Betty Thompson, SHRM-SCP

Social change is unfolding rapidly, forcing organizations to navigate the shifting demographics and growing incivility in the workplace. Fostering a culture where everyone feels they belong has never been more critical to an organization’s growth, resilience—and even survival. Betty Thompson, Chair, SHRM Board of Directors, will dive into the real-world trends that are refining, and increasingly redefining, inclusion and diversity in our workplaces.

Learn practical strategies for creating workplaces where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can truly feel included, opening broad avenues to more diverse and equitable workplaces. Thompson will tackle the problem of incivility with practical solutions and highlight common roadblocks that hamper inclusion.

Drawing from SHRM’s latest data and her hands-on experience as the former Chief People Officer at Booz Allen Hamilton, Thompson’s insights will equip leaders with strategies they can use today to shape inclusive, future-ready workplaces that mirror our diverse world.

Betty Thompson, Chair, SHRM Board of Directors and former Chief People Officer, Booz Allen Hamilton, maps out critical pathways to prioritizing mental health and wellness in the workplace, framing it as both an ethical obligation and a business imperative. With years of C-suite HR leadership, and as architect of Booz Allen’s people policies, Thompson shares practical insights into fostering a supportive culture that considers mental well-being a core component of employee and organizational success.

Thompson underscores the need for managers to act as mental health allies, highlighting the SHRM Foundation's resources, such as the Workplace Mental Health Ally Certificate, to equip leaders for this responsibility. She also touches on the concept of the workplace as a cultural “Third Place”—a unique setting where employees find purpose, connection, and a refuge from the isolation many have experienced in recent years.

The call to action for HR leaders is clear: lead with empathy, advocate for open dialogue, and establish mental health as a core pillar of organizational culture.