YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

Gather 5 new connections at the next conference or event you attend!

Attending a conference (the ATD International Conference and Exposition is landing in our backyard next month) or event represents a significant investment in your professional development.

But: An investment in skills without an investment in relationships is incomplete.  

Yet many of us dread the "work" in "network." Swapping business cards or reciting a rehearsed elevator pitch feels transactional, not relational. And frankly, it doesn't work. You end up with a pocket full of cards from people you don't actually know.

Tonight, we are going to explore how to strip away the corporate veneer and show up as your genuine self.

Embrace Serendipity: Break the ice and open up to chance connections by dropping preconceived notions.

Understand Authenticity: Understand why being authentic is crucial for building genuine, long-lasting trust and authority in your network.

Refine the Connection: Apply this authenticity to a core networking tool—the elevator pitch—making it powerful and memorable because it's genuinely you.

By the end of this session, members will be able to:

1. Overcome initial hesitation to network and connect with others authentically
2. Prepare for an upcoming event with a list of curious, observations, and context-based questions

Agenda:

6:00 PM — Welcome / Informal Networking 

6:10 PM — Structured Networking

6:30 PM — Main Event

7:00 PM — Structured Networking

7:30 PM — Closing/Informal Networking

What To Bring

Pack light for this event. Bring your genuine curiosity and a fully charged smartphone with the LinkedIn app ready to go.

We are using digital handshakes to lock in your new network, allowing you to stay present and authentic in every interaction.

The Administrivia

Join us for a day of improving communication, leadership, and collaboration through fun, laughter, and a few well-designed games. Yes, And for Business leaders is an interactive workshop that introduces improvisation and storytelling as practical tools for modern leadership. This session uses structured creativity exercises to help participants build presence, adaptability, and trust.

This experience is built specifically for professionals, especially HR leaders, who want practical takeaways, not performance pressure. Every activity is guided, purposeful, and immediately applicable back in the workplace. And you'll probably have a few laughs too!

Part 1: Warming Up to Presence:

We begin with light, engaging games like Pass the Clap and a One-Word Group Story. These exercises gently bring participants into the room mentally and physically while building: real-time listening, awareness of others, letting go of overthinking, and co-creation without control. Participants quickly experience an important leadership truth: being present matters more than being clever.

Part 2: The Power of "Yes, And"

At the heart of improv is a simple concept: Yes, And. This isn't about blind agreement. It's about acknowledging a contribution and building on it. Through small-team storytelling and partner-based fun and games, participants practice: supporting ideas instead of correcting them, moving conversations forward, shared ownership, nonverbal communication, and trust and adaptability. HR professionals often see firsthand how quickly ideas die in meetings. This section gives them language and exercises they can bring back to teams to improve brainstorming, feedback conversations, and cross-functional collaboration.

Part 3: Storytelling Under Pressure

Clear communication is a leadership superpower. Participants learn a simple framework of Who/ What/ Where to anchor conversations, presentations, and high-stakes discussions. Through "heightened storytelling" and scene-based exercises, they practice: structuring ideas quickly, staying grounded while adapting, listening under pressure and responding instead of rehearsing

By adding creative constraints (changing pace, tone, or physicality), participants break rigid thinking patterns for fast-moving organizational environments.

You will leave with strengthened:

This workshop doesn't end in the room. You walk away with:

Where leaders are constantly responding to change, the ability to listen, build, and adapt in real time is a competitive advantage. And it turns out, you can build it through play.

Pricing:

Lunch, snacks, and coffee will be provided.	Early Bird thru 3/24	Regular 3/25 to 4/15	Just in Time after 4/16
Member	$150	$170	$190
Members of all other ATD chapters	$170	$190	$210
Non-Member	$200	$220	$240

About our Presenter:

Erica Mesirov is the Founder and President of Joy At The Top, where she partners with organizations to prevent burnout, strengthen team connection, and build resilient, high-performing cultures. As a corporate wellness consultant and strategist, Erica works with leaders and teams in high-pressure environments to implement sustainable stress management practices that improve focus, engagement, and performance.

With a master's degree in Holistic Nutrition and advanced certifications in meditation, sound healing, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and hypnosis, Erica brings both scientific grounding and behavioral insight to her work. She equips teams with practical, accessible tools to regulate stress, increase presence, and restore energy. Her workshops and programs blend neuroscience, mindset training, and experiential learning to create measurable outcomes: reduced turnover, fewer sick days, improved productivity, and stronger team cohesion.

Erica's approach is also shaped by her unique creative background. A former professional actress, she completed a two-year intensive program in performance and improvisation at the New Actors Workshop, studying under legendary director Mike Nichols, director of The Graduate, and improv pioneer Paul Sills, founder of The Second City. This training deeply informs her work today, where she integrates storytelling and improvisational techniques to help leaders communicate more effectively, adapt quickly, and build authentic connection within their teams.

Her belief in workplace wellbeing is also personal. Erica met her husband while on a six-month theater tour across the United States and Europe. Today, he works in Human Resources and led the leadership and employee development program at Los Angeles International Airport during the COVID-19 crisis. This gave Erica a close-up view of the pressures HR leaders and organizations face during times of disruption and change.

Erica believes joy at work isn't a luxury, but a company advantage. Through keynotes, workshops, and long-term wellness strategies, she helps organizations create environments where people stay sharp, resilient, and fully engaged in even the busiest seasons

Earn Professional Professional Development Points

This program is worth 4.5
Professional Development points. 

Find out more about APTD/CPTD Certifications here.

ATD Capability Model

This program aligns with the following Domains and Capabilities: 

Building Personal Capability

Developing Professional Capability

Impacting Organizational Capability

Talent development professionals should be able to implement a multilevel, systematic method for gathering, analyzing, and reporting on information about the effectiveness and effort of learning programs.

To find out more about the ATD Capability Model for the Training and Development Profession, visit http://tdcapability.org.

Accessibility

ATD-OC events are accessible to all participants. If you have questions or require special accommodations or auxiliary aid related to a disability for you to participate in the event, please notify us at least three weeks in advance by message to ocoffice@atdoc.org, with subject line "ADA Accommodations," outlining your needs and request for accommodation.

We will make every effort to work with you to accommodate your need.

PHOTOGRAPHY RELEASE

As part of your registration, you will be required to indicate your acceptance or rejection of the statement below:

By registering for this event, I hereby give the Association for Talent Development, Orange County Chapter, its clients, agents, and assigns, full permission to use, publish and copyright photographic images, film images, video images, sound recordings, and any reproductions from these materials of me and/or my property or any part thereof, either in conjunction with or without using my name, and make changes or alterations therein and/or alterations thereto Worldwide in perpetuity. Some places these images and recordings may be used and posted include, but are not limited to, the Internet, emails, social media, etc.

If I do not provide permission, I understand I will be seated outside of the field of video.

Discover how artificial intelligence can transform the way you approach performance support and training.

In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to design AI-powered coaching abilities right within your authoring tools (like Storyline/Rise) and in your LMS - that make learning more personalized, engaging, and scalable for your employees.

Imagine creating training experiences that feel like one-on-one coaching—where employees can practice real-world scenarios, get instant feedback, and receive support tailored to their unique needs. We’ll dive into practical ways to use AI to build role-play simulations, assess open-text responses, and deliver real-time, actionable feedback that drives better learning outcomes.

Best of all, you’ll come out of the session having made your own unique AI Coach, using limited-time access to Artha’s AIReady Studio.

This session will equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills to start building effective AI-powered coaching interactions that fit your goals and resources.

Key Takeaways:

●      Understand the fundamentals of AI-powered coaching and its applications in corporate training

●      Learn how to design AI-driven role-plays and simulations for real-world skill development

●      Explore methods for providing personalized feedback and adaptive learning experiences

●      Gain insights into leveraging AI to improve employee engagement and performance

●      Participate in hands-on activities and discussions to spark ideas for your organization

Who Should Attend:

This session is perfect for corporate trainers, instructional designers, HR professionals, and L&D leaders who are interested in exploring innovative technologies to enhance employee training and development.

What Should you Bring?

Laptops, preferably with Articulate Storyline (any eLearning software will suffice)

Pricing:

Snacks, and coffee will be provided.  Early Bird thru 4/15 Regular 4/16 to 4/26  Just in Time after 4/27 Member  $250  $295  $350 Members of all other ATD chapters    $295  $350 Non-Member    $350  $350

About our Presenter:

Garima Gupta is the Founder & CEO of Artha Learning Inc., an award-winning learning design firm, and the Creator of AIReady and the AI Accelerator Certificate. With over 20 years of experience in L&D, education, and technology, she is a recognized leader in creatively integrating AI into learning. Garima holds an MEd in Adult Ed and a CTDP designation, and regularly speaks at global conferences on AI in L&D, instructional design, and impactful digital learning.

With ATD, Garima was a member of ICE 2025 PAC technology track, has designed and delivers AI for ID certificate, and is writing a chapter on ‘AI for writing’ for an upcoming book.

Earn Professional Professional Development Points

This program is worth 3
Professional Development points. 

Find out more about APTD/CPTD Certifications here.

ATD Capability Model

This program aligns with the following Domains and Capabilities: 

Building Personal Capability

Developing Professional Capability

Impacting Organizational Capability

Talent development professionals should be able to implement a multilevel, systematic method for gathering, analyzing, and reporting on information about the effectiveness and effort of learning programs.

To find out more about the ATD Capability Model for the Training and Development Profession, visit http://tdcapability.org.

Accessibility

ATD-OC events are accessible to all participants. If you have questions or require special accommodations or auxiliary aid related to a disability for you to participate in the event, please notify us at least three weeks in advance by message to ocoffice@atdoc.org, with subject line "ADA Accommodations," outlining your needs and request for accommodation.

We will make every effort to work with you to accommodate your need.

PHOTOGRAPHY RELEASE

As part of your registration, you will be required to indicate your acceptance or rejection of the statement below:

By registering for this event, I hereby give the Association for Talent Development, Orange County Chapter, its clients, agents, and assigns, full permission to use, publish and copyright photographic images, film images, video images, sound recordings, and any reproductions from these materials of me and/or my property or any part thereof, either in conjunction with or without using my name, and make changes or alterations therein and/or alterations thereto Worldwide in perpetuity. Some places these images and recordings may be used and posted include, but are not limited to, the Internet, emails, social media, etc.

If I do not provide permission, I understand I will be seated outside of the field of video.

Didn't Go to ATD26? No Problem! Let's Unpack the Insights Together!

The ATD International Conference and Exposition (ATD26) is a whirlwind of "Collective Insights" and a launchpad for "Lifelong Learning." But let's be real, soaking up all that knowledge is one thing; figuring out how to actually use it in your day-to-day as a learning and development professional is another.

What if you couldn't make it to ATD26 this year? You shouldn't miss out on the valuable takeaways!

That's why ATD Orange County is excited to host a Post-ATD26 Roundtable. Think of it as your pass to "aha!" moments, practical strategies, and emerging trends from the conference, all from the comfort of your own space.

Why This Roundtable? It's More Than Just a Recap!

We know you're busy, and there are plenty of online summaries out there. But this isn't just another recap. This is your chance to really dig into what "Collective Insights" from a global stage mean for your work right here in Orange County. How do those big-picture ideas translate into actionable strategies for your team, your organization, and your professional growth?

This roundtable is where the magic of "Lifelong Learning" truly happens. It's about connecting the dots, discussing challenges, and focusing on the practical application of knowledge within a supportive community of your peers.  It's essential for your continuous professional development, and we're making it accessible to everyone.

How We'll Make It Work (No Boring Lectures Here!)

We're meeting locally to create a dynamic, collaborative learning environment. This is an active dialogue led by other ATD-Orange County L&D professionals designed for you to:

• Share Your Key Takeaways: If you attended ATD26, what resonated most with you? What surprising insights did you gain? This is your moment to share and spark new conversations.
• Discuss Practical Applications: How do you see yourself applying what you learned (or what you could learn!)? What challenges do you anticipate in implementing new ideas, and how can our community help you overcome them?
• Explore New Ideas Collectively: This is a fantastic opportunity to brainstorm and refine new approaches based on the conference's overarching themes. You might just find the solution you've been looking for from a fellow ATD-OC member!

What You Can Expect: Real Insights, Real Connections

This virtual roundtable is a dedicated space for real-world application of the ideas sparked at ATD26. You'll gain diverse perspectives from your peers, hear about sessions you might have missed, and get answers to your questions in a way that generic online resources simply can't provide.

Unlike broad online summaries, this is your chance to engage with a community of talent development professionals who truly understand your local context and challenges. It's about making those "Collective Insights" genuinely collective and accelerating your "Lifelong Learning" journey with the support of your ATD-OC community.

We invite all of our Learning Community to be a part of this culminating event! Celebrate your successes, connect with your peers, and set a vision for the future with us!

During this winter get-together, we will:

We will also take a few moments to have our Annual Membership Meeting, giving you an overview of the coming year.

And guess what? A delicious meal, door prizes, and parking are included!

Come share in the festivities, connect with fellow members, and let’s make some great memories together.

We can't wait to see all of you there—let's celebrate what we've achieved and look forward to what's ahead!

The Schedule for the Evening:

Menu:

Things to Bring:

Parking: Free parking in the lot

Deadlines: 

Monday, December 1

Cancellation/refund deadline is Monday, December 1 at 5 pm. No shows will be charged in full.

Earn Professional Professional Development Points

This program is worth .5 Professional Development points.
Find out more about APTD/CPTD Certifications here.

ATD Capability Model

Each ATD-OC Learning Event will be aligned to at least one Talent Development  Capability, as identified by ATD National.

This program aligns with:

To find out more about the ATD Capability Model for the Training and Development Profession, visit http://tdcapability.org.

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO RELEASE

By registering for this event, I hereby give the Association for Talent Development, Orange County Chapter, its clients, agents, and assigns, full permission to use, publish and copyright photographic images, film images, video images, sound recordings, and any reproductions from these materials of me and/or my property or any part thereof, either in conjunction with or without using my name, and make changes or alterations therein and/or alterations thereto Worldwide in perpetuity. Some places these images and recordings may be used and posted include, but are not limited to, the Internet, emails, social media, etc.

If I do not provide permission, I understand I will not activate my web camera during the session.