AI is rewriting the rules of work. Are you ready?
For HR and Finance leaders at high-growth, investor-backed companies, AI is transforming how you hire, retain, and reward top talent. While the stakes are high, the opportunities are even higher.
Join us at the Grove Conference 2025, our premier client event, where we’ll explore what this workplace transformation means for your organization — and for your role in shaping its future. Expect bold ideas and candid conversations that will challenge how you think about building teams in the age of AI, along with compensation and benefits strategies that matter most to leaders today.
Session highlights include:
- AI and the future of work: Strategies and discussions about what’s ahead and how to prepare
- Compensation, equity, and liquidity: How fast-moving market conditions, AI advancements, and investor pressure are reshaping rewards, exits, and talent strategy
- Global pay transparency: Get ahead of evolving EMEA regulations and beyond
- Compliance in 2026: Avoid the traps that could cost you
- GLP-1s and workforce wellbeing: What’s hype, what’s the ROI, and what’s next
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Event Agenda
1:00 pm | Registration
1:30 pm | Keynote Presentation, featuring Jacob Morgan (San Francisco) and Jon Levy (NYC)
2:20 pm | Sequoia Update & Insights of What’s to Come
3:25 pm | Breakout Sessions, Pt 1.
4:25 pm | Breakout Sessions, Pt 2
5:15 pm-7:00 pm | Reception & Happy Hour: Network and Connect
Keynote Speakers

Jacob Morgan
Leadership futurist and bestselling author of six books. Jacob is also the founder of Future of Work Leaders, a global community of the world’s top HR people leaders, and host of the Future-Ready Leadership Podcast.
SAN FRANCISCO

Jon Levy
New York Times bestselling author and behavioral scientist. Jon specializes in applying the latest research to transform the ways companies approach leadership and culture in times of great change.
NEW YORK
Featured Speakers & Panelists

Amy Reichanadter
Chief People Officer
DATABRICKS

Marcus Sawyerr
Founder and CEO
EQ.APP

Brandon Sammut
Chief People Officer
ZAPIER

Jevon Soo Lenox
CHRO
WRITER

Pete Lamson
Chief Operating Officer
VOLITION CAPITAL

Kim Nguyen
Chief People Officer
ALLOY

Jill Roe
VP of People
GOOP

Kyle Howard-Johnson
VP
VOLITION CAPITAL

Sheldon Blumling
Partner
FISHER PHILLIPS

Stacy Barrow
Partner
MARATHAS BARROW WEATHERHEAD LENT

Adele Feng
Director of Quality
FOUND

Cara Callan
Director, Compensation
DATADOG

Stan Scott
VP Care Navigation and GLP-1 Management
RIGHTWAY

Deborah Hanus
CEO
SPARROW

Lori Castillo Martinez
EVP of Workforce Transformation
SALESFORCE
Breakout Sessions
(We’ll announce our lineup of speakers soon.)
TRACK 1:
AI Workforce Transformation
Ideal for CHROs, CEOs, and Founders. Co-produced by Transform.
SESSION 1:
From Hype to Impact: Real-World AI Applications in the Workplace
People leaders today are inundated with bold claims about AI’s transformative potential. While the hype is real, there’s a clear gap in practical education and opportunities to learn from those putting AI into action. This session will cut through the noise to explore what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to AI transformation in the workplace. Each panelist will offer tangible examples and lessons learned from the trenches to support leaders navigating the evolving role of AI within their organizations.
SESSION 2:
Looking Ahead: HR’s Role in Shaping the AI-Driven Workforce of the Future
AI is already impacting jobs, workflows, and decision-making across organizations, and HR leaders are on the front lines. In this roundtable, we’ll assess where we are today, what changes are coming in the next six months, and what the workforce could look like by 2028. We’ll also explore which roles are being replaced or redefined, how org structures are shifting, and what skills leaders will need to manage both humans and machines. This session is an opportunity to learn from your peers, share real experiences, and hear how leaders are navigating similar challenges.
TRACK 2:
Compensation Strategies
Ideal for VCs, PEs, CFOs, and Finance Leaders.
SESSION 1:
Liquidity in Limbo: Navigating M&A and the Elusive IPO?
Figma’s successful IPO may hint at a reopening of the public markets, but for most growth-stage companies, liquidity remains a complex challenge. The path to going public is still narrow, and many are looking elsewhere for viable exits.
With venture capitalists eager for returns and companies staying private longer, alternative strategies are gaining traction. M&A activity continues to build, with private equity firms playing a strategic role — not just as acquirers, but as partners helping companies scale, streamline, and prepare for future opportunities. This session will explore how founders, investors, and operators can manage this environment and what it means for the future of growth-stage companies.
SESSION 2:
How AI Is Rewriting the Value of Technical Teams
AI is forcing a fundamental rethink of how companies build and scale engineering orgs. Entry-level roles are disappearing, productivity is skyrocketing, and the traditional headcount-driven model is breaking down.
For employers and investors, this raises big questions: What kinds of teams create the most value now? How should comp and equity evolve when fewer people can do more? And what does this mean for long-term company building? This session will unpack the new economics of technical work—and what smart companies are doing to stay ahead.
TRACK 3:
Benefits & Compliance
Ideal for HR, Benefits, Legal, and Compliance Leaders.
SESSION 1:
Bracing for Impact: Compliance Traps to Avoid in 2026
Compliance is getting trickier. With new rules on the horizon, employers can’t afford to be caught off guard. We’ll cover the biggest pitfalls coming in 2026 — and how to avoid them. Topics include:
· Emerging Litigation Trends: What’s driving lawsuits — and how to prepare
· Trump-Era Enforcement Priorities: Mental health, gender-affirming care, and reproductive benefits
· ACA & ERISA Pitfalls: Common missteps that trigger audits and penalties
· Family Forming Benefits: Legal updates and plan design implications
· The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act: What’s in it — and what’s at stake
Eligible for SHRM & HRCI Continuing Education Credits, this session is designed for HR, benefits, legal, and compliance leaders who want to stay informed and proactive.
SESSION 2:
The Rising Cost of Rx and GLP-1s: Strategies That Deliver ROI and Workforce Wellbeing
As prescription drug costs rise, employers are grappling with how to manage this growing line item while still delivering meaningful support for employee health. In this session, we’ll explore what’s driving the surge in costs — from specialty meds to high-profile therapies like GLP-1s — and share strategies that balance cost control with care quality. You’ll walk away with practical ideas for evaluating ROI, designing smarter pharmacy benefits, and supporting whole-person wellbeing.
TRACK 4:
Global (San Francisco Event Only)
Ideal for Total Rewards and Global Benefits Leaders.
SESSION 1:
Global Pay Transparency: Preparing for Major New Legislation
New EU pay transparency laws are reshaping how companies report compensation and benefits — with major implications by 2026. In this session, we’ll break down what’s changing, what it means for global employers, and how to get ahead. You’ll also hear from a panel of Sequoia clients on how they’re planning for compliance and beyond.
SESSION 2:
Workshop: Ask the Regional Experts
Get direct access to local experts covering over 80 countries across EMEA, Asia Pacific, and the Americas. In this interactive workshop, you’ll rotate through regional briefings to hear the latest legislative and market trends impacting global benefits — and get your questions answered by the people who know the landscape best.
What can you expect at a Grove Event?
Learn
- Hear personal stories and insights from leading voices from today’s top tech companies.
- Choose from multiple learning tracks designed to arm you with strategies to take back to your company or share with your portfolio companies.
Elevate
- See Sequoia’s platform in action to learn how you can wield its capabilities to power your comp and benefits programs.
- Get an insider view into what’s ahead for Sequoia services, products, and technology.
Connect
- Meet and mingle with fellow HR and Finance leaders, CxOs, and investors from VC-backed companies.
- Explore Sequoia’s trusted wellbeing vendors to learn about new offerings to support your employees.