Must-See Customer Speakers at Workhuman Live (with pre-reads 🤓) - Part 1
The countdown to Workhuman Live 2026Opens in a new tab is on! As we prepare to gather in sunny Orlando, I’ve dug out my sunscreen and shades and have already started planning out my conference schedule.
One thing I look forward to every year? Sessions led by our incredible customers.
In this new mini-series, I’ll be looking at what Workhuman customers are taking the stage at Workhuman Live. Based on their session agenda, I’ve shared a list of recommended pre-reads – and who doesn’t love being in the know of the latest trends and research?
Here’s what’s on my calendar so far.
Akamai Technologies
In 2023, Ken Wechsler, VP, Global Total Rewards and Khalil Smith, VP of Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagementat Akamai shared with the Wall Street JournalOpens in a new tab about how Akamai’s Workhuman-powered recognition program helped turn their culture into a measurable and sustainable business advantage.
Since then, AI has completely reshaped our ways of working. Leaders are navigating massive changes in real-time: from accessing new tools and analytics for the first time themselves, to coaching their workforce on allll the change management, to participating in a widescale embrace of new technologies.
This year at Workhuman Live, we’ll catch up with Ken and Khalil in two separate sessions. Ken will be speaking on an AI panel where I’ll be taking notes on his tips for building a trustworthy AI strategy, the impact of Human Intelligence data, and how HR is at the forefront of technology-enabled cultures. In Khalil’s breakout session, I’m excited to hear firsthand how culture, recognition, and AI are coming together to improve alignment, collaboration and performance at work.
Recommended pre-reads:
Why Recognition Is the Missing Link in AI Adoption
A Tech Company’s Ultimate Edge: ValuesOpens in a new tab
Learn more about Akamai’s sessions:
Leading the AI-Enabled EnterpriseOpens in a new tab | Ken Wechsler, VP, Global Total Rewards
Beyond the Buzzwords: Building a Culture that Delivers ResultsOpens in a new tab | Khalil Smith, VP of Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement
Lincoln Financial
As I said in my predictions for 2026 workplace trends, I believe that organizations are beginning to pay more attention to how recognition and rewards can drive desired outcomes. This is backed by our latest research, which found that when an employee loves their recognition program, they score dramatically higher on alignment and understanding organizational values.
In this session, I’m excited to hear how Lincoln Financial is positioning strategic recognition as part of their employee value proposition. I’m eager to hear about their program best practices and the recognition trends they’re seeing among employees.
Recommended pre-reads:
The Employee Benefit That Gives Back: Why Recognition Belongs in Your Benefits Strategy
What Is Strategic Recognition & Its Benefits?
Learn more about Lincoln Financials’ session:
Recognition that Resonates: A Four-Year Journey of RelevanceOpens in a new tab | Zoe Kasper, VP of Employee Experience, and Jennifer Myers, Senior Consultant of Employee Experience
Manulife
One of my favorite quotes from Workhuman Live 2025 came from Melinda Drexler, Vice President, Global PeopleComms Technology, in Manulife’s breakout session: “Recognition is culture in action.”
This year, I’m hoping to learn more about the recognition reports and analytics Manulife is tapping into that map the culture in action on the backend.
I’m also eager to learn more about Manulife’s company-wide recognition strategy and their year-round recognition calendar (!!). In my pre-read recommendations, I included a link to a guide I wrote for practicing yearlong recognition – I’m looking forward to updating that with more real-world tips after this session.
Recommended pre-reads:
A Manager’s Field Guide to Yearlong Gratitude
Spark to Signal: When an Impactful Recognition Message Becomes Workforce Insight
Learn more about Manulife’s session:
Aligning Recognition Strategy & Technology: Connecting Platform & Performance at ManulifeOpens in a new tab | Melinda Drexler, Vice President, Global PeopleComms Technology
Point32Health
Pete Church, Chief People & Culture Officer at Point32Health, will take the stage on a panel to discuss leadership skills and strategies for when differences at work arise.
Leaders who can bridge perspectives and maintain psychological safety in times of disagreement can often make or break a positive employee experience. (Or as we said more plainly in our In/Out list for 2026, “leadership lip service is out.”)
We’re seeing a growing trend: workers want to see that culture still matters in the good times and the tough times. I’m specifically interested in learning more about the panel’s Target Actions that can help drive results in real-world scenarios.
Recommended pre-reads:
Employee Experience: What Is it and Why Does It Matter?
Leading Organizational Change Without Losing Your Team
Learn more about Point32Health’s session:
All the Difference: Turning Difference into Trust, Performance, and Value Opens in a new tab| Pete Church, Chief People & Culture Officer
Sanofi
In our recent eBook, How Work Gets Done (Now), we defined a practical framework for how workforce insight needs to evolve in the AI era. Recognition data is one of the most critical pieces of authentic people data that organizations can tap into to uncover and validate emerging cultural trends, patterns, and upticks in behaviors.
Last year, Sanofi spoke to BloombergOpens in a new tab about their strategies for driving AI adoption at work. They shared how they’re using employee recognition as an organizational wide lever in their AI transformation goals. Key to that initiative is Bravo!, their Workhuman-powered recognition platform. In the video I’ve recommended below, Raj Verma, Chief Culture, Inclusion & Employee Experience Officer, spoke to HR Leaders podcast and shared about the impact of being seen, saying, “recognition helps people remember why they’re here and why they choose to stay and grow with us.”
I’m so excited to hear more about how recognition is being used to activate their AI goals and organizational values.
Recommended pre-reads:
Why AI Fails Without Psychological Safety (and How to Fix It)Opens in a new tab (video)
5 Ways Recognition Can Turn Your People into AI Power Users
Learn more about Sanofi’s session:
Using Culture to Power the AI Mindset: A People-First Playbook from SanofiOpens in a new tab | Raj Verma, Chief Culture, Inclusion & Employee Experience Officer
I’ll be keeping an eye on the agendaOpens in a new tab and updating my schedule as more sessions are announced. And don’t forget to check out part two of this series for even more warm-up reading. 🤓
See you in Orlando!
About the author
Erika Roemer
Erika Roemer is a writer, editor and dog mom to Oscar the Boston Terrier. She oversees the customer evidence and proof points program at Workhuman.