Transform

What a beautiful reflection of your experience at Transform 2025, Haili McCulloch! Reading this truly captures the heart of what Transform is meant to be. Your words reminded us why we do this... to create space for people to connect, grow, share ideas, and leave feeling reenergized about their work and their impact. It’s especially meaningful to hear how welcomed and supported you felt by the community while attending solo. The connections you made and the moments you shared are exactly what makes this community so special. Thank you for showing up so fully, for embracing the experience, and for bringing that renewed sense of purpose back with you. We’re lucky to have thoughtful and passionate leaders like you in this community. We'll see you online! ?? #FridayFeedback #Community #Leadership #Transform2025

Still riding the wave from Transform 2025—and wow, what a ride. This year marked my 5th Transform, and it was the most powerful yet. A massive shoutout to my dear friend Samara Jaffe and the entire team for curating a gathering that’s more than just a conference—it’s a catalyst. Shout out to Cal Keizur, Jennifer Cooper, Jeanette (Rodriguez) Morton, Debra Wade Carney and so many more who brought this year to life. Every stage, every hallway convo, every moment was infused with purpose and possibility. Our team showed up in full force: — We shared our founding story of Good Trouble Ventures and the heart behind the The Troublemaker Lab — Kat Steinmetz and I had a blast emceeing and celebrating industry Changemakers at the Innovation Stage Awards — Monica Pool Knox brought the heat on her panel about skills-based hiring—an important convo as we reshape what talent and potential really look like in the future of work — We connected with so many incredible humans across investor events, deep convos, and spontaneous reunions. Looking at you Gianna Driver, Melanie Naranjo, Kelley Steven-Waiss, Sally Thornton (she/her), Rachel Ann Williams, Chris Abbass, Craig Forman, Shannon Nash, Esq., CPA, Jennifer Turner, Ronald B. Williams and so many more! — Had the chance to reflect on our journey with friends and supporters who’ve been with us since the beginning Athena Alliance, Coco Brown, Shelly Morales - thank you for hosting our Lounge hour at the EXP! — HR Confidential led by OMERS Ventures delivered as always: unfiltered truths and the kind of vulnerability that sparks real change on things being experienced by HR leaders today: DOGE, Political climate, climate, employee and leadership health and well being amidst the current state of the State. And one of the most unforgettable moments? Sharing the keynote stage with the legendary Rob Lewis! Our extraordinary Creative in Residence at GTV. (Will have a separate post on this one so stay tuned) big ups to Ash Rodriguez and the one and only Mike Thomas for keeping us focused and ready for that conversation. Together we explored the powerful parallels between the future of work and the creative universe of entertainment and media—from how teams are built, to how leaders inspire, to how culture gets made. Rob’s brilliance and heart were magnetic. It was an honor to dig into how imagination, emotion, and creative leadership are shaping what’s next. Big love to Torin Ellis for lighting up the stage as this year’s emcee—you brought the fire and soul. Transform reminded me: we’re not just building companies—we’re building culture, stories, and movements. Let’s keep making good trouble. Let’s keep building the future of work worth showing up for. Series of insights and learnings over the course of this week on the way! #Transform2025 #GoodTrouble #FutureOfWork #SkillsBasedHiring #EntertainmentAndCreativity #HRConfidential #LeadershipReimagined #VentureCapital #CreativityAndCulture #TroublemakerLab

Beautifully said, Stephanie Loewenstern, and what a powerful reflection on such a moving session at Transform 2025. Rob Lewis reminded us that creativity isn’t just for artists. It’s the quiet, intentional practice of presence, reflection, and heart that elevates all of us. Thank you for capturing that moment so thoughtfully, and to AJ Thomas ?? for curating a session that gave us the space to reconnect with ourselves and the power of our own stories. We’re grateful to have you both as part of the Transform community! Keep asking the big questions, staying open, and moving toward whatever your next level looks like. See you in the online community. ?? #FeedbackFriday #Community #Creativity #Leadership #Transform2025

Thank you, Lan Huynh Lee, for bringing such depth and care to the Transform 2025 stage. Your conversation with Deborah Hanus, Jason Resendez, and Donald Knight gave voice to a reality so many in the workforce quietly navigate every day and reminded us all that supporting caregivers is a leadership imperative, not just a personal matter. We know that truly impactful conversations come from people with lived experience and a passion for change, and your presence brought exactly that! As we continue to evolve the Transform experience based on community feedback, voices like yours help keep the dialogue real, meaningful, and focused on what matters most. Thank you! A huge congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for being recognized as Employer Brand of the Year! What an incredible testament to the impact of your work and values. We’re so glad you joined us for your first Transform and are even more excited to welcome you to the community officially. The conversation doesn’t end here. We look forward to seeing you in the online community! #FeedbackFriday #Transform2025 #Leadership #Caregiving #Culture

The energy from Transform 2025 is still going strong! Join us Thursday, March 27th at 12:30 PM PT for a special LinkedIn Live: Highlights & Hot Takes: Post-Transform Reflections featuring... ?? Samara Jaffe, Co-Founder & GM, Transform ?? Dan Riley, Co-Founder, RADICL ?? AJ Thomas ??, Founder and General Partner, Good Trouble Ventures We’ll be celebrating the most inspiring moments, the ideas that sparked something new, and the connections that made this year unforgettable. RSVP to join us live! We'll see you there. #Transform2025 #HRInnovation #TransformTogether #PeopleFirstLeadership #FutureOfWork

? Coming up in one hour at 12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET. Join Samara Jaffe, Dan Riley, and AJ Thomas ?? for Highlights and Hot Takes: Transform 2025 Reflections. See you soon! #Transform2025 #PeopleFirst #Innovation #Community #TransformMoments

Thank you, Sally Drexler and Brian Baker, for hosting such a thoughtful and meaningful roundtable conversation at #Transform2025. Our workshops and roundtables have become a meaningful part of the Transform experience, which were shaped directly by feedback from attendees who wanted more interactive discussions, shared learning with peers, and the kind of conversations that translate into real-world action. The CHRO discussion you led reflected exactly why these sessions matter. Creating space for people-first leaders to connect, exchange perspectives, and tackle the realities of this moment together is what our community is all about. We appreciate you and the Teneo team for showing up and contributing to the conversations that help move our work forward. #Transform2025 #PeopleFirstLeadership #CHROCommunity #FutureOfWork #HRLeadership

I talked to these 8 brilliant talent leaders at Transform. Here are 3 things they agreed on to prepare for the future of work: === 1. Embrace Experimentation and Play === Encourage your teams to experiment with AI tools in low-risk ways. As Sarika Lamont noted, "It's about giving them the space to be curious and learn...fail fast, learn fast." === 2. Teach Critical Human Skills === Focus development efforts on human abilities that AI cannot replicate. Jim O'Gorman put it plainly: "The leader who can think critically, who has more emotional intelligence, who can manage the ambiguity of a situation—those are going to be the people who will far exceed other professionals in the future." === 3. Build Learning Communities === Peer-to-peer learning is powerful for AI adoption. Tushar Pandit described bringing "all of the teams together... what works, what didn't work, how can we help you." Thanks to all my guests for contributing your wisdom! We'll release the full episode with dozens of other actionable insights that more than one agreed on. (And I'm definitely doing this format again).

Where Will Your Next Senior Leaders Come From? Guest Writer?John Vlastelica, CEO and founder of?Recruiting Toolbox, Inc., raises this critical question?in the latest Transform blog, "Will AI Replace Junior Roles?" John explores what AI means for recruiters, hiring strategies, and why removing junior talent from your pipeline may hurt long-term growth in the business. "How will companies gain senior talent if we don’t have pipelines of junior talent?" This is a must-read for all companies, TA leaders, and recruiters navigating shifting workforce needs. Read and weigh in. Are you already seeing a reduced focus on entry-level hiring? ?? Link to the blog in the comments below. #TalentAcquisition #FutureOfWork #RecruitingLeadership #AIinHR #HiringStrategy

Reflecting on an inspiring experience at #Transform2025! ??? It was an honor to be among so many people-first leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of people and work. With incredible speakers and 3 action-packed days of unmatched learning and networking, the event was truly transformative. From powerful sessions on leadership and the future of work, to connecting with like-minded professionals, Transform 2025 left me energized and ready to drive change. The insights shared are a reminder of the importance of empathy, inclusion, embracing change, and agility in navigating today’s dynamic workplace. ?? Embrace AI: AI is here to stay. Dive in and leverage it to streamline processes—whether it’s using chatbots, transforming talent acquisition, enhancing employee engagement, or analyzing turnover trends. The opportunities to drive efficiency with AI are vast. ?? Foster a Results-Driven Culture: Build and nurture a culture that aligns with business outcomes. Strengthen your values and create an environment where meaningful culture drives value for both employees and the organization. ?? Adopt Skills-Based Hiring and Learning: The future is now. Don’t get left behind—shift to a skills-based approach in hiring, training, and leadership. Align your people strategies with skills and values-driven leadership to stay competitive. ?? Prioritize Diversity and Inclusion: Even as discussions around diversity and inclusion evolve, these topics remain critical. Stay committed to building practices that center on the employee experience and reflect your values in action. ?? Lead with Empathy Amid Uncertainty: In times of widespread uncertainty, we all feel the impact. Show grace and compassion toward one another, recognizing that the experiences we’re facing require empathy and understanding. Feeling grateful for the opportunity to learn, share, and grow with such an incredible community. Can’t wait to take these insights forward and continue the work of building people-centered organizations. If you’re looking for a Fractional People Leader, strategic HR consulting, or know of an impactful full-time HR leader opportunity, let’s talk! If these insights resonate with you or your organization, let’s talk about how we can create meaningful change together. Reach out to discuss AI integration, culture transformation, or leadership strategies that drive results. #Transform2025 #PeopleFirstLeadership #Innovation #WorkplaceTransformation #FutureofWork #FractionalLeadership #HRConsulting #Coaching #Resilience #ResiliencyTheory #Grateful #Gratefulnessjourney Resiliency Theory