It’s almost that time of year: The time when thousands of leaders, innovators, and influencers in the talent space come together for three days to learn from one another, discuss the trends shaping the future of work, and share best practices and challenges. That's right, we're talking about Talent Connect.
This year, we’re excited to be back in sunny Anaheim, California (October 9 - 11). And if you’re wondering: Yes, Disneyland fun is involved (more on that further down).
From connecting with your peers to hearing from inspirational and insightful speakers, there’s a lot to look forward to. So if you’ve never been or are still on the fence about going, here are a few reasons you don’t want to miss this year’s conference:
1. You’ll hear memorable keynotes that will help you grow and improve your company
This year’s theme is “Insights to Impact,” and we've lined up some exceptional speakers to take the mainstage as our keynotes this year. They'll cover topics ranging from talent intelligence and the future of work, to community building and talent development.
The first keynote this year is someone you won’t want to miss: Carla Harris, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Morgan Stanley, who will talk about shaping how others perceive you and building your personal brand. You’ll also hear from Esther Perel, a psychotherapist and relationship philosopher, who will share her thoughts on why people leave their jobs.
In addition, Tim Leberecht, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the Romantic Business Society, will take the stage to speak about how you can build a human company in the age of machines. And then there’s Elaine Welteroth, former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, who will discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and what companies can do to make it a reality.
These are just some of the keynotes you can expect to hear on the mainstage – there’s plenty more knowledge to be dropped and new products to be revealed.
2. You can choose from 45 breakout sessions to make your Talent Connect experience your own
Our dozens of breakout sessions will let you tailor your Talent Connect experience to exactly what you’re interested in most. Speakers will cover topics like artificial intelligence’s future in the talent industry, how to build a strong employer branding experience at work, how to help your independent or contract workers thrive, and ways to better manage the different generations at your company.
You'll hear transformational stories from companies like Playstation, Starbucks, Pymetrics, Toyota, and more as well as talks from industry influencers like small business guru Ed Nathanson, John Vlastelica, and others.
In addition, speakers like Josh Bersin will talk about upskilling your workforce, Professor Stacy Smith will discuss inclusion in the workplace, and mindfulness trainer Gelong Thubten will help you learn about mental transformation and how to optimize your own performance. Gelong is a Buddhist monk with years of experience teaching mindfulness at some of the world’s biggest companies.
Again, this is just a taste – there are so many awesome speakers to choose from who will be covering a wide range of topics. See the full list.
3. You’ll make valuable connections, share ideas, and even enjoy some needed zen time in between
At Talent Connect, you can expect tons of opportunities to network. We're planning out a bunch of different experiences that will allow you to meet others, swap stories, and learn from your peers. But for those of you that need a break, we have a great solution for that too. Here are a few activities we've planned:
Welcome reception
The Talent Connect fun begins right from the get-go and it involves food (duh). At the welcome reception on day one, you’ll get to choose from food trucks galore and also start meeting and connecting with other attendees and speakers.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
We’re also making diversity and inclusion a key part of the conference this year through our keynotes, breakouts, and also by encouraging you to connect with fellow ERG group members through various meetups. For example, we're hosting a culture and belonging picnic on the conference’s second day to bring people together for good food and conversation. There will even be tabletop conversation starters to help.
Zen room
After all the fun, you may need a little break to recharge your batteries for a bit. That’s why we have a zen room onsite, which will include space for mindfulness and meditation. If meditation isn’t your jam but you still want some quiet time, you’re also in luck: there’s no talking allowed in this room and you can just hang. And, in the morning, count on some yoga classes to help you start your day off strong and grounded.
4. You’ll learn about latest products, get a fresh LinkedIn Profile pic, and pick up free swag
We’re also holding a couple of great activities in our inLounge (which you can enjoy between breakout sessions and keynote speakers) to help you learn about the future of LinkedIn’s various products. Here are some highlights:
This year, you can try out fun, personal, and interactive installations, including product demos and time with LinkedIn experts, that tie into our Insights to Impact theme. You can also take part in interactive photo moments and get some free swag from our newly-created swag station.
Plus, we’re bringing back our popular Rock Your Profile experience, where you can work with LinkedIn experts to make your profile shine and have a pro photographer take a new profile photo for you.
And there’s more: you’ll also have a chance to check out various immersive stations showcasing the power of our unique products, data, and insights on a few topics, such as:
- Strategy & Analytics, highlighting our LinkedIn Talent Insights product
- Recruiting & Hiring
- Learning & Development
5. You’ll rediscover your inner child at our party at California Adventure
And last, but certainly not least, we’re going big for our party this year at Disney’s California Adventure!
To give you a glimpse of what you’ll experience at the park (which you’ll get early access to from 5:00pm to 9:00pm before we have the place to ourselves starting at 10:00pm), you’ll get to try out the Toy Story Midway Mania ride, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout!, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, and the Tower of Terror.
Additionally, there will even be fun photo opps with your favorites, tattoo artists, face painters, caricature artists, giveaways, DJs, booze, and much more.
And that’s only a teaser of what’s to come. We’re excited to see you at Talent Connect this year!
*Image from Eric May
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Topics: Talent Connect
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