GMA SHRM Professional Development Summit

January 20, 2026

Alliant Energy Center

1919 Alliant Energy Way
Madison, WI
  
     

Session 1    8:00-10:00
Moments That Matter

  

Session 2     10:15-12:15  
Language Bias in the Age of AI 
Presented by:  Shawn Gulyas
 - humanworks		   Presented By:  Samantha Beaver
 - Memra Language Services

Partner Sponsors: 
 		  
Partner Sponsor:  
 
 

Session 1

An interactive workshop focused not on grand gestures, but rather the small moments in organizational culture that have long-lasting impact on teamwork and outcomes. How can employees from every seat build sustainable practices and habits that rely on strengths and values, and lead to elevated outcomes and a renewed sense of mattering? Learn tools and tactics that will jumpstart your efforts and provide direction for any role that truly cares about elevating the employee experience. 


Attendees of this program will learn:

  • Everyone Believes: Core value considerations for the individual and their organizations
  • Everyone Connects: Gratitude practices that elevate your business 
  • Everyone Matters: Ways into the belonging/mattering conversation with tools to start using tomorrow
  

Session 2

In this dynamic, keynote-style session, participants will explore how language—our most powerful tool—shapes workplace culture, leadership, and inclusion, especially in an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. We’ll begin by examining the two core functions of language: how words enable us to get things done and how they allow us to express who we are. From there, we’ll look at how AI processes language to generate outputs and compare this computational process to the way humans interpret and use language. 

The heart of the session focuses on why language—whether organically produced or AI generated—matters when it comes to bias and equity. We’ll consider how Inclusive Language, Hospitality Language, and Language Policies can serve as solutions to language bias, both in everyday workplace conversations and in the AI tools increasingly embedded in HR systems. This exploration will highlight the critical role HR leaders play in shaping the communication norms that foster healthy cultures in the age of AI.

We will conclude by applying these insights to real-life workplace interactions, helping participants diagnose their own linguistic leadership style and identify where language bias may be hiding in plain sight. Expect interaction, reflection, and practical takeaways that empower HR leaders to create space for both agency and identity in everyday communication, ensuring that language serves as a lever for stronger workplace relationships and the thoughtful integration of AI tools.


Participants will learn:

  • What is Language Bias, and why is it important to consider, given AI?
  • What are Large Language Models (LLMs) and how do AI tools use them?
  • What is Inclusive Language? How can we make space for both AGENCY (effectiveness) and IDENTITY (inclusion) in the workplace?
  • What is true DEI Integration in the age of AI and how can we do it?
SPEAKER BIO     SPEAKER BIO  

Shawn Gulyas exists to design and facilitate creative experiences that challenge one’s thinking and action – helping individuals and companies find their authenticity, breathe into their well-being, and elevate their people touchpoints. After a career filled with growth and learning in Human Resources leadership, Shawn decided to venture out and get his hands dirty with other organizations in need of bringing their work to life through championing people. Think of Shawn as a “jump-starter” of ideas around the belief that everyone matters and as a leader who creates cultures and communities where values, natural instincts and well-being are the essence of success. Other things Shawn believes in: Peace, Wonder and Yoda.		  
Samantha Beaver is the founder of Memra Language Services. She is passionate about language and its ability to affect real change in the world. Following from this perspective, she named her company Memra: an ancient Hebrew word and biblical reference, which describes the personification of words, or the idea that words can "do things".

Samantha has over 6 years of formal linguistic training, culminating in a Master’s degree in Applied English Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research interests lie in theoretical phonology, socio-linguistics, and pragmatics, and she has adapted research techniques from all of these academic traditions to develop a way to analyze ambient workplace communication; delivering nuanced and truthful insights into team dynamics, organizational culture, and people analytics while capturing measurable changes over time, and reducing the resource-drain of constant employee surveys.


 
SCHEDULE
   
  • Session 1
 8:00am to 10:00am
  • Session 2 
 10:15am to 12:15pm










FEES    
  • GMA SHRM Member
Free - Advance registration positively required.
 

 
  • Student Member
 Free - Advance registration positively required.

 
  • Guest / Nonmember
$50 Either or Both Sessions
 

 
  • Guest Grant Registration

Not a member yet?

GMA SHRM has a limited number of Professional Grants available for potential members to attend one Professional Development Summit at no cost. 

If you are considering joining GMA SHRM, have a bona fide connection to Human Resources and would like to apply for one of these Professional Grants, please complete the contact information on the form at this link.  We would love to have you join us! 
 

 


 

 











LOCATION  
 

 

Alliant Energy Center,
1919 Alliant Way,
Madison, WI 

 














For more information contact:

GMA SHRM Management Team
4075 Vilas Road
Cottage Grove, WI  53527
(608) 204-9814
fax (608) 204-9818
chapteradmin@gmashrm.org

Program Schedule subject to change.

 
 
https://greatermadisonareashrm.wildapricot.org/event-4893781