If your leaders asked, “So what does this data actually mean for the business?” — would you have a clear answer?

In today’s environment, HR is expected to move beyond reporting metrics to demonstrating real business impact. Yet many teams are overwhelmed with data and unclear on where to focus.

This session introduces a simple, practical framework to elevate people analytics through three key lenses:

• Outcome Metrics (So What): Attrition, mobility, quality of hire, leadership effectiveness
• Driver Metrics (Why): Manager effectiveness, skills gaps, organizational design, workload
• Experience Metrics (How It Feels): Engagement, intent to stay, inclusion, confidence in leadership

Key takeaway: Outcomes tell you what is happening. Drivers explain why. Experience adds the human context.

Together, these insights help HR influence stronger business decisions and drive meaningful organizational impact.

You’ll leave with a practical framework you can immediately apply to connect people data with business outcomes and strengthen your impact as an HR leader.

Learning Objectives:

By attending this session, participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate between outcome, driver, and experience metrics
2. Identify workforce metrics that matter most to business leaders
3. Connect employee experience insights to business outcomes
4. Use data to uncover root causes and drive actionable insights

We’re excited to launch HR Lounge: Conversations and Connections, a new in-person event series designed to bring our HR community together in a relaxed, interactive setting. Each session will feature dedicated networking time along with a facilitated conversation with a guest speaker, creating space for meaningful dialogue and audience participation.

Join us for our first HR Lounge on May 13 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at The Collective. Cyndi Donahue, Director of Leadership Training & Development at Gonzaga University, will lead a conversation on Leading with Authenticity and Purpose in a Changing Workplace.

In today’s workplace—where technology is accelerating change and reshaping how we work—authenticity begins with clarity around what drives you and how you lead. Grounded in Simon Sinek’s Know Your Why, this interactive session will help participants identify their purpose and apply it to leadership, decision-making, and team engagement.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify personal values and experiences that shape individual purpose
• Begin to articulate a personal “why” that strengthens authenticity and presence
• Apply purpose to everyday decisions, employee engagement, and organizational culture

Speaker: Cyndi Donahue

Cyndi is living her purpose to connect people with themselves and others for the betterment of our global community as a leadership facilitator. She is a three-time DisruptHR speaker who provides workshops and keynotes on Listening Like a Leader, Authenticity & Purpose, Women in Leadership, and Speaking with Confidence. She founded the Amplifying Women’s Voices speaker series in 2021 to increase workplace equity and serves on the Spokane Women in Leadership Committee and the Forward Fairchild Committee to support regional military members and their families. Cyndi was honored as a 2026 Top 25 People of Influence and a 2019 Top 20 Women in Business Leadership by the Spokane Journal of Business. This summer, she has a daughter getting married, another daughter graduating high school and heading to UW, and is completing her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

Join Seattle SHRM for an in-person networking event focused on helping HR professionals leverage LinkedIn and stay competitive in an AI-driven market. Gain practical insights from talent leaders at Intuit, PitchBook, and Amazon, and connect with peers across the local HR community.

A featured session, ‘Navigating Career Change: Practical Resources and Local Layoff Support for HR Professionals,’ will showcase local layoff support resources, upskilling opportunities, and programs designed to help HR professionals navigate career transitions.

Enjoy networking opportunities, complimentary professional headshots, and food and beverages while building meaningful connections with fellow HR professionals.

Topic: The View From the Top: HR Strategy, Career, and Leadership

Seattle SHRM invites you to our Fall Signature Event – an evening of networking and leadership insights with HR leaders and peers. We’ll start with an engaging, structured networking session designed to spark meaningful conversations and new connections.

Then, we’ll dive into our CHRO Panel, The View From the Top: HR Strategy, Career, and Leadership, where HR executives will share candid perspectives on:

✅ Retention & engagement strategies in a shifting workplace
✅ The role of AI and HR tech in 2026
✅ Building resilience in uncertain times
✅ Lessons learned from leading at the top 

This isn’t your average chapter meeting – it’s our premier fall gathering. A chance to:
✨ Network with Seattle’s HR community in a relaxed setting in scenic South Lake Union
✨ Learn directly from seasoned CHROs about what’s next for our profession
✨ Engage in conversations that matter – beyond the buzzwords

🎟️ Space is limited – reserve your spot today! Whether you’re an HR leader or building your career, this signature event will leave you with fresh ideas, new connections, and inspiration for the year ahead.

Event Schedule

• • 5:15pm – Registration
  • 5:30-6:30pm– Structured Networking
  • 6:40-7:30 pm – Chapter Meeting & CHRO Panel
  • 7:30-8:30 pm – Open Networking (optional)

Featured Panelists

Melissa Davis – VP Pfizer People Experience
Expert in organizational development and inclusive, high-performance cultures.

Sonia Vora – Former CHRO, Gates Foundation; CSO, BRYTR
Global HR leader, TEDx speaker, and transformation strategist.

HR is at the forefront like never before. Join powerhouse panelists Melissa Davis, VP Pfizer People Experience, and Sonia Vora, former Gates Foundation CHRO, as they share how HR leaders navigate ever-changing priorities, influence C-suite decisions, and prepare for the future of work. Drawing from firsthand experience, they’ll highlight what it takes to succeed in uncertain times, plus practical career insights and leadership lessons to inspire the next generation of HR leaders.

Recertification Credit

Attendees who participate for the full duration of the educational session will be eligible to earn 1 SHRM and 1 HRCI recertification credit.

Panelist Bios

Melissa Davis is the Organizational Development Lead for Pfizer R&D, based in Bothell, Washington. With a career dedicated to fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures, Melissa specializes in designing and delivering strategic talent and development programs that empower teams and elevate employee experience. She partners closely with leadership to drive engagement, change readiness, and organizational effectiveness across global R&D functions. Melissa brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to her work, blending data-driven insights with storytelling to connect strategy to action. She is passionate about cultivating environments where individuals thrive and organizations grow.

Sonia Vora is a global HR leader and sought-after speaker at platforms including TEDx, Web Summit and the Conference Board. Formerly CHRO of the Gates Foundation, she now serves as Chief Strategy Officer at BRYTR, developing science-backed nutritional psychiatry solutions to improve mental health through nutrition. Known for creating clarity in complexity, Sonia has led transformations across global organizations—integrating AI into HR, building scalable talent systems, and fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures. Her multicultural background and belief in the unique value of every person shape her approach to leadership, innovation, and change.

Learning Objectives

By attending, participants will:

• • • Identify the top disruptions shaping HR priorities today, their impacts, and how to strategize for a successful 2026.
    • Understand how CHROs set HR strategies and leverage scenario-planning to anticipate HR needs and risks.
    • Discover how an effective leader is different in 2026 and how to lead with both strategic clarity and empathy.
    • Gain practical career and leadership tips from senior HR executives’ career journeys as you shape your own HR leadership path.

Join Seattle SHRM on June 11 for an evening of purposeful networking designed to elevate your HR career and help you connect with intention.

Set in a vibrant Capitol Hill venue, this event combines great conversation, local brews, and professional insights in a relaxed and engaging environment. Your ticket includes one drink ticket and light appetizers, so you can sip, snack, and socialize while making meaningful connections with fellow HR professionals.

We’re thrilled to feature Kate Carte, a strategic HR leader and relationship-building expert, who will share actionable insights on how to network with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced pro, you’ll walk away with fresh strategies and new connections.

Expect an atmosphere that’s equal parts inspiring and fun—with raffle prizes, a welcoming community, and takeaways you can actually use.