The Annual IPAC Conference hosts a variety of content for our attendees - including 5 Keynote Addresses (with 6 Keynote Speakers)! The day and time of each keynote address is included in the table below, as well as on our Schedule-at-a-Glance. 

Meet our 2024 IPAC Conference Keynote Speakers! 

Abstract:

Consulting skills are an important core capability for anyone working in the human capital space. Many I-O psychology practitioners face challenges given the lack of knowledge regarding the science of I-O psychology and the scientist-practitioner gap.

In this interactive keynote, Dr. Sy Islam will present a series of case studies that highlight consulting secrets that can be used by anyone when working with stakeholders and within their organization.

Bio:

Dr. Sy Islam is a co-founder and Vice President of Consulting with Talent Metrics. Dr. Islam has over 15 years of experience providing data analytic, training, and organizational development support to organizations in a variety of workplace settings. Dr. Islam’s consulting work was recognized when he won the Scientist-Practitioner Presidential Recognition Award from the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology for his focus on science driven practices in training, leadership development and talent development.

Through Talent Metrics he has consulted with fortune 100 companies like IBM and teams like the Florida Panthers.  His book “Leaders Assemble! Leadership Lessons from the Marvel Cinematic Universe” was published by Emerald Publishing. His chapter on how to start a boutique consulting firm will be published in the ATD Consulting Handbook in May 2024.

Abstract:

Building inclusive cultures is a critical leadership skill both now and into the future. Inclusive leadership requires self-awareness, self-management in the moments that matter most, overcoming and addressing unconscious biases, and utilizing time-tested strategies to bring out the best in others and create conditions where people with diverse experiences and backgrounds can thrive.

In this 60-minute keynote, Stefanie and Kelly (Industrial-Organizational Psychologists and co-founders of The Violet Group) will share an evidence-based framework and set of strategies to cultivate inclusive leaders and cultures in our modern-day workplaces.

Bios:

Stefanie Mockler, Ph.D.: As president and co-founder of The Violet Group, a leadership consulting firm with a range of services, my work centers on helping my clients solve their biggest leadership challenges, unlock leadership potential, and positively influence results in their organizations.

I value building strong and long-lasting partnerships with my clients, and co-founded the The Violet Group with a core mission in mind: to offer high-touch, embedded leadership solutions that make work more enjoyable and help people and companies thrive.

In addition to leading a team and designing innovative leadership solutions, I deeply enjoy coaching and supporting leaders from all walks of life. I've been told my "challenging but supportive approach" is a differentiator in helping leaders achieving their goals, and I have a particular passion for helping women and underrepresented groups step into their power, own their voice, and elevate their impact.

Coming from a rigorous academic training ground, I've learned that professional development and growth begins with a foundation of self-insight, feedback, and curious exploration; as such, I take a data driven approach to conduct developmental assessments, provide leadership coaching, build custom High Potential / Leadership Development Programs, design and deliver workshops, and consult with organizations on challenges stemming from recruitment to engagement and development.

I am also a Mom, spouse, partner, and researcher & writer dedicated to accelerating progress toward gender parity in our leadership, teams, and organizations through education, speaking engagements and facilitation, individual coaching, and community-building (connect with me/my team: @TheVioletGroup and @The_VioletCollective).

Kelly Levin, Ph.D.: Today’s workplace is becoming an increasingly fast-paced and dynamic environment in which organizational change and ambiguity are the norm. Being a leader in this context can be both exciting and fraught with challenges. As Co-Founder and Head of Leadership Development at The Violet Group, Kelly is focused on bringing the best out of others and is passionate about helping leaders at all levels (ranging from first time managers to senior-level executives) make a meaningful and lasting impact on their teams, colleagues, and organization. With a focus on deep listening and taking time to understand the unique needs of each individual she works with, Kelly helps leaders better leverage their strengths, identify high impact development areas, and implement sustainable behavior change. She has had the opportunity to work with a diverse set of clients, which has given her valuable insight into leadership needs, challenges, and opportunities across a variety of industries and functional areas.

Kelly obtained her undergraduate degree in Marketing at Indiana University and received her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Her research interests include employee engagement, 360 feedback methodology, diversity in leadership, and fair hiring practices.

Abstract:

AI-based hiring tools take on many different forms (e.g., interviews, games) and measure different constructs (e.g., job knowledge, personality). They bring together new forms of technology, data, and algorithms, in the service of effective hiring. In his keynote talk, based on his 25+ years of personnel selection research, practice, and publications, along with his current work in the AI-based hiring arena, Dr. Oswald will provide practitioners with insights about the nature and future of current AI-based hiring tools in their scientific, practical, legal, and ethical aspects.

One key take-home message is that the fundamental principles that make for reliable, valid, and fair selection tests are just as strong as ever in today's age of AI-based hiring. However, evaluating these principles may take on different considerations and approaches in the context of an AI-based hiring tool.

Bio:

Dr. Fred Oswald is a Professor in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Rice University. His 25 years of research addresses employment testing, adverse impact, and talent management systems across a wide range of organizational, educational, and military settings. Increasingly, this research involves machine learning and AI applications. 

Fred has served in a range of leadership positions relevant to AI and technology. He is current Chair of the Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI) at the National Academy of Sciences, and he is a current Member of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), which advises the White House on pressing issues of AI. Fred received his PhD in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Learn more at workforce.rice.edu/about-fred.

Abstract:

Most organizations have performance management (PM) systems, but many don't truly understand if those systems are working for them or against them. Leveraging examples from actual clients, this presentation will introduce a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of PM systems and speak to the importance of utilizing people analytics to connect PM data to other sources of people data as a way to uncover exactly how these systems are impacting other aspects of the employee experience.

Bio:

Vivian A. Woo, Ph.D., is a Lead People Science Analyst at Culture Amp. For over a decade, she has been advising clients around the globe, across industries and sectors, in the employee feedback space with an emphasis on people analytics. She currently leads the People Science Analytics team who deliver unified insights through bespoke analytics projects to customers, so business leaders can realize the value of their human capital investments. Additionally, she serves as strategic advisor on analytics, applied research, and DEI to both internal and external stakeholders.

Vivian was formerly a consultant at Mercer, where she advised clients about employee engagement, survey development, and data analytics. She shares her deep expertise through webinars, podcasts, and speaking engagements, having been a Main Stage speaker at the 2023 APA Convention in Washington D.C. She received her doctorate in Applied Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University.

Vivian has been an active volunteer within SIOP for years: driving and leading the efforts of committees such as CEMA and WIN, regularly reviewing and presenting at the annual conference, and most recently, she served as the Program Chair for SIOP's 2024 Annual Conference in Chicago.