General Session Keynotes

Your HR Superpower: Building a Culture of Ownership and Accountability

with Catherine Mattice

Struggling with people who complain who never have solutions? Challenged to move people from, “this is how it is” to innovative and open? Wanting managers to solve problems instead of running to you? The good news is that you are a community of professionals in a relatively new function in independent schools, and that means you get to craft how HR is seen in your school and industry. So we invite you to kick the day off with a motivational and jam-packed-with-actions-and-tips talk from world-renowned HR disrupter, Catherine Mattice.

You’ll walk away with tips you can implement immediately, such as:

• Define the varying CEO views of the role of HR, and which bucket you’re in.
• Brand the HR function and yourself as a partner and coach, rather than a complaint deposit box.
• Set boundaries and empower managers to have difficult conversations with their teams so you don’t have to.
• Define the ways in which behavior shifts require school culture shifts, and clarify your role in that shift.
• Describe in simple terms 3 areas that must align to make real change faculty and staff believe in, and how you can influence those 3 areas.

A Blueprint for School Culture: How You Can Shape Connection, Engagement, and Belonging

with Eric Swenson

Independent schools are navigating a moment where culture, connection, and belonging are no longer “nice to have,” but essential to engagement, retention, and mission success. In this presentation, Eric Swenson challenges HR leaders to move beyond administration and step into a more intentional role as architects of school culture. Drawing on national workforce trends, school-specific realities, and practical design principles, this session explores how HR can deliberately shape the employee experience—from hiring and onboarding to performance, civility, and recognition—without adding budget or headcount. The keynote also addresses a central concern many HR leaders face: how to influence culture when senior leadership isn’t fully aligned, offering realistic strategies for leading change without formal authority.

Interested in more professional development?

Don't miss the Annual Conference on Tuesday, April 21!

Can't attend the sessions on Monday, but want more time to break bread with friends? Register for the Reception & Kick-Off Dinner on Monday, April 20 following the HR Workshop!

Meet Eric Swenson, Tanzanite Leadership Development and Symmetry HR Outsourcing

Eric Swenson is a nationally recognized expert on leadership, culture, and the modern workforce. For more than two decades, he has advised organizations across North America—helping leaders strengthen performance, elevate employee engagement, and build workplaces where people thrive. His insights and frameworks have guided more than 300 organizations and over 30,000 employees across nearly every industry.

Eric is the founder and CEO of Swenson Leadership Development and Symmetry HR Solutions, sister companies that provide leadership development, workforce strategy, and HR outsourcing support to small and mid-sized employers. He is the author of Managing People in the 21st Century (2004; updated edition 2020) and The 5 A’s of Great Employees (2016), which argues that intangible attributes are far more predictive of success than traditional markers like education or experience. His third book, Weaknesses, will be published in 2026 and explores how authenticity, self-awareness, and vulnerability drive modern leadership.

Before launching his companies, Eric spent 17 years in corporate leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, training, and operations. Born in LA and raised in Arcadia, California, Eric is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of the Pacific.

Cal-ISBOA accepts Visa and Mastercard (preferred) or check; we are unable to accept American Express.

Substitution and Cancellation Policy

• Substitutions and/or registration transfers may be made among members at the same school any time prior to the conference. Please note that dinner menu selections can only be modified until April 3.
• Cancellation requests submitted by March 13 will be granted a full refund, less a $25 processing fee. Cancellations received March 14 - 22 will be granted a refund of 50%. No refunds will be granted after March 22, 2026.
• Please email transfer and cancellation requests to Membership Engagement Manager Peggy Marshall at peggy.marshall@isboa.org.