All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 dives deep into key topics for CHROs and HR leaders around strategy, AI in HR, talent management, workforce planning and more to help you address your organization's mission-critical challenges.

2026 conference theme

Power New Possibilities: Lead the Transformation of Work

The AI era is unlocking new possibilities as organizations rethink growth yet often overlook key enablers. In 2026, HR leaders have a pivotal opportunity to lead work transformation and prepare both work and workforce for success. 

Explore our conference sessions below, all developed with this theme in mind.
Option 2

Discover why HR leaders call this the “most impactful HR event.” Hear attendees share highlights from networking, forward-looking sessions, and inspiring keynotes, plus the real-world take-aways they gained.
Find HR conference sessions

There are hundreds of sessions happening each day. Filter to see sessions that align with your role and interests. After registering for the conference, craft your agenda and book priority sessions — all through Conference Navigator.

Show Filters

Filter Sessions Cancel
Clear All See 9 Sessions No Results
Showing 9 Sessions
Clear All
Tuesday, 06 October, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM BST

Ask the Analyst: How to Navigate the Leadership Assessment Market
Sampurna Maitra, Director Analyst, Gartner
Stop guessing which leadership assessment vendor is right for you. This session decodes the complex market using our latest Market Guide. Learn to align your specific buyer priorities with the right solution types. We will discuss representative vendors, comparing their current capabilities and future innovations. Walk away equipped to confidently select the right assessment services and tech services for your business. ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM BST

Building Future-Ready Leaders at Speed
Ingrid Laman, VP Analyst, Gartner
Today’s senior leaders must possess a different set of capabilities that enable them and their organizations to activate growth in this environment of catalytic change. This breakout will help CHROs select and build the right capabilities to develop in senior leaders. This breakout will take a best of approach and will highlight data and best practices within and beyond the HR practice. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 03:00 PM BST

Ask the Analyst: Measuring Leader and Manager Effectiveness
Sampurna Maitra, Director Analyst, Gartner
As leadership and management requirements evolve, organizations are increasingly interested in assessing leader and manager effectiveness. Join this interactive session to explore how to adopt outcome-focused approaches to measuring effectiveness, and review the range of measurement options available to clients for assessing leader and manager effectiveness. ... Show More Show Less

04:15 PM - 04:45 PM BST

7 Essential Leadership Capabilities for Meeting AI Ambitions
Swagatam Basu, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
AI is enabling organizations to re-envision their long-term objectives. If organizations are to succeed during this period of transformation, people leaders will need to step up and adapt to a new set of skills and capabilities. Join this session to learn the seven essential leadership capabilities that will help your organization meet its AI ambitions, and how to develop those capabilities in your people leaders. ... Show More Show Less

05:15 PM - 05:45 PM BST

From Job Security to Job Evolution: Manager's Role in Guiding Teams Through Change
Carolina Engels, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner
Employee anxiety is at an all-time high. AI and cost pressures are driving concerns about job security. Moreover, organizations are asking employees to create value in fundamentally new ways — using AI and/or in redesigned roles and teams. Managers play a critical role in guiding employees through change, establishing role and goal clarity, and upskilling employees for a new world of work. Join this session for proven, practical management strategies to address employee anxiety and help them navigate disruption through role redesign. ... Show More Show Less

05:15 PM - 06:00 PM BST

Roundtable: Interrupting Burnout: Building Resilient Leaders for What's Ahead
Matt Gerber, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner
Nearly three in five HR leaders report an increase in c-suite executives’ concerns about employee stress and burnout. Join this session to discuss tactics to transform leader burnout into resiliency that can meet the challenges ahead. ... Show More Show Less
Wednesday, 07 October, 2026

01:45 PM - 03:15 PM BST

Workshop: Change Your Approach to Leading Change
Gaston Gomez Armesto, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Kayla Velnoskey, Director Analyst, Gartner
Build the core capabilities of effective change leadership in this interactive workshop, focusing on the skills and behaviors required to lead organizations through complexity and change. Show Less
Thursday, 08 October, 2026

01:30 PM - 02:00 PM BST

Manager Performance Under Increasing Spans of Control
Ingrid Laman, VP Analyst, Gartner
This session explores how expanding spans of control are reshaping manager effectiveness, with insights on performance trade-offs and strategies to maintain impact at scale. Show Less

03:15 PM - 03:45 PM BST

The Empathy Trap: Shifting From People-First to Performance-First Management
Tony Guadagni, Director Analyst, Gartner
Empathetic management is seen as key to effective leadership, but it can undermine objectivity — nearly half of managers now prioritize employees over business needs. Yet, this approach doesn’t boost employee experience satisfaction. Join this session to learn how managers can foster strong, productive relationships without falling into the empathy trap that puts employee and business interests at odds. Discover strategies for balanced leadership that drives both engagement and results. ... Show More Show Less

... Show More Show Less
Items per page: 1 – 9 of 9 Items
1 of 1 Pages

Sorry, no sessions match your criteria. Please refine your filters to display sessions.

“Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo provided a variety of sessions on many HR topics that allowed myself and my team to divide and conquer providing us with an opportunity to bring several new ideas, philosophies and technologies back to our organization.”

Head of Talent Acquisition, 1848 Ventures

Discover what it’s like to experience #GartnerHR

Learn more about Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 conference

Get our latest conference schedules, updates and insights sent straight to your inbox.

By clicking the "Continue" button, you are agreeing to the Gartner Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Contact Information

All fields are required.

      By clicking the "Submit" button, you are agreeing to the Gartner Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

      Back