Visa operates in more than 250 countries and territories and supports employees in over 100 countries with equity compensation—truly a global footprint. This panel will take you behind the scenes of Visa’s expansive stock plan programs to explore what it takes to design, implement, and scale equity programs across diverse regions.
 

Join experts from Deloitte and Visa for an in-depth discussion on lessons learned from managing one of the world’s most progressive and far-reaching equity programs. The panel will cover the end-to-end journey of global ESPP expansion, including evaluating feasibility in different countries, designing policies for scale, navigating complex legal and tax considerations, balancing stakeholder priorities, and effectively communicating and engaging employees worldwide.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand how to evaluate program viability, create scalable policies, and align plans with local and global requirements.
• Learn strategies for balancing priorities across legal, tax, HR, and executive stakeholders while navigating diverse regulatory environments.
• Gain actionable approaches to communicating and engaging employees across regions to maximize participation and program effectiveness.

As global equity programs continue to evolve amid regulatory change, workforce mobility, and rapid advances in technology, staying ahead of what’s coming next has never been more critical. This forward-looking session provides a global snapshot of where equity compensation stands in 2026—and what companies should be preparing for now.
 

These global industry experts from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Israel, and the US, will explore key regulatory developments across major regions, shifting talent mobility and retention dynamics, and the growing influence of technology and AI on equity administration. Designed to help global equity leaders navigate uncertainty with confidence, this session will combine strategic insights with practical considerations to support informed decision-making in an increasingly complex environment.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Identify key regulatory trends and emerging risks across major global markets and how they may impact equity plan design and administration.
• Explore how changing workforce patterns—including cross-border mobility and remote work—are reshaping global equity strategies.
• Learn how technology and AI are transforming equity operations, from compliance and reporting to data management and decision support.
   

Transitioning to a public company is a defining moment—particularly when equity programs must scale quickly across multiple countries. For newly public organizations, the real challenge begins after the bell rings: building equity plans that meet heightened governance expectations while supporting a growing, global workforce.
 

Drawing on lessons learned from recent IPOs, this session explores critical post-IPO considerations including Day 1 trading readiness for officers and executive leadership roles (ELRs), scalable equity operations, and the realities of managing cross-border tax, compliance, and award administration. Through real-world examples, speakers will share how companies have balanced control and flexibility—creating equity programs that are resilient, compliant, and built for international growth.
 

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Understand post-IPO equity requirements, including trading readiness for officers and executives.
• Learn how to build equity processes that adapt to regional expansion, operational growth, and evolving governance needs.
• Gain practical strategies for handling tax withholding, award modifications, and local compliance across jurisdictions.

Equity programs only create value when employees truly understand them. Yet for many—particularly those with limited financial experience—equity benefits feel complex, confusing, or out of reach. This panel brings together seasoned equity and communication leaders to share how companies are simplifying equity education and making participation more accessible across all employee populations.
 

Experts will focus on practical communication strategies that cut through confusion, correct common misconceptions, and drive engagement—from ESPP enrollment decisions to understanding the value of RSUs. Through real-world examples, the panel will highlight how interactive videos, digital content, and intuitive modeling tools can build equity literacy and confidence across a global workforce.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• How to communicate equity concepts clearly without losing accuracy or credibility.
• Which tools and formats most effectively increase employee understanding and participation.
• How to address common misconceptions that prevent employees from engaging with equity.

Global equity programs bring complex reporting obligations that touch multiple stakeholders throughout the plan lifecycle—from implementation to plan termination or conversion in an M&A context. This session brings together legal experts, corporate issuers, and a financial institution representative to unpack these requirements, offering insight into how companies manage reporting duties across jurisdictions while maintaining compliance and governance standards.
 

Panelists will share practical approaches for handling regulatory and market transparency obligations, addressing evolving requirements, and mitigating risks tied to non-compliance. Attendees will gain actionable guidance on establishing oversight, managing cross-border reporting, and ensuring alignment with both global and local obligations, including indirectly related regulations like the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understanding the full scope of reporting obligations tied to global equity programs.
• Best practices for managing compliance effectively across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strategies for maintaining oversight and mitigating risks of reporting failures.

From China to Chile, the U.S. to the UK—and everywhere in between—this session takes a practical look at the legal, regulatory, and tax updates shaping global equity incentive plans. 
Designed for professionals balancing compliance, cost, and complexity, this session cuts through the noise with candid discussion, practical guidance, and hard-earned lessons on managing global incentive plans without losing your sanity—or your budget. Whether you’re a seasoned global equity leader or just expanding internationally, you’ll walk away with actionable insights you can apply immediately.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the latest regulatory and tax developments impacting equity compensation across key global markets.
• Learn strategies to control compliance costs while minimizing legal, tax, and operational risk.
• Gain real-world tips from issuers and advisors on keeping plans compliant, scalable, and efficient across multiple jurisdictions.

Since the early days of big tech, double-trigger equity awards have become a standard tool for private issuers preparing for liquidity events. Over time, companies have adapted these awards with more sophisticated vesting schedules and termination treatments to meet unique plan needs. This session will use issuer case studies to explore the rationale behind double-trigger awards, current design trends, and key considerations for administration, legal compliance, and termination processes. Participants will gain practical insights into managing post-termination “tails,” mitigating Section 409A risks, and designing awards that balance flexibility with compliance.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• Understanding the purpose and rationale behind double-trigger equity awards.
• Design considerations including vesting schedules, termination treatments, and post-termination participant “tails.”
• Legal and administrative implications, including Section 409A risks and best practices for compliance.

Recent changes in US corporate tax law have created important implications for public companies, particularly around the deduction of executive compensation under IRC Section 162(m). This targeted session will explore how global equity programs can influence who qualifies as a “covered employee” and which elements of compensation must be considered, starting from 2016 and 2017. Attendees will gain practical insights into navigating these changes to ensure compliance while optimizing their equity plans.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• How recent US tax law changes affect corporate deductions and covered employee designations.
• The role of global equity programs in determining which compensation is subject to IRC Section 162(m).
• Practical steps for aligning equity plan strategy with tax compliance and corporate objectives.

AI scale-ups are scaling globally at an unprecedented speed, making traditional equity incentive models outdated. In this hyper-competitive environment, companies must design cross-border equity strategies from day one, treating employees as partners to win the war for talent. This keynote moves beyond theory, drawing on Nordic client engagements to share practical insights and a clear framework of “Do’s and Don’ts” for equity incentives. Attendees will explore real-world examples of what works—and what doesn’t—equipping leaders to build strategies that align employees, drive sustained motivation, and create a durable competitive advantage in the AI-driven economy.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• How to design equity incentives for global, fast-scaling AI companies from the first hire. 
• Practical “Do’s and Don’ts” for crafting a modern equity story that motivates and engages employees. 
• Strategies to align talent with business goals, fostering retention, motivation, and long-term competitive advantage.

Operating a global share plan comes with a unique set of challenges, from regulatory and tax compliance to cultural differences across jurisdictions. In this panel discussion, Standard Chartered will share how they developed a preparation strategy and successfully introduced their Sharesave plan to employees worldwide. Attendees will gain practical insights into the realities of administering a global Sharesave, including the complexities involved and the tangible benefits that make the effort worthwhile.

KEY LEARNINGS:

• How regulatory and tax obligations vary across jurisdictions and the implications for global plan administration. 
• The full scope of administrative complexity when operating a global Sharesave. 
• The importance of tailoring communication and education strategies to different regional audiences.