Visionaries Summit 2026
September 23-25, 2026 | JW Marriott Indianapolis
Join senior HR leaders at an exclusive event to collaborate, tackle macro challenges, and explore transformative ideas driving innovation, inclusivity, and resilience in the workplace.
Registration for Visionaries will open in mid-July.
The Visionaries Summit is a premier, member-only event designed exclusively for SHRM Executive Network (EN) members.
Held at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, IN, the Summit offers an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with trailblazers in the HR field. Through strategic partnerships and shared purpose, attendees will examine critical workplace issues and gain forward-thinking insights tailored to today’s leaders.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience!
Visionaries Summit 2026 Hotel Information
JW Marriott Indianapolis
10 S West Street
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204
JW Marriott Indianapolis, one of the world’s largest JW Marriott hotels, is located in central downtown just 15 miles from the Indianapolis International Airport. The hotel offers direct, climate-controlled skywalk access to the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium and is steps from White River State Park. Guests enjoy modern luxury accommodations with panoramic skyline views, acclaimed dining options, and extensive meeting spaces.
Transform Your HR Leadership into an Experience
An Elevated Experience
Thought-provoking discussions and knowledge sharing
Exclusive data through exclusive programming
Valuable connections with like-level executives
Some events within the Executive Network Visionaries Summit may have capacity limits and will be offered to EN members on a first come, first serve basis. It is recommended members register as early as possible.
Visionaries Summit 2026 Agenda Overview
Session details will be updated as they become available.
| WEDNESDAY, September 23 | |
| 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Registration |
| 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Visionaries Opening Reception |
| THURSDAY, September 24 | |
| 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Registration |
| 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Visionaries General Sessions |
| 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM | Breakout Sessions |
| 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Networking Luncheon/Brain dates |
| 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Breakout Sessions |
| 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | All-Access: An Executive Night at Lucas Oil |
| FRIDAY, September 25 | |
| 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Registration |
| 7:00 AM -8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Visionaries General Sessions |
| 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM | Brain Date Sessions |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Networking Luncheon |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Visionaries Closing General Session |
| 2:00 PM | Conference Adjourned |
Review the Visionaries Summit 2025 schedule from last year in Atlanta.
| 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Registration |
| 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Networking Reception – All About Hue Set against the stunning Mercedes-Benz Stadium backdrop, step into a night of vibrant color and community. Dress in your favorite hues and enjoy an immersive evening of music, food, and entertainment. Celebrate diversity, creativity, and connection—because every hue tells a story. Brought to you by: Indeed |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner on own |
| 7:00 am – 4:00 pm | Registration |
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Networking Breakfast |
| 9:00 am – 9:10 am | Visionaries Summit Welcome Mo Fathelbab, Moderator |
| 9:10 am – 10:00 am | From Comfort to Candor: The New Rules of Workplace Safety Psychological safety has become a buzzword in the workplace—but too often, it’s misunderstood. Safety doesn’t always mean comfort. Join Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of SHRM, and Jackson O. Lynch, Founder of the Talent Sherpa, for a fireside chat where they will unpack why true workplace safety isn’t about shielding people from discomfort, but about creating an environment where everyone can speak the truth, be challenged, and still belong; how leaders can set standards without stifling; why clarity is more compassionate than comfort; and how to build teams that rise under pressure rather than collapse under confusion. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, President and CEO, SHRM |
| 10:05 am – 10:50 am | The Last All-Human Workforce: Designing for the Future of Work What if your next team member isn’t human—but your job is still to lead them? In this interactive session, discover how AI is reshaping jobs, teams, and talent—and why HR must lead the reinvention. Explore what stays human, what gets automated, and how to redesign your organization with people and agents working side by side. Claire MacIntyre, Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, Sam’s Club |
| 10:50 am – 11:20 am | Networking Break |
| 11:20 am – 12:05 pm | Harmonizing High-Stakes Leadership: Strengthening CEO and Executive Team Dynamics (In Partnership with CEO Academy) This dynamic session focuses on proven strategies to support fast-paced, high-stamina CEOs, helping prevent burnout and ensure effective alignment of vision and direction. Explore actionable tactics for breaking down silos and building cohesive collaboration within the C-suite, while learning methods to navigate and reconcile conflicting directives from the Board and CEO for greater organizational unity. Gain practical insights into improving financial transparency and streamlining budgeting processes across senior executive teams. The session also covers approaches to foster effective communication and collaboration among senior leaders, empowering them to make decisive, impactful decisions. Adam Chamberlain, President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz USA Lars Minns, CHRO, Mercedes-Benz USA Moderated by: Mo Fathelbab |
| 12:05 pm – 1:15 pm | Networking Lunch |
| 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm | Breakout Sessions |
Reimagining How You Lead: Passion, Power, Purpose Sonia Aranza, CEO, Aranza Global Cross-Cultural Strategies | |
Peer-Derived HR Technology Trends & Insights Kenny Pyle, HR Technology Lead Analyst, SHRM | |
Future Proof Your Workforce Daniel Culbertson, Senior Economist, Indeed Hiring Lab
| |
| 2:10 pm – 2:55 pm | Breakout Sessions |
EN:Assembly Groups (Mid-Market) Facilitated by EN Assembly | |
From Theory to Practice: Operationalizing Your AI Strategy Chris Courneen, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Human Resources, MS International, Inc. (MSI) | |
Reimagining How You Lead: Passion, Power, Purpose Sonia Aranza, CEO, Aranza Global Cross-Cultural Strategies | |
| 2:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Networking Break |
| 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm | Breakout Session |
Closing the Execution Gap: Aligning Technology with Strategic Goals Anna McFarland, Director, Product Management, Paylocity Christine Pellini, Vice President, Product Management & Technology, Paylocity | |
EN:Assembly Groups (HR Leader) Facilitated by EN Assembly | |
Global Workforce Perspectives James Atkinson, Vice President, Thought Leadership, SHRM | |
| 4:25 pm – 5:15 pm | Lessons from Washington Shaping the Future of Leadership & Community As difficult as the present may be, American history is marked by challenges overcome, crises resolved, and progress achieved. Drawing on lessons from Washington and other pivotal moments in our nation’s past, this session offers insights for leaders on how to endure and prevail when everything appears hopeless. Through anecdotally rich reflections and forward-looking guidance, participants will explore constructive habits of citizenship and leadership essential for shaping the future of organizations and communities. Jon Meacham, Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Moderated by: Mike Aitken, EVP, HR Professional Solutions, SHRM |
| 5:50 pm – 6:10 pm | Buses depart for off-site reception/dinner |
| 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | 3rd Spot Social: Where Leaders Unwind Dive into an epic evening at Atlanta’s ultimate social hub! Savor sharable bites, sip creative cocktails, and jump into 100+ curated games and experiences designed to spark laughter and authentic connections. Leave the formalities behind—this is your chance to mingle, play, and recharge with fellow EN leaders, where work takes a back seat to fun. |
| 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Buses return to Signia |
| 7:00 am – 12:00 pm | Registration |
| 7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:30 am – 9:30 am | Ensuring Leaders Thrive: Why Executive Wellbeing is Business Wellbeing Whether you’re in a nonprofit, a private company, or a global public firm, executives face stress that can drain performance—financial complexity, family responsibilities, constant travel, and unrelenting pressure. We will look at how supporting leader wellbeing strengthens both culture and continuity. Jim Link, SHRM-SCP, CHRO, SHRM |
| 9:30 am – 10:00 am | Networking Break |
| 10:00 am – 10:45 am | Breakout Sessions |
EN:Assembly Groups (Mid-Market) Facilitated by EN Assembly | |
Design Thinking for HR – A Game-Changer Justin Ferrell, Strategic Partnerships, Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, Stanford University (d.school) | |
HRs Role in Mental Health & Building Community Renuka Iyer, EVP, Chief People & Culture Officer, PhRMA | |
| 10:55 am – 11:40 am | Breakout Sessions |
HRs Role in Mental Health & Building Community Renuka Iyer, EVP, Chief People & Culture Officer, PhRMA | |
Design Thinking for HR – A Game-Changer for the C-Suite Justin Ferrell, Strategic Partnerships, Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, Stanford University (d.school) | |
EN:Assembly Groups (CHRO) Facilitated by EN Assembly | |
| 11:45 am – 12:45 pm | Networking Lunch & Reflection Conversations |
| 1:00 pm – 1:50 pm | A Conversation Around Community, Mental Health and Loneliness A conversation around community, mental health, and loneliness invites participants to explore how the challenges of loneliness and isolation can become opportunities for deeper connection. Through inspiring approaches, discover ways to build a supportive and engaged environment where individuals flourish together, enhancing well-being and collective success. Vivek Murthy, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States |
| 1:50 pm – 2:00 pm | Closing Remarks Mo Fathelbab, Moderator Mike Aitken, EVP, HR Professional Solutions, SHRM |
| 2:00 pm | Conference Adjourned |
What to Expect at Visionaries Summit
Visionaries is the premier executive summit for CHROs and senior HR leaders committed to shaping the future of work. Built around the theme Building an Adaptive Workforce, the Summit explores the strategic challenges defining the next era of leadership—from AI and organizational transformation to workforce strategy, executive influence, and business performance.
Join an exceptional community of peers for bold conversations, innovative ideas, and practical strategies designed to help you anticipate change, lead with confidence, and build organizations ready for whatever comes next.
Visionaries Summit 2026 Speakers
Visionaries Summit 2026 Speakers will be updated as they are confirmed.
Call for Presentations – Coming Soon
The Call for Presentations for the SHRM Executive Network Visionaries Summit is coming soon.
We are seeking forward-looking proposals that challenge conventional thinking, spark executive dialogue, and share innovative research, strategic perspectives, and real-world leadership experiences. If your session helps senior HR leaders prepare for what's next, we invite you to submit a proposal when the Call for Presentations opens.
Check back soon for submission guidelines, conference tracks, and important dates.
Sponsorship Opportunities
For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact us at: sponsorships@shrm.org.
Contact Us
For information on the Visionaries Summit contact:
ExecutiveNetwork@shrm.org | 888.602.3270