As companies expand globally, equity plans must do more than scale—they must resonate with employees across diverse markets while staying aligned with business objectives. This panel takes attendees beyond the mechanics of grants and vesting to explore how thoughtful design, regional adaptability, and market dynamics shape successful global equity programs.
Panelists will share practical strategies for launching or expanding broad-based equity, fostering a culture of ownership, and managing cost and complexity. Attendees will gain insight into balancing tax, regulatory, and cultural considerations with compliance and administrative efficiency, while also examining how market forces such as ownership norms, trading environments, and transaction costs influence employee engagement and perception of equity compensation.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Learn how to scale equity across regions while fostering a culture of ownership and aligning programs with strategic business goals.
• Understand how tax, regulatory, and cultural factors influence plan design and participation—and how to adapt without overcomplicating administration.
• Identify the right metrics to assess engagement, retention, and program effectiveness, ensuring global equity remains a long-term driver of value.

Over the past several years, artificial intelligence has been the subject of significant discussion across stock plan administration and the broader finance function—but much of the conversation has remained aspirational. This session moves beyond the hype to focus on how AI is actually being implemented today.
Led by Deloitte AI leader, this discussion will explore where AI agents are already delivering real value within stock plan and finance teams. Drawing on hands-on experience building and deploying AI solutions across multiple platforms, these experts will share practical insights into what is working, what is not, and what it truly takes to adopt AI successfully. Attendees will examine real-world. 

AI use cases in stock plan administration and walk through the journey of AI readiness—from data and systems to governance and change management—so they can begin taking meaningful steps now to prepare for what’s ahead.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand practical, real-world AI use cases already impacting stock plan administration and finance operations.
• Learn the foundational requirements for successful AI adoption, including data readiness, system integration, governance, and team capabilities.
• Identify concrete, near-term actions you can take to prepare your stock plan function for AI adoption and long-term transformation.

As companies expand globally, boards are increasingly composed of directors who reside outside the company’s home country—introducing new layers of regulatory, tax, and compliance complexity. This panel will explore the critical considerations companies must address when compensating non-resident board members, including securities regulations, taxation, withholding, reporting, and treaty relief.

Drawing on real-world case studies from jurisdictions such as Canada and the UK, panelists will share practical approaches to structuring director compensation, managing multi-jurisdictional tax obligations, and avoiding common pitfalls. Attendees will gain actionable insights to help ensure compliant, efficient, and well-governed outcomes for globally distributed boards.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• How to evaluate regulatory and securities law requirements for non-resident directors.
• How to determine residency, allocate compensation, and manage cross-border tax obligations.
• How to navigate withholding, reporting, and treaty relief to reduce risk and complexity.

The role of the equity professional is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Once viewed primarily as administrators and technical experts, today’s equity leaders are expected to serve as strategic advisors—educating executives, influencing enterprise-wide decisions, and proactively managing risk in an increasingly complex environment.

In this session, industry experts with decades of hands-on experience will share candid reflections from their professional journeys, offering rare perspective on how the role has evolved and what has remained constant. Drawing on real-world lessons learned at the highest levels, speakers will explore shifting expectations from executives and boards, how to build lasting equity literacy across the company, and what it truly takes to move from execution to influence.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Gain perspective from seasoned industry leaders on how the equity role has evolved over time and what future equity professionals must understand to remain relevant and influential
• Understand changing expectations from executives and boards, and learn practical approaches to building enterprise-wide equity literacy and trust
• Learn how to elevate your impact by leveraging data, storytelling, and proactive risk management to influence strategy and strengthen your organizational and career positioning

In today’s world of tighter budgets and rising expectations, how can issuers reduce the cost of their share plans without compromising their appeal? This session brings share plan accounting to life, showing that what may seem like a dry, technical topic is actually critical for program success.

Attendees will explore practical strategies to optimize expenses while maintaining eligibility and plan attractiveness. The session will also examine the tension between U.S. trends toward more discretion in performance conditions and the measurement challenges this can create. Participants will leave with actionable insights to make informed decisions, manage costs effectively, and maintain high-performing equity programs.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Learn practical approaches to reduce share plan expenses without impacting employee eligibility or program appeal.
• Understand the challenges and implications of discretionary performance metrics and their effect on measurement and compliance.
• Gain actionable insights for maintaining attractive, high-performing share plans in budget-constrained environments.

As companies expand share plans globally, securing corporate tax deductions has become increasingly complex—and increasingly scrutinized. This session focuses on the critical intersection between equity compensation and corporate tax, equipping share plan professionals with the insights they need to effectively partner with internal tax teams to drive tax efficiency and avoid costly missteps.

The discussion will compare approaches across the US, UK, France, and Germany, highlighting where rules align and where they diverge. A dedicated segment will address the latest HMRC position on net-settled awards, including practical arguments and defense strategies when corporate tax deductions are challenged. Drawing on real-world experience, the session will provide actionable guidance for navigating this high-risk, high-impact area of global equity.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• How corporate tax deduction rules differ across key jurisdictions and why those differences matter.
• How to collaborate effectively with corporate tax teams to maximize tax efficiency in global share plans.
• How to navigate HMRC scrutiny of net-settled awards and prepare defensible corporate tax positions.

Executive compensation is under increasing scrutiny from investors, proxy advisors, and governance stakeholders—particularly during annual general meetings. This panel brings together experienced practitioners to examine the evolving executive pay landscape, including shareholder activism, board dynamics, and rising expectations around transparency and accountability. 

The panel will share practical strategies for engaging boards and compensation committees, aligning equity programs with performance and ESG priorities, and preparing for activist challenges. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to strengthen governance practices and confidently navigate investor and stakeholder expectations.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Identify key trends shaping executive compensation, including investor priorities, proxy advisor influence, and emerging regulatory expectations.
• Learn practical approaches for partnering with boards and compensation committees to design equity programs that align with performance goals and governance standards.
• Gain strategies to anticipate, respond to, and manage shareholder activism—particularly in the AGM context—while maintaining credibility and trust.

Executives face complex challenges in managing equity compensation, including navigating 10b5-1 plans, Rule 144, blackout windows, and liquidity planning. This session explores how plan administrators can leverage frameworks and best practices used by private wealth advisors to support executives holistically. Lucid Motors will share real-life experiences, highlighting practical applications of these strategies in a corporate setting. Participants will gain insights on aligning administrative operations with executive needs, optimizing equity as part of overall wealth, and supporting transitions, succession planning, and legacy considerations.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Understanding 10b5-1 plans, Rule 144, and blackout windows, and how to support executives effectively.
• Leveraging private wealth management tools to align equity administration with executive goals.
• Strategies for managing executive equity from grant through succession, including liquidity and legacy planning.

ESPPs may share a name, but their design and impact can vary widely. In this lively, practical session, a panel of ESPP experts will guide you through three distinct plan designs, examining how each influences employee perception, participation rates, company expense, and dilution. Whether you’re launching a new plan or optimizing an existing one, you’ll leave with actionable strategies, creative ideas, and practical tips to make your ESPP successful.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Explore how different ESPP structures—from generous discounts to unique offering periods—affect employee participation and perception.
• Learn what motivates employees to take part in ESPPs and identify potential barriers to adoption.
• Discover strategies for designing plans that maximize employee value while maintaining financial sustainability for the company.