Talent Mobility & Workforce Agility: Preparing for Uncertain Futures
Thursday, September 25th 2025
Building a stronger bridge between industry and higher education In today’s volatile
business environment, organizations must develop workforce agility and talent mobility
strategies to remain competitive. Economic uncertainties, geopolitical shifts, technological
and environmental disruptions, and evolving employee expectations require companies
to rethink how they deploy, develop, and retain talent. This forum topic would explore
how businesses can build a resilient workforce capable of adapting to rapid change.
WHAT IS THE TOPIC?
Talent Mobility and Workforce Agility: Preparing for Uncertain Futures
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
Hear the latest research from one of the world’s foremost scholars in the area of
talent management
Extend your network and knowledge base by leveraging participants’ extensive experience
through a round-table discussion
Discuss your organization’s talent management challenges and gain valuable perspective
from both academia and industry
Be a part of the collective brainpower of industry leaders and the world-class experts
at the School of Management
Lundring Events Center 60 W. Olsen Rd. Ģý Thousand Oaks,
CA 91360
Thank You To Our Sponsors!!
2025 Speakers and Panelists:
Keynote Speakers:
Ixora Aristigueta-Becerra
Vice President of People and Workplace Experience, The SOBRATO Organization
Ixora Aristigueta-Becerra is Vice President of People and Workplace Experience where
she leads the organization’s efforts to foster an exceptional employee experience.
Ixora oversees talent management, people operations, and workplace experience. In
addition, she is responsible for driving strategies that attract, retain, and develop
top talent while ensuring operational compliance, and an inclusive workplace culture.
Ixora brings over 24 years of HR experience across the non-profit, philanthropy, and
healthcare sectors. Her previous roles include significant tenures at the Conrad N.
Hilton Foundation, CARE, and the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta.
Vlad Vaiman, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Management, Ģý
Vlad Vaiman is a Professor at the School of Management of Ģý
and a visiting professor at several premier universities around the world. He previously
held academic and administrative positions at Reykjavik University in Iceland and
FH Joanneum University in Austria. He received his PhD from the University of St.
Gallen in Switzerland and his MBA from the University of Wyoming, USA. Having published
more than 90 academic papers, book chapters, and editorials, Dr. Vaiman is widely
regarded as one of the leading international scholars in the field of talent management.
Dr. Vaiman has also published seven very successful books on managing talent both
in organizations and at a country level, as well as several academic and practitioner-oriented
articles in talent management and international HRM. His work has appeared in such
well-respected academic outlets as the Academy of Management Learning & Education,
Academy of Management Perspectives, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management
Review, International Journal of Human Resource Management, and others. He was also
a founding editor-in-chief and is currently the Chief Editorial Consultant of the
European Journal of International Management (EJIM), an ISI/SSCI indexed publication
(). Dr. Vaiman is a founder, organizer, and a leading co-chair of the EIASM (www.eiasm.org)
Workshops on Talent Management, where in 12 years, he has been able to build a strong
global community of scholars and practitioners working in the area. His 20+ year
consulting practice comprises projects in talent management, expatriate selection,
strategic international management, and leadership development in a variety of organizations
across the industries and national boundaries. Dr. Vaiman is a highly sought-after
speaker – he is often invited to speak on both professional and academic matters to
a number of global corporations and highly acclaimed universities around the world.
Panelists:
Dr. Gabriella Sherman
Chief Medical Officer, Los Robles Health System
Dr. Sherman joined HCA and Los Robles Health System in April 2020 as the Chief Medical
Officer. Prior to joining HCA, Dr. Sherman was the Vice President of Quality and Clinical
Operations at Huntington Hospital. Dr. Sherman is passionate about advancing the
clinical quality agenda and enhancing the culture of safety within the organization.
Since joining Los Robles, Dr. Sherman has led the organization through two TJC Triennial
Surveys, maintained clinical excellence as demonstrated by twelve consecutive Leapfrog
A hospital ratings, successfully launched seven Graduate Medical Education programs,
and improved physician engagement. In addition to traditional CMO reports, Dr. Sherman
leads the Trauma Service line, Pharmacy, and the Emergency Department. She is committed
to building high performing teams that embrace the principles of high reliability,
just culture and authentic leadership. Dr. Sherman graduated summa cum laude with
a dual degree in Biology and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed
her medical education at the Medical College of Virginia and her Internal Medicine
residency at Huntington Hospital. Dr. Sherman is Board Certified by the American Board
of Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and Board Certified
in Clinical Informatics. In addition to her medical studies, she received her MBA
from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she focused on finance
and strategic management. In her spare time, Dr. Sherman volunteers as an executive
leadership coach to aspiring healthcare leaders, maintains a faculty appointment with
the Society of Hospital Medicine and serves as the Chair of the Mission Impact Committee
on the board of March of Dimes.
Bruce Stenslie
President & CEO, Economic Development Collaborative (EDC)
Bruce Stenslie is President and CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC),
a role he has held since 2007, bringing more than 30 years of experience in workforce
and economic development. His career includes leadership positions as Deputy Director
of the California Workforce Association, Workforce Board Director for the City of
Los Angeles, Deputy Director of Ventura County Human Services Agency, and Executive
Director of both the Ventura County Workforce Investment Board and the Candelaria
American Indian Council. In 2013, his peers elected him Chair of the California Association
for Local Economic Development. Recognized as one of the Pacific Coast Business Times’
“50 Most Influential in Business” and the Ventura County Leadership Academy’s “Business
Leader of the Year,” Stenslie also serves as a Governor’s appointee to the California
Workforce Development Board and Executive Committee. He contributes to multiple state
and regional policy boards, including the California Stewardship Network, California
Academy for Economic Development, and Uplift Central Coast/CA Jobs First Initiative.
A frequent speaker on workforce and economic policy, Stenslie is a leading voice on
the economic condition of California and the Central Coast.
Kristin Decas
CEO/Port Director, The Port of Hueneme
Kristin Decas took the helm of the Port of Hueneme in 2012, laser-focused on prospering
economic, environmental, and community enrichment. On Kristin’s watch, trade volumes
have grown 80%, and revenue has climbed 133%. The Port's total economic activity
has soared by 250%, increasing from $800 million to $2.8 billion. Trade-related jobs
have jumped 145% from 10,200 to over 24,997 jobs and tax revenues for vital community
services have risen 224%. In FY2023, the Port realized its strongest sustained trade
year since its inception in 1937, moving over $15.8 billion in cargo value. Since
Kristin took the CEO post, the Port has invested over $70M in environmental improvement
projects including shoreside power plug-ins for vessels and cranes, harbor deepening
projects that re-nourish local beaches, and the launch of a world-class air quality
monitoring program. She also championed impactful community work, including food
drives for over 50,000 families, local school trade programs, and thousands of port
tours for the community. Kristin currently serves on high-profile county, state,
and federal transportation, and economic development boards. Kristin lives in Oxnard
with her husband and is the proud mother of two daughters.
Moderator:
Primo Custodio
Vice President, Human Resources (ret.), Operations and Technical Services, NBC Universal
Senior level executive with more than 25 years broad-based experience in Human resources
strategic business planning, leadership development, organizational design and development,
process improvement, and employee engagement. Earned a reputation for leadership,
dedication, flexibility and positive work ethic; facilitated and retained through
six mergers and acquisitions.