As organizations navigate rapid transformation, leaders are being called to respond with clarity, courage and collaboration. This virtual session, part of SHRM Foundation’s Tharseo Exchange series, will convene our partner community and leaders across sectors who are committed to strengthening the ability of workers, workplaces, and communities to thrive at a time of profound transformation.
Designed as a curated dialogue, this Exchange will provide an inside look at emerging insights from SHRM research, alongside perspectives from the Foundation’s partners and leaders across sectors. Together, participants will examine the key workforce trends shaping 2026 and beyond.
Discussion Highlights
Key workforce trends shaping 2026, including the role of AI, evolving talent strategies, and changing worker expectations.
Perspectives on intergenerational dynamics, workplace civility, and cultures of care.
Insights into the persistent barriers to unlocking human potential and how to address them at scale.
SHRM Foundation’s strategy to expand pathways to work and strengthen the conditions in which workers, workplaces, and communities can thrive together.
Rooted in SHRM Foundation’s commitment to advancing a skills-first, human-centered future, Tharseo Exchange is a part of a growing series of conversations designed to foster grounded, purposeful courage—the willingness to examine complexity honestly, think boldly, and act with clarity to advance human thriving and American competitiveness.
This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to both gain early visibility into SHRM’s latest thinking and contribute directly to the direction of future efforts.
Meet the Presenters
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Clayton Lord
Clayton Lord (Clay, he/him) is the Senior Program Director for the SHRM Foundation, the 501(c)3 philanthropic arm of SHRM, which focuses on widening pathways to work and helping every worker thrive by empowering HR leaders to be forces for social good. In that role, he oversees strategy, planning, program delivery, and program evaluation. He is a social impact executive with expertise in nurturing and evaluating complex initiatives that drive systemic change and expand access and opportunity for all. Clay holds a B.A. in English and Psychology from Georgetown University. He lives with his husband and daughter in Maryland.
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Isaac Agbeshie-Noye
Isaac Agbeshie-Noye is the Program Director of the Widening Pathways to Work portfolio at the SHRM Foundation, where he leads national efforts to transform how employers hire, develop, and advance talent. He oversees a multi-initiative portfolio — including Skills First at Work and Untapped Pools of Talent — designed to accelerate employer adoption of skills-first practices and expand access to economic mobility for overlooked and underutilized talent. With nearly two decades of experience spanning higher education, philanthropy, and workforce innovation, Isaac specializes in aligning employers, educators, intermediaries, and funders around shared outcomes that drive measurable systems change. His work focuses on modernizing talent ecosystems so that businesses and workers can thrive together in a rapidly evolving economy. He holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University.
