Employee Owned 2023 - The Future of Work

What will the future of work look like? And how can ESOPs and employee owners play a role in shaping that future?

At EO23 in Las Vegas, we will explore these critical questions with our Main Stage keynote speakers, whose presentations will center around our 2023 theme of "The Future of Work." Join us November 8-10 on our Main Stage at Caesars Palace as we deep dive into concepts that will change your thinking and arm you with the ideas and tools you'll need as the modern, post-pandemic workplace continues evolving in the 21st Century.

After a very careful selection process, we are thrilled to announce this year’s EO23 keynotes!

Day One: Elevating Human Performance

The idea that work is an ever-changing, ceaseless entity may unsettle us, but today’s leaders must recognize the critical role of ongoing learning and refinement. The notion that work is perpetually in flux implies that our understanding of it should be similarly adaptive, and our strategies for improvement must be rooted in continuous learning and adaptation.

Our opening Main Stage keynote, Todd Conklin, has spent more than 30 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the world's leading research and development institutions. Todd’s presentation, The 5 Principles of Human Performance, promises to be an engaging and candid dialogue on the necessity of evolving the way we conceptualize work as a means for improvement.

Todd’s 5 Principles of Human Performance serve as a comprehensive guide to the core values that should underlie our approach to work, helping to keep our efforts in Human Performance aligned, honest, and effective. Todd will be on our Main Stage at 3:30 PM on November 8 as we kick off EO23!

Day Two: Engaging a Multigenerational Workforce

Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky is one of the most highly sought speakers on workplace culture and belonging. With more than a decade of thought leadership on The Future of Work, Smiley has helped many of the world’s largest companies increase workplace belonging, human connection, and team engagement. A three-time bestselling author, Smiley’s TED talk has reached 2 million viewers.

How can ESOPs with four or even five generations of employees create a sense of belonging for all employee owners and attract, retain and engage the best talent across generations? To move past intergenerational tension and common misunderstandings, leaders must empower talent across generations by creating a culture of trust and belonging for all. In his unique, entertaining, and highly actionable presentation, Smiley will discuss how to attract, retain, and engage the talent of the future by leading with purpose, flexibility, well-being, and human connection.

At 8:00 AM on November 9, Smiley will show you how to create a culture of learning and personal growth in the workplace, with actionable information every leader, manager, and individual employee can use to build a more connected and engaged culture of belonging at work.

Day Three: How Will Work Be Affected By Emerging Technologies Like AI?

You won’t want to miss Friday’s Main Stage keynote, as we explore how companies can integrate new technologies like artificial intelligence while remaining grounded in the humanist principles that define our ESOP cultures.

Kate O’Neill is widely known as the “Tech Humanist”. Kate and her company, KO Insights, are helping humanity prepare for an increasingly tech-driven future with her signature strategic optimism. In her work, Kate is committed to improving human experience at scale, even — and especially — in data-driven, algorithmically optimized, and AI-led interactions.

Join us on November 10 at 11:00 AM as Kate makes the humanity-affirming case for the importance of meaning and meaningful experiences as guiding principles within business strategy and innovation. You’ll be sure to come away with thought provoking insights to help you drive a “human-centric” approach to adapting new technologies that will give your ESOP a competitive edge.

Join us in Las Vegas for EO23 for these discussions and more, and learn how The Future of Work will continue to encompass the empowerment, unity and pride we all feel as employee owners. You'll also learn more about why ESOPs and the employee ownership model are already competitively positioned to take advantage of The Future of Work, and how you can maximize your ESOP's potential. If you haven’t yet registered for EO23, click to lock in your discounted Standard Registration before rates go up on October 20.

Premium Education and Networking Opportunities

In addition to our Main Stage keynotes, EO23 is packed with the highest quality educational content that you’ve come to expect from The ESOP Association’s national
and chapter events. Plus, EO23 attendees can earn up to 10 continuing education credits in CPE, SHRM PDC, or certificate of attendance. And with five Program Tracks to choose from, you’ll get smarter on key ESOP issues whether you’re an experienced CEO or a new ESOP employee owner. Here’s just a small sample of the sessions you can expect at EO23 this year:

ESOP Essentials Track

• ESOP Financing Options and Market Update
• Fundamentals and Advanced Valuation Issues
• Repurchase Study Overview
• Warrants as an ESOP Financing Tool
• Preparing for DOL and IRS Audits
• Advanced ESOP Accounting Issues
• Setting (or Resetting) Your Distribution Policy

Human Resources & Culture Track

• Hiring and Retention for ESOP Companies
• Best Practices for Communications Committees
• Identifying & Developing the Next Generation of Leadership
• Marketing your ESOP & Utilizing it as a Recruiting Tool
• Leadership & HR roles in Cybersecurity & Electronic Risk Management

Leadership & Governance Track

• Preparing for a CEO Retirement – The Next Chapter
• Managing Succession Planning for Boards & Fiduciaries
• Managing Conflicts of Interest on ESOP Boards
• Tackling Current Topics on M&A

Internal Trustee Track

• Training Internal Trustees & Fiduciaries
• Communicating Valuation to the Board
• Managing Succession Planning for Boards & Fiduciaries
• Evaluating & Responding to M&A Offers

In addition, you won’t want to miss our Open Roundtable Discussions (for in-person attendees only), which will offer an open dialogue and deeper dive into presentations as well as hot topics trending on The HUB.