Think Big. Learn Bigger.

How do your company's equity practices compare with your peers'? Drawing on the latest NASPP/Deloitte Equity Administration Survey, this data-driven keynote examines how technology and non-technology companies differ in structuring and staffing their equity teams, reporting relationships, and work arrangements. You'll leave with benchmarking insights on current approaches to grant administration, tax withholding, insider trading compliance, and participant education—and practical takeaways to evaluate and strengthen your own program.

Speaker

• Barbara Baksa, NASPP 

When managing global equity programs, every eligibility rule, country decision, and plan provision approved today becomes something your team manages, explains, and troubleshoots for years afterward. Using real-world examples, this session exposes the gap between what companies expect at grant time and what they actually encounter—unexpected tax and regulatory complications, payroll and reporting headaches, and system configuration challenges no one foresaw. You'll come away with a clearer picture of how executive-only versus broad-based global equity philosophies differ in compliance cost and operational workload, and practical guidance for making upfront design decisions that don't create downstream surprises.

Speakers

• Paul Kolano, Bank of America

• Rob Miceli, Bank of America

With regulators, proxy advisors, and investors all scrutinizing equity programs more closely, staying current is a competitive necessity. Get up to speed on the most consequential 2026 developments: SEC rulemaking affecting pay-versus-performance reporting and clawback compliance; Texas-specific updates on non-compete enforceability and state-level compensation recovery frameworks; and ISS's heightened qualitative scrutiny of performance-based equity and realizable pay—and what it means for your proxy season. You'll leave equipped to support informed decision-making and drive real organizational impact.

Speakers

• Corey Davidson, Alvarez & Marsal

• Garrett Griffin, Alvarez & Marsal

A fast-paced game-show-style challenge covering plan design concepts, real-world equity scenarios, recent developments, and hot topics. Friendly competition, lively interaction, and more than a few "aha" moments—it's the most fun you'll have brushing up on equity comp essentials.

• Barbara Baksa, NASPP

• Emily Cervino, Fidelity

Companies are expecting strong ESPP and equity participation growth, according to Computershare's survey of 600+ equity professionals—and that's reshaping how organizations use equity to support talent, culture, and financial wellness. Drawing on those survey findings, this panel explores what's driving plan redesigns, from global ESPPs and broader eligibility to more intuitive participant experiences. You'll also get a forward-looking view on technology integration challenges, employee education strategies, and how AI and financial literacy will define the next generation of equity programs.

Speaker

• Simon Thomas, Computershare

A timely look at evolving issuer and insider trading practices. Drawing on recent 10b5-1 survey findings, you'll get current insights on plan adoption trends, tightening regulatory requirements, and the role of education in trade execution. We’ll also cover Rule 144 trading patterns emerging from M&A-driven liquidity events—with particular focus on the energy sector, where elevated consolidation and megadeal activity are accelerating equity conversion moments and driving more structured, registered sale pathways for employees and affiliates.

Technical expertise gets you in the room—but your professional reputation, visibility, and network determine what opportunities come your way. In a relatively small community like equity compensation, how you show up matters. This panel unpacks how to intentionally build a brand that decision-makers trust, position yourself for the roles you want, and avoid the common missteps that stall advancement. You'll leave with actionable strategies for expanding your network, strengthening the skills that drive career mobility, and creating opportunities that align with your goals.  

Speakers

• Elizabeth Dodge, Equity Plan Solutions
  

• Rebecca Kargl, Upstart Holdings

• Scott McDonald, Equity Point

Grounded in real-world experiences, this session makes the case for AI as a practical onboarding and efficiency tool—one that accelerates learning of new plan documents, streamlines participant communications, and organizes complex processes. You'll learn how to build an AI-augmented workflow that prioritizes accuracy and ethics, understand where human empathy and judgment remain irreplaceable, and walk away prepared for a future where AI literacy is a core professional requirement.

Speaker

• Liz Parker, Stock & Option Solutions