Whether your organization has a long history with four generations working side-by-side, or you're a start-up firm with a group of Millennials, your common engagement challenge is making the business priorities of the organization relevant to your audience. This session will examine how Caterpillar, with over 96,000 global employees, is changing how it leads and communicates with employees. This session will examine how listening and understanding its audience has led to changes in the content and media used to communicate...and how the changes drive engagement.

The elements that drive employee engagement in an organization touch every facet of the employee experience, including culture, recruitment, training, compensation and performance management. Through the careful study and diagnosis of these systems, Human Resources is in the position to dramatically increase engagement levels of employees and business outcomes for the organization. This session will examine successful approaches to large-scale systems changes that are working at Waste Management, as well as in other industries. Discover how to create a blueprint for engagement in your organization that addresses the roles and systems for leadership, front-line managers and the HR function.

Jay Romans Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Chief People Officer, Waste Management

When it comes to leading employees through periods of transformation, there's consensus that senior leadership needs to be at the forefront. But preparing leaders to be transparent and authentic - while asking employees to be supportive of change and deliver excellent results - is both challenging and complex. MDS Inc., a global life sciences company, launched a new business strategy in 2005 that required a major shift from a strong, people-focused culture to one of high-performance. A new CEO, a move from six to three businesses and a focus on driving improved performance were just some of the changes. This session will examine the solid communication planning and execution that leveraged its senior leadership as catalysts for the change and moved the employees to positive action and success for the company.

Janet Ko Vice President, Global Internal Communications & Organizational Development, MDS Inc.

The number of jobs that involve non-traditional office settings is on the rise - whether employees are working on the road, working from home, working at client sites, or working flexible schedules. At IBM, employees are enjoying the benefits of improved work/life balance and "The New Normal," which refers to a more fluid and flexible work environment. The challenge is to sustain communication with these remote and mobile employees so they remain engaged and aligned with the organization. This session will explore the communication tactics (including Second Life!), the training for managers, and the shift in mindset to successfully operate in this 24/7/365-day environment of a global enterprise.

Jayne Nanavaty-Dahl Manager, Center of Excellence, IBM Workplace Communications

Andre'a D. Jackson Manager, Worklife, Flexibility & Mobility, IBM