How to Get More Value From an HR Conference

The hardest question about any professional conference often comes a week after you get home. Your boss asks: "What did we get for that?"

Most of us answer with a feeling. It was energizing. The speakers were terrific. I met some great people. I've got pages of ideas. 

And those things matter! But your boss is probably looking for something more concrete. What did you learn that will help you do your job better? What can you put into practice? How will the organization benefit?

Those are fair questions. And they're questions we've been asking ourselves at SHRM. 

For years, our SHRM26 has brought together thousands of HR professionals to learn, connect, and discover new ideas. We've heard how much attendees value those experiences. We've also heard that they want more opportunities to go deeper into the subjects that matter most to their work and leave with practical strategies they can use immediately.

So we're giving you both. 

We're reinventing our SHRM26 as HR-X Live!, June 27–30, 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago. We're keeping everything people love about the event while creating a more focused, hands-on learning experience.

Here's how it works:

You'll spend part of your time exploring a wide range of HR topics through elective sessions. The rest will focus on one of four HR maturity dimensions: Talent Optimization, Organizational Impact, Functional Acceleration, or Market Discernment.

Not sure which one is right for you? We'll ask a few questions about your work and recommend a dimension and level. But you get to choose.

Within your dimension, you'll learn from accomplished HR and business leaders, work alongside peers facing similar challenges, and develop practical strategies you can bring back to your organization.

And instead of leaving with a notebook full of ideas you hope to revisit someday, you'll build a playbook around the work you actually do.

Maybe you're trying to improve retention. Maybe you're figuring out how AI can make your HR function more effective. Or maybe your CEO wants to see stronger evidence of HR's contribution to business performance.

Whatever your challenge, you'll have opportunities to apply what you're learning to real workplace problems. You'll complete a capstone experience and earn a SHRM HR-X Credential reflecting applied expertise in your chosen dimension and level.

You'll also receive 30 professional development credits (PDCs) toward SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) recertification.

And let's not forget the people. You'll spend time learning alongside a cohort of HR professionals who understand the challenges you're facing. These are the people you can call months later when you're working through a difficult problem.

Of course, we're keeping the big keynote speakers, the Expo, the networking, the evening events, and yes, the concert! Everything that makes our SHRM26 such a special experience is still part of HR-X Live!

We're keeping what makes the event big while making the learning more personal, practical, and valuable.

Now, let's talk about getting your boss to say yes.

Don't simply ask for three days away from the office. Identify a business challenge you want to address. Explain how the experience will help you develop the skills and strategies to tackle it. And make a commitment to bring back a plan you can put into action. We've even created a business-case template to help you make that argument.

The investment in your professional development should produce something meaningful for you and your organization. That's what we're building with HR-X Live!

Registration is open now, and current pricing ends November 19, or sooner if this pricing level sells out.

So don't wait. Make the investment in yourself, your career, and the value you bring to your organization. 

Join us in Chicago. And come home ready to answer that question: "What did we get for that?"

Register for SHRM HR-X Live! webinars