DAY ONE
8:00 am Check-In & Coffee
Developing an Agile & Flexible HR Strategy to Align People & Organizational Development
9:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
9:10 am Panel Discussion: Steering Through the Fog as an HR leader Within a Life Science Organization Amidst the Growing Uncertainties of the Current Geopolitical & Economic Climate
Synopsis
As the election looms closer, what do you anticipate will happen particularly to the US regulatory environment, its implications on the economy, increased unionism and other factors?
- How do you create a strategy that can flex to the needs of the future while catering to your organization’s needs at present?
- How can we as HR teams ensure our organizations are ready to meet the uncertainties of 2025?
9:40 am Discover: Session Reserved for AON
10:00 am Develop: What More Can We Learn About Aligning People & Organizational Strategy?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Focus Day Chair
10:20 am Action: What Will You Now Do to Align People & Organizational Strategy?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Focus Day Chair
10:40 am Speed Networking Break
Synopsis
As the HR in Life Sciences community is reunited, this valuable session will ensure you get the chance to reconnect with peers and make brand new connections! This structured networking opportunity will pair you with fellow attendees for several 3-minute introductions, ensuring you have the opportunity to meet and network with your likeminded colleagues!
Track A: Turbocharging Talent Development & Upskilling Your Workforce
11:40 am Mastermind Table Activity – How Could You Go About Nurturing Talent During Times of Change?
Synopsis
In this 30-minute interactive session, you will work with your peers on a series of situation-based questions. The aim of this session is to draw from the unique experiences of those in the room to come up with new ideas and solutions, leaving you with the inspiration and answers you need to address challenges in mastering how to identify when your culture needs to change and develop a framework to make this reality
Discussion points include:
- Best practices for getting buy in for talent development in times of change
- How to identify when your culture needs to change
- How to build a continuous learning culture
12:10 pm Discover: Crafting Engaging Learning & Development Programs at Scale to Empower Your Global Workforce in a Cost-Effective Way
Synopsis
Re-iterating the value of collaboration and resource leveraging in optimizing learning and development initiatives
- Sharing strategies to demonstrate the value of these programs and build internal stakeholder buy-in
- Spotlighting how AstraZeneca leverages e-learning platforms, peer learning cohorts, and SME-led workshops to empower their Biometrics, R&D workforce to build support networks as the industry and company evolves
12:30 pm Develop: What More Can We Learn About Nurturing Talent During Times of Change?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
12:40 pm Action: What Will You Do Now to Ensure You Can Nurture Your Talent During Times of Change?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
Track B: Securing Top Talent to Futureproof Your Organization
11:40 am Discover: Crafting a Winning Talent Acquisition Strategy to Catapult Your Company Brand Recognition & Attract Top Talent in a Competitive Life Sciences Market
Synopsis
- Reiterating the importance of aligning brand messaging with organizational values and leveraging targeted engagement strategies to build brand awareness as the organization undergoes expansion for rare disease and builds a new manufacturing site
- Spotlighting best practices to nurture relationships with both customer and candidate bases to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with strategic objectives
- Uncovering Kyowa Kirin’s comprehensive talent acquisition strategy that works by leveraging sales expansions and a university relations program to ensure success attracting top talent
12:10 pm Discover: Building a Strong Talent Pipeline that Aligns with the Company’s Needs Through Robust Intern & Co-Op Programs to Attract & Retain the Best Talent
Synopsis
- Discussing strategies for enhancing brand visibility and attracting top talent through active involvement in community initiatives and events
- Sharing the development and implementation of internship and co-op programs tailored to a wide range of candidates, from high school students to college graduates and career changers
- Showcasing Visterra’s success stories and best practices for leveraging internship experiences to enhance employer reputation and attract top talent
12:20 pm Develop: What Can We Learn About Building a Winning Talent Acquisition Strategy to Attract Top Talent?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
12:40 pm Action: What TA Process Will You Now Alter to Attract Top Talent?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
Track C: Empowering Employee Experience to Enhance Your Retention
11:40 am Panel Discussion: Leveraging Culture & a Flexible People Strategy to Better Align Employee & Organizational Needs in Life Sciences Organizations in 2024
Synopsis
- How can we ensure we balance our commitment to being flexible to our employees whilst fulfilling the business’ requirements?
- What structures need to be built in place to ensure we can accommodate and deliver to our promises to employees to prevent attrition?
- How can we best leverage culture as an effective tool to empower employee wellbeing?
12:10 pm Discover: Reflecting on Lessons Learned to Build a Culture Championing Equity & Fairness to Transform Your Biotech Organization & Workforce
Synopsis
- Discussing the importance of taking a systemic approach to culture transformation, and involving grassroots initiatives and taking a re-vamped approach to performance management assessments, promotions, recognitions and awards practices
- Sharing insights on the importance of continuous evaluation, feedback loops, and leadership involvement in sustaining a culture of equity, fairness, and high performance
- Uncover GRAIL’s lessons learned on tackling a toxic culture head on by changing the architecture of their company culture and ensuring it is included across all levels of the company to actively engage employees at all levels
12:20 pm Develop: What Can HR Do To Ensure Your Culture Adapts When Needed to Safeguard Employee Wellbeing?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
12:40 pm Action: What Would You Change to Ensure Your Culture is Empowering & Resonates with Your Workforce?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
1:00 pm Lunch Break & Networking
Track A: Turbocharging Talent Development & Upskilling Your Workforce
2:00 pm Discover: Investing in Early Leadership Development to Build a Culture of Continuous Growth
Synopsis
- Discussing the benefits of initiating leadership development programs early in the organization’s lifecycle, highlighting the importance of investing in leadership skills from the outset
- Examining strategies for engaging senior leaders in the leadership development process, ensuring their active participation, support, and alignment with organizational values and objectives to foster this culture
- Outlining Beam Therapeutics’ structured approach to leadership development, featuring multiple levels of leadership programs tailored to different managerial roles and career stages
2:20 pm Discover: Spotlighting Strategies to Creatively Build a Training Program to Arm Your People Managers with the Tools to Support Their Direct Reports as a Scaling Biotech
Synopsis
- Discussing the significance of arming your people managers, particularly first-time managers, with the tools to support their direct reports as a company moving into commercialization
- Highlighting how to effectively bring targeted coaching interventions including one-on-one coaching, LinkedIn learning and more to your bottom line whilst rapidly scaling
- Learn how Abeona Therapeutics built training programs organically by creatively leveraging their internal resources to upskill their entire workforce in a region outside of the traditional life science talent hubs
2:40 pm Develop: What More Can We Learn About Developing Your People Managers Skills in Biotech Organizations?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
3:00 pm Action: What Will You Do Now to Ensure Your Peoples’ Skills Are Nurtured to Empower Their Career Progression?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
Track B: Securing Top Talent to Futureproof Your Organization
2:00 pm Discover: Sharing Best Practices to Attract & Retain Mission-Critical Talent in A Dynamic Life Science Landscape
Synopsis
- Exploring strategies to identify, attract, and onboard mission-critical talent aligned with your company’s objectives and culture
- Navigating methods to integrate cultural values into the recruitment process, assess cultural fit during candidate evaluation, and foster a sense of belonging and purpose among new hires
- Uncovering Eyepoint Pharma’s lessons learned hiring and nurturing the right talent through a championing culture
2:20 pm Discover: Building & Leveraging an Innovative People Analytics Tool to Drive Your Skills-Based Talent Acquisition Plan
Synopsis
- Creating a talent acquisition strategy that ensures your team will be able to attract and retain the candidates who are the best fit for the role and the company
- Discussing strategies to train your team and hiring managers on competency-based interviewing
- Uncovering how Sarepta Therapeutics built a people analytics tool to identify critical skills gaps and make data-driven hiring decisions
2:40 pm Develop: What More Can We Learn About Implementing Skills-Based Hiring?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
3:00 pm Action: How Will You Ensure Your Skills-Based Hiring is More Data-Driven?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
Track C: Empowering Employee Experience & Culture to Enhance Your Retention
2:00 pm Discover: Session Reserved for FW COOK
2:20 pm Discover: Elevating Organizational Identity by Harnessing a Robust EVP to Engage Your Global Workforce
Synopsis
- Discussing strategies for creating engaging communication materials and messaging that resonate with diverse employee demographics across global regions
- Highlighting the importance of defining and promoting employer branding elements such as company purpose, people strategy, and EVPs in attracting and retaining top talent
- Learn how Merz launched a powerful tool to communicate organizational values, purpose and identity to their workforce to become a Best Place to Work
2:40 pm Develop: What Can We Learn About Effectively Demonstrating Your EVP to Enhance Employee Engagement?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
3:00 pm Action: What Will You Do Now to Demonstrate Your EVP to Your Global Workforce?
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair
3:20 pm Networking Break & Afternoon Coffee
Advancing Change Management to Effectively Future-Proof Your Organization
4:00 pm Discover: Building Interaction Models to Turbocharge Organizational Transformation During Times of Change
Synopsis
- Exploring the pivotal role of interaction models in driving successful organizational transformations, particularly in response to shifting market demands and growth initiatives
- Highlighting the significance of engaging leaders in constructive dialogue to co-create interaction frameworks that drive organizational effectiveness and sustain transformational momentum
- Sharing Moderna’s best practices from recent reorganization efforts, focusing on the imperative of fostering integration and agility within the workforce
4:20 pm Discover: Shifting Organizational Paradigms to Empower Cross-Functional Teams & Support a Sustainable Organization Model
Synopsis
- Exploring the transition from traditional hierarchical leadership structures to team-based, community-driven models to foster collaboration, innovation and adaptability
- Delving into the evolution of career progression and promotion frameworks in flattened organizational structures
- Examine how argenx utilizes this approach to enhance agility, responsiveness, and employee engagement, particularly in the life sciences industry where localized strategies are crucial
4:40 pm Develop: What More Can We Learn About Navigating Through an Organizational Transformation
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Focus Day Chair
5:00 pm Action: How Are You Going to Better Prepare Your Organization to Meet Organizational Changes
Synopsis
Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Focus Day Chair