UCLA HARRT

HARRT at UCLA Associate Exchange: Why DE&I Programs Fail… and How to Fix It
2021-06-24 11:45 - 12:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual Round Table, By Invitation Only, CA, United States
HARRT welcomes, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and 5 time Emmy winner, Michele Ruiz who will discuss the science driving an innovative approach to mitigating unconscious bias in the workplace. She, along with her colleague, Heidi Burnett, will share how this new technology can now help you collect meaningful DE&I data and obtain insights you can use to implement targeted, actionable inclusion initiatives in recruitment and employee development to support and achieve long-term DE&I objectives for your organization.

HARRT at UCLA Executive Exchange: DE&I Lessons Learned
2021-06-29 11:45 - 12:45 | Virtual Round Table, By Invitation Only, CA, United States

HARRT at UCLA Associate Exchange: FORESIGHT FUNDAMENTALS in a post-COVID workplace featuring The Institute for the Future (IFTF)
2021-07-22 11:45 - 12:45 | virtual
This year, we’ve been reminded just how quickly the world can change. Dealing with extreme uncertainty is not just a reality, but a way of life. How well equipped are you to anticipate and prepare for the challenges ahead? Join your fellow HARRT Associate members to discuss workforce strategies and how to incorporate the foresight tools designed to help individuals and organizations develop skills to become more resilient and to position HR as a leader of future organizational change.

HARRT at UCLA General Session: The Post-Pandemic Economic Outlook and the Impact on Employment featuring Jerry Nickelsburg
2021-07-27 11:45 - 12:45 | virtual
Please join HARRT’s Faculty Director, Professor Corinne Bendersky in a conversation with Jerry Nickelsburg, Ph.D., Director, UCLA Anderson Forecast, Adjunct Professor of Economics, UCLA Anderson School of Management as they discuss the June 2021 economic outlook for the United States and California. Dr. Nickelsburg will share how the economic reality of the pandemic has created new employment challenges, how it will impact employment trends, jobs, unemployment, wages, and the effect of hybrid work on office space.

HARRT at UCLA Executive Exchange: Hybrid Workplace Challenges & Lessons Learned
2021-08-12 11:45 - 12:45 | virtual

HARRT at UCLA ~ Annual DEI Event - The L.A. STORY: Aligning Cultural Change & DEI
2021-09-21 11:45 - 13:00 | virtual
Please join HARRT’s Faculty Director, Professor Corinne Bendersky in a conversation with Malaika Billups, Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer, The City of Los Angeles, and Ruby Flores, Commander and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as they discuss the DEI-driven culture in Los Angeles, the 3rd largest city in the world. Our speakers will share the complexity of operating in the public sector with multiple government regulations while driving culture change and developing comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. The city’s DEI leaders must consider multiple stakeholders including 50,00 employees, approximately 4,000,000 residents, more than 250,000 businesses, and over 50,000,000 visitors annually.
This session focuses on L.A.’s evolving journey to align the city’s forty-five very different departments and bureaus such as airports, police, fire, transportation, and public works to name a few. Our speakers will provide insights on the importance of planning, collaboration, and accountability in a decentralized organizational structure, the critical role of internal and external communications to gain consensus, the imperative of creating strategic department alignment to build a universal DEI-driven culture, and the challenges of implementing change management initiatives to overcome implementation barriers.

2021 Associate Symposium (Virtual)
2021-10-06 | virtual

HARRT at UCLA pre-Retreat round tables (October 14, 21, & 28) virtual
2021-10-14 12:00 - 2021-10-28 13:30 | Virtual Round Table, Twice-Weekly By Invitation Only, United States
As a lead-up to the (in person) Annual Retreat on November 3, Senior Executive members will (virtually) gather on three consecutive Thursdays in October, to hear from individual thought leaders and discuss topics that will be expanded upon at the upcoming Retreat.

HARRT at UCLA: Adam Galinsky, Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Columbia Business School. "Leadership Reset: Creating a Collaborative Culture in a Post-Pandemic Workplace".
2022-01-20 11:45 - 13:00 | Virtual Round Table, Twice-Weekly By Invitation Only, United States

HARRT at UCLA: Katy Milkman, the James G. Dinan Professor, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. "How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be"
2022-03-08 11:45 - 13:00 | Virtual Round Table, By Invitation Only, CA, United States
During the pandemic, many leaders and human resources teams suddenly found themselves re-focusing on workers’ well-being. In addition to creating a more inclusive culture, many organizations have made significant investments in new benefit programs to address employee physical, mental, and financial wellness. However, often these programs are not successful since individual daily habits are very difficult to change. But why is change so difficult and what can we do to overcome the barriers? Professor Katy Milkman, a renowned behavioral scientist at The Wharton School will share evidence-based insights that are applicable whether you are interested in changing your own behavior or as a leader helping your employees achieve their personal goals. She will share science-based research from her new bestselling book, How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be on ways to develop positive change behaviors such as inclusion, future savings, personal fitness, and vaccination take-up.

HARRT at UCLA: Laurie Weingart, The Richard M. & Margaret S. Cyert Professor of Organizational Behavior & Theory, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University. "The No Club".
2022-06-02 11:45 - 13:00 | Virtual Round Table, By Invitation Only, CA, United States

Achieving Your DEIB Goals: The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change
2023-01-25 11:30 - 13:00 | virtual
This ongoing series is offered as part of the new HARRT at UCLA DEI & Belonging Network which is a forum dedicated to providing participants with programming, research, and networking to further the effort of diversity and belonging in the workplace.
Description: As organizations implement new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) strategies, many leaders overlook the importance of incorporating transformational change approaches into their plans. A panel of highly accomplished experts featuring Ian Ziskin, Karen Jaw-Madson, and Sophia Kristjansson will provide a variety of perspectives on why an inclusive change culture is imperative to achieving sustainable DEIB change. Questions to be discussed will focus on what it takes to lead, survive, and even thrive when creating culture change:
1. What are the three most important considerations when implementing transformational change?
2. What is the value of applying transformational change approaches to DEIB strategies?
3. What do leaders who drive and sustain successful transformational change, actually do?

Cracking the Authenticity Code
2023-06-28 12:00 - 13:00
Virtual Event, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.

Women in HR Leadership - Sess. 1: Creating & Living Your Personal Brand
2023-11-02 12:00 - 13:00 | virtual
Virtual event. November 2, 2023 Noon – 1:00 PM PST

Women in HR Leadership Series: Sess. 2 – Meet the CHROs: Leadership Conversations (panel)
2023-11-14 11:30 - 13:00 | virtual
Virtual event. November 14, 2023 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM PST

Women in HR Leadership Series: Sess. 3 Understanding Self and Others to Drive your Development
2023-12-06 11:30 - 13:00 | virtual
Virtual event. December 6, 2023 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM PST

Women in HR Leadership Series: Sess. 4 – What’s next for me? Leadership Action Planning
2023-12-13 11:30 - 13:00 | virtual
Virtual event. December 13, 2023 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM PST

HARRT EMBARK Series - Session 1 Learning & Development
2024-08-15 12:00 - 13:00 | virtual
Join us for EMBARK, HARRT’s topic-driven professional development series designed and led by HARRT Members. Join us virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month and take a deep dive into a key topic for a group discussion. The goal of this monthly series is to provide you with opportunities to network, exchange resources, and gain insight from fellow member experiences.
Key Topics for the EMBARK series:
Learning & Development
Talent Acquisition
DEIB
Total Rewards
HR Analytics
Employee Relations and Compliance and more…

HARRT EMBARK Series Session 2 Talent Acquisition
2024-09-19 12:00 - 13:00

HARRT EMBARK Series Session 3 DEIB
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:00
EMBARK is HARRT’s topic-driven professional development series designed and led by HARRT Members. Join us virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month and take a deep dive into a key topic for a group discussion. The goal of this monthly series is to provide you with opportunities to network, exchange resources, and gain insight from fellow member experiences.
Session 3 of the EMBARK series featured HARRT Executive Member, April Castañeda, Chief Human Resources Officer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – PNNL, and Accomplished DEIB Leader.
Key Takeaways:
1. Focusing on the “I” in DEIB.
2. DEIB challenges and successes.
3. Outside resources and technology being used for DEIB.
4. New DEIB initiatives for 2025.

HARRT EMBARK Series Session 4 HR Resilience and Burnout
2024-11-21 12:00 - 13:00 | virtual
EMBARK is HARRT’s topic-driven professional development series designed and led by HARRT Members. Join us virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month and take a deep dive into a key topic for a group discussion. The goal of this monthly series is to provide you with opportunities to network, exchange resources, and gain insight from fellow member experiences. We encourage you to come as you are, prepared to share with cameras and audio enabled.

Session 4 of the EMBARK series will feature Dr. Ilona Salmons, Psychotherapist and Leadership Consultant.
Key takeaways for this session:

What factors contribute most to stress and burnout in your profession?
What signs of burnout do you see most frequently in yourself and your colleagues?
What challenges do you face in balancing the demands of supporting employees while also managing your own well-being?
What changes would you like to see in your organization’s approach to supporting HR professionals in their unique role as first responders?

HARRT EMBARK Series: Session 5 Benefits: Aligning to Today's Employee
2025-01-16 12:00 - 13:00 | virtual
Join us for Session 5 of EMBARK, HARRT’s topic-driven professional development series designed and led by HARRT Members. The topic of our fifth installment will be Benefits: Aligning to Today’s Employee. Our facilitator is Lori Carnvale, Director, Employee Benefits & Records, RAND Corporation and our guest speaker, Hillary Cookler, UCLA Anderson PhD candidate.
The goal of EMBARK is to help you connect with colleagues and share knowledge, experiences, technology, and tips on what works and what doesn’t so you can create a network to help you thrive in your role. EMBARK meets virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month. We encourage you to come as you are, prepared to share with cameras and audio enabled.
* In addition to the topics below, there is an opportunity in the registration process to further enrich the conversation by sharing any other thoughts or questions you want us to address during the session.
Key Topics For This Session:
• How have your benefit offerings changed to reflect your current employee base?
• What technology is your organization using to administer benefits?
• How have you incorporated leaves of absence into your benefits strategy?
• How has the cost of benefits impacted your offerings?
+ Please be sure to share other associated topics or questions you want us to cover during the session in the registration process.
Event Details: Virtual

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM PST

HARRT at UCLA CHRO Corporate Governance Certification Training
2025-02-28 09:00 - 2025-05-19 11:00 | Live Online and In Person
Announcing a unique University of California Collaboration designed specifically for Sr. HR Executives. HARRT at UCLA – The UCLA Human Resources Round Table, UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education, and University of California, Irvine – The Paul Merage School of Business Leadership Development Institute, are joining forces in a strategic partnership to offer a one-of-a-kind offering in Corporate Governance for Chief Human Resources Officers and Senior Human Resources Executives.
This unique 3-month program equips senior HR and Talent leaders with the competencies necessary for impactful corporate board service, focusing on essential governance, financial, and strategic skills. Participants will develop a strong foundation in fiduciary duties, regulatory frameworks, and board oversight practices, ensuring they are prepared to fulfill their responsibilities with ethical and organizational integrity. The curriculum covers advanced financial acumen, including audit and compliance insights, and delves into strategic areas like mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity, and risk management. Additionally, participants will engage with contemporary board issues such as ESG, digital transformation, and executive compensation, making them adept at addressing corporate governance’s evolving demands and challenges.
Why Corporate Governance for CHROs?

In 2023, only 1.1% of directors possess CHRO experience, while the remaining 98.9% do not, highlighting the limited presence of HR leaders at the board level (Harvard Law Corporate Governance)
In 2023, 65% of directors indicated that improving oversight of human capital is “important” or “very important.” (NACD)
65% of directors identified human capital as the highest priority in environmental, social, and governance in 2022. (Deloitte)

Upon successfully completing the program, you will earn a dual certificate from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and in addition to the certification, you will receive a six month HARRT at UCLA membership.
Event Details: Live In Person and Virtual 3-Month Flexible Online Program with 90-120 minute weekly virtual sessions combined with one in-person gathering for culmination.
Dates: February, 28 – May 19, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM PT – 90 minutes – 120 minutes
Simulation, Certification, and Graduation: Monday, May 19 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM PT In Person (UCLA Anderson)
Do you have questions? Happy to discuss via email.

HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab Session #1 - Navigating Uncertainty: The AON Framework
2025-10-16 12:00 - 13:00 | HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab (virtual)
Introducing – The HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab, a monthly professional development series designed for HR leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve. Each session features thought leaders tackling today’s most provocative and pressing HR challenges—from AI in the workplace to equity dilemmas, talent strategy innovations, and cultural transformation.
This isn’t passive learning. Come prepared to engage in substantive discussions, challenge assumptions, and gain actionable insights you can apply immediately. Over the course of an hour, you’ll expand your strategic thinking, connect with fellow HR professionals navigating similar complexities, and build a network of forward-thinking peers.
Join us to sharpen your expertise, broaden your perspective, and position yourself as an indispensable leader in your organization.
Stacy Smithers, Chief of Staff / Head of Strategy & Administration for the CAO and Heidi Burnett, People Org. Solutions and Impact, Human Sustainability, AON, will present our first LEARNING LAB installment: NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY: THE AON FRAMEWORK. How Aon created our People Risk framework to navigate uncertainty. The foundation for examining topics such as AI, Skills, Total Rewards and workforce opportunities and risks.
Remember, The LEARNING LAB meets virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month. We encourage you to come as you are, prepared to share with cameras and audio enabled.
*In addition to the topics below, there is an opportunity in the registration process to further enrich the conversation by sharing any other thoughts or questions you want us to address during the session.
Key Topics For This Session:
• What framework do you use to assess people risk at your organization?
• Is the data you use to assess people risk – historical or predictive?
• How do you reconcile decisions when there is conflicting data points?
Please be sure to share other associated topics or questions you want us to cover during the session in the registration process.
Event Details: Virtual
1. Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
2. Time: Noon – 1:00 PM PST
3. Register: Attendees will receive a Zoom link after registering – Remember to add the meeting to your calendar.
Please register by October 13, 2025

HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab Session #2 - Breakout Learning - AI: Leveraging Employee Conversations & Insights
2025-11-20 12:00 - 13:00 | HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab (virtual)
Introducing – The HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab, a monthly professional development series designed for HR leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve. Each session features thought leaders tackling today’s most provocative and pressing HR challenges—from AI in the workplace to equity initiatives, talent strategy innovations, and cultural transformation.

This isn’t passive learning. Come prepared to engage in substantive discussions, challenge assumptions, and gain actionable insights you can apply immediately. Over the course of an hour, you’ll expand your strategic thinking, connect with fellow HR professionals navigating similar complexities, and build a network of forward-thinking peers.
Join us to sharpen your expertise, broaden your perspective, and position yourself as a future forward leader in your organization.

Ramit Varma, CEO / Co-Founder, Breakout Learning, will present our second LEARNING LAB installment: AI: Leveraging Employee Conversations and Insights. Breakout Learning uses AI to facilitate and evaluate employee discussions at scale. It’s like having a facilitator in every small group conversation you run, which means you can finally engage your entire organization in critical initiatives instead of just a select few.

Remember, The LEARNING LAB meets virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month. We encourage you to come as you are, prepared to share with cameras and audio enabled.

*In addition to the topics below, there is an opportunity in the registration process to further enrich the conversation by sharing any other thoughts or questions you want us to address during the session.

Key Topics For This Session:

How do you go from employee feedback to enterprise-wide discussion?
If you could use AI to transform one aspect of your HR approach, what would create the most impact?
How do you know if your culture initiatives are resonating—or just checking boxes?

Event Details: Virtual

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM PST
Register: Attendees will receive a Zoom link after registering – Remember to add the meeting to your calendar.

Please register by November 17, 2025

HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab Session #3 - Fuel Yourself First: The Science of Sustainable Leadership with Jay Abbasi
2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 | HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab (virtual)
The HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab, a monthly professional development series designed for HR leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve. Each session features thought leaders tackling today’s most provocative and pressing HR challenges—from AI in the workplace to equity initiatives, talent strategy innovations, and cultural transformation.
This isn’t passive learning. Come prepared to engage in substantive discussions, challenge assumptions, and gain actionable insights you can apply immediately. Over the course of an hour, you’ll expand your strategic thinking, connect with fellow HR professionals navigating similar complexities, and build a network of forward-thinking peers.
Join us to sharpen your expertise, broaden your perspective, and position yourself as a future forward leader in your organization.
Jay Abbasi, CEO / Co-Founder, The Conscious Professional, will present our third LEARNING LAB installment: Fuel Yourself First: The Science of Sustainable Leadership. This virtual workshop will empower HARRT members to manage stress, sharpen focus, and elevate team performance without sacrificing well-being. The session will be interactive and engaging, inviting you to not just download information; but activate transformation. We will incorporate real-life case studies and apply strategies based on cutting-edge neuroscience and practical mindfulness techniques to help leaders drive results and foster a more dynamic, innovative, and engaged workforce.
Remember, The LEARNING LAB meets virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month. We encourage you to come as you are, prepared to share with cameras and audio enabled.
*In addition to the topics below, there is an opportunity in the registration process to further enrich the conversation by sharing any other thoughts or questions you want us to address during the session.
Key Questions For This Session:

What skills are needed by leaders to perform better in the face of chaos and uncertainty?
How can you leverage transformation using Purpose Driven Leadership?
How do you become a resilient leader in the New Year?

Event Details: Virtual

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM PST
Register: Attendees will receive a Zoom link after registering – Remember to add the meeting to your calendar.

Please register by January 12, 2026

HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab Session #4 - Featuring WISQ
2026-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 | HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab (virtual)
The HARRT at UCLA Learning Lab, a monthly professional development series designed for HR leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve. Each session features thought leaders tackling today’s most provocative and pressing HR challenges—from AI in the workplace to equity initiatives, talent strategy innovations, and cultural transformation.
This isn’t passive learning. Come prepared to engage in substantive discussions, challenge assumptions, and gain actionable insights you can apply immediately. Over the course of an hour, you’ll expand your strategic thinking, connect with fellow HR professionals navigating similar complexities, and build a network of forward-thinking peers.
Join us to sharpen your expertise, broaden your perspective, and position yourself as a future forward leader in your organization.
Session #4 – Clayton Holz, Head of Product at WISQ, one of HARRT’s Partner Members, will present our fourth LEARNING LAB installment entitled: From Vision to Execution: Building an Agentic HR Operating Model.
The group is asked to contemplate that most AI in HR still requires constant oversight—or worse, it creates more work than it removes. What if your HR team could rely on an AI teammate that resolved complex cases, spanned systems, and delivered outcomes in minutes instead of hours? Wisq will share a unique point of view on what it takes to build an agentic HR operating model—one that blends deep HR expertise with autonomous reasoning to transform service delivery and operations. Attendees will gain practical frameworks for redesigning HR processes, aligning policies and organizational structures, and prioritizing agentic AI use cases that can operate in complex, compliance-heavy environments.
Remember, the LEARNING LAB meets virtually every 3rd Thursday of the month. We encourage you to come as you are, prepared to share with cameras and audio enabled.
*In addition to the topics below, there is an opportunity in the registration process to further enrich the conversation by sharing any other thoughts or questions you want us to address during the session.
Key Questions For This Session:

Share some examples of how AI is creating more work than it removes.
Would you feel comfortable letting AI operate without constant verification?
How do you think HR professionals’ roles and value propositions will evolve in an agentic model? Is it just as important as the technical implementation?

Event Details: Virtual

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM PST
Register: Attendees will receive a Zoom link after registering – Remember to add the meeting to your calendar.

Please register by February 16, 2026
