During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2023, The Kennedy Forum launched the Alignment for Progress, a movement to align leaders from across industry and across the aisle to achieve 90/90/90 by 2033: 90% of all individuals will be screened for mental health and substance use disorders; 90% of those screened will be able to receive evidence-based treatment; 90% of those receiving treatment will be able to manage their symptoms in recovery. Kennedy’s second co-authored book “Profiles in Mental Health Courage” available April 2024 will delve into the compelling stories of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health – many of whom are sharing their stories for the first time.

Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-chair of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (National Response); and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force.

Jen Butler has worked for over 35 years helping individuals uncover their stress triggers and ways to reduce their stress to live a more peaceful and joyous life. She is now the CEO and founder of Rest from Stress, an educational training company dedicated to helping organizations create a culture of stress management and resilience so every employee works to their greatest potential. 

Jen Butler has worked for over 35 years helping individuals uncover their stress triggers and ways to reduce their stress to live a more peaceful and joyous life. She is now the CEO and founder of Rest from Stress, an educational training company dedicated to helping organizations create a culture of stress management and resilience so every employee works to their greatest potential. 

With over 15 years of senior HR leadership in Fortune 500 companies, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and certified coach, Shayla N. Atkins is now the Founder and CEO of The Atkins IMPACT Consulting Firm. As an award-winning business and leadership strategist, an authority in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Organizational Effectiveness, Shayla believes “Authenticity Is the New Leadership Currency”, as the key to unlocking human potential. Receiving the 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award presented by President Joseph R. Biden, and Shayla’s proven track record, has earned her invitations to speak on some of the largest stages across the country.

Jennifer Currence is the CEO of WithIN Leadership in Tampa, Florida, where she delivers customized training and coaching programs for leaders and HR. She created the Leading for RealTM  leadership development program and content architect for SHRM’s People Manager Qualification (PMQ).

Jennifer is regularly published and featured in industry magazines, webinars, and podcasts, and is the author of three HR books on business behavioral competencies.

Jennifer was named Tampa Bay’s HR Consultant of the Year in 2017.  She is a faculty member for SHRM and a professor at the University of Tampa’s award-winning Sykes school of business.

Nichol Bradford stands at the forefront of human potential and AI, accelerating human transformation through technology investments, research, and global thought leadership.   

Currently, Nichol serves as Executive-in-Residence for AI + HI at The Society for Human Resource Management, shaping global thinking on human-AI collaboration. She is also Co-Founder and Partner of Niremia Collective, an early stage venture fund focused on human potential technologies, and she co-founded Transformative Tech.org, the largest global ecosystem of founders, investors and innovators building tech for human flourishing. 

 Previously, as a senior interactive entertainment executive, Nichol held strategy, operations, marketing and production roles at major brands including Epic Games, Activision-Blizzard, Vivendi Games and Disney. She led operations for World of Warcraft China and Blizzard properties in China, played a key role on the Vivendi team responsible for the landmark $18B Activision-Blizzard merger deal, and helped produce record-breaking events in the metaverse at Epic Games. 

Nichol has an MBA from The Wharton School, is Faculty at Singularity University, a Trustee at CIIS, and has been a Lecturer and Adjunct Professor at Stanford University.  

Moving forward, Nichol is focused on advancing human potential through ethical and empowering AI -- catalyzing a global ecosystem of innovators to create technology for human thriving. 

 QUOTE: 

 "My life mission is to empower human potential. SHRM as the leading source of insight for HR professionals will play a critical role in driving human readiness for an AI world. Together, we are creating an AI+HI enablement path that will help transform work, workers and workplace at scale." 

Nichol Bradford stands at the forefront of human potential and AI, accelerating human transformation through technology investments, research, and global thought leadership.   

Currently, Nichol serves as Executive-in-Residence for AI + HI at The Society for Human Resource Management, shaping global thinking on human-AI collaboration. She is also Co-Founder and Partner of Niremia Collective, an early stage venture fund focused on human potential technologies, and she co-founded Transformative Tech.org, the largest global ecosystem of founders, investors and innovators building tech for human flourishing. 

 Previously, as a senior interactive entertainment executive, Nichol held strategy, operations, marketing and production roles at major brands including Epic Games, Activision-Blizzard, Vivendi Games and Disney. She led operations for World of Warcraft China and Blizzard properties in China, played a key role on the Vivendi team responsible for the landmark $18B Activision-Blizzard merger deal, and helped produce record-breaking events in the metaverse at Epic Games. 

Nichol has an MBA from The Wharton School, is Faculty at Singularity University, a Trustee at CIIS, and has been a Lecturer and Adjunct Professor at Stanford University.  

Moving forward, Nichol is focused on advancing human potential through ethical and empowering AI -- catalyzing a global ecosystem of innovators to create technology for human thriving. 

 QUOTE: 

 "My life mission is to empower human potential. SHRM as the leading source of insight for HR professionals will play a critical role in driving human readiness for an AI world. Together, we are creating an AI+HI enablement path that will help transform work, workers and workplace at scale."