HARRT EMBARK Series Session 3 DEIB
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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)
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.
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)
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.
WISQ will present our fourth LEARNING LAB installment
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 are forthcoming:
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 17, 2026
