25TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
About
Location and hotels
Attendee FAQs
Special events
REGISTER
banner image
CPE INFORMATION
SESSIONS
Meet the speakers
special events

Monday, 8 Apr 2024
ADD TO CALENDAR

PRE-CONFERENCE EVENTS

8.00 - 17.00

REGISTRATION OPENS
Event Foyer
For all GEO's 25th Annual Conference and Executive Compensation Matters attendees

 

8.00 - 17.30

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION MATTERS
REGISTER for our one-day event, focused on senior-level pay
Additional charges apply.

LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE - REGISTER TODAY

17.00 - 18:00

CHAPTER TEAM HAPPY HOUR
By invitation - global GEO Chapter co-ordinators only

FIND OUT MORE

18.00 - 19:30

FELLOWS DRINKS RECEPTION
By invitation - GEO Fellows of Global Equity only

FIND OUT MORE

Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024
ADD TO CALENDAR

AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE (subject to change)

8.00

Registration opens

9.00 - 10.00

ISSUER COUNCIL MEETING
By invitation - GEO's Issuer Council members only

FIND OUT MORE

9.30 - 10.30

ISSUER ATTENDEE ARRIVALS
Corporate issuer attendees only
Coffee and pastries

10.30 - 11.15

ISSUER-ONLY FOCUS SESSIONS (CHOOSE ONE OF THREE)
Corporate issuer attendees only

Maximizing efficiency: the case for outsourcing equity administration
Hosted by Insightsoftware

Everything you always wanted to know about equity comp trends (but were afraid to ask)
Hosted by J. P. Morgan          

Hitting the trifecta with participant, equity, HR and payroll
Hosted by KPMG

11.15 - 11.30

Transition

11.30 - 13.30

ISSUER-ONLY KEYNOTE LUNCH
Corporate issuer attendees only
A fun-packed networking lunch designed to foster deeper connections with global peers through engaging activities. Hosted by MARK BROWN, professional magician and keynote speaker.

FIND OUT MORE

12.30 - 13.30

ALL ATTENDEE ARRIVALS
Service provider and other non-issuer attendees
Lunch and networking in Exhibit Hall

13.30 - 15.00

KEYNOTE I: BRIAN SOLIS, Digital anthropologist and futurist
Sponsored by Bank of America

ABOUT BRIAN

15.00 - 15.30

Afternoon break

15.30 - 16.30

BREAKOUT SESSION I

16.30 - 16.45

Transition

16.45 - 17.45

BREAKOUT SESSION II

17.45 - 18.30

Free time

18.30 - 20.00

OPENING RECEPTION - GEOwestern
Join us in the Exhibit Hall for a taste of Nashville!

FIND OUT MORE

20.00 - 22.30

OPENING NIGHT PARTY
Sponsored by Morgan Stanley at Work
Pins Mechanical 
A 'not to be missed' event for all conference attendees
Guest tickets are available to purchase

FIND OUT MORE

Wednesday, 10 Apr 2024
ADD TO CALENDAR

AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE (subject to change)

7.30

Registration opens

8.00 - 8.45

FELLOWS AND FIRST-TIMERS' BREAKFAST
By invitation only - GEO Fellows and new annual conference attendees only

FIND OUT MORE

8.00 - 8.45

BREAKFAST
Coffee and breakfast in the Exhibit Hall

8.45 - 9.00

Transition

9.00 - 10.30

KEYNOTE II - JIMMY YEARY, Grammy-winning songwriter and storyteller

ABOUT JIMMY

10.30 - 10.45

Transition

10.45 - 11.45

BREAKOUT SESSION III

11.45 - 12.45

LUNCH AND NETWORKING BREAK
Exhibit Hall

12.45 - 13.45

BREAKOUT SESSION IV

13.45 - 14.00

Transition

14.00 - 15.00

BREAKOUT SESSION V

15.00 - 15.25

Afternoon break 
Exhibit Hall 

15.25 - 16.15

BREAKOUT SESSION VI

16.15 - 16.25

Transition

16.25 - 17.15

BREAKOUT SESSION VII

17.15 - 19.00

Free time

17.45 - 19.30

PRIVATE MUSEUM TOUR - Tickets Limited
Coaches depart the Renaissance hotel: 17.45

Gain VIP access to the museum’s galleries with this private self-guided tour that includes transport from the Renaissance Hotel 

Not included in the conference ticket - limited places are available to purchase

PURCHASE A TICKET

18:45 - midnight

THE 2024 GEO AWARDS
DRESS CODE: DENIM AND DIAMONDS
Coaches depart the Renaissance hotel: 18.45

Drinks reception: 19.15 - 20.00
Celebration gala and dinner: 20.00 - 22.00
After party: 22.00 - 00.00

A seat is included in the conference ticket - a limited number of guest, individual tickets and tables of ten are available to purchase

FIND OUT MORE

Thursday, 11 Apr 2024
ADD TO CALENDAR

AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE (subject to change)

9.30

Registration opens

9.30 - 10.00

BREAKFAST
Coffee and pasties in the Exhibit Hall

10.00 - 10.50

BREAKOUT SESSION VIII

10.50 - 11.00

Transition

11.00 - 11.50

BREAKOUT SESSION IX

11.50 - 12.45

LUNCH AND NETWORKING BREAK
Exhibit Hall

12.45 - 13.35

BREAKOUT SESSION X

13.35 - 14.45

Transition

13.45 - 15.00

KEYNOTE III - TOM VARANO - inspirational speed painter

ABOUT TOM

Followed by prize giving and closing remarks

15.00 - 17.30

BACKSTAGE GRAND OLE OPRY AND DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE TOUR
Coaches depart the Renaissance hotel: 15:00

Tour downtown Nashville on a classic honky tonk bus and go behind the curtain at Nashville’s premier country music stage on this guided backstage tour.

Not included in the conference ticket - limited places are available to purchase

PURCHASE A TICKET

18.00 - 22.30

EXPERIENCE THE OPRY COUNTRY CLASSICS SHOW
Coaches depart the Renaissance hotel: 18:00

GEO has secured top seats at the show that celebrates the classic songs that made Nashville ‘Music City’.

Not included in the conference ticket - limited places are available to purchase

TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL 23 FEBRUARY!

PURCHASE A TICKET

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Filter by:

Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 10:30 - 11:15
Everything you always wanted to know about equity comp trends (but were afraid to ask)

Issuer-only focus session

Global

The equity compensation landscape is rapidly evolving, and in 2024, there’s much to contend with to optimize your equity plan.  

From transformative technology to the ever-changing regulatory landscape and plan design enhancements, our panel will explore how to effectively navigate this difficult environment.

The audience will come away with a profound understanding of ways they can maximize their plans and reap the many rewards equity compensation plans can offer. We will also how share how J.P. Morgan’s equity compensation solution, powered by Global Shares, is proactively helping our clients to provide impactful equity solutions for their participants. 

LOCATION:
Germantown 3
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 10:30 - 11:15
Hitting the trifecta with participant, equity, HR and payroll

Issuer-only focus session

Leann Balbona, FGE, KPMG
Lori Feller, Eli Lilly and Company
Diederik Blanken, Walmart

Global
LOCATION:
Germantown 1
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 10:30 - 11:15
Maximizing efficiency: The case for outsourcing equity administration

Issuer-only focus session

Donna Bell, Insightsoftware
Michael Mauro, Insightsoftware

Global

In the rapidly evolving business landscape, managing equity plans can be complex and time-consuming. Outsourcing Equity Administration can be a strategic move that allows businesses to focus on their core competencies while ensuring efficient and effective management of their equity plans. This approach is especially advantageous for businesses lacking dedicated resources for Equity Administration, where the administrative burden can be particularly pronounced.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Leveraging professional expertise for streamlined equity administration
  • Achieving cost efficiency and regulatory compliance through outsourcing
  • Empowering your business with cutting-edge technology
  • End-to-end managed and/or optimization service
LOCATION:
Midtown 1
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 15:15 - 16:15
Operational effectiveness
1.1 Mastering stock market essentials for enhanced employee share plans

Dave Lanka, Bank of America
Sean O'Brien, Bank of America
 

All plan types
Global
BREAKOUT I

Dive into a comprehensive session led by an expert panel, unraveling the intricacies of stock market operations crucial for optimizing employee stock plans. Gain insights into the evolution and functioning of the stock market, demystifying the roles of brokers and floor traders, and understanding order flow and share settlement. Explore the nuances of trade processing, the actual cost of trading shares, and the significance of trade execution. Learn to ask pertinent questions of your stock plan provider and safeguard participants' interests. Understand the impact of recent regulatory updates on trading, including amendments to SEC Rule 10b5-1, changes to Rule 144, and SEC Form 4 filings. Benefit from real-world experiences, including handling large block trading scenarios.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Basics and evolution of the stock market, and its contemporary operation
  • Understanding the actual cost of trading and its implications for participants
  • Navigating recent regulatory updates and their impact on employee stock plans

 

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

LOCATION:
Germantown 4
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 15:15 - 16:15
Design and strategy
1.2 Crafting the melody of employee ownership from SAYE to ESPP and beyond

Hannah Needle, FGE, Tapestry Compliance
Matthew Hunter, Tapestry Compliance
Ashlee Boe, Lucid Motors
Julie Shepherd, FGE, The Sage Group

 

Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Stock options
Global
BREAKOUT I

Join our expert panel to delve into the intricate decisions of local vs. global, discount vs. matching, fixed vs. flexible in an employee share plan. Uncover the melody as the panel discusses how factors like home country, industry, participant needs, and company objectives shape plan design.

Learn firsthand from success stories like Lucid Motors' global discounted share purchase plan, Sage's reimagined global Save and Share plan, and why two companies on opposite sides of the pond opted for a US tax-qualified ESPP. Don't miss this session on orchestrating your ideal plan design.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Discover navigating influential factors in plan design
  • Explore success stories in global share purchase plans
  • Uncover strategic considerations for effective employee share plans

 

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

LOCATION:
Midtown 1
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 15:15 - 16:15
Employee engagement
1.3 What's your issue?

Cherie Curry, FGE, Hilton Worldwide
Garry Devine, Amgen
Lamont Walker, Lyft
Rebecca Kargl, Zillow
Deirdre Salisbury, Infnite Equity

 

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock options
Global
BREAKOUT I

Join our expert panel of industry leaders for a comprehensive discussion on the most formidable issuer challenges we've encountered in the equity realm. Dive into the "biggest and baddest" issues encompassing our firsthand experiences, participant perspectives, and optimal vendor response strategies when offering feedback. With diverse backgrounds spanning various business segments and extensive dealings with administration platforms, Transfer Agents, brokers, education resources, legal, payroll, valuation, and more, our panel provides a broad perspective. Gain insights into pain points encountered with domestic, international, and mobile populations.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Explore challenges and best practices across various vendors, including administration platforms, Transfer Agents, brokers, and more
  •  Benefit from a wide-ranging perspective with experiences from different business segments and   interactions with domestic, international, and mobile populations
  • Learn how to provide constructive feedback to vendors, optimizing their response and enhancing overall issuer/vendor relationships

 

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

LOCATION:
Germantown 1
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 15:15 - 16:15
Data and business intelligence
1.4 NEW! Global Share Plans Ranking Report

Cory Anderson, KPMG
Bill Castellano, Rutgers University
Eileen Liu, Arnold Bloch Leibler
Diederik Blacken, Walmart

All plan types
Global
BREAKOUT I

GEO’s new Global Share Plans Ranking Project is the first of its kind. Designed to provide a snapshot in time, senior equity compensation industry issuers and service providers have provided rankings across a wide range of criteria for their country of expertise.

The resulting report provides the bigger picture: a detailed country-level view of the appetite, support and provision of employee share ownership.

This session provides report highlights and key takeaways, as well as providing an understanding of how the report can be used for ideas on how to improve regional plans, assess the risk of expanding into new countries, or to start a conversation with regional stakeholders to increase access to share ownership around the globe.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Discover the countries leading the way, and those that have room to develop their employee equity offer
  • Explore key report findings, including trends and barriers to adopting share plans
  • Find out how you can use the report to decide which countries to extend plans into, or take learnings to improve the take-up of equity compensation in your region

 

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

LOCATION:
Germantown 2
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 15:15 - 16:15
Legal and regulatory
1.5 Untangling equity complexity: critical considerations for non-employee grants

Chanani Sandler, Orrick
Jill Keblawi, Marriott International
 

 

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Restricted shares
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Global
BREAKOUT I

Explore the intricate landscape of equity grants to non-employee service providers in our expert panel session. Uncover the unique challenges that global issuers encounter when extending equity grants to independent contractors, PEO/EOR-engaged individuals, and more. Dive into the multifaceted considerations encompassing corporate governance, local securities, foreign exchange, and tax laws worldwide. 
Hear firsthand about Marriott International, Inc.'s triumphs in managing its global equity compensation program, addressing the challenges encountered.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify securities law, foreign exchange, and tax risks in non-employee equity grants
  • Exploring best practices for compliance with local laws
  • Understanding Marriott International, Inc.'s strategies for managing non-employee equity compensation on a global scale

 

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

 

LOCATION:
Germantown 3
ADD TO CALENDAR
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024, 16:30 - 17:30
Employee engagement
2.1 Unlocking potential: empowering employees through ESPP education

Alec Glassman, Carver Edison
Robyn Shutak, FGE, Infinite Equity
Lori Serrano, Outset Medical
Margaret Rozowski, RB Global

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Global
BREAKOUT II

The expert panel will unravel the intricacies of Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP), addressing the most confusing and commonly asked questions. Gain actionable insights on employing effective education and resources to minimize employee confusion, empower your workforce, and reclaim valuable time for administrators.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  •  Identifying and addressing the most perplexing ESPP topics
  •  Implementing strategies for poignant education to reduce employee confusion
  •  Empowering employees and optimizing administrator efficiency

 

CPE CREDIT: 1.0
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Level: 0
Delivery method: Group internet-based
Advanced preparation: None

CEP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT (CE): 1.0

*CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

LOCATION:
Germantown 4
ADD TO CALENDAR