Unscripted: Improv Techniques for Adaptive HR Leadership

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

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HR professionals navigate unscripted moments every day—the unexpected employee conflict, the curveball from leadership, the difficult conversation you didn't see coming. In this high-energy, hands-on workshop, you'll step just outside your comfort zone and into the world of improv to build the real-time communication skills that separate good HR professionals from exceptional ones.

Led by Tony DeRosa, founder of Hear.Say Brewing + Theater and experienced improv facilitator, this session blends improv games and exercises with practical HR application. You'll practice getting present in the moment, actively listening, building on ideas rather than shutting them down, developing presence under pressure, and strengthening your ability to think on your feet—all while laughing and connecting with your peers.

No acting experience required. Just bring your willingness to play and discover how "Yes, And" can transform the way you show up as an HR leader.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Embrace mindfulness to get in the moment and take in the rich data that comes with our day-to-day interactions.
• Apply the "Yes, And" principle to workplace collaboration, building on ideas rather than blocking them to foster innovation and psychological safety.
• Demonstrate active listening techniques that improve employee relations conversations, investigations, and coaching interactions.
• Practice adaptive communication strategies for navigating ambiguous or high-pressure HR situations with confidence and composure.
• Identify connections between improv fundamentals and core HR competencies, including emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and change leadership.

How to Design Employee Experience Through Strategic Wellness

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

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Employee experience isn’t built through one-time initiatives or an abundance of resources, it’s shaped by the day-to-day moments that influence how employees feel, function, and connect at work.

This interactive pre-conference workshop invites HR leaders to both experience and design wellness as a driver of employee experience.

Rather than approaching wellness as another program to implement, participants will explore how wellness can be woven into the rhythm of work in a way that feels natural, accessible, sustainable, and personalized to employee needs.

Throughout the session, participants will engage in guided wellness moments designed to help them reset, refocus, and experience firsthand what intentional employee experience can feel like, while also translating those insights into practical strategies for their organizations.

The session will also explore how AI-powered personalization and data-driven wellness insights are shaping the future of employee engagement by helping organizations deliver more relevant recommendations, resources, and experiences tailored to individual employee needs and preferences.

The session will explore four key areas:

• Rethinking the employee experience
• Wellness as an experience strategy
• Designing for engagement and impact
• The role of AI and personalization

Participants will not only leave with new ideas, but with a clearer understanding of how to create experiences that reduce overwhelm, increase awareness, strengthen engagement, and support meaningful long-term participation.