Agenda

A morning dedicated to instituting equitable workforces to drive business growth

8:15 - 9:00 Registration & Breakfast

9:00: The Evidence

Quick Facts to Set the Tone: The biological business case for supporting women’s health is strong, but currently riddled with misunderstanding (not to mention taboo). In this session we’ll hear from a top clinician on what is known about the critical biological health stages for women. Dr Dina Gordon will share the latest research and break down the key stages in a woman’s life where we need to adapt and make workplaces more hospitable. She will also examine when biology is as much a productivity driver as a potential barrier. 

Speaker: Dr. Dina Gordon, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist

9:30: The Economic Argument

Prioritizing employee well-being and supporting women through the phases of their life - from menstruation, reproduction, and through menopause. It is not only a compassionate business decision, but also a strategic move toward long-term success in a diverse and inclusive workplace. Businesses that don’t understand women's unique needs or provide support are at risk of losing their top talent. This is talent who will generally be at the peak of their experience and knowledge. Such disruptions not only sideline the individual careers of women but also hold broader economic consequences.  

In this session, we’ll share the economics of why businesses, who support women in their various life stages, experience increased productivity levels, enhancement of their business’s reputation and longer tenures of their most experienced employees all while fostering inclusivity and promoting gender equality in the workplace. This isn't just a women's issue. It's an economic one.

Speaker: Serafina Miller, Partner, Mercer

Speaker: Mary Kay ONeill, Partner, Mercer

9:50: Lessons from a Trailblazing Employer

Building an equitable workforce demands deliberate choices, leadership dedication, and a comprehensive shift in both culture and behavior—a change initiated from the highest levels. Hear how and why Microsoft chose to embrace whole-scale business transformation  that emphasizes the health and well-being of employees. Learn about their journey - from establishing transparent policies and implementing them, to creating robust and inclusive benefits programs that support holistic wellbeing and culture. Gain insights into their successes and challenges, and understand how they continuously adapt and drive progress by aligning with employee feedback and clearly defined success metrics.

Speaker:  Kristen Roby Dimlow, Corporate Vice President, Talent Acquisition, Rewards, & Insights Organization, Microsoft

10:20: Creating a Culture Where Women’s Health is a Business Imperative

From the business case, to the employee experience; how do you make a fast and meaningful impact for employees when events in the world make personal health more difficult? How can HR leaders move from a compelling business case to implementation of inclusive policies that shape a more positive working culture? Beyond policies, our panelists will share personal experience of how to make implementation work in practice: from management training to monitoring (without “tracking”) the employee experience. 

Speaker: Ellen Meza, VP People Operations, Crunchyroll

Speaker: Diana Rakow, SVP, Public Affairs & Sustainability, Alaska Airlines

Speaker: Ana White, EVP, Chief People Officer, Lumen Technologies

Moderated by: Monica Pool Knox, Board Director, Swedish Health System

11:00: Networking Break

11:30: Implementing a Personalized Benefits Program in a Complex Organization

How to structure and implement benefits, inclusive of workplace policies and wellness programs, in a complex organization that has multiple employee types, from part-time to full-time, non-exempt to exempt and all that falls in between.

Speaker: Sara Kelly, EVP and Chief Partner Officer, Starbucks

Interviewed by: Mimi Jung, Anchor, KING 5

12:00 The Call to Action

April Haberman will delve into the necessity of cultivating a supportive workplace atmosphere and explore strategic methods and tangible steps aimed at promoting both individual well-being and organizational progress. This includes adeptly supporting women through diverse life phases, with a focus on menopause as a key example.

Speaker: April Haberman - CEO and Co-Founder, Midovia

12:30 End