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• Business Fluency for HR: From Insights to Influence

  • When
    Wednesday, May 13, 2026
  •  
    7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    Campus Point by Alexandria, 10300 Campus Point Dr., San Diego, CA 92121
  • Spaces left
    73

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  Business Fluency for HR: From Insights to Influence

  Hosted by The Leadership Edge and Campus Point by Alexandria, the pinnacle of premier meeting and conference spaces.
  

  Today’s business environment is complex, fast-moving, and shaped by constant change. Market pressures, evolving strategies, organizational transformation, and competing priorities all influence leadership decisions. For HR leaders, succeeding in this environment requires more than strong functional expertise—it requires business fluency and the ability to translate insight into influence.

  Join the SDHR Forum for a practical conversation on how HR leaders can strengthen their understanding of the business and use that knowledge to drive greater impact. This discussion will explore concrete, actionable ways HR can gain deeper business insights and how that fluency elevates communication, credibility, and partnership with executive leaders.

  The session will focus on how clear, strategic communication—grounded in business realities—enables HR to align people strategies with organizational priorities and influence outcomes at the leadership table.

  We look forward to seeing you there!

  Meet Our Guest Speakers:

  Gaylene Xanthopoulos

  

  Gaylene Xanthopoulos is a seasoned leadership strategist and trusted advisor with more than 36 years of experience guiding boards, executives, and senior leaders in science‑ and technology‑driven organizations. A Wharton‑trained economist, Gaylene brings deep business insight, curiosity, and creativity to her work—helping leaders bridge today’s realities with their company’s future vision. As Founder and CEO of The Leadership Edge, she has built an award‑winning firm that has developed more than 8,000 board members and leaders across 1,000+ innovative organizations. Her work spans executive coaching, board effectiveness, organizational development, and the design of forward‑thinking learning strategies that accelerate performance and growth.

  Most recently, Gaylene led the acquisition of 2Connect, uniting leadership and organizational development with world‑class communication and presentation expertise to create a uniquely comprehensive partnership for high‑growth, highly technical companies. A published author, sought‑after speaker, and recipient of numerous business and leadership awards—including multiple honors from the San Diego Business Journal—Gaylene is known not only for her strategic clarity and insight, but also for her energy, humor, and ability to make complex challenges both engaging and actionable.

  Diane West

  

  Diane West is a strategist, innovator, and problem‑solver who thrives on turning complex business challenges into practical, forward‑thinking solutions. As Chief Innovation Officer, she focuses on understanding what clients need today—and anticipating what they’ll need next—bringing together strong business acumen with deep expertise in facilitation, coaching, and curriculum design to create offerings that deliver real impact.

  Formerly President and Founder of 2Connect, Diane brings more than 25 years of experience leading a globally recognized consulting and training firm. She is the architect behind 2Connect’s flagship programs, including Present to Influence, Communicate with Purpose, and Meetings that Matter. While known for building scalable solutions, Diane still loves rolling up her sleeves to coach and train—where her energy, insight, and practical approach shine most.

  
  

  

  A special thank you to The Leadership Edge, our monthly sponsor, for their valued partnership and support of the SDHR Forum and San Diego HR community.
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Annual Sponsors:

       

        

                                 

                         

  
  

  
  

  Parking Information:

  When traveling by car to the upcoming event, please make sure to park in our designated Event Parking Lot, which is located at the rear of Green Acre, Campus Point. This will ensure easy access to our venue

  

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• Putting People First to Build Psychologically Safe Workplaces

  • When
    Wednesday, June 10, 2026
  •  
    7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    WestPac Wealth Partners Building, 5280 Caroll Canyon Road, CA 92121
  • Spaces left
    100

  Register

  Putting People First to Build Psychologically Safe Workplaces

  In today’s workplace, employees are navigating stress, uncertainty, and burnout, often in silence. This session helps participants understand what their people are really experiencing and how to respond with intention and impact. Through the lens of psychological safety and a signature method, participants will learn how to create spaces where employees feel seen, heard, and supported. The session blends real talk with real strategies to strengthen trust, communication, and engagement. Leaders will walk away ready to support their people in a way that drives both wellbeing and performance.

  Learning Objectives:

  ● Create psychologically safe environments that build trust and engagement

  ● Recognize signs of stress, burnout, and disengagement

  ● Shift from managing performance to leading people

  ● Strengthen communication and emotional intelligence

  ● Build a culture where employees feel safe to speak up and show u

  Meet Our Guest Speaker:

  Joy Freeman

  

  With over 30 years of HR leadership experience, including executive-level roles, Joy Freeman is a Transformational Speaker and Certified Personal and Executive Coach who doesn’t just talk about workplace culture, she’s led it at the highest levels. She brings a rare blend of corporate expertise, emotional intelligence, and real-world leadership to every stage, helping organizations move beyond burnout and disengagement into cultures of trust, accountability, and performance.

  She is deeply committed to helping individuals live, lead, and thrive—equipping them to own their story, their strengths, their wellness, and their voice, so they can build unshakable confidence, break through self-doubt, celebrate who they are, and silence imposter syndrome. Because at the end of the day, employees are people first and when people grow personally, they show up better professionally.

  Her career spans both the public and private sectors, where she has shaped people strategies, built resilient teams, and guided women and organizations to thrive.

  Joy holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership. She is a Certified Personal and Executive Coach and a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths® Coach, with additional certifications in leadership development, communication, and mental health. Her credentials also include certification as a Life and Mental Health Coach, DISC Communication Trainer and Consultant, and Maxwell Leadership Executive Program Leader. She is a Situational Leadership II® (SLII®) Facilitator and Blanchard Partner, with specialized training in conflict resolution, mental health first aid, and suicide awareness and prevention.

  Joy’s work doesn’t just inspire, it drives real change, transforming how people live, lead, and show up in both the world and the workplace.

  Annual Sponsors:

       

        

                                 

                         

  
  

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