ATD Houston upcoming events

General Meeting: Red, White, and Brews: A FREE Summer Networking Social (July 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Get ready to connect, chat, and celebrate with your fellow talent development pros at our Red, White, & Brews networking event! We're throwing a laid-back summer social to honor Independence Day, bringing together the amazing ATD Houston community for a night of good times, cool drinks, and even better company.

Why should you come? This is your chance to really connect with your peers, share ideas, and just unwind in a fun, casual setting. Whether you've been with ATD Houston for ages or you're just starting out, you'll feel right at home.

The best part? It's completely FREE to attend! You can grab your favorite drinks at Kirby Ice House, and a food truck will be on site. So, put on your best red, white, and blue, and let's raise a glass to great connections and our fantastic community. We can't wait to see you there!

Please note: We will pay for our own food and drinks. You cannot bring outside food or drinks. All items must be purchased from the establishment.

ATD Capability Model – Building Personal Development, Developing Professional Capability

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/

Webinar: From Vanity Metrics to Performance Intelligence: The New Kirkpatrick Model for a Results Based World (July 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

For decades, organizations have relied on satisfaction surveys to gauge training success—yet these “smile sheets” reveal little about real performance impact. In this session, Vanessa Milara Alzate introduces the modernized Kirkpatrick Four Levels® and demonstrates how learning professionals can move beyond attendance and satisfaction metrics to measure what truly matters: behavior change and results. Attendees will explore how to align learning design, delivery, and evaluation with organizational priorities and performance outcomes, using practical examples and real-world applications.

After this session, participants will be able to:

Explain what has changed in the modernized Kirkpatrick Model® and why it matters today
Connect learning initiatives to behavior change and measurable performance outcomes
Apply the Four Levels® as a practical framework for evaluating learning impact
Identify opportunities to move from compliance-based metrics to strategic decision-making

ATD Capability Model – Performance Improvement, Learning Technologies

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Vanessa Milara Alzate is the Owner & CEO of Kirkpatrick Partners and Founder & CEO of Anchored Training. With more than fifteen years of experience, she has advised organizations across industries including education, life sciences, government, and the Department of Defense. Since acquiring Kirkpatrick Partners in 2023, Vanessa has led the next evolution of the globally recognized Kirkpatrick Model®, modernizing it for today’s performance-driven, data-informed organizations.

Vanessa is a sought-after speaker known for translating evaluation theory into practical, actionable strategies that connect learning to behavior change, performance, and measurable results. She has presented at leading industry conferences including ATD ICE, DevLearn, Learning Solutions, ATD TechKnowledge, and Training Conference. Her sessions are highly interactive and application-focused, using real-world examples, live polling, and reflection prompts to help leaders move beyond activity metrics and toward enterprise impact.

She is the author of Building a Culture of Evaluation, which introduces a new vision for aligning learning, performance, and organizational strategy.

GIG Sugarland: Join Us for a Networking Luncheon! (July 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Step away from your day and join us for the ATD Houston Sugar Land GIG Networking Luncheon! Connect with fellow professionals in a welcoming, relaxed environment designed for meaningful conversations and authentic connections—all while enjoying Pacific Rim and Baja-inspired cuisine at Pacific Coast Tacos.

Event Cost: Attendees will purchase their own lunch. We’ll take care of the networking, connections, and engaging conversation!

What You’ll Experience:

Enjoy a great meal while connecting with local professionals in a casual setting.
Expand your network and exchange ideas with peers in talent development.
Experience a warm, engaging atmosphere that supports genuine connection.

Upon Arrival:

Head to the ATD Houston Table and check in with Sonja Goodwin, ATD Houston Director of GIGs.
Grab your lunch (available for purchase) and settle in.
Mingle with other attendees and make the most of this engaging networking opportunity!

SIG - Young Professionals: Early Career SIG Relaunch: From Entry-Level to Impact: Map Your Growth (July 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Join us for an interactive, career-focused session where you’ll explore how to grow your skills and make a bigger impact using the ATD Talent Development Capability Model. (note- can use this link to our page on the model - https://www.tdhouston.org/The-ATD-Capability-Model)

Through dynamic activities and hands-on exercises, you’ll connect what you do today to where you want to go next. You’ll gain practical insight into the skills that matter most and how to start building them. Plus, connect with peers who are navigating similar early-career paths.

This is also our relaunch of our Early Career Special Interest Group (SIG) that focuses on events and activities not only for new graduates but anyone who has just started their Talent Development career journey. Learn more about ATD Houston Chapter's SIGs here - https://www.tdhouston.org/SIGsa

Learning Objectives:

Identify how your current work connects to broader organizational impact.
Recognize the capabilities that support early-career growth using the ATD Talent Development Capability Model.
Create a simple personal growth path with one strength and one area for development.
Leave with one practical next step for building impact in your role.

Our facilitators will be members of our Chapter Groups committee including:
Elizabeth Agustin, CPTD
VP Groups, ATD Houston Chapter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethagustin/

Crystal Kelley, SHRM-CP, CPTD
Early Career SIG Lead, ATD Houston Chapter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-kelly-shrm-scp-7b596a7a/

Workshop: Applying AI in L&D (July 30, 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Step beyond basic prompting and learn how to design AI colleagues that expand the capacity of your L&D team. This full day, hands on workshop walks participants through live contrasts between simple prompts and engineered prompt systems, builds AI fluency through practical mental models, and includes a rapid AI readiness audit of your L&D stack. The session dives into production ready AI pipelines—from content factories to scenario studios—while teaching advanced tactics like prompt chaining, vibe programming, and multimodal inputs. In the afternoon, participants use AI to design and stress test end to end learning journeys, create persistent learner personas, and simulate real learner experiences using learning science principles. The day culminates in an AI Project Studio, where attendees build and test a real workflow and leave with a 90 day AI action plan, a reusable prompt and persona library, and a clear roadmap for embedding AI into everyday L&D practice.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Identify high value opportunities for AI augmentation by analyzing current L&D workflows and determining where AI can meaningfully improve efficiency, quality, or scalability.
Differentiate between tactical AI usage and strategic AI integration, enabling participants to make informed decisions about when to use simple prompting versus when to design full AI supported systems.
Design AI enhanced learning solutions using structured reasoning, applying mental models and design principles to create workflows that are predictable, ethical, and aligned with organizational needs.
Embed evidence based learning science into AI generated outputs, ensuring that retrieval practice, spaced learning, feedback loops, and cognitive load considerations are intentionally incorporated.

The workshop package includes:

A full-day, hands-on session for entry-level AI users.
A printed workbook for specific exercises and note-taking.
A copy of Josh's book, Applying AI in Learning & Development, for every attendee.
Lunch will be provided.

What to bring:

Plan to bring your own laptop and charging device.
WIFI connection details will be provided.

Speaker: Josh Cavalier and Debbie Richards

Josh Cavalier is on a mission to bridge the gap between Learning & Development professionals and the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. His own "aha!" moment arrived in late 2022 when an AI generated a remarkably effective educational video script on his prompt, instantly revealing its potential to revolutionize learning. Drawing on 30+ years of experience, including leading Lodestone Digital to radically improve clients' edtech implementations, Josh now guides organizations through the complexities of AI integration.

Through JoshCavalier.ai, he directly addresses the concerns and opportunities facing L&D. Forget the fear of job loss – Josh argues AI necessitates a shift in roles, amplifying the need for human expertise and insight. He cuts through the myth of "automatic" AI, emphasizing that L&D professionals are crucial collaborators in the process. His focus? Pragmatic strategies and tools that help teams navigate the AI ecosystem, understand human-machine partnership, and significantly increase their AI skills.

Josh makes complex AI accessible and actionable. His training, popular YouTube channel, and the fun, interactive live show "Brainpower" reach thousands, offering easy-to-use methods for working with AI. Committed to the L&D community, he consults, runs workshops, and shares his strategic insights at major industry events (DevLearn, Learning Solutions, ATD ICE), empowering professionals to leverage AI for hyper-personalized learning and greater organizational impact.

Debbie Richards is a leading voice in the application of Artificial Intelligence for Talent Development. As an AI Strategy Consultant at Undesto.AI and President of Creative Interactive Ideas, she guides enterprise organizations through the complex landscape of AI adoption. With over three decades of experience as a learning architect, Debbie specializes in creating clear roadmaps that help teams integrate AI tools into their learning operations, resulting in measurable improvements in engagement and performance. Currently serving as the Chief Learning Advisor at Cognota, Debbie drives innovation by combining learning operations with cutting-edge technology.

She is a premier facilitator for the Association for Talent Development (ATD), where she trains professionals on practical AI implementation. She teaches several key industry courses, including the AI for Instructional Design Workshop, AI for Talent Development Workshop, Applying AI in Learning and Development Certificate, and Using AI Assistants to Power Productivity.

Debbie’s influence extends globally through international speaking engagements and her work as an author of ATD’s "Seeing the Possibilities With Augmented Reality" and "Preparing Your Organization for New Technologies." New TD at Work Guide for Feb 2026 - Become a Strategic Learning Architect With AI.

SIG Technology: Best Practices Using AI (July 31, 2026)

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

The landscape of Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a breakneck pace. To help our community stay ahead, the ATD Houston Technology SIG is dedicating monthly meetings to an ongoing exploration of AI Best Practices.

Join us on the last Friday of every month at noon for a collaborative deep dive into the practical application of AI in Talent Development. These sessions are designed as a consistent touchpoint for L&D professionals to share what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and discover the latest tools.

Monthly Focus Areas

While the specific agenda will evolve alongside the technology, our recurring discussions will typically cover:

Strategic Implementation: Identifying high-impact use cases for AI in L&D.
Tool Selection: Criteria for choosing the right AI stack for your needs.
Ethics & Governance: Navigating data privacy, copyright, and bias.
Prompt Engineering: Practical techniques to improve Generative AI outputs.
Future Trends: Emerging AI technologies in workforce development.

Join the Conversation

Whether you are an AI novice or a power user, your perspective is valuable. This is your space to ask questions and learn from peers.

Help Shape the Agenda

We tailor each session based on member needs. Please submit your specific questions or suggested topics in advance to: presidentemeritus@tdhouston.org

Deep Dive Webinar: Building Your Circle of Success (August 06, 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Building Your Circle of Success: Strategies to Strengthen Connection, Visibility, and Career Momentum

In every career breakthrough, there is a network of people—seen and unseen—who make that growth possible. Yet most professionals move through their careers without a clear understanding of who is in their corner, what support they truly need, or how to intentionally cultivate the relationships that accelerate advancement.

This 90-minute session takes a deep dive into the research-backed framework introduced in Who Are Your SPECS? Redefining Career Empowerment for the Future of Work, revealing the five critical roles that form a powerful Circle of Success. Participants will learn how to map their current circle, identify gaps, and strengthen the connections that fuel confidence, clarity, and long-term career mobility. Through guided reflection, practical tools, and real-world examples, attendees will walk away with a clearer sense of their relational ecosystem—and a strategy for building a more aligned, supportive, and opportunity-rich network. This session is designed for leaders, emerging professionals, ERG/EEG members, and anyone committed to building a career rooted in connection, agency, and intentional support.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Explain the five SPECS roles and how each contributes to a high functioning Circle of Success.
Map their current relational ecosystem, identifying who is currently supporting their career growth and where critical gaps exist.
Assess the quality and alignment of their existing relationships in relation to their long term career goals.
Identify the types of support they need most—confidence, clarity, advocacy, opportunity, or accountability—and match those needs to the appropriate SPECS roles.
Apply the SPECS framework to real world scenarios through case studies that illustrate how intentional relationships accelerate advancement.
Develop a personalized strategy for strengthening, expanding, or rebalancing their Circle of Success to increase agency, mobility, and career empowerment.

ATD Capability Model – Performance Improvement, Learning Technologies

To learn more about this model see: https://capability.td.org/

Speaker:

Dr. Brandi R. Muñoz, PCC, CMCS, SPHR, NCOPE, an Executive Coach, Career Strategist, and Conflict Resolution expert with a doctorate in Organizational Leadership. With over 15 years of experience in talent development, leadership coaching, and strategic HR advisory, I specialize in empowering professionals and organizations to navigate change with clarity, authenticity, and measurable impact.

Currently, I serve as the Program Manager for Coaching & Mentoring at Memorial Hermann, where I design and lead system wide initiatives aligned with the organization’s mission to advance health and personalize care. Beyond my work at Memorial Hermann, I continue to coach professionals and leaders on a limited basis and teach doctoral students, ensuring my personal vision of fostering growth and leadership development remains at the core of everything I do.

General Meeting: Your Story, Your Influence (August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Your Story, Your Influence is an interactive leadership workshop designed to help participants recognize the power of storytelling as a tool for influence, connection, and impact in the workplace. Through real-world examples, guided reflection, and peer exchange, attendees learn how to transform personal experiences into compelling leadership stories. .

Learner Objectives:

Explain why storytelling improves message retention and influence.
Demonstrate how storytelling builds empathy and trust, enabling deeper connection
Apply storytelling techniques to communicate ideas more persuasively.

ATD Capability Model – Impacting Organizational Capability

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

Shanta Eaden is the CEO and founder of Leader’s Edge Consulting. We are a strategic partner for your organization's critical transformations in HR Systems, Strategic Programs, Business Operations, and Culture. Shanta is a dynamic leader known for her people-first approach to driving organizational change. With over 25 years of experience, she excels in integrating people, processes, and technology to achieve transformative results. Shanta’s expertise spans multiple sectors, where she has successfully led multinational teams through complex acquisition integrations, strategic program/project management, culture transformation, and leadership development initiatives.

Shanta established Leader’s Edge Consulting during a time when organizations were seeking workplace culture and operational transformations, and the war for talent was heightened. As an enterprise change leader, Shanta has a proven track record of partnering with clients to develop their DEIB strategy and multi-year roadmap integrated into organizational culture, creating and maturing global Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and building Project Management Offices to drive business strategy & organizational alignment. Her ability to bridge the gap between strategy and execution has made her a trusted partner in driving meaningful change within organizations.

She’s also a sought-after speaker, panelist, facilitator, and moderator. Committed to shaping culture and fostering inclusion, Shanta’s vision is to create spaces where every individual feels valued, empowered, and able to contribute to their fullest potential. Her passion for mentorship and community engagement extends beyond her professional life, demonstrating her dedication to uplifting others both within organizations and in society at large.

Shanta holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Certified Change Practitioner (PROSCI ™), a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas Southern University, and an MBA with concentrations in Management and Human Resources from LeTourneau University. Awarded Houston’s 50 Most Influential Woman, Board Chair, Genesys Works Houston and Board Member, Genesys Works National.

Webinar: Human Capabilities in Today’s Workplace (August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Organizations everywhere are struggling with the emotional complexity of today’s work environment. Burnout, conflict, disengagement, and cognitive overload keep rising, and despite our best efforts as learning professionals, the problems not only persist… they’re accelerating.

What if the issue isn’t that we need more or better skills, tools, or training? What if these solutions don’t actually address the deeper human problem underneath? What if our entire approach is built on a mindset that cannot meet the deeper human challenges we face, and maybe never could?

As learning professionals, we sit at the leverage point for real solutions. But to use that leverage, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: we are building our organizations to minimize humanity – the very humanity we now need to navigate complexity, emotion, conflict, and uncertainty.

This session invites you to rethink the paradigm we use to understand organizations, learning, capabilities, and how humans actually work. By the end of this session, you should be able to:

Differentiate skills from human capabilities and identify the deeper capacities required to address our human challenges with confidence and natural gracefulness.
Recognize how organizations can become developmental ecosystems and understand the unique role learning professionals play in cultivating human capability at scale.
Explain the business case for investing in human capability, including how deeper human capacities lead to meta-level organizational efficiency, reduced conflict, better collaboration, and more adaptive, innovative organizations.
Embracing a new mindset will allow us to elevate our organizations and leverage learning for extraordinary organizational results, and even for societal change. Because when humans rise, organizations rise.

ATD Capability Model – Performance Improvement, Learning Technologies

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Jay Clancy, founder and President of Syleris, is leading a movement to redefine how humans and organizations learn. With more than 30 years of global, cross industry experience as a business leader, organizational consultant, and university professor, Jay works at the systemic level to build learning ecosystems that transform how organizations operate, relate, and grow so that people and performance rise together. Jay’s work centers on a core insight: organizations don’t achieve extraordinary outcomes by pushing harder on results; they achieve extraordinary outcomes by elevating the humans who create them. He specializes in helping leaders navigate complex, human spaces and co creating cultures that amplify capability and realize human potential. Known for his engaging presence, insightful models, and ability to make deep ideas accessible, Jay integrates multidisciplinary research, deep rooted experience, and practical philosophy to advance a new paradigm for organizational and societal transformation.

ATD Houston 2026 Talent Development Conference and Expo Registration (September 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Stop reacting to market disruptions and start outrunning them. The ATD Houston 2026 Annual Conference gives you the blueprint to build a resilient workforce that thrives under pressure. Whether you lead an enterprise team, design instructional content, or manage talent systems, this event delivers practical strategies you can use immediately.

The Conference Experience

You will start the day with an exclusive morning workshop led by Marc Effron, one of the top authorities in talent management. He will share direct, data-driven approaches to building high-performing talent.

In the afternoon, the concurrent sessions move away from traditional, siloed topics into a progressive workforce lifecycle model. You can customize your learning track across three distinct phases:

READY (Assessment & Strategic Alignment): Discover how to map your current business needs and accurately forecast the skills your organization requires next.

BUILD (Design & Accelerated Deployment): Learn production methods to create quality learning programs and roll them out quickly to your teams.

MAINTAIN (Sustainability & Operational Excellence): Find out how to measure business outcomes, scale your efforts, and ensure long-term performance.

Between sessions, you can visit the expo to test new tools and connect with peers during dedicated networking blocks. You will walk away with new community connections and a clear plan to protect your organization against future disruptions.

Bring your team! Contact presidentemeritus@tdhouston.org for special team discount for 4+ people from the same organization.

Morning Workshop: Building Great Talent Managers: The 4+2 Model

Description: There’s not a secret to growing better talent faster, there’s a process. In this 3-hour highly interactive and practical workshop, you’ll learn about and assess your organization’s talent production line – the disciplined process for producing talent. You’ll learn where most organizations go wrong and how the best thrive. You’ll also become a better talent-building HR leader with the 4+2 Model. This model from Marc Effron’s Talent Management Institute at the University of North Carolina details what differentiates the best talent-builders in HR. You’ll leave with a focused action plan for optimizing how your organization (and you) build better talent faster.

Marc Effron, President, The Talent Strategy Group

As one of the world’s top advisors on human resources and talent management, Marc helps the world's premier companies, NGO’s, foundations and governments to elevate the quality and impact of their talent. He leads transformational HR projects globally in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to consumer products to technology.

Marc co-authored the Harvard Business Review Publishing best-selling book One Page Talent Management, often called the “talent management bible.” His most recent book, 8 Steps to High Performance, also from Harvard, is quickly reaching best-seller status. He has written more than 50 articles on HR and talent topics.

Marc conducts original research on key HR topics each year including recent reports on High Potential Development, The State of Performance and Potential and the Who Are We report about the HR profession.

Marc co-founded the Talent Management Institute at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2011. It’s the world’s most popular executive education program on talent with more than 7,000 graduates and taught at locations around the globe.

His prior experience includes roles as VP Talent Management for Avon Products, Global Leadership Consulting Head for Aon Hewitt, SVP Leadership Development for Bank of America and a Congressional Staff Assistant.

Marc has been published in or heard on Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Financial Times, the BBC, Bloomberg Radio, Inc., New York Post, and some of the world’s most popular podcasts.

Marc earned a M.B.A. from the Yale University School of Management and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington.

What to Expect

Come ready to participate, learn, listen and network!
A light breakfast, hot lunch, and snacks will be included throughout the day. If you have dietary restrictions, please email
Wear comfortable clothing whether it is jeans or business - we want you to just be you!
Ample onsite parking will be provided without cost.

APTD/CPTD Certification

This program is eligible for 5 APTD and CPTD recertification points from the ATD Certification Institute. The amount indicated is the maximum number of recertification points a participant can receive for this program.

Visit https://www.td.org/ci-recertification for more details about the APTD and CPTD recertification policies

Event Registration and Cancellation Policy: Event Registration and Cancellation Policy: ATD Houston has implemented Event Registration and Cancellation Policy for its paid events. Event registration fees should be paid online by credit/debit card at the time of registration. If you must pay at the event by check or debit/credit card, please contact the Chapter Administrator, at admin@tdhouston.org for approval prior to registering. If you need to cancel your registration, please contact feedback@tdhouston.org. All cancellations are subject to a $15.00 administrative fee. No refund will be given for cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to the event. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact ATD Houston.

General Meeting: Curing the HR Hangover (October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

HR professionals have been carrying the weight of every people decision in the organization — and the hangover is real. This session flips the script. When HR stops trying to be in every room and starts empowering the entire organization to own the employee experience, that's when HR becomes what it was always meant to be: a strategic business driver. This talk integrates ROI fluency, the IMPACT Model, and CEO-level communication to help HR professionals step out of the transactional fog and into transformational leadership — as true business stakeholders.

Learner Objectives:

HR Is a Shared Sport: Discover how to build a culture of shared ownership over the employee experience — so HR can finally stop being the only one playing defense and start calling the plays.
Speak CEO. Drive ROI.: Learn the financial language that gets HR a permanent seat at the strategy table — and how to tie every HR initiative to a measurable business outcome that makes the C-Suite lean in.
Deploy the IMPACT Model: Walk away with a practical six-step framework — Integrate, Measure, Partner, Align, Create, Transform — to shift HR from reactive to revenue-generating in any size organization.

ATD Capability Model – Managing Learning Programs and Integrated Talent Management

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

Reanette Etzler is not your typical HR speaker. She is a PHR-certified HR strategist, John Maxwell Executive Director, keynote speaker, and executive coach with over 30 years of experience across retail, restaurant, nonprofit, private, and public sector industries.

She has sat at negotiating tables, advised C-suite executives, navigated organizational landmines that would make most HR professionals update their LinkedIn profile on the spot, and come out the other side with a strategic framework that actually works. She founded The Strategic HR Coach with one mission: move HR from transactional to transformational — and from the back office to the boardroom. Reanette has led HR strategy, union negotiations, executive coaching, and organizational transformation across industries ranging from farm credit and franchise operations to government and nonprofit leadership.

Her breadth of experience means she has seen every version of the HR Hangover — and she knows exactly how to cure it. Her sessions are known for real audience engagement, practical tools attendees can use the moment they walk out the door, and the kind of honest, sometimes uncomfortable truths that HR and CEOs have needed to hear for a long time. She will bring the laughs. She will bring the data. And she will bring every person in that room one step closer to becoming the strategic business partner their organization actually needs. "HR is everyone's role — someone just forgot to tell the C-suite."

General Meeting: Leading the Emotional Side of Change (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Leading the Emotional Side of Change: How to convert resistance into progress

Everyone understands the need for change. We just don’t like to be changed. When we’re deeply connected to our ways, being asked to do things differently triggers frustration, anxiety, and even grief. In today’s environment of constant disruption, plans and policies aren’t enough—leaders need to know what to do when emotions run high. This interactive, research-backed session equips HR professionals and people leaders with practical techniques to meet resistance with skill.

Learner Objectives:

Recognize the emotional signals beneath resistance — and understand what they're really telling you.
Practice three hands-on techniques for responding to pushback in the moment.
Leave with a concrete plan for applying your insights at your workplace.

ATD Capability Model – Managing Learning Programs and Integrated Talent Management

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

Marek Rudak is an emotional intelligence expert who has designed workshops for premier organizations such as NASA, Fidelity, and Rice University. He is certified in the EQ-i 2.0® & EQ 360® assessments that help his clients quickly understand what they need to do specifically to improve their leadership skills and effectiveness.

Marek is also certified in Red Team Coaching, a revolutionary set of tools first developed by the military and intelligence agencies, then evolved to help business executives thrive in complexity and make better decisions by ensuring emotions are an asset, not a liability. Marek graduated in the top 10% of his class at West Point and became a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon separating from the Army, he joined ExxonMobil, where he worked on global, multi-billion-dollar projects for ten years.

As an executive coach, Marek accumulated over 5,000 hours coaching C-suite leaders and their teams at multiple Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, non-profits, and government agencies.

Judith Walton is a leadership coach and organizational development consultant who helps leaders navigate the emotional side of change—especially when the stakes are high and the path forward isn’t clear. With over 20 years of experience at NASA, she built and supported teams operating in complex, high-pressure environments where clarity had to emerge in real time.

She specializes in helping leaders work the stretch between “we don’t know yet” and “now we do,” equipping them to stay grounded in moments of resistance, surface what’s really driving pushback, and move teams toward shared ownership and progress.

Judith’s approach blends emotional intelligence, practical tools, and real-world application—giving leaders not just insight, but something they can use immediately when emotions run high and decisions matter most.

ATD Houston upcoming events

General Meeting: Red, White, and Brews: A FREE Summer Networking Social (July 14, 2026)

Webinar: From Vanity Metrics to Performance Intelligence: The New Kirkpatrick Model for a Results Based World (July 16, 2026)

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

GIG Sugarland: Join Us for a Networking Luncheon! (July 22, 2026)

SIG - Young Professionals: Early Career SIG Relaunch: From Entry-Level to Impact: Map Your Growth (July 24, 2026)

Workshop: Applying AI in L&D (July 30, 2026)

SIG Technology: Best Practices Using AI (July 31, 2026)

Deep Dive Webinar: Building Your Circle of Success (August 06, 2026)

Building Your Circle of Success: Strategies to Strengthen Connection, Visibility, and Career Momentum

Speaker:

General Meeting: Your Story, Your Influence (August 11, 2026)

Webinar: Human Capabilities in Today’s Workplace (August 20, 2026)

Human Capabilities in Today’s Workplace: Why Our Current Approach Isn’t Working, and What a New Paradigm Makes Possible

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

ATD Houston 2026 Talent Development Conference and Expo Registration (September 17, 2026)

General Meeting: Curing the HR Hangover (October 20, 2026)

General Meeting: Leading the Emotional Side of Change (November 10, 2026)