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.

Join this session to learn how Allianz, EY, and Equatex have partnered since 2018 to design and scale a truly global ESPP—driving employee ownership at Allianz from 9% to an impressive 79%, representing more than €1.5 billion in assets under management.

This session will explore how Allianz evolved from simply offering an ESPP to cultivating a holistic, enterprise-wide culture of employee share ownership. By combining thoughtful plan design, tax-efficient strategies, and a strong focus on employee experience, Allianz has successfully engaged its global workforce across 48 countries.

This is a practical, end-to-end case study on the power of partnership, innovation, and execution in building sustainable global employee ownership.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Learn how Allianz transformed its ESPP into a holistic employee shareholder program spanning 48 countries and dramatically increased participation across its workforce.
• Gain insights from EY on managing diverse tax and legal frameworks while maintaining global consistency, compliance, and tax efficiency.
• Discover how Equatex optimized the employee journey and centralized communications to boost engagement and participation worldwide.

What would global equity programs look like if seasoned stock plan professionals were truly “in charge”? This interactive panel brings together highly experienced practitioners to explore the changes they would make—and the decisions they would rethink. 
Drawing on more than 100 years of combined experience, panelists will share candid perspectives on what works, what doesn’t, and what they would redesign if given the opportunity. Attendees can expect an honest, thought-provoking conversation grounded in lived experience and informed by today’s evolving global landscape.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Gain insight into how experienced professionals would approach decisions differently if starting with a clean slate.
• Understand where real-world challenges arise between policy, regulation, and day-to-day administration—and how seasoned leaders would address them.
• Take away practical advice, common pitfalls to avoid, and forward-looking recommendations informed by over a century of collective expertise.
   

Back in 2016, the ASC 718 updates transformed stock plan administration—allowing companies to use the highest marginal tax withholding rate on net-settled awards without the previous accounting headaches. Stock admins and payroll teams celebrated hours of work saved… yet nearly a decade later, some companies are still debating whether to stick with the highest marginal rate or revert to actual payroll rates.

This lively, debate-style session brings together a panel of experts to go head-to-head on the best approach to tax withholding under ASC 718. Expect candid opinions, real-world examples, and practical guidance to help your company decide the right path—without the guesswork.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Get clarity on how the highest marginal rate works versus using actual payroll rates, and the accounting implications of each approach.
• Learn the operational and administrative considerations for stock plan admins and payroll teams, including efficiency and compliance benefits.
• Gain actionable guidance on choosing the right withholding method for your organization, backed by real-world examples and expert debate.

In today’s competitive talent market, companies are rethinking equity compensation structures to attract and retain top performers while supporting long-term business goals. While the traditional four-year vesting model remains common, companies are increasingly experimenting with shorter vesting periods and more frequent vesting intervals.
This session explores the latest trends in equity vesting schedules and highlights some surprising outcomes from these shifts. Participants will gain insights into what’s driving these changes, the impact on both employees and employers, and the tax and operational considerations companies should weigh when designing an effective equity strategy.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Discover why companies are adopting shorter or more frequent vesting intervals and how these changes affect retention and engagement.
• Understand the benefits and potential challenges of evolving vesting strategies for workforce motivation, cost management, and long-term business objectives.
• Explore tax, administrative, and compliance implications, and learn what to consider when designing a modern, effective equity compensation strategy.

This interactive session dives into innovative equity compensation strategies for private and early-stage companies navigating rapid growth, market volatility, and evolving regulatory demands. Using real-world case studies, participants will explore practical solutions for designing high-impact equity programs that align with strategic goals while staying cost-efficient and operationally manageable.

Topics include creating effective equity purchase and performance share plans on limited budgets, leveraging data-driven tools such as 90-day VWAP and ESG-linked plans, managing liquidity and cap tables through growth to IPO, and optimizing operational efficiency with HRIS platforms and automation. 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Learn how to create equity purchase and performance share plans that align with company goals, ESG targets, and growth objectives, even on limited budgets.
• Discover how to leverage HRIS platforms, third-party administrators, and automated processes to streamline plan administration and minimize complexity.
• Gain practical insights into navigating liquidity events, cap tables, carve-outs, and employee engagement while scaling plans from early-stage to IPO or group-wide programs.

Designing global performance awards is both an art and a science. From fluctuating foreign exchange rates to evolving disclosure requirements, creating effective performance-based equity programs requires careful calibration and technical precision. This deep-dive session explores the architecture of successful global performance awards, covering metric selection, peer benchmarking, multi-currency valuation, and alignment with local tax rules.

Ideal for professionals in plan design, accounting, or global mobility, attendees will gain actionable insights to elevate their performance equity programs from simply compliant to strategically cutting-edge.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Learn how to calibrate performance metrics and benchmark against peers to drive meaningful, measurable outcomes.
• Explore strategies for navigating FX fluctuations, multi-currency valuation, and local tax and compliance requirements.
• Gain practical approaches to transform your programs from compliant structures to innovative, workforce-engaging solutions.

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.

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.

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.