November 6-7, 2025, the Onboarders Conference will convene in New York City, bringing together industry leaders and HR innovators to explore the evolving role of onboarding in shaping the employee experience. This year’s conference takes a thoughtful look at how organizations across industries—including healthcare, high tech, manufacturing, defense, professional services, e-commerce, and life sciences—are redefining onboarding to meet the challenges of modern work. As hybrid models and distributed workforces transform traditional norms, onboarding has emerged as a critical lever for driving acculturation, integration, and engagement across diverse settings. Through case studies, panel discussions, and expert presentations, attendees will gain insights into how leading firms are achieving measurable results by aligning onboarding strategies with broader organizational goals. From integrating AI to enhancing cultural cohesion, this event provides a forum for exploring the future of onboarding in depth. Join us as we examine this pivotal moment in the employee experience journey and chart a course for innovation in onboarding practices. Half-Day Afternoon Seminar: Deepening Employee Experience Through the Onboarding Lens DATE: NOV 6-7, 2025 LOCATION: Cornell Graduate Center, NY This afternoon seminar invites onboarding professionals and employee experience (EX) managers to a focused discussion on how onboarding can serve as the foundation for a strong, cohesive employee experience. The event begins with a networking luncheon, followed by thought-provoking sessions, collaborative workshops, and actionable takeaways. Agenda 12:00 PM – Networking Luncheon Kick off the seminar with a catered luncheon, providing an opportunity to meet and connect with fellow professionals from onboarding and EX roles. Onboarding is the gateway to the overall employee experience, setting the tone for how individuals perceive their roles, teams, and the organization. Beyond the traditional notion of "starting off on the right foot," onboarding has evolved into a strategic lever that can drive long-term engagement, accelerate acculturation, and boost organizational performance, especially in the face of dynamic shifts in how and where we work. A New Paradigm for Onboarding in a Hybrid World The workplace has undergone seismic changes, with some marquee organizations mandating a return to physical offices while others champion distributed models with great success. In both scenarios, onboarding is uniquely positioned to unify these divergent paths by creating seamless integration regardless of location. Research from Gartner (2024) highlights that structured onboarding programs improve employee retention by 82% and productivity by over 70% within the first year. For companies embracing hybrid or fully remote work, onboarding serves as the cultural anchor. When physical proximity is lacking, deliberate practices such as virtual meet-and-greets, curated buddy systems, and digital acculturation initiatives bridge gaps. These practices are especially effective for fostering a sense of belonging—a crucial driver of employee engagement. Acculturation: Building Cultural Cohesion Acculturation during onboarding directly impacts an employee's alignment with organizational values. Companies like eBay, known for their "Becoming eBay" program, demonstrate the power of early cultural integration. Their program has reportedly increased retention rates for new hires by over 20%, underscoring the value of embedding shared norms and expectations from Day 1. A Harvard Business Review study (2022) shows that onboarding processes with a strong emphasis on acculturation yield up to 50% higher employee satisfaction scores. This is particularly critical as employees, whether remote or in-office, seek alignment between their personal values and the company's mission. Integration: Accelerating Time-to-Impact Effective onboarding can reduce the time it takes for employees to feel competent and connected. Chewy’s new manager onboarding programs highlight how structured integration can accelerate role clarity, even in fast-paced or remote environments. Research from the Brandon Hall Group (2023) found that companies with well-integrated onboarding processes achieve 54% faster productivity ramp-up compared to those without. Engagement: Moving the Needle in Dispersed Workforces Engagement starts with how employees are welcomed into the organization. Onboarding provides a critical opportunity to establish psychological safety, an essential component of engagement. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has taken a pioneering approach by intertwining onboarding with well-being initiatives. Their focus on creating a supportive environment from the outset has resulted in significantly higher engagement scores—up to 30% higher than their industry peers. Furthermore, distributed companies like GitLab demonstrate how onboarding can make or break engagement in remote setups. GitLab’s onboarding program includes personalized learning paths and strong mentorship, leading to an industry-leading retention rate of over 85%. The Takeaway Onboarding is no longer just about a warm welcome; it is a critical business strategy that can influence retention, productivity, and engagement. In a world where the dynamics of work are continually shifting, organizations that prioritize innovative onboarding strategies—grounded in acculturation, integration, and engagement—stand to see transformative results. Whether employees are stepping into a physical office or logging in from across the globe, onboarding remains the key to unlocking their potential and shaping their long-term experience.