Leadership (Behavioral)

Daniel Villao holds decades of experience in policy development and is currently the CEO of Intelligent Partnerships (IP), a strategic planning company focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion design for the modern-day workforce. Daniel’s sought-after experience in strategic policy previously earned him top influential positions including Chair of the National Board of Directors for the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPHA) and former Deputy Administrator in the Office of Apprenticeship for the US Department of Labor under both Democratic and Republican Administrations.  

Currently, Daniel specializes in implementing innovative and accessible workforce designs that transform the way government and businesses nationwide approach the ever-changing landscape of the labor force. His dedication to job inclusivity has not only helped organizations navigate vital inclusion policies but thousands of jobs and apprenticeship opportunities have been created due to his emerging and progressive job models.  

Adam Weber is Chief Evangelist at 15Five, host of the popular HR Superstars Podcast and best-selling author of “Lead Like a Human.” Adam is the creator of the HR Superstars Community, a vibrant community of over 8K strategic HR leaders and is a leading voice in the strategic HR movement, being named a LinkedIn “Top Voice in HR”.

Previously Adam co-founded and sold two tech companies, Emplify (acquired in 2021) and Bluebridge (acquired in 2016).

He holds a master’s degree in organizational communication from Ball State University and lives in Zionsville, IN with his wife, two sons, and dog Poppy.

Jeanne is CFP® and a CPFA with Strategic Retirement Partners. She serves as a retirement plan consultant and financial wellness educator for companies across the country. Jeanne’s goal is to simplify advice in an over-complicated, jargon-filled industry. She has been interviewed by national publications including Forbes Magazine, Time Magazine, USA Today, The New York Times, CNBC News, etc. She brings an energy and simplicity to complicated topics and is known for the original content she posts on social media. Topics range from personal finance to employer-sponsored plans. You can find her using the hashtag #401klady. Jeanne’s accessible way of providing virtual advice and engagement is creating a more collaborative platform for financial professionals to support each other and their clients in the digital age. She and her team live in Bowling Green Kentucky, but serve clients across the country.

Harper is passionate about moving ethics and compliance programs from evolving to leading practice. In her role as Chief Compliance Officer of Learning Pool , she helps clients around the world transform their programs into predictive compliance programs by leveraging behavioral analytics - the untapped human element. With over 15 years of compliance, risk, and governance experience across heavily regulated industries, Harper drives the product strategy and thought leadership functions, bringing the client voice into True Office Learning's solution roadmap.

Marna C. Whittington, PhD, serves on the board of directors of Phillips 66, where she is chair of the human resources and compensation committee and serves on the nominating and governance, public policy and sustainability, and executive committees. She has been a director at Oaktree Capital since June 2012, and she is on the board of directors of Macy’s, Inc.

Marna was chief executive officer of Allianz Global Investors Capital, a diversified global investment firm, from 2002 until her retirement in January 2012. She was chief operating officer of parent company Allianz Global Investors from 2001 to 2011. Prior to that, she was managing director and chief operating officer of Morgan Stanley Asset Management. Marna started in the investment management industry in 1992, joining Philadelphia-based Miller Anderson & Sherrerd. She was executive vice president and CFO of the University of Pennsylvania and, earlier, secretary of finance for the state of Delaware.

Marna earned a PhD and master’s degree in quantitative methods from the University of Pittsburgh, and received her bachelor’s in mathematics from the University of Delaware.

Tamla Oates-Forney is an innovative thought leader and speaker, women’s advocate, wellness champion, philanthropist, and investor. Tamla serves as Chief Executive Officer of SHRM Linkage, a leadership development firm empowering organizations to achieve business success by unlocking the full potential of their talent from the backpack to the boardroom.

Tamla previously served as EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for USAA, where as a member of the Executive Council she led USAA’s team of more than 500 HR professionals spanning talent development, talent acquisition, pay and benefits, culture, and employee services for 37,000 teammates. Prior to joining USAA, Tamla served as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at WM (previously Waste Management). She spent the majority of her career (20 years) at General Electric, where she held multiple leadership roles, including HR Leader for GE Africa, Chief Diversity Officer for GE Appliances and Lighting, and Vice President of HR for GE Energy Connections.

Tamla is also a member of the Board of Advisors for her alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, and is a sought-after speaker, advisor, and thought leader for several HR-related technology startups.

Tamla is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration. A renowned expert in her field, she has received multiple honors, including being featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, The Network Journal’s 25 Influential Black Women in Business, and Savoy’s 2020 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America. She is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), a network of Black CEOs and business leaders who support the development of diverse talent and the promotion of social justice.

JoDee is the Founder of Purple Ink, a human resources consulting firm in Indianapolis, IN. They serve a wide array of organizations with recruiting, HR consulting, leadership training, and HR outsourcing services.

JoDee serves on the Indiana SHRM State Council and is the chair of the Indiana SHRM conference.

As President of Berkshire, Beth Ronnenburg, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is responsible for leading one of the most reputable and respected brands in affirmative action compliance solutions. Beth, who became President in June 2011, is the steward of Berkshire's strategic vision, “to help companies build their ideal, balanced workforce.” She oversees all business interests and operations, and more importantly, Beth is a well-known thought leader who speaks regularly at conferences including SHRM, National Industry Liaison Group (NILG), and other national events. She currently serves as a board member for the NILG, where she represents the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is also on the board of the Baltimore ILG. Beth holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Organization Development from The Johns Hopkins University. 

As founder of WorkJoy, Tina builds on 20 years of operations, technology consulting, and HR leadership experience to provide facilitation and coaching solutions to organizations ready to unleash the potential of their people. She co-creates talent programs that drive business outcomes and deliver human results, partnering with leaders from prominent organizations including Fabletics, FOX Sports, National Wildlife Federation, SAP, Savage X Fenty, and Spotify. Tina graduated from the University of Virginia (BA), University of Michigan (MBA), and Coactive Training Institute coaching program, and is adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University. She lives in Los Angeles with her writer husband and two pet parrots.

Discover the extraordinary journey of Dethra U. Giles, the visionary force behind ExecuPrep, pioneering leadership development and organizational transformation. Rooted in education, performance optimization, and HR, Dethra empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to surpass their expectations. With degrees in English, Spanish, Business and Conflict Management, she blends communication and cultural understanding seamlessly. As a respected faculty member and TEDx speaker, her influence resonates globally, shaping inclusive cultures in corporate giants like LVMH and the EPA. Dethra's compassion fuels her advocacy for social justice, while her writings and media presence inspire resilience and growth. With her, the future promises boundless opportunity and transformation.

Sinikka Waugh, President of Your Clear Next Step, spends her days helping people have better workdays. Sinikka is known for consistently helping people improve their emotional intelligence and find innovative ways to solve problems and get things done at work. Putting her 20+ year background in languages, literature, and project management to good use, Sinikka has provided compassionate leadership in transformation initiatives and helped over 50,000 people have better workdays since 2008. Her clients value how her results-driven professionalism blends seamlessly with her down-to-earth, “try this now” approach and her relentless passion for helping others achieve even better.