Information and Resources for Applicants

Successful events are built on the foundation of strong education sessions. We want to help you craft an excellent proposal so you can make your voice heard, and deliver impactful, inspiring solutions, stories, and ideas to the Total Rewards community. This is your opportunity to highlight your expertise and offer real solutions to the most urgent problems Total Rewards and compensation professionals face today.

We are offering the following resources to support you, our applicants:

  • Read the information on this page to learn about selection criteria, topics, available session formats, and speaker types.
  • Download the Submission Planning Worksheet to help you think through your submission before heading to the digital form. We highly recommend completing your submission in the Planning Worksheet first and then copy and pasting that information into the online form as it can timeout due to inactivity. You will not be able to save the online form as you go. 
Download Worksheet (PDF)
Download Worksheet (Word Doc)
  • Attend an Office Hour session. During this time WorldatWork staff will be available to review and provide feedback on submissions, help solve any technical problems, or answer general questions about the event or Call. We can also assist in creating your video for the required speaking sample during this time as well. Staff will be waiting to help in a Zoom room during the following times. You should feel free to attend for as short or long of a time as you need, and we take questions on a first-come-first-serve basis.
    • Friday, October 4, 1:00-2:00pm ET
    • Monday, October 7, 12:00-1:00pm ET
    • Thursday, October 17, 3:00-4:00pm ET
    • Monday, October 21, 12:00-1:00pm ET

 

All submissions must be completed through the online form and are due by October 23 at 5:00pm PT. If you need an accommodation or have questions, please email us at speakers@worldatwork.org. 

What are the Key Dates?

Wednesday, September 25

Call for Content Opens

Friday, October 4, 1:00-2:00 pm ET

Office Hour

Monday, October 7, 12:00-1:00pm ET

Office Hour

Thursday, October 17, 3:00-4:00pm ET

Office Hour

Monday, October 21, 12:00-1:00pm ET

Office Hour

Wednesday, October 23, 5:00pm PT

Call for Content Closes

By Monday, December 9*

Notifications Sent

*After sessions are selected, accepted speakers will receive more details about the venue, technical requirements, deliverables, and training.

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What is the selection criteria?

Our selection advisory committee will be looking for ideas that will intentionally engage participants and will make selections based on the following criteria:

  • Session Outcomes: Are they actionable and participant-centered?
  • Topic: Is it a unique or progressive take on the evolving trends or emerging challenges faced in the Total Rewards and compensation landscape? See below for a list of key topic areas.
  • Alignment of Level: Does the information provided align with the stated learning level?
  • Speaker Profile: Does the applicant demonstrate a unique point of view, expertise, and enthusiasm for the topic for all speakers included in the submission?
  • Speaking Skills: Does the applicant provide evidence of ability to engage participants? Examples of evidence include prior speaking experience in your bio, quotes from past participants, or speaking sample video. 

Want your submission to stand out? Follow these tips:

  • Get specific: The more details you provide in your description, the more likely you are to be selected.
  • Be creative with your session format: How can you present your ideas in a new or different way? How can you ensure participant engagement?
  • Include practitioners: If you will have multiple speakers in your session, be sure to include at least one who has executed the strategies “from the inside.” The in-house perspective, combined with consultant expertise, is highly valued by attendees, as there is no substitute for sharing lessons learned from an internal viewpoint.
  • Be timely: The event will occur in May. What will be top of mind for Total Rewards professionals during that time? How can you connect your content to a larger trend in the macro environment?
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What Key Topic Areas can sessions address?

Total Rewards '25 sessions are organized by the areas of the Total Rewards model. Within the topics below, we hope to see submissions that help participants steer through unpredictability, innovate rewards to enable new work models, harness AI solutions to revolutionize work and total rewards, boost productivity and workforce results, enhance holistic well-being, advance equity in the workplace, and ultimately maximize impact. 

Strategic Total Rewards

Highlight the impact of Total Rewards on organizational results and employee experiences, focusing on emerging practices in strategy design, alignment, and measurement. Share techniques for managing ROI across a comprehensive Total Rewards portfolio and explore the connection between Employee Experience and Total Rewards as a key driver of engagement. 

Compensation

Share innovative strategies in base pay, variable compensation, equity-based compensation, communication, and recognition. Feature solutions for addressing and solving unintended pay gaps, and demonstrate how to leverage AI and analytics to tackle challenges in market evaluation, performance measurement, and compensation predictions. Help attendees elevate employee trust and the perceived value of comp programs through clear, personalized, and engaging communications. 

Executive Compensation

Examine complex and nuanced executive compensation design strategies, including approaches to executive retention and succession planning, LTIPs and equity compensation trends, goal/target setting for LTI and STI plans, evolving compliance and disclosure requirements, and compensation committee governance.

Sales Compensation

Explore design/measurement and collaboration strategies for compensation practitioners to effectively partner in sales compensation, examine how AI is transforming sales roles and impacting the measurement of compensation plan success, and discuss proven strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in today’s evolving environment. 

Benefits

Discuss emerging strategies in healthcare, retirement, time off, and holistic benefits that enhance employee well-being and productivity. Guide attendees through challenges like budget constraints, complexity, globalization, and evolving regulations, while introducing effective techniques for engagement, communication, personalization, and measurement. 

Well-Being

Demonstrate holistic well-being strategies that deliver measurable impact on both people and organizations. Highlight culture shifts, programs, and mindset changes that boost workforce productivity, with a focus on physical, mental, family, financial, and purpose-driven well-being. Share program success and strategies to enhance the well-being journey.   

Careers

Showcase career pathways shaped by job architecture, career pathing, upskilling, and global mobility. Explore innovative approaches to deploying talent beyond traditional job structures and how they are rewarded. Help organizations optimize talent, build capabilities, and foster thriving environments with strong career commitment. Provide insights to strengthen Total Rewards leadership and guide professionals through coaching and mentorship. 
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What types of session formats will be at Total Rewards '25?

We all have different learning preferences. To meet as many individual preferences as possible, Total Rewards '25 will offer a variety of session formats. The submission form will ask you to suggest which of the following formats you believe will best help participants engage with your ideas. If your submission is accepted, you will work with the WorldatWork team to finalize your session format. 

Case Study (45 or 60 Minutes)
Did you implement a new program, integrate a new technology, or explore new ways of communicating? A Case Study is the perfect way to share what you did, why you did it, and lessons learned.

Big Idea (45 or 60 Minutes)
Do you have research results, a framework, or a set of best practices that have transformed your practice? Big Idea sessions should leave participants thinking differently and ready to apply your Big Idea to their day-to-day work.​​​​​​

Discussion (45 or 60 Minutes)
Whether you plan on gathering a panel, having a 1-on-1 conversation, or hosting a debate, discussions are a great way to explore a particular topic or problem from various viewpoints. Discussions work best when having different experiences represented is essential to understanding the concept or finding a solution to a challenge. 

Pearls of Wisdom (40 Minutes)
Do you have experience and wisdom to share with the Total Rewards community? Peals of Wisdom sessions allow Total Rewards pros with lessons to share an opportunity to do just that. Speakers will define the general topic for the conversation based on their expertise and participants will get the chance to ask (almost) anything. Topic options are broad and may include: what strong Total Rewards leadership looks like, how to collaborate successfully with business partners, the key KPIs that matter for rewarding performance, successful mentorship, or the impact of overhauling performance feedback in your organization.

TR Talk (25 minutes)
A TR Talk is inspired, fun, and makes you think big and small - in 25 minutes or less! Presenters with a specific story, discovery, or revelation who want to hone their ability to impact participants in a condensed amount of time are encouraged to consider this session format.

Fast Skills (30 Minutes)
Participants walk away from a successful Fast Skills session with a new, specific skill. These sessions should have one learning objective, and allow for at least 5 minutes to practice the skill. 

Deep Dive Session (75 Minutes)
Whether you want to run a workshop or delve into a complex or advanced topic, the Deep Dive session is for you. Some examples that are appropriate for this session type are - 

  1. Workshops. Workshops give participants the opportunity to apply what they have learned during the session. Group or independent exercises (e.g., writing examples, brainstorming, case studies, role-playing) are the heart of these sessions and should take up at least 40% of the time. 
  2. Advanced Presentations. If the content you want to cover needs longer than 60 minutes to allow participants to really understand and digest the key takeaways, a Deep Dive session may be appropriate. 
  3. Extended Roundtable Discussion. Give participants an opportunity to explore solutions to a challenge together. The extended time allows for both content presentation as well as in-depth discussion.
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What types of speakers present?

Academic: Full or part-time professor with no other source of employment.

Consultant: A professional hired to provide expert advice to multiple clients or organizations. Does not include internal consultants. See practitioner definition.

  • Examples: Partner, Managing Director, Principal, Practice Leader, Attorney

Non-Profit Organization Representative: Advocate from a relevant non-profit, offering industry-specific insights and expertise, aligning with our event's cause and mission. 

Practitioner: “Internal” professionals accountable to influence or deliver rewards for that one specific organization. Excludes those working in professional services supporting external customers.

  • Examples: SVP Total Rewards, Manager, Compensation Manager, Director Employee Benefits, CHRO, Financial Analyst, HR Business Partner, Benefits Specialist, Compensation Committee Chair, Chief Legal Officer, Recruiter

Service Partner: A supplier or someone who works for a company that provides organizations with services other than management consulting. See consultant definition.

  • Examples: IT Solutions Provider, Payroll Processing Provider, Recognition Outsource Provider, Insurance Agent, VP Product Development, Sales Director, Account Executive

Still have questions?

We are happy to help! Click below to contact the Events team. 

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