ATD NYC · Call for Speakers

Micro-Conference 4.0
Call for Speakers

Subway to Success: Leading through AI & Change

About the Conference

ATD NYC Micro-Conference 4.0 is a one-day, in-person professional development event produced by the New York City chapter of the Association for Talent Development. The 2026 edition focuses on Subway to Success: Leading through AI & Change — a theme that explores how talent development and L&D professionals are navigating artificial intelligence, organisational change, and the evolving demands placed on modern leaders.

The micro-conference format is intentionally intimate: a curated single-track programme, a highly engaged audience of practitioners, and sessions designed to spark real conversation rather than passive attendance.

Session Formats

Speakers could propose sessions in several formats to match their content and style:

• Keynote — a single featured speaker opening or closing the day with a compelling, high-level perspective on the conference theme.
• Breakout Session — a 45–60 minute practitioner-led session focused on a specific skill, case study, or framework.
• Workshop — a hands-on, interactive session with structured activities and participant takeaways.
• Panel — a facilitated conversation among three to four practitioners exploring multiple perspectives on a shared topic.

What We Were Looking For

The programme committee welcomed proposals that were directly relevant to talent development, learning & development, HR, and organisational effectiveness — with a particular interest in the conference theme of AI and change leadership. Strong proposals shared a concrete, practitioner-level angle: a real challenge, a tested approach, or a case study with transferable lessons.

We prioritised sessions that gave attendees something they could use the following Monday, not just something to think about.

The Application Process

Prospective speakers first joined an interest list. Each person on the list received a unique, tokenised application link by email once the submission window opened on June 3. The application itself was a multi-step form covering:

• Speaker bio, headshot, and professional background
• Session title, abstract, and key learning objectives
• Proposed format and intended audience level
• Supplemental questions tailored to the session format
• Speaker availability confirmation and agreement to terms

The submission window closed on June 25, 2026. Proposals were then evaluated by a volunteer review committee through a structured blind review process before decisions were communicated to all applicants.

Speaker Hub

Accepted speakers were given access to a private Speaker Hub — a self-serve resource centre containing branded social media assets, ready-to-post copy, a personal referral link, and a conference discount code for their network. The hub also housed onboarding materials, the day-of run-of-show, and speaker agreement forms.

ATD NYC · Association for Talent Development, New York City Chapter · Micro-Conference 4.0 · October 2, 2026