Monday, December 8
Want to download a copy of the agenda to share with the team? If so, get yours here.
Pre-Conference Workshop A - Developing Tomorrow’s Technical Skills Through Targeted, Role-Aligned Learning
8:30 am Registration & Networking
9:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
9:10 am Discover: Activating Immersive Learning to Accelerate Skills Transfer, Build Confidence, & Strengthen Workforce Readiness in Regulated Clinical Environments
Synopsis
- Deploying immersive learning technologies to enable life sciences professionals to safely practice complex procedures in realistic, risk-free environments, improving confidence and reducing time to proficiency
- Integrating AI-powered knowledge tools to streamline access to SOPs, protocols, and scientific documentation while helping teams navigate complexity, reduce cognitive load, and make faster, more informed decisions in high-stakes, compliance-driven settings
- Embedding change management and perception-shifting strategies to overcome resistance, clarify the role of emerging tech in enabling—not replacing— talent, and ensure adoption across teams
9:30 am Develop: How Can Life Sciences Organizations Use Immersive Learning to Build Clinical Confidence, Reduce Risk & Accelerate Readiness in Compliance-Driven Settings?
Synopsis
- What are the most effective use cases for immersive learning in clinical development, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory operations, and how do they differ across functions?
- How can organizations ensure immersive technologies are not only engaging but also aligned with GxP standards, SOP adherence, and audit-readiness?
- What strategies help overcome scepticism or resistance among scientific teams, especially when introducing AI-powered tools into traditionally manual or protocol-heavy workflows?
- How can immersive learning be integrated into onboarding, upskilling, and ongoing development without disrupting productivity or compromising data integrity?
9:50 am Action: What Practical Steps Can You Take to Embed Immersive Learning into Clinical & Regulatory Workflows?
Synopsis
- Where in your current training or development processes do teams struggle with confidence, procedural accuracy, or SOP navigation, and how could immersive tools help?
- What pilot initiatives, such as virtual labs, AI-guided SOP walkthroughs, or simulation-based onboarding, could you launch to test immersive learning in high-impact areas?
- How can you partner with compliance, QA, and scientific leadership to co-design immersive learning experiences that meet regulatory expectations and drive measurable proficiency gains?
- What metrics, such as time-to-proficiency, error reduction, or audit outcomes, can help you evaluate the impact of immersive learning on workforce readiness and operational excellence?
10:20 am Networking Break
10:50 am Discover: Enabling AI Fluency Across Life Sciences Teams to Accelerate Adoption, Improve Workflow Integration & Support Scientific Decision-Making
Synopsis
- Launching a cross-functional AI enablement initiative by building an organizational maturity model, aligning governance and policies, and piloting targeted learning experiences that meet teams at their moment of need and reflect the realities of scientific and operational work
- Delivering role-relevant, scalable training that introduces foundational AI concepts like terminology, prompting, and model behaviour, while guiding teams to apply AI tools effectively within their unique workflows, functions, and compliance environments
- Redesigning processes to integrate AI into daily work by helping teams move from initial excitement to confident, outcome-driven application, identifying where AI adds real value, and avoiding common missteps through thoughtful enablement and cross-functional collaboration
11:10 am Develop: How Can Life Sciences Organizations Build AI Fluency That Supports Scientific Rigor, Operational Efficiency & Regulatory Compliance?
Synopsis
- How can life sciences organizations design AI training that reflects the complexity of scientific workflows, regulatory constraints, and data integrity standards?
- What are the most effective ways to tailor AI enablement for distinct roles, such as clinical researchers, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing operations, without overwhelming teams or creating adoption fatigue?
- How can organizations move beyond AI awareness to build true fluency, where teams confidently apply tools like LLMs, predictive models, or automation platforms to accelerate decision-making and reduce duplication?
- What governance, change management, and cross-functional collaboration strategies are essential to ensure AI adoption is ethical, compliant, and aligned with enterprise goals?
11:30 am Action: What Practical Steps Can You Take to Build AI Fluency That Drives Scientific & Operational Impact?
Synopsis
- Where are the most immediate opportunities in your organization to embed AI into scientific or operational workflows, such as protocol development, data review, or regulatory submissions?
- What pilot initiatives, like role-specific AI bootcamps, workflow-integrated prompting guides, or peer-led enablement networks, could you launch to build confidence and accelerate adoption?
- How can you align IT, data science, and functional leaders to co-own AI enablement, ensure compliance, and track impact through metrics like time-todecision, workflow efficiency, or model utilization?
- What safeguards and feedback loops can you implement to ensure AI tools are used responsibly, transparently, and in ways that enhance, not replace, scientific expertise?
12:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks & End of Workshop A: Developing Tomorrow’s Technical Skills Through Targeted, Role-Aligned Learning
Pre-Conference Workshop B - Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders Through Practical, Growth-Focused Development
1:30 pm Registration & Networking
2:00 pm Chair’s Opening Remarks
2:10 pm Discover: Unifying Leadership Development to Scale Talent Growth, Strengthen Capability, & Drive Consistency Across Global Functions
Synopsis
- Aligning fragmented leadership programs across clinical operations, commercial teams, and regional markets into a single enterprise-wide framework designed to support scientific and operational leadership at every level
- Building six-tiered development pathways, from aspiring leaders to senior executives, into Degreed academies that enable cohort-based learning, peer collaboration, and consistent leadership capability across global life sciences teams
- Launching a ‘Leadership Essentials’ package for all current and new leaders, embedding pre- and post-program assessments to measure skill growth, reinforce core leadership behaviours, and drive performance across clinical and commercial functions
2:30 pm Develop: How Can Life Sciences Organizations Build Leadership Pathways That Are Globally Consistent, Functionally Relevant & Scientifically Grounded?
Synopsis
- How can life sciences organizations balance the need for global consistency in leadership development with the functional nuances of clinical, regulatory, and commercial teams?
- What role should scientific credibility and operational fluency play in shaping leadership curricula for emerging and senior leaders in biotech and pharma environments?
- How can organizations ensure that leadership development is not only scalable but also responsive to evolving regulatory landscapes, patient-centric models, and cross-border collaboration needs?
- What are the most effective ways to embed leadership development into the rhythm of scientific work, without disrupting productivity or compromising compliance?
2:50 pm Action: What Practical Steps Can You Take to Align Leadership Development Across Scientific & Commercial Functions?
Synopsis
- Where are the most critical disconnects in your current leadership development strategy, between functions, geographies, or leadership levels, and how are they impacting capability or culture?
- What pilot initiatives could you launch to test a unified framework, such as a cross-functional leadership academy, a global manager onboarding toolkit, or a shared leadership competency model?
- How can you engage scientific leaders, commercial executives, and HR partners to co-create a leadership development strategy that reflects both enterprise priorities and functional realities?
- What metrics, beyond participation, can you use to track leadership impact across clinical trials, product launches, or regulatory milestones?
3:20 pm Networking Break
3:50 pm Discover: Opening Access to Leadership Development by Creating Scalable, Inclusive Talent Development Pathways & Enabling Self-Directed Growth at Biogen
Synopsis
- Transitioning from nomination-based to open enrolment for high-potential programs, removing barriers and empowering employees to self-select into leadership development aligned with their readiness and ambition
- Addressing legacy challenges of exclusivity and misalignment by making programs transparent and accessible, shifting perceptions from exclusive to inclusive opportunity, and fostering personal ownership of growth
- Embedding cultural change by designing visible, relevant learning experiences that increased engagement, retention, and peer-driven momentum, resulting in authentic leadership development and stronger organizational impact
4:10 pm Develop: How Can Life Sciences Organizations Build Inclusive Leadership Development Models That Empower Self-Directed Growth & Drive Cultural Change?
Synopsis
- What structural and cultural barriers often prevent equitable access to leadership development in biotech and pharma organizations, and how can they be dismantled?
- How can self-directed growth models be designed to support scientific rigor, regulatory awareness, and cross-functional leadership readiness without sacrificing consistency or quality?
- What role does transparency play in shifting perceptions of leadership development from exclusive to inclusive, and how can organizations sustain that shift across global teams?
- How can life sciences companies balance open access with targeted support to ensure that high-potential talent is nurtured while maintaining program integrity and strategic alignment?
4:30 pm Action: What Practical Steps Can You Take to Build Inclusive, Self-Directed Leadership Development Pathways?
Synopsis
- Where in your current leadership development strategy do nomination-based models limit access or reinforce bias, and what alternatives could you pilot?
- What scalable tools, such as open enrolment portals, readiness assessments, or peer-led learning cohorts, could you implement to support self-directed growth?
- How can you engage senior leaders, DEIB teams, and functional heads to co-create inclusive development pathways that reflect both organizational priorities and employee aspirations?
- What metrics, such as internal mobility, program uptake, or engagement scores, can help you track the cultural and business impact of democratized leadership development?