ATD Houston upcoming events

ATD Houston Networking and Happy Hour - Sponsored by NovoEd (April 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Join local professionals for a happy hour at Gloria's Latin Cuisine in Katy. This event focuses on building local relationships and discussing talent development in an informal setting.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Gloria's Latin Cuisine, 23333 Grand Circle Blvd., Suite 100, Katy, TX 77449

You can expect two hours of open conversation with peers from various industries across the Houston area. Whether you want to discuss specific challenges in your field or simply meet new people, this gathering provides a space to do so over food and drinks.

About NovoEd (Our Sponsor)

NovoEd provides talent development technology for large organizations. The company started in 2012 at the Stanford Social Algorithms Lab to help businesses manage mentoring and skill application at scale. Companies use the NovoEd platform to facilitate collaborative learning and track how employees apply new skills to their actual work. You can find more information at novoed.com.

Learn more about their products:

General Meeting: Celebrating Strengths - Leveraging Talent to Make Us Stronger (May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Note: Event date change due to room availiability.

In a rapidly evolving 2026 workplace, leveraging individual and team strengths is critical to navigating talent shifts, digital transformation, and organizational change.

This interactive session invites participants to identify and celebrate their unique strengths, then strategically apply them to real business priorities.

Through facilitated discussion and reflection, attendees will uncover new ways to enhance collaboration, drive engagement, and build more resilient teams.

Participants will walk away with practical approaches to aligning strengths with organizational goals—ready to apply the next day.

Attendees will:

Identify and articulate personal strengths that contribute to team success.
Explore how team strengths can be applied to address current organizational challenges and opportunities.
Develop strategies for leveraging strengths to enhance collaboration, adaptability, and performance.
Leave with practical, actionable ways to integrate strengths into ongoing initiatives and change efforts.

ATD Capability Model – Impacting Organizational Capability

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

Barbara Davis is a Talent Management and L&D manager with 10 years of experience helping professionals—from the plant floor to leadership—grow with purpose and impact.

She designs training and development strategies that activate change, align with business goals, and elevate performance. Barbara's personal approach is grounded in a simple belief: Onward – with momentum. Whether it's building onboarding journeys, launching leadership programs, or driving process improvements, her focus on progress that lasts—growth that’s personal, practical, and strategic.

Barbara completed her Master's degree in Organizational Psychology and Talent Management in 2016 and has been working within the Chemical Manufacturing industry ever since. Barbara is also the VP of Marketing for ATD Houston.

Webinar: Stand Out: Expert Tips on CVs and Interviews (May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This session is designed for anyone looking to strengthen their professional brand and improve their success in today’s competitive job market. Whether attendees are early career professionals, returning to the workforce, changing careers, or looking to advance internally, the content provides immediate value. With recruiters screening hundreds of profiles and interviews becoming more behavior and competency based, understanding what truly stands out is critical.

Participants will gain insider knowledge directly from a senior talent acquisition leader who has reviewed thousands of CVs and conducted countless interviews across the GCC and international markets. They will learn what recruiters really look for, what common mistakes to avoid, and how to present themselves with clarity and impact.

By the end of the session, participants will walk away with:

1. A Stronger, More Competitive CV

Practical guidance on structure, layout, and content
Tips for writing an ATS friendly CV
Clear examples of how to highlight accomplishments using data
Insight on what to include, what to avoid, and how to tailor a CV to a job

2. Confidence and Readiness for Interviews

A framework for preparing and practicing effectively
Tools like the STAR method to articulate achievements
Language for clearly presenting their value and strengths
Awareness of professional etiquette and best practice behaviors

3. Improved Professional Communication

What to say (and what not to say) to recruiters
How to send effective follow ups that enhance—not harm—credibility
Understanding salary discussions, CV gaps, and career change conversations

4. A Greater Understanding of Recruiter Expectations

Real, practical insights into how hiring decisions are made
Clarity on what differentiates a good candidate from a standout candidate
Awareness of mistakes that commonly lead to rejections

5. Increased Self Awareness and Career Ownership

The confidence to present themselves authentically and professionally
A better understanding of how to position their skills for future opportunities
Encouragement to approach the job search with strategy, resilience, and purpose

ATD Capability Model – Performance Improvement, Learning Technologies

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Jennifer Kusch serves as the Head of Talent Acquisition for GCC & Pakistan at ENGIE, drawing on over two decades of HR Management expertise. Based in Dubai, she spearheads the recruitment strategies and initiatives across the GCC and Pakistan, ensuring the acquisition of top-tier talent that aligns with ENGIE's vision and goals.

Before joining ENGIE in January 2022, Jennifer carved out a successful career path encompassing roles such as HR Business Partner, Corporate Trainer, University Relations and Intern Manager, and Senior Recruiting Manager. Her recruitment prowess is evidenced by the nearly 1,000 employees she has personally brought on board, ranging from long-haul truck drivers to high-ranking C-suite executives. Jennifer has a Master's in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School, Phoenix, and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Brigham Young University, Provo.

SIG Career Transition: Virtual Career Bites (May 26, 2026)

Tue, 26 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Take a break, join us virtually, and invest in your next big career move! Our Career Transition SIG (Special Interest Groups) Virtual Career Bites session is all about sharpening your job search skills in a fun, supportive setting.

We will focus on virtual interviews, offering tips, tricks, and hacks for improving confidence and performance. Be ready to share how you present yourself onscreen in virtual interviews and we will offer supportive feedback from coaches and peers in supportive small group settings.

We’ll be using breakout rooms to break down the experience and run through real interview questions to boost your confidence,

Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or want to stay prepared, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, useful feedback, and a network of peers cheering you on.

Join us for learning and a dose of motivation!

Spots will fill fast—join us soon! If we reach capacity, we’ll open a waitlist.

Contact vpgroups@tdhouston.org if you have any questions.

SIG Technology: Best Practices (May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

The landscape of Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a breakneck pace. To help our community stay ahead, the ATD Houston Technology SIG is dedicating monthly meetings to an ongoing exploration of AI Best Practices.

Join us on the last Friday of every month at noon for a collaborative deep dive into the practical application of AI in Talent Development. These sessions are designed as a consistent touchpoint for L&D professionals to share what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and discover the latest tools.

Monthly Focus Areas

While the specific agenda will evolve alongside the technology, our recurring discussions will typically cover:

Strategic Implementation: Identifying high-impact use cases for AI in L&D.
Tool Selection: Criteria for choosing the right AI stack for your needs.
Ethics & Governance: Navigating data privacy, copyright, and bias.
Prompt Engineering: Practical techniques to improve Generative AI outputs.
Future Trends: Emerging AI technologies in workforce development.

Join the Conversation

Whether you are an AI novice or a power user, your perspective is valuable. This is your space to ask questions and learn from peers.

Help Shape the Agenda

We tailor each session based on member needs. Please submit your specific questions or suggested topics in advance to: presidentemeritus@tdhouston.org