Schedule
All Times Central Standard Time
Registration & Breakfast
Get to know other attendees over a light delicious breakfast featuring fresh juice, bagels with cream cheese and jams, pastries, and seasonal fruit.
Welcome Remarks
Wahab Owolabi
Navigating the AI Era – What’s Inevitable, and How to Stay Ahead
AI is transforming recruiting operations faster than ever — but what does that really mean for the people at the heart of it? In this keynote, Richard Cho explores the two core questions every RecOps leader must confront:
What’s inevitable as AI continues to reshape how we work,
And how individuals and teams can prepare to stay relevant, resilient, and ahead of the curve.
Whether you're feeling optimistic or uncertain about the future, this session will offer a grounded perspective on the shifts already happening — and the practical steps you can take now to future-proof your role and continue driving value in an AI-powered landscape.
Richard Cho
Elevating RecOps: Strategic Impact & Future Evolution
In this fast-paced Lightning Talk session, Samara will kick things off by exploring the executive-level impact and value of Recruiting Operations—highlighting how RecOps drives alignment, efficiency, and strategic influence across the talent function. Steph will follow with a forward-looking perspective on how to structure RecOps teams for scale and evolve their impact over time. The session wraps with a 25-minute Q&A and interactive activity designed to help you apply the insights in real time and connect with peers. This is a must-attend for RecOps leaders, talent professionals, and anyone looking to amplify the strategic power of their recruiting operations.
Samara Crasilneck
Stephanie Baysinger
Product-Led Framework for a RecOps Transformation
In a time when recruiting operations teams are asked to deliver more value with fewer resources, traditional playbooks fall short. This workshop will introduce a bold reframe: a product-led mindset that reimagines recruiting as a dynamic product—with real users, evolving needs, and outcomes that drive strategy. Join leaders from Roblox as they share practical case studies and insights on transforming RecOps into a proactive, innovative function. From immersive candidate experiences and recruiter automation to streamlined hiring manager workflows and standardized interviews, you’ll be equipped with actionable strategies to build scalable, user-centric systems. No matter where your team is at with this transformation journey, are you ready for the next era of RecOps?
Stephanie Luu Andre
Jason Buss
Headcount / Capacity Planning
Carlos Rodriguez-Munoz
Structured Interviewing
Allison Slater Rasch
Lunch
Keynote
Siadhal Magos
Showcase - TeamOhana
Explore the latest tools designed to elevate your recruiting operations. Each product offers a hands-on look at innovative solutions, along with time for Q&A and real talk with the creators behind the tools. Whether you’re actively exploring new tech or just curious, this is a great way to see what’s new in the RecOps space.
Showcase - Ashby
Explore the latest tools designed to elevate your recruiting operations. Each product offers a hands-on look at innovative solutions, along with time for Q&A and real talk with the creators behind the tools. Whether you’re actively exploring new tech or just curious, this is a great way to see what’s new in the RecOps space.
Showcase - Gem
Explore the latest tools designed to elevate your recruiting operations. Each product offers a hands-on look at innovative solutions, along with time for Q&A and real talk with the creators behind the tools. Whether you’re actively exploring new tech or just curious, this is a great way to see what’s new in the RecOps space.
Showcase - CodeSignal
Explore the latest tools designed to elevate your recruiting operations. Each product offers a hands-on look at innovative solutions, along with time for Q&A and real talk with the creators behind the tools. Whether you’re actively exploring new tech or just curious, this is a great way to see what’s new in the RecOps space.
Afternoon Treat
Take a well-deserved break and recharge with something sweet, courtesy of our friends at Ashby. Whether you need a sugar boost, a caffeine fix, or just a few moments to connect with fellow attendees, this treat break is the perfect pause between sessions.
Keynote Session - GEM
Steve Bartel
Day 1 Recap + Rewards
Recap key insights and takeaways from the previous day, setting the stage for further exploration.
Tommy Barth
Wahab Owolabi
Cocktail Reception
Sponsored By Talent Llama. Unwind and connect after a packed day of insights and inspiration. Join us for drinks, light bites, and great conversation with fellow RecOps pros. Whether you're debriefing sessions, swapping ideas, or just vibing with new friends—this is your time to relax and celebrate the community.
Talent Llama
Talent Leaders Dinner
Join TeamOhana & Gem for an intimate, invite-only dinner with fellow Talent and Recruiting Ops leaders. Enjoy great food, meaningful conversation, and a chance to connect on how teams are streamlining headcount planning and partnering more strategically with Finance. Request an invite from [email protected]
TeamOhana
Run with Recops
Start Day 2 with fresh air, movement, and meaningful conversation. Run with RecOps is a casual, community-paced group run along Chicago’s scenic Lakefront Trail. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just want to get your blood flowing before breakfast, this is a great way to connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed, non-conference setting. No pressure—just sneakers, smiles, and good company. We'll meet in the Palmer House Hilton lobby at 7:00 AM sharp, then head east to Grant Park and the lakefront path for an out-and-back route. Total run distance will be around 3–4 miles, with options for shorter turnarounds.
Continental Breakfast
Day 2 Welcome
Unlocking Storytelling as a Superpower in RecOps
Have you ever struggled to explain the full impact of your work in RecOps?
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to frame something you’ve accomplished in a way that clearly communicates its impact. Using a simple storytelling framework, you’ll craft and practice a short, compelling narrative tailored to an audience that matters to you. You’ll leave with a story you can use right away, and a method you can apply anytime you want your work to resonate.
AI in Practice
Laura Li
Building a Unified RecOps Strategy
In this breakout session, I’ll share how to build a unified strategy that brings Talent Acquisition and Recruiting Operations together - aligned to company priorities and built to deliver for the business. We’ll walk through how to define the right priorities, set OKRs, measure impact, and partner cross-functionally to secure resources and execute with clarity.
Ali Yousaf
Enablement Frameworks for AI Adoption
Molly Sly
Welcome to the Desert of Bad Change Management
New systems don’t guarantee results. The real challenge, and opportunity for RecOps, lies in the barren stretch between implementation and ROI: The Desert of Bad Change Management. In this talk, Luke Eaton shares practical strategies for navigating that gap, aligning cross-functional teams, and making sure your tools deliver the value your budget promised.
Luke Eaton
Candidate Fraud: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Candidate fraud is becoming more sophisticated—and AI is accelerating both sides of the game. From fake resumes and deepfake interviews to identity misrepresentation and credential spoofing, today’s talent teams are facing new and complex threats. In this revealing session, Ryan from Okta will unpack the current state of candidate fraud, how AI is making it easier to cheat the system, and what RecOps teams can do to stay ahead. You’ll walk away with practical insights, real-world examples, and tactics to help you spot red flags before they compromise your hiring process.
Ryan Colthorp
Data Analytics and Reporting
Bernardo Sosa
Lunch
Roundtable: AI - What's Working & Not Working
Kari Robison
Amy Wood
Closing Remarks
Char Delapena