What Learners Want: 3 Things Every HR and L&D Pro Should Be Doing, Every Room, Every Time (October 02, 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

What Learners Want: 3 Things Every HR and L&D Pro Should Be Doing, Every Room, Every Time

Through this interactive session with Lora Haines, attendees will leave challenged and reflective, with a clear sense of the small, practical tweaks that can shift a room, or a 1:1 conversation, toward more openness and candor. Rather than a full overhaul, participants will walk away with a handful of shifts they can start using immediately, whether they're facilitating a training session or having a one-on-one conversation with a learner.

Meet the Speaker

Lora Haines has spent 18+ years helping people and teams work better, whether it's guiding a Fortune 500 company through culture change or coaching a burnt-out individual contributor through a hard conversation. As a former Walt Disney World Disney Institute trainer and current facilitator with JB Training Solutions and a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, she designs and delivers high-energy, interactive workshops across leadership and skills topics, from feedback to generational dynamics to presentation skills, with a candid, engaging style that turns insight into action people actually carry forward. What Lora cares about most is helping teams have the candid conversations that actually shift culture, and helping leaders see and leverage their strengths for real impact; she's worked with organizations like Microsoft, Marriott, Harvard, and Subaru, was named a SHRM Top-Rated Speaker, and is a former SEWI-ATD board member, thrilled to be back!

Talent Development Forum 2026: Managing Change & Creating Safe Spaces in the Times of AI (October 30, 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

A SEWI-ATD Signature Event

Managing Change & Creating Safe Spaces in the Times of AI

The upcoming Southeast Wisconsin Association for Talent Development (SEWI-ATD) Talent Forum Annual Event will bring together Learning & Development (L&D) and Talent professionals to tackle the dual challenge of driving AI-driven change management while safeguarding organizational and individual well-being.

Key Learning Objectives:

● Gain practical strategies for leading AI-driven workplace change.

● Build AI literacy alongside essential human skills such as empathy, adaptability, and collaboration.

● Learn how to strengthen psychological safety, employee engagement, and organizational resilience.

● Discover proactive ways to manage workload, reduce burnout, and support well-being.

● Connect with talent development peers and learn from experienced industry leaders.

The event will feature a panel discussion with Dr. Kate Walker, Vice President of Learning & Development at MRA – The Management Association, Jill Busch Director, Learning & Development of ManpowerGroup, North America and Steve Buchman Principal Consultant for i4cp’s advisory practice. Panelists will examine how artificial intelligence may influence learning and development and how organizations can facilitate the transition through upskilling, reskilling, and employee engagement.

We’ve also invited, Nicole Eull, psychologist, speaker, consultant, coach, podcast host, who will focus on improvisational agility and how it can help professionals strengthen the skills AI cannot replicate—authentic empathy, adaptability and collaborative innovation.

Lastly, Beth Ridley, Founder and CEO of the Ridley Consulting Group will share what new positive psychology and workplace well-being research reveals about reducing burnout through how we work, not simply recovering after work.

Gain practical insights, enjoy engaging learning, and build valuable connections!

Join us and other talent development professionals driving growth through change. Register today!

Dr. Kate Walker

VP of Learning & Development

MRA - The Management Association

Jill Busch

Director of Learning & Development

ManpowerGroup

Steve Buchman

Principal Consultant

i4cp

Nicole Eull

Psychologist, Consultant, Coach

Beth Ridley

Founder/CEO

Ridley Consulting Group

Agenda:

Time	Function
8:00-8:30 a.m	Arrival, Networking And Breakfast
8:35-8:45 a.m.	Program Start: Opening Remarks
8:45-9:35 a.m.	Dr. Kate Walker, Jill Busch, Steve Buchman
9:35-9:50 a.m.	Break
9:50-10:10 a.m.	Networking Activity
10:10-11:10 a.m.	Nicole Eull
11:10-11:20 a.m.	Break
11:20-12:20 p.m.	Beth Ridley
12:20-12:30 p.m	Program Wrap Up: Closing Remarks

* Cancellations made after October 21st (1 week out from the event) will not be refunded.

Parking Instructions:

Parking is available in the lot attached to the MRA building.

Registration closes on October 23rd!

SEWI-ATD upcoming events

What Learners Want: 3 Things Every HR and L&D Pro Should Be Doing, Every Room, Every Time (October 02, 2026)

Talent Development Forum 2026: Managing Change & Creating Safe Spaces in the Times of AI (October 30, 2026)