Agenda
Breakthrough was packed with bold ideas and meaningful moments. Here’s what we covered.
Breakout Session Tracks
Track 1
Support for every life moment
This track offers forward-thinking benefits strategies to support employees through life’s challenges—whether they’re growing a family, navigating a mental health condition, or facing physical health issues—so everyone gets the care they need.
Track 2
Solutions for organizational change
This track provides organization-wide strategies to help leaders across the company navigate challenges like managing critical incidents, supporting employees through mental health leaves, and building an engaged workforce.
Monday, May 12
Note: All times listed in the agenda below are in Pacific Time (PT).
1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Shuttles from RNO Airport to Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe
4 p.m.
Registration open
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Opening reception, sponsored by Carrum Health
Tuesday, May 13
Note: All times listed in the agenda below are in Pacific Time (PT).
6:30 a.m.
Morning Movement Class, sponsored by Hinge Health
7 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Breakfast
9 a.m.
Welcome
9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Empowering the Workforce of Tomorrow: Building Resilience Across Five Generations
Jennifer Schulz, Lyra Health
As the pace of change in the world accelerates, the most important skill any of us can cultivate is the ability to find our own solid ground. Providing your employees with continuous, custom care to not only overcome mental illness but move past the baseline and into a space they can grow and excel with new skills will be the key to success. Lyra’s CEO Jennifer Schulz will celebrate the collective hope and healing we’ve brought to our members, share lessons learned so far, and look ahead to the next 10 years of life-changing mental health care.
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Mind the (Future) Gap: Preparing for What’s Next in Mental Health
Jen Fisher, Tom Insel, Briana Duffy, Alethea Varra
The future of workforce mental health isn’t on the horizon—it’s unfolding now. Is your organization ready? This panel will dive into the biggest shifts transforming mental health care and the workforce, from AI-driven support and the rise of personalized preventive care to evolving demographics and changing employee expectations. Join industry experts, including author and well-being advocate Jen Fisher, as they unpack what’s next and share actionable takeaways for future-proofing your mental health strategy.
10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Mindfulness Break
11 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
Man Enough to Feel: Mental Health, Empathy, and Breaking Barriers
Trevor Noah, Chris Jackson
Join us for a thought-provoking fireside conversation exploring the power of vulnerability and men's mental health. Our special guest will share their journey with ADHD and depression, revealing how they transformed challenges into strengths. With a unique blend of empathy and humor, they make sensitive mental health topics approachable and relatable, breaking down stigma and inspiring others to embrace their own stories. This session invites you to rethink mental health narratives and celebrate diverse ways to think, feel, and thrive.
11:40 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Bridging HQ-Led Mental Health Strategies and Regional Realities
Andrew Davies, Jennifer Burnett, Sadia Loteryman
A global mental health strategy is only as strong as its local impact—but HQ-led initiatives often miss the mark regionally. Without a clear grasp of how mental health needs differ across regions—and the cultural and systemic factors shaping them—efforts to break through local stigma and drive mental health benefit awareness and utilization often fall short.
Join Andrew Davies, a global care leader with 25+ years of experience and benefits expertise, and Jennifer Burnett, director of U.S. benefits at Snowflake, to explore strategies to bridge the gap between global benefit consistency and the realities of regional operations, ensuring effective, accessible mental health care benefits for diverse workforces worldwide.
12:25 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Workforce Mental Health Awards
Join us in honoring exceptional leaders and HR teams revolutionizing mental health care.
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Lunch
1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Industry Roundtables
Join us for exclusive lunch roundtables where professionals from diverse industries—Professional Services, Construction & Manufacturing, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, and Technology—come together to discuss trends, challenges, and innovative solutions. This is a unique opportunity to network, share insights, and collaborate with industry leaders in a casual, engaging setting.
2:15 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Track 1
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Workforce with Whole-Person Care
Anita Lungu, Erin Bushnell, Lisa Burt, Beth Adler
This panel brings together benefits leaders and experts to discuss how high-quality mental health care can provide the right support at the right time for people navigating physical and mental health concerns. Whether it’s an employee living with a chronic medical condition, a parent navigating postpartum depression, or someone facing the daily challenges associated with neurodiversity, the right support can make all the difference. In each of these moments, mental health care plays a critical role so employees learn to manage distress and how best to cope with challenges.
In this session, we’ll explore real-world challenges, share best practices, and discuss how organizations can help workers access the high-quality care they need at the intersection of physical and mental health. Because when employees feel supported in these challenges, they show up stronger—in their health, their work, and their lives.
Track 2
Leading Through Crisis: Building Resilience in Challenging Times
Kelly Koeninger, Alethea Varra
This session is designed to equip global organizations with actionable insights into developing robust, globally unified high-risk and critical incident response protocols. Drawing on proven strategies for supporting individuals and teams through high-stress, high-acuity events, we’ll explore how culturally responsive care, expert networks, and effective communication frameworks can prepare organizations for unforeseen crises. Learn how to align your global response strategy, foster resilience, and holistically support employees during these critical moments.
3:15 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Track 1
Helping the Sandwich Generation Weather the ‘Gray Tsunami’
Stephanie Hosig, Bernadette Long, Kate Fisher, Monica Wu, Jenson Reiser
As the oldest Millennials enter middle age and Baby Boomers approach their 80s, the number of Americans juggling care for both older and younger family members is surging. This mounting burden on the “sandwich generation” is poised to strain careers, diminish employee well-being, and drive many—especially women—out of the workforce. Unlike past generations, they face dwindling social services, costly and prevalent chronic conditions, and a caregiver shortage, all while navigating a youth mental health crisis.
HR leaders have a critical opportunity to get ahead of this issue. In this session, child mental health specialist Dr. Monica Wu and older adult mental health expert Dr. Jenson Reiser will offer actionable strategies to support the sandwich generation and help organizations safeguard employee well-being, retention, and productivity.
Track 2
Supporting Teams, Preventing Leaves: Manager Strategies to Transform Workplace Health
Jay Le Quesne, Kesha Crump, Amelia Subryan, Keren Wasserman
The key to employee well-being isn’t perks or policies—it’s their manager. With mental health leaves of absence at an all-time high, managers play a critical role in identifying early warning signs, fostering psychological safety, and advocating for their team’s well-being.
In this session, Lyra customers will share how they’re equipping managers with the tools and coaching to address employee challenges early—reducing the need for mental health leaves and fostering a healthier, more resilient workforce. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies and real-world insights on how to create a culture of care where employees feel supported, engaged, and less likely to reach a crisis point. When managers are empowered, their teams thrive.
4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Dinner & evening reception
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Top Golf Swing Strong Suite
Join Hinge Health in the Top Golf Swing Suite at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe on Tuesday night! Warm up and practice your swing while enjoying cocktails and after dinner bites.
Sponsored by Hinge Health
Wednesday, May 14
Note: All times listed in the agenda below are in Pacific Time (PT).
6:30 a.m.
Morning Movement Class, sponsored by Hinge Health
7 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Breakfast
9 a.m.
Welcome
9:10 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
From Reactive to Strategic: Designing a Mental Health Strategy That Delivers Results
Joe Grasso, Vickie Carpeneti, Abigail Hollingsworth, Rebecca Whiting-Holliday
A well-crafted mental health strategy does more than support employees who are struggling—it promotes well-being for everyone and safeguards against harm. By weaving mental health into company policies, skill-building programs, and peer support, organizations can ensure a healthier workforce, and in turn, better business outcomes, including increased engagement, retention, productivity, and more.
Join this session to learn more about what makes a high-impact workplace mental health strategy. Dr. Joe Grasso, VP of Workforce Transformation, will interview industry leaders from top global companies to unpack what works—including real-world examples of how organizations are effectively promoting and protecting workforce well-being every day.
10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Navigating Mental Health: Alaska Airlines’ Guide to Thriving Employees
Paul Sale
Mental health at work extends beyond benefits—it’s about fostering an ecosystem where employees and their families thrive. Featuring Paul Sale from Alaska Airlines, this session explores how organizations can integrate mental health into business strategy, leverage Business Resource Groups (BRGs) to enhance belonging, and use data to drive meaningful engagement. Attendees will gain insights on building resilient workforces, creating impactful programs, and ensuring employees not only stay but also bring their best selves to work. Join us to explore how businesses can cultivate an environment where people truly flourish.
10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Mindfulness Break
11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.
On the Horizon: Lyra's Innovation Showcase
Connie Chen, Jenny Gonsalves, Alethea Varra, Sean McBride
Over the past decade together, we’ve redefined workforce mental health care, solving the problems of quality and access once thought intractable. What’s next? At Lyra, innovation is foundational to who we are and we are embracing the technological changes that can help make our care and support better and more effective. We’ll explore the intersection of physical and mental health, the urgent need to build resilient workforces, and the tools we’re building for HR leaders to have better actionable insight and predictive power than ever before. Join our clinical leaders and technological innovators for a peek into the future of workforce mental health.
12 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Breaking Barriers: Mental Health, Leadership, and the Future of Workplace Well-being
Dr. Julie Smith, Susan Wyatt
Mental health is in the spotlight—but how do we move from awareness to real action? Join Dr. Julie Smith, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and social media mental health content creator with 5M+ followers. Known for her ability to simplify complex psychological concepts, Dr. Smith has empowered millions through her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? and viral content that makes mental health relatable, accessible, and actionable.
Dr. Smith will share science-backed strategies for emotional resilience and practical tools leaders can use to create lasting impact. Whether you’re shaping employee well-being initiatives or seeking personal growth, you’ll leave with concrete takeaways to drive meaningful change.
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lunch
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Lyra's Exclusive Outpatient Network Private Lunch (invite only)
Connect with a distinguished group of innovative benefits leaders on Wednesday, May 14 for meaningful discussions on Lyra’s newest offering, Exclusive Outpatient Network.
2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Track 1
The Costly 6%: How Better Support for Complex Needs Cuts Health Care Spend
Dr. Smita Das, Bob Poznanovich, Jessica Lau, Angie Croscup
Just 6% of Americans—those with complex mental health needs—drive a staggering 44% of total health care spending. In this session, we’ll explore how companies are breaking the cycle of ineffective, high-cost care by reducing out-of-network treatments, improving care quality, and lowering readmissions. Through real-life case studies and actionable strategies, you’ll discover how investing in the right mental health support yields better employee outcomes and significant cost savings.
Track 2
Marketing That Matters: Engaging Hard-to-Reach Populations
Heather Denkert, Liz Davila, Mallory Bergen, Sam Sinkhorn
Reaching employees with the right mental health resources can be challenging—especially in populations that are historically harder to engage. In this session, you'll hear from customers who have successfully used creative marketing and communication strategies to connect with diverse, dispersed, and hard-to-reach groups. Learn how they leveraged Lyra’s support and leader-driven outreach to raise awareness and drive meaningful engagement. Walk away with actionable ideas to tailor your communications, meet employees where they are, and ensure mental health support reaches those who need it most.
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Closing reception & dinner
Thursday, May 15
Note: All times listed in the agenda below are in Pacific Time (PT).
4 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Shuttles to RNO airport
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Grab & go breakfast
8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Shuttle service to Lake Tahoe for sightseeing