Breaking Barriers: 2016 HR Technology Conference to Host Inaugural Women in HR Technology Pre-Conference Event

First-of-Its-Kind Event to Highlight the CHROs and Business Leaders Breaking New Ground for Women in Technology Leadership


HORSHAM, PA--(Marketwired - Jul 27, 2016) -  Human Resource Executive® magazine, the premier publication focused on strategic issues in HR, today announced details of a new event, "Women in HR Technology," taking place during the 19th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition® on Tuesday, October 4 at McCormick Place, Chicago. Showcasing successful female executives in the HR tech industry, the event will explore the latest trends and issues in the space and highlight how women can break new barriers in technology leadership.

"In the traditionally male-dominated technology industry, there are many successful women leaders introducing new ideas, developing transformative solutions and leading their companies to success," said HR Tech Conference co-chair, Steve Boese. "We are proud to hold this long overdue 'Women in HR Technology' event, which will not only showcase more than 15 of the most successful women changing the industry, but also provide new insights for how other women can create their own professional roadmaps."

The "Women in HR Technology" event will empower women within HR and HR technology to grow personally and professionally, by engaging with chief human resource officers (CHROs) and technology leaders who share similar aspirations and goals. Attendees will learn the best ways to create and support more inclusivity in technology roles, achieve their career objectives, and cultivate a strong industry network. The "Women in HR Technology" event will be moderated by Cara Capretta, vice president of HCM Transformation at Oracle, and will cover four distinct areas:

Women Leaders in HR Technology

Since the HR technology industry sits at the crossroads of technology and human capital management, it often sets the standards for how other industries can support women in technology roles. A group of highly accomplished technology executives will share their stories of rising to technology leadership roles and discuss how organizations can create an environment for women in technology to thrive. They include Gretchen Alarcon, group vice president, Product Strategy, Oracle; Anna Carsen, vice president, Product Management, ADP; Kirsten Helvey, chief operating officer, Cornerstone OnDemand; Deb Cupp, senior vice president and general manager, SAP SuccessFactors North America; and Angela Lockman, vice president, Equifax Workforce Solutions.

Women in Technology: The CHRO Perspective

Many of the challenges facing women in their technology careers are attributed to the candidate funnel, inadequate professional development opportunities, hiring for "cultural fit" and other circumstances leading organizations to simply reinforce existing imbalances. Senior HR executives - including Kimberly Cassady, vice president of Talent, Cornerstone OnDemand; Lisa Sterling, executive vice president, chief people officer, Ceridian; and Laurie Zaucha, vice president, HR and Organizational Development, Paychex - will discuss how to better align HR processes to cultivate, develop and support women in technology - ultimately making the organization stronger in the process.

Founders and CEOs

Five successful business leaders - Jeanne Achille, founder and CEO, The Devon Group; Anne Fulton, CEO, Fuel50; Brynne Herbert, founder and CEO, MOVE Guides; Autumn Manning, co-founder and CEO, YouEarnedIt; and Kathryn Minshew, founder and CEO, The Muse - will discuss the challenges of starting and leading technology companies in a male-dominated industry. Attendees will learn how these founders and CEOs created and continue to lead successful technology organizations, and the important lessons they learned along the way.

Lead Like a Girl

Companies with gender-diverse workforces are more adaptable, have access to a broader range of skills and are more innovative, while organizations with more women leaders consistently perform better financially. In this closing address, Tacy M. Byham, Ph.D., CEO, Development Dimensions International (DDI), will share her personal journey and the collective wisdom from DDI's women in leadership practice to explore what it means to #LeadLikeAGirl. Attendees will learn how to be an advocate for their organization's diversity initiatives, find their strength and inner leaders, identify their personal wake-up call and learn how to grow their networks.

Additional information about the "Women in HR Technology" event can be accessed on the conference agenda.

Registration is now open for the 19th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition®. Register by August 31, 2016 to save $400.00 off the onsite rate. For additional information and to register, visit www.HRTechConference.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-1227.

About the HR Technology Conference & Exposition®
The HR Technology Conference covers all the latest trends -- SaaS, The Cloud, social, mobile, analytics, video, gamification, Big Data and MOOCs -- as well as the more traditional technologies and processes. Whatever is changing the way work and HR gets done is what is featured. All sessions are created and delivered by senior executives from many leading organizations -- no speaking slots are sold -- resulting in a high-caliber learning experience with real-world lessons and practical takeaways. The conference attracts industry experts, thought leaders, software vendors, senior HR executives, HR generalists, HR systems leaders and more. Additionally, HR Tech is home to the world's largest Expo of HR technology products and services - many vendors even choose to announce their latest products for the first time at HR Tech. There is no better place to touch, compare and contrast the latest solutions from leading vendors in every category, as well as start-ups. For more information, visit www.HRTechConference.com