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The Perceptyx Conference for Leaders Who Take Action

May 14, 2026 - Chicago

EX:ACT 26 brings together a global community of CHROs and People Leaders committed to turning employee insight into meaningful enterprise action.

EX:ACT

Across one focused day, you’ll connect with peers facing the same challenges, learn how leading organizations move from listening to execution, and discover proven approaches for driving measurable business outcomes and cultural change.

Keynote Speaker

  • Laurie Ruettimann

    Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur

    With three decades of experience as a global HR leader, Laurie Ruettimann is an executive advisor and author of Betting On You. Recognized by CNN as a top career advisor, Laurie bypasses aspirational theory to offer unsentimental, practical guidance on leadership and corporate power. Having led large-scale workforce shifts in the U.S. and Europe, she now helps leaders prioritize clear judgment and self-leadership inside today's complex systems.

    Photo of Laurie Ruettimann

Speakers

  • Photo of Susan Newhouse

    Susan Newhouse

    Executive Coach and Master Facilitator

  • Photo of Rita Essaian

    Rita Essaian

    Chief People Officer

  • Photo of Tishania Gist

    Tishania Gist

    Vice President, Sr. Manager, Culture & Teammate EX

  • Photo of Lacey Gutierrez

    Lacey Gutierrez

    VP, Total Rewards & Total Management

  • Photo of Tyler Dean Kempf

    Tyler Dean Kempf

    Creative Director

  • Photo of Ross Wainwright

    Ross Wainwright

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Photo of Joseph Freed

    Joseph Freed

    Chief Product Officer

  • Photo of JD Peterson

    JD Peterson

    Chief Marketing Officer

  • Photo of Lisa Sterling

    Lisa Sterling

    Chief People Officer

  • Photo of Charles Newnam

    Charles Newnam

    VP and General Manager, Leadership and Learning Strategy

  • Photo of Pallavi Kapnadak

    Pallavi Kapnadak

    Senior Director Product Management

  • Photo of Andrew Sears

    Andrew Sears

    Director, Product Management

  • Photo of Brittany Head

    Brittany Head

    Lead, Behavioral Transformation Strategist

  • Photo of Glenn Platt

    Glenn Platt

    Principal Learning Strategy Architect

More Speakers to be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Agenda

TimeTypeDescription
9:00 - 9:15SessionThe North Star: Our Shared Vision JD Peterson, CMO
9:15 - 9:30KeynoteOpening Keynote - The Workforce Evolution: Navigating the 2026 Strategic Landscape Ross Wainwright, CEO
9:30 - 10:15SessionPerceptyx Product RoadmapJoseph Freed, CPO
Andrew Sears, Director, Product Management
Pallavi Kapnadak, Senior Director Product Management
10:15 - 10:45BreakNetworking Break
10:45 - 11:30SessionExecutive Peer PanelRita Essaian, Chief People Officer at Sharp HealthCare
Tishania Gist, Vice President, Sr. Manager, Culture & Teammate EX at Atlantic Union Bank
Lacey Gutierrez, VP, Total Rewards & Talent Management at CHS, Inc.
Hosted by Lisa Sterling, CHRO
11:30 - 12:00SessionSolving the Execution Gap: A New Operating Model for LeadersCharles Newnam, VP and GM, Leadership & Learning Strategy
Glenn Platt, Principal Learning Strategy ArchitectWhat leaders often frame as an HR problem is actually a business execution failure caused by the fragmented architecture of modern development systems. This session introduces the Discover–Activate–Develop closed loop operating model to turn development into a capability engine by targeting learning interventions based on listening data and measuring verifiable behavior change instead of course completion.
12:00 - 1:15BreakLunch
1:15 - 2:00FeaturedBeyond the Insight: Leveraging Improv to Move from Ideas to ImpactTyler Dean Kempf, Creative Director at Second City WorksThis dynamic keynote blends the art of improvisation with the science of employee listening, as attendees are guided through hands-on, energizing exercises. You won’t just hear about behavior change and innovation—you’ll enjoy a safe and fun space to actively experiment with new ways of listening, adapting behavior and changing mindsets. You will walk away with innovative and practical tools to build more open, responsive, and resilient organizations.
2:00 - 3:00FeaturedSerious Play, Strategic Results: Solving Complex Workforce Challenges through 3D Modeling with LegosSusan Newhouse, Executive Coach and Master FacilitatorTransform the way you tackle workforce challenges. This session moves beyond the whiteboard, using physical modeling to help you visualize solutions and build deeper connections with your peers. Learn to simplify complex ideas, leverage group thinking, and master a practical collaboration style that you can implement at your office the next day.
3:00 - 3:30BreakNetworking Break
3:30 - 4:30KeynoteReady For More: Four Pillars for Leading Through AI and DisruptionLaurie RuettimannBuilt for HR professionals leaning into the future, this keynote reframes readiness as a personal discipline rather than a corporate perk. Through the lens of self-leadership, cognitive wellbeing, and proactive risk-management, you’ll gain a toolkit to outpace AI and disruption. Leave equipped to own your career, protect your thinking under pressure, and make smarter decisions before the next shift hits.
4:30 - 5:00SessionClosing Thoughts on Our Path ForwardJD Peterson, CMO
5:00 - 6:30FeaturedNetworking Reception

Connect with the World’s Leading Brands

This immersive, one-day event offers a unique opportunity to hear from industry thought leaders and network with like-minded peers who share a passion for delivering exceptional employee experiences across their organizations. Expect an unforgettable blend of innovation and connection that will leave you inspired and equipped to drive change!

Fast-Track Your Transformation Through Action

Fast-Track Your Transformation Through Action
  • Powerful keynotes addressing today’s most critical workplace topics
  • The latest innovations in HR Tech, with AI-driven action and coaching solutions
  • Interactive workshops to refine and develop your own insights and action plans
  • Hands-on product demos to explore new technology
  • Meaningful networking opportunities with peers and leaders in the field
One Full Day of Action

1 Full Day of Action

Complimentary In-Person Event

Why Attend?

EX:ACT 26 is an exclusive gathering for Senior People Leaders to connect, share successes, and exchange ideas for designing a bullet-proof employee listening strategy. This is where insight becomes action, powered by community, experience, and real-world results.

Venue

Convene Willis Tower233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606

Join us at the iconic Convene Willis Tower, a venue designed to foster high-level innovation and deep human connection. Moving beyond the traditional boardroom, the space features soaring 24-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and lush private terraces that overlook the heart of Chicago. For senior HR leaders, the environment is a physical representation of the modern employee experience—one that prioritizes well-being, seamless technology, and the collaborative energy of a premier peer community.

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EX:ACT 26

Choose Your EX:ACT Experience & Register Now!

EX:ACT 26 is an investment in yourself. Inspiration awaits.

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