Understanding the Top Seat:
The Modern CHRO Role & Strategies for Success
Too many firms find their Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) role difficult, if not impossible, to fill with internal candidates. The reason often given for this insufficient pipeline is that the CHRO job is vastly different from those that report into it—leaving direct reports with no idea how to effectively fill the role. In an effort to increase the talent pipeline for the top HR job, the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS), ILR Executive Education, and the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR) are offering a new executive program to help better prepare your leading HR talent for a future CHRO role.
Designed as a two module, invitation-only series, this program brings attendees face-to-face with the daily realities of the CHRO position. Senior human resource officers tell their own stories, laying out principles of success in a role requiring perhaps a wider range of skills and competencies than any other organizational position. In addition to session content, another integral part of this program will be the action learning project. The project helps attendees gain an in-depth understanding of the unique dynamics of the CHRO role in their own firms. Attendees will use session information, dialogues conducted within their firms, and group feedback to complete a project designed to bridge the two modules and highlight personal areas for further development.
Session One: What’s So Different About the Modern CHRO Role?
April 2, 2008 | 1:30 to 8:00 PM (includes evening reception and dinner)
April 3, 2008 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Our first session focuses on building a more complete understanding of the CHRO role, specifically looking at what sets it apart from those roles reporting into it. Attendees will hear from and interact with highly respected, experienced CHROs—providing a rare one-to-one, insider’s view into the multi-faceted role of today’s top HR executive. In addition, Cornell University ILR School faculty will expose attendees to their leading research and recent findings about the evolving CHRO role.
Senior executive and academic faculty will include:
- J. Randall MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, IBM Corporation
- Eva Sage-Gavin, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Communications, Gap, Inc.
- Elease Wright, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Aetna Inc.
- Dave Pace, former Executive Vice President, Partner Services, Starbucks Corporation
- Ken Carrig, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, SYSCO Corporation
- Lee Dyer, Professor of Human Resources and Department Chair, Cornell University ILR School
Session Two: Today’s CHRO — Strategies for Success
October 7-9, 2008 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Our second session drills down into the most sensitive aspects of the CHRO role, allowing attendees to hear how experienced senior human resource officers deal with these issues. Senior executive faculty will focus on executive compensation, roles and relationships with the Board, and managing the CEO relationship—with a particular emphasis on specific challenges faced by the CHRO, and suggestions for overcoming them.
Selected senior executive and academic faculty will include:
- William J. (Bill) Conaty, retired Senior Vice President of Human Resources, General Electric
- John Murabito, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Services, CIGNA Corporation
- Mike D’Ambrose, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Archer Daniels Midland
- Howard Behar, current Board director and retired President/COO, Starbucks Coffee Company
- Patrick Wright, Director of CAHRS, and the William J. Conaty GE Professor of Strategic Human Resources
- Charlie Tharp, President, National Academy of Human Resources
Nomination, Application Process & Program Fee
We are now accepting applications only for our upcoming Nov. 2008/April 2009 program offering. Applicants must be nominated to attend by their senior human resource officer. A brief nomination letter and resume is required for consideration. Companies may nominate no more than two candidates, and application is for both sessions of the program. This initial program is appropriate for HR employees of larger, for-profit U.S. corporations. Future programs will likely include information more suitable to other corporate forms or countries/regions. Each session is limited to fifteen (15) attendees, and early application is highly recommended.
Senior HR Officers: Submit a nomination »
Nominees: Begin the application process »
Cancellation: If written notice of cancellation is received seven days or more prior to the program start, a qualified substitute will be accepted or the approved attendee can choose to attend the next scheduled program.
Program Fee: $9,000
The program fee includes tuition, instructional materials, continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and coffee breaks each day, as well as one group dinner per session.
Have questions? Call 1-607-255-5882 or email ilrexec@cornell.edu
Upcoming Program Location
Session One | November 5-6, 2008
New York Marriott East Side
525 Lexington Avenue at 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
Phone 1-212-755-4000 or 1-800-242-8684
Session Two | March or April 2009
Final Dates and Location To Be Determined
** Please note that we have not reserved rooms at these hotels for attendees. However, attendees are welcome to stay at the session hotel, or to make reservations at a hotel of their choice in or near the city. **
