2019 Future of Work Events

Are you planning on attending any, this year?

Although a couple of these are going on currently or are recently behind us, hopefully you will find benefit from being aware of and positioning yourself to take advantage of upcoming and next year's programs.

1. Feb 21: Watermark Conference
2. Feb 25: Work Rebooted
3. Feb 25: NYT New Work Summit
4. Mar 8: SXSW
5. Mar 26: CWS/GigE Europe
6. Mar 26: HR Transform
7. Mar 26: VentureBeat Blueprint
8. Apr 15: SIG Spring Summit
9. May 20: Collision
10. June 13: Future of Work Summit
11. Jun 23: SHRM19
12. Jul 23: ProcureCon TTM (US)
13. Sep 9: CWS/Gig Summit (San Diego)

Watermark Conference - Inspiration, motivation, networking, personal & professional development, and community.

Friday, February 21, 2019 - San Jose, CA

The Workplace Summit is a new event that takes place the afternoon before the main conference in the San Jose Convention Center. This afternoon of lectures and workshops is designed to bring thought leaders together in one place to educate mid-level managers, executives and HR professionals about strategies to achieve inclusion and diversity in the workplace. We strive for at least a 50% male audience to foster more productive discussions.

This is relevant to the gig economy and the future of work because it shows up to date realities. A current gathering of speakers and individuals is more helpful in ascertaining what is currently happening across industries. 

Speakers: Brené Brown - is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair, Celeste Headlee - is a communication and human nature expert, and an award-winning journalist. Amanda Southworth - is a seventeen-year-old iOS developer, designer, and a mental health and human rights activist. Gloria Steinem - is a writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer. Serena Williams - exemplifies courage, beauty, power, and style, and has overcome insurmountable odds to win a record-breaking 23 career Grand Slams singles and 14 Grand Slam double titles. Whitney Wolfe Herd - is the founder and CEO of Bumble, one of the fastest growing social networking apps in the world.

Work Rebooted - The time has come to re-examine how we think about the nature of work, the concept of employment and what it takes to build a thriving workforce.

February 25-27, 2019 - San Francisco, CA

WORK REBOOTED is a curated knowledge-sharing network with a mission to critically re-examine how we think about the nature of work, the concept of employment and what it takes to build a thriving workforce as we head into the 4th industrial revolution. 

We faciliate open, honest dialog that leads to positive social change and prosperous business outcomes.

 They have several very relevant focus points such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, design, reskilling, demographics and entrepreneurship. Whether working independently or together is very relevant. 

Our annual summit and supported synergistic ventures push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and inspire business leaders to take meaningful action. 

Speakers: Reza Moussavian SVP Digital & Innovation (HR) DEUTSCHE TELEKOM - Before taking the lead for the HR division “Digital & Innovation”, Dr Moussavian ran its predecessor named “Shareground” which focused on implementing a culture of innovation throughout Deutsche Telekom. John Hagel - Founder and Co-chairman Center for the Edge, Deloitte Fellow, World Economic Forum Trustee, Santa Fe Institute Trustee, Independent Institute. Audrey Williams-Lee VP, Corporate Human Resources & Global Philanthropy HR leader and advisor for C-suite executives and their leadership teams, leading the development and implementation of a multi-year workforce and talent strategy to meet long-term business objectives. Audrey also leads Hyatt’s community engagement, social impact and governance efforts to mitigate organizational risks in the areas of human rights and human trafficking, and direct the company’s philanthropy strategy and approach. Julia Martensen - Director, Head of HR Strategy & Innovation - Julia is managing HR Innovation and Digitization at DB Schenker on a global scale, where she scouts, leads and drives initiatives as well as stakeholder engagement to generate and catalyze a sustainable culture transformation for a 72K+ employee corporation. Benjamin Pring Co-Founder & Managing Dir. Center for the Future of Work, Co-Author of What To Do When Machines Do Everything. A widely acknowledged IT futurist and thought leader with a storied track record working with the biggest and fastest growing IT innovators and the most demanding and sophisticated IT buyers.

New Work Summit – Leasing in the Age of AI

February 25th – 26th - Half moon bay, CA 

Provides provocative discussions with celebrated visionaries – top venture capitalists, C.E.O.s, policymakers, entrepreneurs, social scientists and others – senior Times journalists will explore and analyze the technologies driving the greatest change today. Complementing the on-stage discussions, interactive breakout sessions will give attendees the chance to dive deeper into key innovations and apply them to the organizations they lead.

Speakers: Reid Hoffman, Sam Altman, Adena Friedman, Evan Spiegel, Brad Smith, an more 

Check out the full Agenda:, here are a few that looked interesting 

• Controlled Chaos - How can leaders take risks and move fast without losing sight of longer-term, unintended consequences?
• The Macro Impact of AI - What role will technology such as AI play in the economic and geopolitical landscape of 2020 and beyond?
• Full Speed Ahead - 5G wireless networks

SXSW - Conference & Festivals celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries.

March 8-17, 2019 - Austin, TX

South By Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. An essential destination for global professionals, the event features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.

Speakers: Bozoma Saint John, Adam Bierman, Joanna Shields

View the complete and extensive lists here.

Check out the full agenda; here are a few that looked interesting

AI and the Democratization of Work

America's Got Hidden Talent: Social Impact Hiring

The Digital Economy Isn’t Just for the Young

The Gig Economy & The Evolution of Employment

Remote Entrepreneurship in the Digital World

CWS Summit Europe - Stay on the cutting-edge of adapting your company’s needs by managing a flexible, on-demand workforce.

26-27 March 2019 - London England

Join your peers in London for CWS Summit Europe, the premier conference for HR & Procurement professionals across Europe, followed by Collaboration in the Gig Economy, where all players across the workforce solutions ecosystem come together in a forum geared towards collaboration and innovation.

Speakers: Elisabetta Bayliss, Maurice Benz, Dean Bosche, Olivier Cachat

Check out the full agenda; here are a few that looked interesting

• “Marketplace" at Public Sector Resourcing (PSR): Re-Inventing Flexible Talent in the Public Sector and Beyond
• Advanced Technologies for an Agile Workforce
• Making the Most of the Human Cloud and Remote Workers
• Hacking Consultancy and Services Spend
• Execution over Theory: How-to Engage Remote, On-Demand Talent 

HR Transform - HR Transform brings together a curated and diverse group of innovators and executive-level People leaders from across the ecosystem.

March 26-28, 2019 - Las Vegas, NV

Change is hitting the corporate workplace at an unprecedented pace. Is your organization ready for the future?

From engaging passive candidates to blind hiring, the gamification of HR to making the most out of feedback tools, providing an exemplary candidate experience to building a learning & development platform for global teams – HR Transform will dive deep into how executive level people leaders can bring the future of work into their organizations.

HR Transform brings together the world’s most prominent HR executives and the innovators creating the future of work. Meet the leaders who are not only thinking about the changes ahead but actually laying the groundwork for that future today.

Speakers: Mala Singh, Sarah Guo, Rebecca R. Ca?ate, Alex Garden, Mita Mallick

Check out the full agenda; here are a few that looked interesting

• How to Create Content That Sticks Brought to You by Uncubed
• Emerging Technologies and the Impact on HR
• Re-imagining the Boundaries Between Work and Life
• Reshaping Teamwork - a Distributed Workforce
• The HR Identity Crisis

BLUEPRINT - Discussing the transformative technologies in AI and automation while exploring what it means for the future of the workforce, particularly in heartland communities. 

March 26-28, 2019 - York, PA

 Advances in AI and automation are significantly changing our economic landscape. New innovations will replace up to 40 percent of current jobs by 2020 (according to PwC). 

Regions such as York, PA are embracing these technologies and growing their economies by supplying the solutions for our modern world. Yet York and others are also grappling with the future of their workforce and the training and skills that will be required to take on these new opportunities. 

BLUEPRINT York will discuss the transformative technologies in AI and automation while exploring what it means for the future of the workforce, particularly in heartland communities. The group will continue the conversation around what it will take to take advantage of these opportunities and map out a BLUEPRINT for middle America.  

Speakers: Jason Ilian Managing Director Koch Disruptive Technologies, Shelley McKinley General Manager Technology & Corporate Responsibility, Microsoft. Kyle York VP Product Strategy  Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Steve Catt Deputy Director of Education and Workforce Development.

Check out the full agenda; here are a few that looked interesting

• “Regions embracing talent transitions with unique workforce models designed for 21st century technologies"
• "Perspectives from large tech on how AI & Automation are creating new opportunities for the workforce "  
• “How Innovative companies are building talent to grow their companies - entrepreneurs share their stories” 
• Tapping into untapped talent across America:  Unique models to train our labor force to meet today's growing technology demands
• “Tech solutions emerging to address workforce needs of 21st century”

SIG Global Executive Summits - SIGInnova – Sourcing Innovation. Member Experiences, Best Practices, Award Winning Products

APRIL 15-17 2019 - Amelia Island, FL

SIG Global Executive Summits are 4-day events that are packed with the latest best practices, cost-cutting strategies, innovative processes and risk-mitigation approaches. Through CPO roundtables, keynote sessions, workshops, breakout sessions and networking events, you'll hear from industry thought leaders, discover the latest innovative trends and have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals facing similar challenges.

Collision - Fastest growing tech conference in North America.

Toronto, Ontario - MAY 20-23, 2019

Now in its fifth year, Collision has grown to over 25,000 attendees and is in for a big change in 2019. Following three sunny, jazz-filled years in New Orleans, we’re moving Collision to Toronto.

Our host cities have always had a big impact on our conferences and we’re excited to show you what Toronto has to offer. From its diverse population to its position as an AI torch-bearer, there is a lot going on in Toronto’s startup scene.

Speakers: Ev Williams, Founder & CEO Medium, Alex Stamos, Adjunct Professor, Mike Maples Founding Partner Floodgate, Palmer Luckey, Founder Anduril Industries.

Future of Work Summit - London, England

June 13, 2019

Future proof your workplace and create a dynamic, inspiring and inclusive environment for your employees. Understand how to utilise technology to revitalise the workplace experience and reshape your environment to meet evolving employee expectations.

Check the complete line up of speakers here.

Check out the full agenda; here are a few that looked interesting

• Who owns the future of work?
• Putting People at the Heart of Strategy
• Employee Lifecycle: Implementing Change from Recruitment to Exit Interviews
• Where to Invest and When?

SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition - Internationally-renowned speakers that offer fresh points of view and inspiring stories will help shift your perspectives and deepen your understanding of a broad range of HR topics and workplace issues.

Las Vegas, NV - June 23- 26, 2019

There is no better place for HR professional development than SHRM’s Annual Conference & Exposition. By attending, you’ll gain the tools and resources you need to implement successful HR practices – which help your company succeed. 

Speakers: Brené Brown Monday, Blake Mycoskie, Vineet Nayar, Martha Stewart , Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP  

Check out the full agenda; here are a few that looked interesting

• Drive Business Success with Workplace Flexibility 
• Employee Offboarding Matters: Three Reasons Why HR Should Give Exiting Employees the Red-Carpet Treatment
• Employee Engagement: The Art of Valuing Employees 
• Making Work Agile: HR’s Role in Empowering Success
• Choice as the New Competitor: Use the Employee Experience to Recruit and Retain Top Talent

Procurecon HR - Only at Procurecon HR can you benchmark with Heads of HR Procurement, Contingent Workforce and Talent Acquisition from Europe’s largest and most innovative companies: Ensure your division drives greater impact on total talent and HR services within your business.

24 - 25 September, 2019 - Amsterdam

With growing competition for world-class talent, dependence on contingent workers, and demand for innovative HR services, do you want to gain insight into how Europe’s leading employers are adapting their sourcing strategies to compete in this new world of work?

Speakers: Sander Haken, Global Head of HR Procurement Shell, Julie Smith, Global Head of HR Procurement, British American Tobacco, Andreas Hettwer Group Procurement Category Director External Resources, CapGemini, Bev Thaker-Fell, Global Head of HR Procurement Barclays Bank, Nicola Perrozzi, Global Head of Professional Services Procurement, Lego.

Download the full agenda here.

CWS Summit North America  - Move your workforce solutions program into the future.

September 9-10, 2019 - San Diego, CA

Join your peers in San Diego for CWS Summit, the conference for HR & Procurement professionals, followed by Collaboration in the Gig Economy, where all players across the workforce solutions ecosystem come together in a forum of collaboration and innovation.

Speakers: Liana Anderson, Manager, Workforce Solutions GlaxoSmithKline, Douglas Arms, Principal - Global Talent, Advisory Services: TA, HR & Workplace Transformation, Sue Bhatia, Founder/Chair, Rose International, Tammy Browning, VP, Operations, Kelly OCG

Access the daily agenda here. Here were a few that looked interesting.

• Analytics, Metrics and Benchmarking
• Factoring Digital Solutions into Your External Workforce Management Program
• The Brave New World of Blockchain/Security
• Wake Up and Smell the Roses
• Where Contingent Workforce Programs Go Wrong

With an offering this extensive, there is no excuse not to look into how the future of work and the gig economy will effect you and your organization in 2019 and beyond.

About the Author

Paul Estes is a passionate advocate for the gig economy, also known as the “Freelance/Sharing/On-demand economy.” In this new way of working, individuals and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term projects and services. Some estimates predict that by 2020, over 40% of the workforce will be engaged in alternative work arrangements, and the implications for our future are profound. Paul is on a mission to show how individuals and companies can take advantage of gig workers to grow themselves and increase their productivity. He leads a cross-disciplinary team at Microsoft that is enabling gig work company-wide, he shares his story as a speaker and panelist at conferences, and he is an active member of the Enterprise Customer Advisory Board for Upwork.  

More From Paul

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GigMindset: For many it is a personal journey

Reskill or Die: Why your future depends on it

Gig Mindset: How I reclaimed 8 days this year (plus 50 task ideas so you can too!)

#DeathToMeetings: My 5 Commitments, and Why You Should Change Too 

AI is taking over my life and it is not all bad, at least right now…

#gigeconomy #futureofwork #gigmindset