Why gather 220 of the industry’s sharpest minds in one room? To tackle the questions that are too big for a survey. There are many what-ifs looming in the background for HR leaders and benefits professionals, and they’re only getting louder:

• How do HR leaders truly feel about AI — can it be a trusted ally?
• What does it really mean to create a connected benefits ecosystem, and how do we get there?
• What major decisions are HR leaders facing today, and how can they make the smartest moves forward? · How can HR leaders sustain cultures that attract and retain great talent?

Over the course of three days, we hosted 14 different sessions and heard from many industry experts to answer those questions and more.

While we shared several updates of how PlanSource is continuing to deliver value for our customers and partners, we also heard from thought leaders around our changing industry: what to expect in the wake of tariffs, how leaders can move at the speed of AI, and how to build better cultures.

Here are the main takeaways:

In our first dynamic session, we were joined by Amanda Cole (BrandSafway), Andy Moore (UnitedHealthcare), and Leslie Miller (Leslie Miller Insurance) who made big bets early on to transform their HR functions, and are already seeing the results. Together they discussed the pressures that brought them to make those changes — rising employee expectations, increasing compliance demands, and the growing need to prove ROI on automation.

Among their many wins:

• UnitedHealthcare has released >1,000 AI use cases, and it shows in their productivity and UX.
• With AI offloading their administrative and cost burden, BrandSafway made room for expansive PTO policies and better 401(k) matches.
• Leslie Miller Insurance used utilization data to trim irrelevant benefits and drive higher engagement and take-up rates.

As perpetual students of the industry, these leaders are creating better cultures through productive, agile benefits administration. And their conversation answered questions that HR leaders haven’t thought to ask yet — but should be.

Charlene Li delivered a compelling message: a true AI strategy starts with culture and leadership, not code. She urged HR leaders to move beyond hype and ask harder questions — why do we do things this way, and how might we do them better?

Instead of fearing AI or blindly chasing trends, she advocated for embracing it as a tool for reinvention. Her call to action was to make AI safe, accessible, and integrated into every workflow, then use it to accelerate impact.

Stephen Gates similarly underscored the importance of cultural transformation in the face of AI. He shared that the biggest obstacles to AI innovation are internal. He urged HR and business leaders to rethink outdated mindsets, emphasizing that true progress comes from encouraging curiosity, not just rewarding compliance.

Gates mapped out the emotional intelligence and team behaviors needed to build trust, embrace experimentation, and focus on people, not processes. He shared how real transformation happens when teams shift from practical trust (“did you check the box?”) to emotional trust (“are we creating something meaningful together?”).

Jon Gordon lit up the stage with a high-energy message rooted in positivity, perseverance, and purpose-driven culture.

Jon reminded HR professionals that great culture starts with everyday actions, like encouraging curiosity, reframing adversity, and choosing connection over box-checking.

His call was simple but powerful: build trust, love your team, and lead with purpose.

While regulatory and legal updates can feel dense, J.D. Piro delivered an engaging compliance playbook that HR teams can act on. He unpacked the latest developments in tariffs, executive orders, tax reform, and health care compliance.

He spotlighted emerging issues — from the potential impact of healthcare product tariffs to ACA rule changes and the explosive rise in state-level PBM regulation.

Piro went beyond decoding regulation to give HR leaders the foresight to plan ahead. He also equipped attendees with talking points to bring back to their leadership.

“This isn’t just about compliance,” he said. “It’s about protecting your people and your plan.”

From AI breakthroughs to people-first cultures and connected ecosystems, one message rang loud and clear: real change demands curiosity, empathy, and action. At PlanSource, we’re building a platform that challenges the status quo so we can deliver a solution that meets the needs of the future. Be part of it with us.