Overview
A distinctive benefit of the CAHRS partnership is the opportunity for CAHRS executives to engage directly with future HR professionals at Cornell. Since 1997, the CAHRS Executive Roundtables have brought partner executives together with incoming and returning MILR students, as well as undergraduate juniors and seniors in Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
The roundtables are designed to foster open dialogue between students and executives on the evolving HR profession, current challenges facing organizations, career pathways, the capabilities needed by future HR leaders, and what companies look for when recruiting entry-level HR professionals.
This year’s CAHRS Executive Roundtables will take place Thursday, September 10, and Friday, September 11, 2026, on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY.
Format
The program will begin with a networking reception for executives and students on Thursday, September 10, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Cornell’s Statler Hotel. CAHRS partners are welcome to invite additional company representatives to attend the reception.
On Friday, September 11, the day will begin with breakfast for participating executives and their guests from 7:00-8:00 a.m. The roundtable discussions will follow from 8:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m., beginning with brief remarks from the CAHRS Academic Director to frame the discussion in the context of students’ academic and professional development at ILR.
We anticipate approximately 100 students will participate. Students and executives will be seated at round tables for a series of five 20-minute discussion segments, giving students the opportunity to engage with multiple CAHRS partner organizations. While not every student will be able to meet with every partner during the roundtable rotations, the reception the evening before will provide an additional opportunity for broader networking.
Following the event, students will have the opportunity to submit resumes, which CAHRS will collect and share with participating companies.
Registration
To indicate that you would like to participate, please contact andy.noyes@cornell.edu.
Due to space limitations, participation in the roundtable session is limited to 18 CAHRS executives. Priority will first be given to CHROs who wish to attend. Direct reports to the CHRO may also express interest, but seats will be confirmed after CHRO participation has been determined.
We ask that each company identify one primary representative to participate in the roundtable session. Additional company representatives are welcome to attend the networking reception on Thursday evening. If you plan to bring colleagues to the reception, please include that information when reaching out
Hotel
Hotel information will be shared with confirmed participants.