Welcome to your ultimate thrive guide to Transform, a forward-thinking experience designed for innovators and people-first leaders like you. Whether you’re looking to amplify your career, ignite your creativity, or connect with like-minded professionals, Transform is where you want to be, and we’re so glad you’ll be joining us!
We know the first time can be intimidating, so we’ve put together some helpful tips and event insights to help set you up for success and make the most of your three-day experience.
Why Attend Transform?
Transform is a catalyst for growth and innovation…and it’s a lot of fun, too.
You can look forward to combining learning and laughing with:
- Inspirational Main Stage Conversations: Hear from industry leaders on topics that will help inform, inspire, and challenge your thinking about the future of people + work.
- Hands-on Learning: On Monday, engage in workshops, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, sessions offer practical and actionable insights.
- Unparalleled Networking: Connect with CHROs, CEOs, VCs, and other people-first leaders to expand your professional network.
- An Expo hall filled with your favorite vendors (and some you may not have met yet!), to share insights into the latest in HR Technology and hook you up with exclusive swag. And puppies. Yes, there will be puppies.
- After-Hours Fun: Cap off your experience with our unforgettable after-party with your team, newly made connections, and long-time friends! A private Busta Rhymes concert? You know it!
Check out highlights from last year’s conference to get a sense of the vibes!
Top Tips for Attendees
- Download the Conference App: Your essential tool for navigating the event, scheduling, and networking. It has maps, session information, and ways to stay connected to the folks you meet.
- Set Personal Goals: Identify what you want to achieve at Transform to feel like you have maximized your time. Whether you stick to your goals or stray away chasing shiny objects (relatable), at least you’ll have something to orient yourself to when you’re trying to decide whether to make a new friend or hit the chair massage booth.
- Use Your Badge: It’s not just for entry – it’s your networking key! Point your badge at your new connection’s badge, push down, and voila, their information is now in your app! Don’t forget to follow up!
- Look for ‘Ask Me’ Buttons: Our friendly volunteers are here to help you with any questions you have. Folks with an “OG” button have been coming for a long time, so they will have valuable insights to share as well
- Do a Nightly Recap: Reflect on the day’s learnings while they’re fresh. Pre-schedule follow-ups with people you met. Write down inspirational ideas and action plans.
- Explore Other Communities: Connect with other groups attending Transform. Attend their meet-ups, dinners, and happy hours to see what organizations align closest to you.
- Pace Yourself: With so much to see and do, remember to take “me” breaks. There’s no shame in taking a moment to recharge in your room, a coffee shop that’s not in the hotel, or even a bathroom stall (been there). FOMO is real, but so is your health.
- Share on Social Media: In real-time, tell the world about your Transform experience, using the #transform2026 hashtag. Your post will increase your visibility and build your brand, and you may even make some new connections too!
- Create a Follow-Up Plan: Organize how you’ll reconnect with vendors and new contacts post-event. If you know you’ll have a hard time with this, find an accountability buddy (or several) and do your outreach together over video chat (or a cup of your favorite beverage if IRL is an option). Body doubling FTW!
- Keep Sharing: Once you’re home, share your insights and takeaways on social media. Don’t let those learnings disappear into your brain (or your drawer full of half-full journals) forever. And use the #transform2026 hashtag so we can continue sharing the love with you!
Resource List
To get you even more prepared, check out these insightful resources:
- Mita Mallick wrote a great article last year: “I’m an introvert, here’s how I network with thousands of people” where she opens up about her experiences traveling to Transform as an introvert and her tips for being successful.
- Lindsey Caplan also shared some great tips on LinkedIn for making the most of your time.
- Rita Ramakrishnan shared a guide for neurodivergent folks.
And of course, don’t forget to attend our special info sessions just for first-time attendees!
- Sign Up Here for March 18 from 1-2pm PT
- Monday, March 23 from 9:30-10:30am | New Attendees Welcome Session (at the conference) with Lindsey Caplan and Peter Phelan | information and insights, highlights and humor
FAQs
- What to expect? 3 days of immersive learning, 350+ speakers, and a special musical performance by Busta Rhymes at the after-party.
- Wifi access? Yes, free wifi is available. Details are on your badge.
- First-time attendee tips? See above 😉
- Conference app? Absolutely! It’s your go-to for planning and networking. Look out for its release 2 weeks before the conference.
- What’s included with your ticket? Access to all sessions, workshops, 1:1 meetings, provided meals, receptions, and the after-party.
- What Meals are included? Breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday, coffee breaks, and drinks at receptions. Plus, snacks will be served in the Refresh Zone.
- How to network? Utilize our event app for pre-event connections, and don’t miss out on the numerous on-site networking events.
- Where to find show info? Check out the event agenda and download the event app for all details. Coming soon!
- What is EXP? An innovative expo hall with coffee bars, puppies, massages, headshots, wine, forward-thinking solutions, technology, and much more for engagement and discovery.
- What should I wear? We recommend business casual (jeans and sneakers: yes, shorts and flip-flops: no). Ultimately, we want you to feel comfortable. You will do A LOT of walking, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes! You do tend to see some pretty cool tennis shoes being sported at Transform, so wear your favorites or get creative!
- Is there a code of conduct? We want Transform to be a safe and inclusive environment for all attendees. Please review our event code of conduct for more information.
Transform 2026 is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience, and we can’t wait to welcome YOU! Prepare to be inspired, make meaningful connections, and take your career to the next level. See you March 23-25th for a transformative journey!
