H.U.M.A.N. First™ Executive Forum:  Closing the AI Leadership Readiness Gap
Presented by Piercing Strategies
Invite-Only Reserve My Seat
Presented by Piercing Strategies
H.U.M.A.N. First™ Executive Forum 

You've invested in AI. Have you invested in the leaders expected to make it succeed?

Join senior executives for an invitation-only conversation on closing the AI Leadership Readiness Gap.

September 9, 2026 · 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM 
1333 New Hampshire Ave, NW · Washington, DC
Venue: American Bankers Association 

Reserve My Seat
Invite-only · seats limited · Earn 4 SHRM professional development credits

No cost to attend · Limited to senior leaders and invited guests

70%
of employees are ready for AI
27%
of organizations are ready for the change
Source: McKinsey

Who Should Attend

This forum is designed for:

  • ✓CHROs
  • ✓CIOs
  • ✓CLOs
  • ✓Chief Transformation Officers
  • ✓Chief Digital Officers
  • ✓HR Executives
  • ✓Technology Leaders
  • ✓Learning Leaders
  • ✓Enterprise Transformation Leaders
Reserve My Seat
Why now
01
The biggest risk to your AI investment isn't the AI.
It's the leadership required after implementation.

Organizations have invested heavily in AI platforms, copilots, and automation. But technology alone doesn't create transformation. The return on that investment depends on whether leaders can help people adopt new ways of working.

02
AI adoption is a leadership challenge disguised as a technology initiative.

Managers are expected to answer difficult questions, build confidence, navigate resistance, and sustain momentum through change. Yet many have never been equipped to lead that transition. At the same time, HR, IT, learning, and transformation teams are often pursuing the same outcome from different directions.

03
Leadership readiness is the competitive advantage.

The organizations creating the greatest return on their AI investments aren't simply deploying better technology. They're preparing leaders to accelerate adoption, align teams, and build confidence through change.

This forum brings together CHROs, CIOs, CLOs, Chief Transformation Officers, and senior executives because the future of AI adoption depends on shared leadership—not siloed execution.

Because organizations don't transform when technology changes. They transform when leaders change how people work.

Organizational readiness is nearly twice as important as individual AI readiness in determining enterprise value.

Source: McKinsey

Attend if you're asking…

  • ✓How do we prepare managers—not just employees—for AI?
  • ✓How do we reduce resistance?
  • ✓How do we measure adoption?
  • ✓How do we get business value?

Questions We'll Tackle Together

You'll leave with…

The half-day

Sept 9, 2026 · 9:00 AM– 1:00 PM
9:00 AM
Check-In, Arrival & Networking
9:30 AM
Opening Keynote: The Leadership Readiness GapWhy Transformation Stalls After Technology Goes Live
9:50 AM
Executive Panel: AI Adoption Is a Leadership Challenge
10:25 AM
Networking Break
10:40 AM
Practitioner Panel: What Successful AI Adoption Looks Like in Practice
11:25 AM
Executive Roundtable: Where Is Your Organization Stuck?
11:45 AM
Closing Conversation: What Leading Organizations Are Doing Differently
12:10 PM
Networking Lunch
12:50 PM
Closing Remarks: Key Commitments Before You Leave the Room

Panel speakers

Executive Panel — AI Adoption Is a Leadership Challenge
Kirstin Austin
Moderator
Kirstin Austin
Chief Learning Strategist, Meadow Consulting

Former Chief Learning Officer, IRS
Alethia Baggett
Panelist
Alethia Baggett
Chief Human Resources Officer 

American Bankers Association 
Ashley Flattery
Panelist
Ashley Flattery
VP - Enterprise People & AI Transformation

Nasdaq
Orlando Hampton
Panelist
Orlando Hampton
SVP Enterprise Technology

Invisible Technologies
Monica Pemberton
Panelist
Monica Pemberton
VP & Chief Information Officer

American Council on Education
Practitioner Panel — What Successful AI Adoption Looks Like in Practice
Arika Pierce Williams
Moderator
Arika Pierce Williams
CEO + Founder
Piercing Strategies
Sharla Bailey
Panelist
Sharla Bailey
AI Implementation Lead | VP, Learning & Development

American Bankers Association
Dr. Shayna Cooke
Panelist
Dr. Shayna Cooke
Chief Operating Officer & Chief People Officer

Dominion Payroll
Evan Piekara
Panelist
Evan Piekara
AI Transformation Lead - People, Purpose & Brand

Liberty Mutual
Carlee Wolf
Panelist
Carlee Wolfe
Associate Vice President, Integrated Talent and Organizational Effectiveness

Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Who's in the room

CHROs, CIOs, CLOs, Chief Transformation Officers from Fortune 500 and DC-metro enterprises. Invite-only, with seats capped to keep the room a true peer table.

Convened at the American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave, NW · Washington, DC
Venue: American Bankers Association · 1333 New Hampshire Ave, NW · Washington, DC
“

Technology may transform your business. Leadership determines whether your people come with you.

Arika Pierce Williams
Arika Pierce Williams
CEO + Founder, Piercing Strategies
95%

of enterprise generative AI implementations show no measurable P&L impact.

Source: MIT
invite-only - seats are limited

If you would like to attend, please provide your details below.

No cost to attend · Limited to senior leaders and invited guests

September 9, 2026 
American Bankers Association · 1333 New Hampshire Ave, NW · Washington, DC
9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Questions? Contact barbara@piercingstrategies.com