Connie Hadley

Organizations are quick to talk about financial or environmental sustainability – but rarely about human sustainability. Drawing from her research on burnout, loneliness and psychological safety, Connie Hadley, Ph.D. makes the case for why investing in employee well-being and resilience is the most urgent business imperative. Leaders will leave this presentation with strategies to embed “human sustainability” into the core of organizational design.

In this future-oriented talk, Connie Hadley, Ph.D. emphasizes why – and how – organizations should focus on employee well-being, even in the age of AI. Drawing from her in-depth research, Hadley explains the positive impact of human-centered approaches on workers, companies and societies. She emphasizes the urgency of incorporating best practices in people management while implementing AI to avoid worst case scenarios. Leaders will learn how to resist the false dichotomy between humanity and technology, and to think more holistically about the opportunities at hand. Attendees walk away with practical strategies for ensuring that work remains meaningful, collaborative and human centered.

Loneliness is not just a personal issue, it is an organizational challenge with significant costs, including disengagement, burnout and turnover. Connie Hadley, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading experts on work loneliness, with her co-authored article on the topic having graced the cover of the Harvard Business Review Magazine in 2024. In this presentation, she will explain her research findings on how disconnection from colleagues, particularly in hybrid or technology-enabled environments, can undermine both well-being and performance. Hadley will outline the root causes of employee loneliness and provides actionable steps for leaders to strengthen connection, belonging and mutual support. Participants will learn how to design workplace cultures and systems that counteract disconnection and promote resilience in the digital age.

Research shows that psychological safety is often the single strongest predictor of organizational learning and team success, yet it remains elusive in many workplaces. In today’s hybrid and AI-augmented environments, employees often feel even less safe to speak up, worried about surveillance, retaliation or futility. Leveraging her research and advisory work, Connie Hadley, Ph.D. explains what psychological safety truly means, how it can be measured and how leaders can foster candor and trust in digital-first settings. Attendees will leave with strategies to build cultures where employees feel secure asking questions, admitting mistakes and sharing bold ideas – ultimately driving stronger collaboration and innovation.

Negotiation is a daily necessity in a world of rapid change, remote interactions and global teams. Organizational psychologist Connie Hadley, Ph.D. – a recognized authority on psychological safety and team dynamics – teaches a strategic approach to brokering relationships and deals. In this talk, she dispels fears and misconceptions about negotiating, explains the underlying structure of different types of negotiations and shares insights on how to prepare before you get to the negotiating table. Participants come away from this session with greater confidence and a solid understanding of how to negotiate strategically and successfully in both face-to-face and digitally mediated contexts.

Trust has always been the currency of collaboration. But in workplaces shaped by data, surveillance and algorithmic decision-making, trust is increasingly fragile. In this presentation, Connie Hadley, Ph.D. offers a framework for building, measuring and restoring trust in environments where both humans and AI drive outcomes.

In this talk, Connie Hadley, Ph.D. explains how teams can be redesigned to foster high performance, learning and connection. Leveraging her research and consulting experience, she explains the core design features and processes that bring out the best in teams. Topics include AI-fueled collaboration, meeting management, psychological safety, social connection, and conflict handling skills. Practical examples of successful team-level interventions will be highlighted to show the path forward. Ultimately, leaders will learn how to create environments where success is a shared responsibility and teamwork is supercharged by technology.