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 up

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.

2026 Summer Soirée: July Mixer

Hosted by SDHR Forum, SDSHRM, & NCHRSD

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From Culture Initiatives to Culture Impact: How HR Creates Lasting Behavior Change

Organizations invest heavily in culture initiatives, yet many struggle to create meaningful and lasting behavior change. In this interactive session, executive coach and leadership expert Simon Vetter shares a proven leadership development framework that helps HR leaders influence leadership behaviors, accelerate culture transformation, and improve organizational effectiveness. Participants will learn the key drivers of sustainable change, common pitfalls that derail transformation efforts, and practical strategies to create measurable impact across teams and organizations.

Learning Objectives: 

• Uncover key success factors impacting organizational effectiveness
• Five common mistakes leaders make and how to avoid them
• Leverage the main drivers for creating positive lasting behavior change
• Role of HR in facilitating and accelerating corporate transformation
• Learn from success and failure examples from local companies

Simon Vetter is a globally recognized executive coach and visionary leadership expert, committed to helping leaders craft a compelling vision and cultivate high-performing, inspired teams. With over 20 years of experience in executive coaching and a deep background in global organizations, Simon specializes in leadership strategy, executive presence, team productivity, and change management. Simon’s coaching empowers leaders to harness their strengths, address blind spots, and enhance their influence to drive personal and organizational success. Born and raised in Switzerland, Simon brings a unique international perspective to leadership in today's diverse and complex business landscape. 

Building Career Momentum: The Small Actions That Create Big Opportunities

HR professionals spend their careers helping others grow, develop, and navigate change—but often devote far less attention to managing their own career momentum. In this interactive session, former biotech HR executive and career strategist Brenda Van Vreeswyk introduces the Career Momentum Flywheel™, a practical framework for creating sustained professional growth through intentional action, visibility, and connection. Participants will explore the three core drivers of career momentum—Direction, Capability, and Visibility—and learn a simple monthly practice that transforms reflection into action. Attendees will leave with a practical framework, new professional connections, and a concrete next step they can implement immediately.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess their current level of career momentum using the Career Momentum Flywheel™ framework.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen professional visibility, relationships, and career growth.
• Develop a personal 30-day action plan to build intentional career momentum.\

Brenda Van Vreeswyk is Founder of Career Evolution and a former biotech HR executive with more than 30 years of experience in human resources, leadership development, coaching, and organizational effectiveness. Throughout her career, she has helped leaders and professionals navigate growth, transition, and change within complex organizations. Today, she specializes in career strategy, professional visibility, and leadership development, helping individuals build momentum through her Career Momentum Flywheel™ framework. Brenda is known for her practical, encouraging approach and her ability to help professionals translate experience into meaningful action and opportunity.