The Annual Summit for Early Talent Developers
Since 2012, the North America’s early talent development program leaders have met at the LDP Summit to innovate, share and connect.
The LDP Summit is a unique conference tailor-made for early talent development professionals. Bring your challenges and enthusiam, and invest in YOUR OWN professional development alongside your peers at the 15th annual LDP Summit in Atlanta, GA on May 6 & 7, 2026.
Why attend the LDP Summit?
Click the video below to hear what others have to say.
THE ANNUAL LDP SUMMIT
Two Days of Transformation...
The 2025 conference welcomed 175 people from 87 organizations. The 2026 LDP Summit will be on May 6-7 in Atlanta, GA. See the agenda below.
- Get better results from your early talent programs
- Lead program changes and improvements
- Demonstrate your program's value with metrics
- Discover that you are not ALONE!
Who Comes to the LDP Summit?
“I absolutely LOVED the event and took away so much goodness that I can’t wait to implement in our program.”
LaKeisha James, AT&T
“It was an incredible experience connecting with like-minded professionals, brainstorming innovative ideas, and sharing best practices in early career development. The summit was packed with session speakers who inspired us to think bigger and act bolder.”
Hadyn Hebert, Phillips-Medisize
LDP Connect is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.
15th ANNUAL LDP SUMMIT AGENDA
May 6th & 7th, 2026: Atlanta, GA
(Under construction)
Pre-Conference Workshops: Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 (separate registration fee)
Workshop A
8am-3pm
Separate Registration Fee
Hosted by
520 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45202
Pre-Conference Workshop: How to Build (or Re-Build) a Quality Early Talent Development Program
Offered again in 2026! Getting a program started on the right footing can make all the difference between success and trouble. With the LDP Connect maturity model as a backdrop, this full-day workshop will get you focused on the key foundational questions to setting up and running an impactful (and measurable) early talent development program. With an emphasis on clarifying your program’s goals, you’ll be guided through considering proper program structure, curriculum design, and community building among stakeholders. If you’re new to the world of early talent development programs, or if you’re looking to re-vamp an existing program that may need recalibration, don’t miss this workshop. Facilitated by early talent development experts at Wronski Associates – a firm with 40 years of experience building and running early talent programs.
Workshop B
8am-3pm
Separate Registration Fee
Pre-Conference Workshop B: "LAUNCH" - The Accelerator for Professionals New to Early Talent Development
“LAUNCH” is a professional development experience for new early talent development staff that accelerates their understanding of the field and equips them with the skills to be strategic and innovative in their new role. Through a day-long masterclass, and three virtual sessions in the months that follow, LAUNCH will introduce participants to the value of early talent development programs in an organization, illuminate the forces that impact their success, and teach actionable strategies to quickly boost their productivity. Participants will leave with a solid foundation in early talent development theory, a tight network of like-minded new professionals, and the confidence to thrive. Facilitated by two senior early talent development experts with a combined 30 years of experience leading the early talent function at multi-billion dollar organizations.
Mindful Pre-Conference Reset
4:30-6pm
Separate Registration Fee
Atlanta Location TBD
The Clarity Lab: Nature-Based Pre-Conference Team Reset at the 2026 LDP Summit
FREE TO ORGANIZATIONS SENDING 4 OR MORE PEOPLE TO THE 2026 LDP SUMMIT. Don’t have a full team? You’re still very welcome to join.
You’re about to take in a flood of ideas and inspiration at the LDP Summit — but before the learning begins, take a moment to pause and reset. Through nature, mindfulness, movement, reflection, and teamwork, you and your colleagues will step away from your daily overstimulation, and the demands of developing others, for an intentional reset with mindful pragmatist Shawnta Hooks. This pre-conference experience is a rare chance to slow down, breathe, play, and reconnect as a team.
You’ll leave calm, focused, resilient, and energized — ready to absorb more from the conference and contribute fully to your organization, without carrying the stress of travel or workload into the room.
Skeptical about mindfulness? See firsthand how practical and powerful it can be.
Main Conference Day 1: Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
7:45 am
Breakfast & Networking
8:15 am
Welcome & Introductions
8:30 am
Opening Keynote
Product Marketing Strategist, Board Advisor and LinkedIn Top Voice in Thought Leadership
Archita Fritz
TBD
Description coming…
9:30 am
Networking Break
9:45 am Concurrent Session 1A
Senior Director, Global Learning Experience Design & Delivery at Robert Half
Rebecca Alimorong
When Talent Takes a Turn: Building Flexibility into Early Career Programs
Early talent programs are designed to attract and grow the next generation of high-performers—but what happens when participants’ interests shift away from the program’s “destination?” As new employees seek increasing career flexibility, the risk is clear: if we can’t accommodate their evolving goals, they may choose to grow elsewhere.
In this session, Rebecca Alimorong, Senior Director of Global Learning Experience Design and Delivery at Robert Half, will share a groundbreaking initiative aimed at keeping RHI talent at RHI—even as employee aspirations evolve. Their new approach focuses on formalizing internal mobility, and leverages a company-wide skills inventory to create alternative career pathways. In this session, we’ll explore how this model could:
- Create flexible rotations for participants as their interests evolve.
- Provide more options for off-boarding when expected permanent roles are limited.
- Support ongoing alumni development after program completion.
- Find alternatives for participants who leave the program (voluntarily, or not).
Join us to learn how flexible career paths can strengthen early talent programs, improve retention, and ensure that employees grow with your organization rather than out of it.
Concurrent Session 1B
Global Operations Manager - Early Career at Oracle
Deb Shugard
From Scattered to Connected: The Surprising Power of In-Office Events for Early Talent
As early talent programs expand across regions and time zones, one of the biggest challenges for program leaders is ensuring that every participant—no matter where they sit—feels equally connected, supported, and valued. How can we keep early career employees engaged and help them build the relationships and networks so vital to their success? In this energizing session, Deb Shugard, Principal Program Manager – Early Career at Oracle, shares her journey rethinking engagement through the lens of in-office events. Learn how thoughtfully designed local gatherings can break down silos, spark new friendships, broaden professional networks, and create a buzz that resonates far beyond the event itself—with many positive outcomes that go well beyond initial expectations. Walk away with actionable ideas to strengthen cross-geography cohesion, increase program equity, and cultivate a vibrant early talent community—one where every participant feels seen, connected, and truly part of the whole.
10:45 am
Networking Break
11:00 am Concurrent Session 2A
Senior Manager, Aetna Sales Development Programs
Cristal J. Pitre
TBD
Description coming…
Concurrent Session 2B
Vice President, Manager, Early Career Development at Fifth Third Bank
Jennifer Doyle Baker
TBD
Description coming…
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
Concurrent Session 3A
Senior Practitioners’ Meeting – Moving Forward Together
Concurrent Session 3B
Functional “Club” Roundtables
2:15 pm
Networking Break
2:30 pm
Concurrent Session 4A
Manager, Onboarding & US Early Career at Alcon
Abbey Brewer
TBD
Description coming…
Concurrent Session 4B
Senior Manager of Emerging Talent at Bunge
Katie Flaschar
Global Operations Management Leadership Program Manager at GE Aerospace
Bianca Castagna
Senior Director, Global Early Talent Programs at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dianne Davidson
TBD
Description coming…
3:30 pm
Networking Break
3:45 pm
Rapid Fire Session
Rapid Fire Session
5:00 pm
Evening Reception
Main Conference, Day 2: Thursday, May 7th, 2026
8:00 am
Breakfast & Networking
8:30 am Plenary Session
Sr. Consultant & Trainer at Wronski Associates
Rich Trombetta
President at Wronski Associates
Steve Wronski
TBD
Description coming…
9:45 am
Networking Break
10:00 am Concurrent Session 5A
Early Talent Program Manager at ABB
Rose-Anne Gabriel
Early Talent Program Manager at ABB
Amber Lawrence
TBD
Description coming…
Concurrent Session 5B
Head of Early Talent Pipeline at AbbVie
Kate Neal
TBD
Description coming…
11:00 am
Networking Break
11:15 am Concurrent Session 6A
Global Program Lead, Early in Career at Genesys
Julie Caines
TBD
Description coming…
Concurrent Session 6B
Early Career Talent Manager at Saint-Gobain
David Knutson
TBD
Description coming…
12:15 pm
Lunch
12:15 pm
Special Team Lunch
Facilitated Team Workshop
New for 2025! Mastermind Lunch for Teams
Bring colleagues from your organization, and work as a team alongside early talent teams from other organizations in this professionally facilitated mastermind workshop—co-led led by our opening and closing keynote speakers! Accomplish for your team what busy schedules often prevent during the year. All organizations sending four or more people to the LDP Summit will have access to this bonus session. Details to come!
1:15 pm
Community Interactive Session
Topic Tables: "Idea Snack” discussions
2:15 pm
Closing Keynote
Belonging & Culture Expert, and Former Vice President of Sales Process Surveillance at Synchrony
Shawntà Hooks
TBD
Description coming…
3:15 pm
Close and Networking
The Carter Center
453 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE
Atlanta, GA, 30307
Questions? Please contact [email protected]
FAQ's
Why attend a conference for early talent development professionals?
Because you need support and validation! The life of an early talent development professional is challenging. You hold together a community of people at multiple levels of seniority, and the stakes are high. Early talent developers are coaches, sales people, recruiters, career counselors and brand managers all wrapped into one. The job is big and no one understands you better than your peers. Invest in attending the conference and you’ll walk out with ideas, friends and a whole bunch of positive energy.
What's unique about the LDP Summit?
Although our conference includes content related to early talent acquisition, we are not a “campus recruiting” conference. The LDP Summit was founded in 2012 to focus on early talent development and how to optimize the structured programs that exist to promote it. There are no university career services professionals at the LDP Summit, and the vast majority of our content is produced and delivered by members of our community – other early talent development professionals like you.
What content does the LDP Summit cover?
Here is a link to the agenda of this year’s conference. You can also see past agendas for 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022. LDP Summit sessions cover many tactical issues in running successful early talent development programs, and often tackle larger strategic questions about early talent development in general.
What if I have more questions about the Summit?
If you have more questions about the LDP Summit or about the LDP Connect community, please contact us at [email protected].
Is there a group discount?
Yes! If you send more than one person, you get a 5% discount on all attendees. Please contact [email protected] for the team discount coupon code. ALSO, if you send at least four people, your full team will be invited to our exclusive Team Workshop session designed for attending teams from the same organization. Bring your colleagues and build something together.
What do past attendees say about the LDP Summit?
Many attendees come back year over year to connect with colleagues and share innovations in early talent program management. Here are some testimonials from past attendees.
Some Participating Organizations
LDP Connect includes professionals from many of the world’s marquis employers, including 40% of the Fortune 100.
