#VUHRD @ #SHRM17 | Kickoff with Kat Cole!
#VUHRD is in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) for the #SHRM17 Annual Conference & Expo! The Annual SHRM conference is one of the largest HR conferences in the world, where HR leaders and experts come together to share their knowledge on the latest HR trends on topics such as talent acquisition and retention, personal and leadership development, business acumen, and more! This year, SHRM has some major HR innovators speaking--like Kat Cole, Laszlo Bock, and Patrick Lencioni, just to name a few! The #VUHRD team is excited to learn, meet, and network with over 15,000 people attending the SHRM Conference and Expo!
On Sunday, Kat Cole spoke at the opening general session to kick off the conference, which runs from June 18-June 21 this week. Kat is the Group President for Focus Brands Inc., which owns some beloved entities such as Auntie Anne's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, and others! Kat has spent her career in the restaurant and food service industry, starting as a hostess at age 17, and working her way up to become a Vice President at age 26. Kat is dedicated to incorporating philanthropy in the business she conducts, which helped in her being named one of CNBC's Next 25 List Innovators, Leaders, and Disruptors.
#VUHRD reflected on Kat's opening speech, below, and we are so excited for the rest of what's to come at #SHRM17 in NOLA!
"I loved Kat's talk! Her thoughts on change and innovation were inspiring. I especially loved her thoughts on the two value sets that she believes the best leaders, and humans, for that matter, have: humility and curiosity with courage and confidence. Kat said, 'Courage and confidence not checked by humility and curiosity can lead to mistakes, but humility and curiosity not backed by courage and confidence will cause inaction.' A good leader must have both and lead with both!"
- Bethany J. Adams, #VUHRD Assistant Director
"Kat was great. I appreciated the life lesson that she shared on a birthday card from her mother: 'Don't forget where you came from, but don't let it define you.'"
- Dr. Larry Cozzens, #VUHRD Assistant Director
#VUHRD will be manning our booth -- #959 -- at the #SHRM17 Expo through Wednesday! Come show your NOVA National Champs' pride and shoot some baskets with us! If you're attending #SHRM17, stop by and see us! If you need a free pass to access the Expo only, contact us at gradhrdoffice@villanova.edu!
