John C. Maxwell to Headline Linkage Main Stage at All Things Work 2026
The bestselling author and global leadership expert will equip HR and business leaders with practical strategies for building resilient, high-performing organizations.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, today announced that world-renowned leadership expert and bestselling author John C. Maxwell will headline the Linkage Leadership Institute Main Stage at All Things Work (ATW) 2026, taking place November 16–18, 2026, in Nashville, TN.
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, effective leadership is defined by how leaders respond to setbacks. Drawing on more than five decades of research and experience, John C. Maxwell, one of the world’s foremost leadership authorities, will share how leaders can leverage their skills, relationships, and experiences to navigate adversity, embrace disruption, and redefine success.
As organizations face unprecedented transformation, from artificial intelligence to evolving workforce expectations and shifting cultures, Maxwell will challenge leaders to view failure as an opportunity for growth. His session will provide practical strategies to build resilience, inspire innovation, and lead with greater confidence and purpose in an increasingly complex world.
“In a time when HR leaders are navigating rapid technological change, workforce transformation, and growing complexity, there is no better guide than John C. Maxwell, whose decades of leadership expertise have helped organizations build resilient cultures where people and performance thrive,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, President and CEO of SHRM. “Organizations don't transform through technology alone, they transform through leadership. John's insights will equip our members to lead with confidence, foster innovation, and prepare their organizations for the future of work.”
Designed for organizations seeking enterprise-wide impact, All Things Work 2026 offers three interconnected learning experiences, including the Linkage Leadership Institute, that unite HR, leadership, and inclusion professionals around a shared strategy for workforce success. By attending together, leadership teams gain aligned insights and practical frameworks that accelerate execution, improve engagement and retention, and reduce organizational risk in an increasingly complex business environment.
Maxwell's keynote reinforces SHRM's commitment to equipping leaders with the knowledge and capabilities needed to build agile, people-centered organizations prepared for the future of work.
What is All Things Work 2026?
ATW 2026 represents a transformative moment where workforce strategy becomes actionable workforce capability. Designed for organizations that view leadership, culture, and HR capability as essential performance priorities, ATW 2026 offers a unified, immersive experience.
Seamlessly connecting leadership, inclusion, and HR development, ATW enables teams to develop leadership, inclusion strategy, and HR expertise simultaneously, ensuring they return prepared to execute against real-world challenges. This holistic approach ensures that teams are not only equipped with knowledge, but also with the capability to drive meaningful change and sustained performance.
ATW learning paths include:
- Linkage Leadership Institute: Leadership growth for high-performing managers and executives.
- BLUEPRINT for I&D: Compliance-focused, business-driven inclusion strategies.
- Skills Accelerator: Advanced HR skills in AI, analytics, compliance, and workforce strategy.
Learn More
Journalists and media are invited to attend ATW. Press registration is required. For interview requests and press credentials, please contact press@shrm.org
About SHRM
SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.
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