Day One | November 5, 2025
8:00 am Conference Registration & Networking
Understanding & Adapting to the Current Geopolitical Climate for Business Stability
9:00 am Chair’s Welcome, Opening Remarks & Connection Before Content
9:10 am Opening Panel Discussion & Q+A: Navigating the Volatile News Cycle/Geopolitical Landscape
Synopsis
HR leaders in. pre-commercial biopharma must navigate the geopolitical landscape to manage global talent, supply chain risks, and regulatory uncertainty. Current concerns we will discuss include: U.S.–China tensions, shifting immigration policies, DE&I and global election impacts on workforce planning and business continuity.
9:50 am Action: How Are You Going to Plan Your Workforce for Business Continuity in This Time?
Synopsis
(This is a roundtable discussion time to put together an action plan to take back to your respective organization).
10:10 am Speed-Networking & Refreshment Break
Rebuilding Culture Through Crisis
11:00 am Discover: Rebuilding Culture After a Failed Clinical Trial: A Case Study from Fulcrum Therapeutics
Synopsis
- How can organizations navigate employee exits and rebuild morale after a major clinical setback?
- Facilitate transparent communication, implement intentional cultural shifts, and reconnect employees to the company’s mission
- By leading with empathy and over-communication, Fulcrum Therapeutics fostered resilience and unity, highlighted by initiatives like company-wide change management sessions, weekly ‘Bagel Burst’ meetings, and team-building events, resulting in a significantly more engaged and aligned workforce within months
11:20 am Discover: Navigating Workforce Challenges: Strategies for Building Resilience & Engagement During Tough Times
Synopsis
- How can we implement effective post-reduction engagement strategies?
- Foster a collaborative and fun work culture to boost morale
- How CONTINUUS Pharmaceuticals are leveraging creative and fun solutions like Nerf gun battles and homemade company swag resulting in 100% retention during this incredible difficult time
11:40 am Discover: Building & Keeping Culture While Thriving in Uncertainty
Synopsis
- How can organizations preserve and strengthen company culture during times of disruption, such as a reduction in force?
- Focus on transparent communication, emotional intelligence, and cross-functional learning
- How Amylyx Pharmaceuticals maintained employee engagement through regular all-company meetings, professional development programs, and internal business training, plus what’s next on their cultural journey
12:00 pm Develop: Rebuilding and Strengthening Culture in Times of Adversity
Synopsis
This interactive Q&A session delves into the strategies and practices that organizations can adopt to rebuild and strengthen their culture after facing significant challenges. Drawing from real-world examples, this session will explore how companies like Fulcrum Therapeutics, CONTINUUS Pharmaceuticals, and Amylyx Pharmaceuticals have navigated tough times and emerged stronger.
- Navigating employee exits and rebuilding morale after major setbacks
- Implementing intentional cultural shifts and reconnecting employees to the company’s mission
- Fostering resilience and unity through empathy and over-communication
- Leveraging creative and fun solutions to boost morale and retention
- Preserving and strengthening company culture during times of disruption
12:20 pm Action: Implementing Resilient Cultural Strategies
Synopsis
This roundtable discussion offers a collaborative space for participants to reflect, share, and strategize on implementing resilient cultural strategies within their organizations. Building on the insights from the Develop session, attendees will explore practical ways to operationalize these strategies and foster a resilient and engaged workforce.
- What cultural elements are non-negotiable in your organization?
- How do you codify and communicate culture during challenging times?
- What tools or rituals help reinforce culture and boost morale?
- How do you measure the impact of cultural initiatives on employee engagement and retention?
12:40 pm Networking Lunch
Leading Through Change & Uncertainty
1:40 pm Discover: Leading Through Change at Dyne Therapeutics – From Clinical to Commercialization
Synopsis
- How can organizations sustain engagement and retention during leadership transitions and market uncertainty?
- Holding leaders accountable in shaping engagement strategies, communicate a clear company vision, and return to the fundamentals of employee connection
- Engagement, transparency and visibility, Lucia Celona and Kate Mitchell shared offer key insights for HR leaders navigating biotech transformation
2:00 pm Develop: Leading Through Change: Sustaining Engagement & Retention
Synopsis
This interactive Q&A session delves into the strategies for maintaining employee engagement and retention during leadership transitions and market uncertainties. Building on insights from Lucia Celona and Kate Mitchell, this session will explore how organizations can hold leaders accountable for shaping engagement strategies, communicating a clear company vision, and returning to the fundamentals of employee connection.
Themes to Explore:
- Strategies for sustaining engagement during leadership transitions
- Holding leaders accountable for engagement strategies
- Communicating a clear company vision
- Fundamentals of employee connection
2:20 pm Action: From Insights to Action: Navigating Biotech Transformation
Synopsis
This roundtable discussion is designed to help HR leaders reflect, share, and strategize on how to implement the insights shared by Lucia Celona and Kate Mitchell. Participants will collaborate to explore how their organizations can enhance engagement, transparency, and visibility during times of change.
Discussion Prompts:
- How can organizations enhance engagement during market uncertainties?
- What strategies can be used to improve transparency and visibility?
- How can leaders be held accountable for shaping engagement strategies?
- What are the fundamentals of employee connection that should be prioritized?
Participants will leave with actionable strategies and frameworks to enhance engagement, transparency, and visibility in their organizations, especially during times of change.
2:40 pm Networking Break
Fostering Well-being & Engagement in Biotech
3:20 pm Discover: Designing Holistic Benefits for a Multigenerational Workforce
Synopsis
- How can HR leaders create benefits programs that meet the diverse needs of Gen Z, Gen X, and beyond?
- Focus on balancing preventative care, mental health, and long-term wellness within realistic financial constraints
- How one company is evolving its health and wellness offerings, including lifestyle spending accounts and holistic plan reviews, to support a changing workforce while navigating trade-offs and maintaining equity
3:40 pm Discover: Fostering Well-Being & Engagement in the Workplace
Synopsis
- How can organizations broaden their awareness regarding mental health and create a multi-generational total rewards platform?
- Explore the initiatives taken to enhance mental health awareness and develop a comprehensive total rewards system that caters to diverse generational needs
- Learn about the positive impact of these initiatives on employee well-being and engagement, and how they can be implemented in your organization
4:00 pm Develop: Crafting Comprehensive Benefits for a Diverse Workforce
Synopsis
This interactive Q&A session delves into the intricacies of designing benefits programs that cater to the diverse needs of a multigenerational workforce. Building on the insights from the Discover session, participants will explore practical strategies for balancing preventative care, mental health, and long-term wellness within realistic financial constraints. Learn from industry leaders who are evolving their health and wellness offerings to support a changing workforce while maintaining equity.
Themes to Explore:
- Tailoring benefits to meet the needs of Gen Z, Gen X, and beyond
- Balancing preventative care, mental health, and long-term wellness
- Navigating trade-offs and maintaining equity in benefits programs
- Case studies of companies successfully evolving their health and wellness offerings
4:20 pm Action: Implementing Holistic Well-Being Programs
Synopsis
This roundtable discussion provides a platform for participants to reflect, share, and strategize on implementing holistic well-being programs in their organizations. Building on the insights from the Discover and Develop sessions, participants will collaborate to explore how to broaden awareness regarding mental health and create a multi-generational total rewards platform.
Discussion Prompts:
- What initiatives can enhance mental health awareness in your organization?
- How can you develop a comprehensive total rewards system that caters to diverse generational needs?
- What are the positive impacts of these initiatives on employee well-being and engagement?
- How can these initiatives be implemented in your organization?
Takeaway: Leave with actionable strategies and ideas for implementing holistic well-being programs in your organization. Gain insights from peers facing similar challenges and learn how to create a supportive and engaging work environment for a multigenerational workforce.