermit shows us that leading with heart is not a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage.

Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding of what it means to lead in today’s world: embracing emotional courage, elevating the team above ego, and navigating ambiguity without losing their center. If you’re tired of leadership frameworks that forget the human behind the title, this session offers a welcome—and practical—reframe. Attendees will walk away inspired and equipped with real tools for creating trust, resilience, and results through the art of human leadership."

Dr. Miko Nino

Dr. Reda Othman

Elizabeth Neves

As we look to innovate and thrive in the next chapter of work, it’s time to confront an often-overlooked challenge: loneliness. It’s not just a personal issue—it’s a cultural and leadership blind spot impacting engagement, productivity, and learning. And it’s not limited to remote workers. In fact, some of the loneliest people in our organizations are working-age adults—many of them married with children—quietly struggling in full offices and busy teams.

This session equips Learning and Development professionals with insights and strategies to recognize and respond to loneliness as a barrier to professional growth. You’ll learn the latest data on workplace loneliness and why it’s rising, even in connected environments. We’ll explore how inclusive collaboration, leadership modeling, and a growth mindset can help build cultures of connection where all employees—not just the outspoken or extroverted—can thrive.

You’ll walk away with practical tools to design learning experiences and project dynamics that support inclusion, belonging, and resilience. Because the next chapter of work demands more than innovation—it requires human connection.

Erica Holthausen, Catchline Communications

Writing articles for industry publications like TD Magazine is a powerful way to elevate your professional standing and influence in the talent development community. Whether you’re looking to advance your career or build your consulting practice, this interactive workshop provides practical tools to help you identify and shape important conversations about the future of work.

Using NotebookLM, you'll learn to identify meaningful gaps in industry discourse and develop targeted article ideas that address emerging challenges. Through guided demonstrations, you'll discover how to analyze existing content, uncover overlooked topics, and craft articles that showcase your distinctive perspective while contributing to industry conversations rather than adding to the noise. You’ll leave with a customized roadmap to guide the development of an article you can pitch to a talent development publication.