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Executive Circle
A peer cohort for senior talent development leaders
Nobody tells you how isolating it can be at the top of an L&D function. The challenges are real, the stakes are high, and the pool of people who truly get what you're navigating gets smaller the more senior you become.
The Executive Circle is built for that gap — a small, carefully chosen group of senior talent development leaders meeting monthly to think out loud, share candidly, and build the kind of relationships that actually sustain you in this work.
Program at a glance
This is a six-month structured peer cohort for VPs and senior talent development leaders — small by design, matched intentionally, and built around real conversation rather than content delivery.
Seven monthly gatherings
Four virtual sessions and three in-person Chicagoland gatherings — a balance that keeps the program accessible while creating the space for real relationships to form.
Small cohorts
This is a structured peer cohort for VPs and senior talent development leaders — small by design, matched intentionally, and built around real conversation rather than content delivery.
Relevant and timely discussion topics
Generative AI in talent development; leading change; measurement and analytics; influence and executive presence; developing a skills-based workforce; future of talent development. See program schedule, below.
Summer Social
Pricing includes admission to the ATDChi Summer Social, with industry thought leader Dr. Keith Keating and post-presentation Executive Circle discussion.
Harvard Business Review Digital + Print
A one-year HBR Digital + Print subscription included for every participant. Curated articles connect directly to each session's topic.
Structured peer connection
Suggested conversation topics between sessions keep the relationships going — because the value of the program doesn't stop when the Zoom does.
Program Schedule
| Date | Time | Sample Topic | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | 8:00–10:00 a.m. | Breakfast gathering — Data-Driven People Analytics and Community-Building | TBD (Chicagoland) |
| June 19 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Virtual Lunchbreak — Generative AI: Impact and Strategies | Virtual — Zoom |
| July 31 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Virtual Lunchbreak — Creating a Skills-based Workforce | Virtual — Zoom |
| August 21 | 3:30–8:00 p.m. | ATDChi Summer Social — The Future of Talent Development (includes admission to event and Executive Circle discussion at event) | Ball Horticultural Center, West Chicago |
| September 18 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Virtual Lunchbreak — Analytics & Data-Driven Talent Development | Virtual — Zoom |
| October 16 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Virtual Lunchbreak — Elevating Our Strategic Influence | Virtual — Zoom |
| November 6 | 5:00–8:00 p.m. | Evening gathering — Celebration | TBD (Chicagoland) |
Who Should Apply
- VPs and senior talent development leaders who lead their organization's learning, talent, or capability agenda, at organizations of any size. (Cohorts will be arranged for similarity of organizational size and structure.)
- Leaders who want a candid, high-trust community for learning and discussion, and who are committed to building an ongoing, supportive community of peers
- Seasoned leaders with 10 or more years of experience in talent development
A Commitment, Not a Subscription
The value lives in the people in the room, and we protect that by keeping cohorts small and screening applications carefully. We ask every participant to:
- Attend at least six of the seven sessions (see program schedule, above)
- Read assigned materials before each discussion
- Come ready to share — your experiments, your challenges, and your hard-won lessons
- If possible, bring a case study, work-in-progress, or success story the group can dig into together
Dr. Ana is the founder and CEO of ThriveOn Talent Consulting and an ATD Chicagoland member since 2016. Before founding ThriveOn, she supported scientific executives at AbbVie in becoming strong business leaders, contributing to up to a 49% increase in performance ratings among senior directors in critical R&D roles. Her client work spans Fortune 500 companies and mid-sized organizations, non-profits and the State of Illinois. She holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
As ATDChi's Past President, she revitalized chapter programming and re-energized volunteer leadership. She will personally lead every Executive Circle session and interview every applicant before the cohort is finalized — not as a gatekeeper, but as someone deeply invested in getting the room right.
Pricing
Includes all virtual sessions and in-person gatherings (including admission to the ATDChi Summer Social), curated readings, and a one-year Harvard Business Review Digital + Print subscription.
All virtual sessions and in-person gatherings (including admission to the ATDChi Summer Social), curated readings, and a one-year Harvard Business Review Digital + Print subscription.
Everything in the program, plus a full year of ATD Chicagoland membership included.
How to Apply
The application process is intentionally personal. Dr. Ana reviews every application and speaks with every applicant before the cohort is finalized — so the experience is exactly right for the people in the room.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The cohort closes once full. Questions? Reach out to Dr. Ana at past-president@atdchi.org.
Ready to Apply?
Space is limited to 15 participants. Applications are reviewed individually and on a rolling basis.
ATD Chicagoland has served the Chicagoland talent development community for over 80 years — connecting professionals at every stage, from emerging practitioners to CLOs, and advancing the profession across Illinois.