Recognition is often treated as secondary to compensation and rewards, but it plays a distinct and essential role in shaping employee motivation, visibility, and day-to-day momentum. This session explores how recognition works differently from other total rewards levers, why it has such a strong influence on motivation, and how organizations can use it more intentionally across the employee journey. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for building recognition into key moments—from onboarding to milestones to legacy—in ways that strengthen culture, reinforce desired behaviors, and drive lasting engagement.
Meet the Presenters
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Christi Gilhoi
Christi Gilhoi is a seasoned Employee Experience executive with a passion for building people-first cultures rooted in strategy, data, and heart. With more than a decade of leadership across organizations like Qualcomm, Okta, and Cisco, Gilhoi has designed global employee experience programs that elevate engagement, spark belonging, and deliver meaningful results. Her work has driven double-digit increases in engagement scores, launched global recognition programs, and built cultural playbooks that align with both business goals and human needs. As a trusted voice in the HR space, she brings deep expertise in recognition, culture, and brand alignment—alongside a track record of translating strategy into action. From leading international initiatives at UC San Diego to transforming recognition at scale for 100,000+ employees, her cross-industry perspective and people-first mindset continue to drive innovation in today’s evolving workplace. Gilhoi's thoughtful leadership and ability to build equity-driven, scalable employee experiences make her a sought-after advisor, speaker, and change agent.
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Laura Shanley
Laura Shanley is an Employee Recognition Advisor at Awardco and a trusted partner for organizations asking, “How do we actually make this work?” With experience leading recognition implementations and optimizations at companies like Okta, DocuSign, and Qualcomm, Shanley brings a rare blend of practitioner insight and practical execution. She has navigated complex launches, tight timelines, and global rollouts, helping teams turn ambitious recognition strategies into scalable, sustainable programs. Known for her detailed playbooks, admin-ready assets, and thoughtful governance frameworks, she specializes in translating big ideas into clear workflows, communication plans, and day-to-day processes that drive long-term program success.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.