HRchat Podcast
Listen to the HRchat Podcast by HR Gazette to get insights and tips from HR leaders, influencers and tech experts. Topics covered include HR Tech, HR, AI, Leadership, Talent, Recruitment, Employee Engagement, Recognition, Wellness, DEI, and Company Culture.
Hosted by Bill Banham, Pauline James, and other HR enthusiasts, the HRchat show publishes interviews with influencers, leaders, analysts, and those in the HR trenches 2-4 times each week.
The show is approaching 1000 episodes and past guests are from organizations including ADP, SAP, Ceridian, IBM, UPS, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Simon Sinek Inc, NASA, Gartner, SHRM, Government of Canada, Hacking HR, McLean & Company, UPS, Microsoft, Shopify, DisruptHR, McKinsey and Co, Virgin Pulse, Salesforce, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Coca-Cola Beverages Company.
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Podcast Music Credit"Funky One"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
HRchat Podcast
The Essential Guide to HR Tech Conference with Katie Achille
In this special episode of the HRchat Podcast, we preview the 2025 HR Tech Conference in fabulous Las Vegas!
Bill Banham's guest is Katie Achille, Managing Partner at The Devon Group, and an award-winning communications pro. Katie is deeply embedded in the planning and communications behind the HR Tech Conference in Las Vegas, happening September 16–18.
HR Tech Conference, one of the world’s biggest HR technology events, will offer a power-packed Tuesday through Thursday format that ends with Josh Bersin's closing keynote.
This year introduces the HR Strategy Summit, specifically for leaders of large organizations and the prestigious HR Icons Awards Gala, celebrating excellence across six categories.
As always, networking opportunities abound as the conference brings together the HR technology ecosystem – practitioners, vendors, investors, analysts, and media – creating what Katie Achille describes as a "town hall" atmosphere where meaningful business connections happen naturally. The speaker lineup features numerous big names plus the awesome William Tincup will be moderating a panel of TikTok influencers on converting social engagement to job applications.
The Women in HR Tech Summit returns for its eighth year, consistently reaching capacity with sessions that deliver actionable insights rather than just high-level trends. Another highlight is Lydia Wu's session on leveraging AI as a career advancement tool, elevating the conversation beyond basic applications to strategic leadership development. Innovation takes center stage at the Startup Pavilion with approximately 50-60 emerging companies and the reimagined Pitch Fest competition.
Literary legend James Patterson adds star power, previewing his first-ever business book before its official publication. For an immersive experience, attendees can observe live podcast recordings at the HR Executive/WRKdefined studio on the expo floor through a unique "fishbowl" setup with headphones.
Ready to join the HR technology community in Las Vegas? Register at hrtechnologyconference.com with code DEVON25 for $250 off any registration type.
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Welcome to the HR Chat Show, one of the world's most downloaded and shared podcasts designed for HR pros, talent execs, tech enthusiasts and business leaders. For hundreds more episodes and what's new in the world of work, subscribe to the show, follow us on social media and visit hrgazettecom and visit hrgazettecom.
Speaker 2:Welcome to this special episode of the HR Chat Show. Hello listeners, this is your host today, bill Bannum, and in this episode I am joined by someone who is deeply embedded in the planning and communications behind one of the world's biggest HR tech events the HR Tech Conference in Las Vegas, happening September 16th to the 18th. My guest, of course, is Katie Achille, managing Partner at the Devon Group, award-winning communications pro and the leader of PR and media relations for HR Tech. Katie, how are you doing today? Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:Thank you for having me. I'm doing great and getting ready, getting ready. We're a little less than two weeks out as we're recording this today, so things are a bit bananas at the moment, but in the best way possible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can't believe you're able to squeeze me in for this. Honestly, you must be doing crazy long days having a million things you're trying to juggle. So I do appreciate, appreciate your time. Let's get straight into it then. Why don't we start with the big picture stuff? What can attendees expect from this year's HR Tech Conference? What? What feels new or different for 2025 compared to past years?
Speaker 3:so there's a lot that's changed this year. In general, we've changed the format slightly for 2025. Previous years the show has gone until Friday. So this year's show is a little bit different. It's wrapping up Thursday afternoon with Josh Bergeson as our closing keynote. So in terms of format, that's a little bit of a change. For us, big changes is that on Monday, which is the pre-conference day for the show, we are having the HR Strategy Summit, which is hosted by Madeline Lerano of Aptitude Research, and that evening there's going to be the HR Icons Awards evening, where the HR tech and HR executive are going to be honoring a number of award winners for categories. I believe there's six different categories that they're going to be honoring for this year. So those are sort of the major changes to the format, which we'll see how that works out in terms of when people land and what they get to experience throughout the week.
Speaker 2:Rock and roll. So if attendees want to go to the awards and of course you've got summits within summits we're going to talk about the women in tech, the women in HR tech piece shortly but for attendees, do they need to register separately for the awards or those mini summits, or is that all covered within their tickets?
Speaker 3:So the HR strategy Summit is specifically open to HR leaders at organizations over, I believe, 2,000 employees, so that is a very specific targeted audience. The HR Icons Awards Gala is open to all attendees, but it is a separate ticket that you have to buy and I believe tickets are almost sold out, so people who are interested would need to move very quickly and everything else that you just mentioned. So women in tech is included with the full conference pass, but it is quite a fun packed week.
Speaker 2:So the speaker lineup is is a big highlight for everyone, of course. And can I just say before I ask the next question um, even though we've got a top three global hr tech podcast, last year is my first time at the hr tech conference shock, horror, you know it's. It's quite a long way for me to travel, um, but my goodness me, what an amazing event. I had such a great time and I've just been telling everybody I know anybody who'll listen that they need to be going to this one. For me, there are three key events in the US each year they need to be attending, and this is one of those three. Anyway, my question for you is who are some of the standout presenters you're most excited about this year and why?
Speaker 3:Oh, there's a whole bunch. You know there's hundreds of speakers this year. So I would say our opening keynote is Nicola Maru, from IBM. She was the 2024 HR Executive of the Year, as awarded by HR Executive, the sort of media arm of the HR Tech Conference. So Nicola has spent almost, I believe, her entire career at IBM, so she's sort of a fascinating person to hear from. She's also spearheading, you know, ibm's adoption of AI in the HR practice, so I think that's gonna be a really interesting session. Obviously, ibm is a huge employer, so there's that take.
Speaker 3:There's also a lot of other people, though, that have been added this year that are other fresh voices from with throughout the industry, all different aspects, all different angles. One of my favorites is Kat Kibben. So Kat is releasing a book this month called the Bounce Back Factor. Kat has, you know, is on the more the recruiting side of the space, and the book is really about navigating the unknown, and it's a guide for leaders. So that's what Cat Session is gonna be focused on. Really, looking forward to that one, william Tin Cup is gonna be hosting a panel of sort of social media influencers, specifically TikTok influencers, people with big TikTok followings, and they're going to be talking about converting social attention into applications. So that's Lorna and Victoria from Expert Interviewers, mike Pedito from Realistic Recruiting, jessica Miller Merrill. I think that one's going to be really interesting. Those are all folks who people should be paying attention to. So those are just sort of three of the ones that I'm looking forward to to I love, love, love william think up.
Speaker 2:He is. He's one of my hr heroes. Every time I get think up on my show I go a little bit shy. Frankly, I'm a massive fan boy of william. He knows this. Um, he makes my knees go a little bit weak and I'm looking forward to seeing him in vegas in a couple of weeks as we record this. Ok, so the first time I went to HR Tech, it was described to me as a little bit different to a couple of the other big events which will remain nameless for the purposes of this recording today, in that it's not just about the learnings, it's genuinely a place where business gets done.
Speaker 3:So my question for you is what role does the conference play in shaping trends within HR tech? So you know, obviously you know there are a number of conferences, as you've just alluded to. Each one serves a different purpose is the way I look at it. Each one kind of has its own niche, each one has its own audience. Hr tech is the longest running of the bunch. As a result of that, it does sort of serve as almost this town hall. It really brings together the community in a way that is far reaching, so that it has the investors, it has the practitioners, it has the partnerships, it has the media. It really is all encompassing in a way that I think is really difficult to replicate, and I think that's why people come back year after year is because it's touching all of the aspects. So there is something for everyone, which is what gets people coming back.
Speaker 2:From my personal experience, I was at one networking event, I think uh, it might have been textio, uh and every time I turned around there was like a john sumzer or matt adler, all these, all these hr heroes of mine, always big influencers. So you know, I think that's another huge strength of your conference, that that you attract all of the big analysts and influencers. So well done to you guys. Continuing through. If you could pick just one big takeaway that you hope attendees would leave with from the conference, what would that be?
Speaker 3:I hope that they come in with an idea of what they're looking for, and I think HR tech has something for everyone. So if you're leaving feeling unsatisfied, there's something missing from the plan. I think, with a show of this magnitude, you need to go in prepared and that means you know whether you've looked at the expo floor map ahead of time and come up with. You know which booths you want to attack, or looked at the program and decided which sessions you want to attend. If you're there to meet with media and analysts, you know, bill, you just mentioned several names of people who are going to be there this year, maybe scheduling those meetings in advance. I think preparedness is what leads to the takeaway here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm still working on that myself. You know we're flying out on the 14th and the next week we'll be booking lots of meetings, making sure that happens in advance, okay very good, let's now dive into some of the featured sessions.
Speaker 2:Obviously, you've given us a nice overview and mentioned some of the sessions that folks can check out either within or around the HR Tech Conference, but let's dive in a bit deeper, if that's okay. Women in HR Tech Summit. I think that's the morning of the 16th. What makes that track unique and essential for attendees?
Speaker 3:So the Women in HR Tech Summit started. I believe it was like about eight years ago. At this point it was pretty unique at the time when it started. It remains sort of the only one of its kind in the space. It's grown and it's changed over the years, but every year it's one of the most popular features of the show. It's really dedicated to what women are doing in the space and it's also very instructive.
Speaker 3:So it's not just about these high level. Here's the trends, here's what's happening. You go and you learn. You sit there and you can actually take away knowledge from people who are doing the work in a meaningful way and then apply it back at your own organization. It's these sessions are packed year after year. I mean, honestly, the feedback we get is that people can't get into the sessions. So I mean Women in Tech stands alone and that's what makes it unique and essential is that it's hard to get into because it's that popular and it's you know, these are such handcrafted, really bespoke, meaningful sessions. So I really encourage everyone to check it out. I know a lot of people tend to fly in that morning because the conference itself doesn't officially open until the afternoon. But if you are going to be in town. You know, bill. You mentioned you're flying in on the 14th. For anyone who is coming in, you know, potentially 14th or 15th if you are there already. You know if you're going to be there in the morning of the 16th, please come check it out.
Speaker 2:Okay, so that could be one of the biggest takeaways from today's conversation. It's first come, first serve in terms of the lineup for these sessions. You got to get there, but you know, get there early, otherwise you may not get into some of these, is that right?
Speaker 3:the breakouts, especially, yeah, those rooms. You know they, they only hold so many people um, so you have to, you have to squeeze in okay, uh.
Speaker 2:Another hot topic is the power play building, political capital and influence in the age of ai. Can you give us a preview of what this session promises?
Speaker 3:Sure, lydia Wu. She is a total rock star. She is, you know, one of those rising voices in the space who really tells it like it is. So she is standing alone. This is one of the breakout sessions and she's standing alone on this one. So this is not a panel. It's going to just be Lydia up there, and you know she's based this off of some research from out of Stanford.
Speaker 3:That's talking about, you know, women in leadership and the shifts that are taking place specifically around AI driven transformations, and so it's going to be looking at how, instead of seeing AI as a threat, what if we use it as a tool for influence? So I think that's a really important conversation to have, because you know again how we're looking at AI. Right now. Most of how we're talking about it is in terms of let me go to ChatGPT and have it write something for me real quick. Or there is some talk about, you know, ai for coaching and things of that nature. But this is bringing AI up. We're talking about, you know, taking it up into leadership, up into the C-suite, using it to really propel careers forward. So I think this is an important conversation to be having, specifically for women, who may not be thinking about. You know conversation to be having specifically for women who may not be thinking about you know this as a tool in their toolbox.
Speaker 2:Okay, very good. Uh, as we like to do on this show, let's now switch up the tempo a little bit and I'd like to get your thoughts on, uh, three sessions and I'm going to challenge you now. Okay, um, you get 60 seconds max for each of them. I'm going to blurt out all three and then you're going to take up 60 seconds and tell everybody how these particular sessions add value for attendees, why they should check them out and anything else you want to add. So those three are recruiting, life hacks one size never fits all. Investor experience and pitch fest, which has been reimagined for this year, and Ask the Expert sessions, which are actually scattered throughout the agenda. Go.
Speaker 3:Okay, recruiting, life Hacks. So this is a combination of analyst, erin Spencer from Deloitte and a practitioner. You can't go wrong with Erin Spencer. She knows everything and she will tell you exactly what she's thinking. Combined with a practitioner, you're going to learn a lot. George LaRocque has put together the investor experience and pitch fest. There are 33 companies competing in pitch fest and the investor experience is, if you want to meet investors, if you want to learn from investors, if you want to know what investing looks like in the space, that's where you need to go and then ask the experts. These are the experts. These are the folks who are doing the work, whether it's implementations, transformations, advising the analysts. They are going to be at the front of the room and this is your chance to meet with them and ask them questions directly on specific topics that are impacting HR right now.
Speaker 2:Very well, it's almost as if you've got your own podcast. Okay, and last year I think there was an area for startups. Have you guys got that as well this year?
Speaker 3:We do, and it is packed this year, I believe. I was trying to eyeball it earlier this week and it looked like there might be about 50 to 60 startups in there and many of them are participating in the Pitchfest. Again, there are 33 companies that made it to the competition, but again I believe there's about another. You know 20 to 30 that'll be in the startup pavilion holy smokes.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm foreseeing many, many conversations at hr tech conference. Uh, this year's agenda also features some special highlights the the james patterson and patrick had in keynotes uh, including a book giveaway. You and I were talking about this before we hit record today. I'm very, very excited for that. And the HR executive and work-defined podcast studio. We've already given some love to Mr Tinkup, also mentioning Ryan Leary lovely chap. Can you share more about those experiences?
Speaker 3:Sure thing. So James Patterson, for anyone who doesn't know, is the most best-selling author of all time, since, I believe, like 1978, he's published dozens of books and now, at almost 80 years old, has decided to write a business book for the very first time and he is bringing it to HR Tech with his co-author, patrick Ledden, and they are going to be delivering a keynote on it on Wednesday morning and the book will be previewed at HR Tech. It's actually not being published until October or November, so the HR tech audience is actually going to be the first to see it. And so after their keynote there is going to be a book giveaway and signing on site so attendees will be able to get a copy of the book before it's released, which I think is pretty cool. And again, james Patterson is going to be there. So for anyone who's a big fan of his other books, his fiction, here's a chance to meet him in person.
Speaker 3:And then the HR executive slash work to find podcast studio. This is happening from the expo floor. This is the work to find team. William Tinkup and Ryan Leary and several of their shows are invading essentially the HR Executive Podcast Studio and will be recording throughout the show, basically whenever the expo floor is open, there will be podcasts that are recording from the studio. This is an opportunity to watch the podcast being recorded live. Attendees can go and sit outside the studio. There will be headphones and you can kind of it's sort of like a fishbowl you can watch what's happening inside the studio and the different guests and what they're talking about, before these podcasts are actually published. So that's kind of a cool experience as well, almost like a silent disco, except with podcasts silent podcasts?
Speaker 2:um, silent podcast would never work. Uh, william and ryan, if you're listening, I haven't forgotten about our conversation a few months back. I've got some ideas for some new podcasts and work defined is on my radars, so, uh, let's catch up in a couple of weeks. Um, okay, we are coming towards the end of this particular chit chat. Before we wrap up, two more questions for you. Katie, you're not only helping to shape hr tech, but you're also running your own show and newsletter. Uh, up next at work and the how. How can listeners go to learn more about your work? Um, and actually I'll just throw in the other question right now as well. The other question is how can they, of course, get uh passes for hr tech, and I believe I don't know if it's an hr gazette exclusive, but I believe you might have a little code that you can share with our listeners I do have a little code um.
Speaker 3:so for anyone you know still thinking about attending the conference, you can register over at HRTechnologyConferencecom and if you use code DEVON D-E-V-O-N 2-5, that will take $250 off any registration type. There is no expiration date on that, so that should be good pretty much up until the date the conference starts. Again, that's Devin 25 for $250 off. So you know, we do encourage you. If you're on the fence there's still an opportunity to come to the show and you know I'll be there, bill will be there, you know. Hopefully that's enough reason to come, to come check it out. If you know, all the other things we talked about today weren't enough reason. Um, and then, yeah, you know, if you want to learn more about me, I I'm over at the devon group and you know we do have our podcast up next at work, which is on the work defined network, and then we do have, uh, I have a newsletter called the how, which is on substack wonderful.
Speaker 2:And uh, just just to make sure, uh did you say Devon 25? Devon 25.
Speaker 3:Devon 25. D-e-v-o-n 25, like the Devon group.
Speaker 2:Okay. I was once told if you keep repeating a name or a term six times in fairly rapid succession, then it sticks in your mind. I think we've achieved that today. Now that just leaves me to say for today Katie, thank you very much for being my guest on the HR Chat Show.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much for having me. I'm looking forward to seeing you in person in a couple of weeks here.
Speaker 2:Me too, and listeners as always. Until next time, happy working.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the HR Chat Show. If you enjoyed this episode, why not subscribe and listen to some of the hundreds of episodes published by HR Gazette and remember for what's new in the world of work? Subscribe to the show, follow us on social media and visit hrgazettecom.
