the 3rd Annual Grief Awareness & Education Conference
About this Event
Turn Disruption into Direction
Work doesn’t pause for loss. Teams don’t magically “bounce back” after change. And most organizations are still trying to solve human disruption with policy alone.
This two-day event is built for the workplace. Not therapy. Not a support group. Real-world skill-building for leaders, HR, and organizations that want to keep people steady, supported, and moving forward through grief, caregiving, illness, identity shifts, burnout, restructuring, and major life transitions.
What you’ll leave with
- Practical language for hard conversations that actually happen at work
- A clear way to turn care into repeatable systems, not one-off heroics
- A framework for meaning-making that strengthens culture instead of draining it
- A tangible implementation toolkit: scripts, templates, and a 30/60/90-day plan
- Real examples and strategies that protect retention and performance during disruption
Who this is for
- HR and People Ops professionals
- Business owners and executives
- Managers and team leads
- DEI, benefits, wellness, and employee experience leaders
- Anyone responsible for culture, retention, and human sustainability at work
Day 1 (In-Person) is the high-touch learning experience: live skill-building, real-time dialogue, and connection with other leaders doing this work. You leave with clarity, language, and a strong framework for meaning-making at work.
Day 2 (Virtual) is built to help you put it into motion: live instruction, practical labs, and implementation tools you can bring back to your team. You leave with scripts, templates, and a 30/60/90-day plan you can actually deploy.
For the highest value, the All-Access Pass gives you both: the energy and depth of the in-person day, plus the structure and tools of the virtual day. If your schedule or location only allows one day, either day can be attended independently and will still deliver a complete, high-value experience.
In-Person
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
In-Person Day 1 Registration
Info: Arrive early for complimentary coffee sponsored by FIRE BY FORGE restaurant, and mingle with fellow attendees and speakers before the event kicks off
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:10 AM
Opening Ceremony
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: Join us in the auditorium for a welcome address from our event host, CEO and founder of OnTuesdays We Wear Black, Kate Mollison, and a Keynote speech from Andy McNiel, CEO of Compassionate Friends, a national grief non-profit supporting families.
🕑: 10:20 AM - 11:00 AM
Corporate Skill Building
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: “From Loss to Leadership: Tools for managers, HR, and teams navigating change”. When loss and major life transitions enter the workplace, even well-intentioned leaders can struggle with what to say, what to do, and how to support an employee while still meeting the needs of the organization. This interactive skill-building session moves beyond awareness and into application. Kate Mollison will equip managers, HR professionals, and organizational leaders with practical tools for responding to grief, loss, and significant change in the workplace. Participants will explore communication strategies, common leadership missteps, supportive workplace practices, and ways to balance compassion with operational needs. Designed with Monday morning in mind, attendees will leave with actionable strategies they can immediately bring back to their teams, helping them respond to difficult moments with greater confidence, consistency, and care.
🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Breakout Session 1
Host: Sweta Vikram
Info: Attendees will be divided into two groups for concurrent breakout sessions. Group A will attend Jason's session while Group B attends Sweta's session. During breakout session 2 in the afternoon, the groups will switch, ensuring that every attendee has the opportunity to participate in both sessions. Your group assignment and breakout locations will be provided at the event day of.
🕑: 12:20 PM - 01:20 PM
Lunch & Learn
Host: Jason Wendroff-Ranwicki
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Breakout Session 2
Host: Sweta Vikram
Info: Groups will switch sessions for afternoon breakouts. Group A will attend Sweta's session and Group B will attend Jason's session, allowing attendees to participate in both breakout experiences.
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:30 PM
Fireside Chat- "Designing a Grief-Literate Organization"
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: What does it actually take to build an organization that understands grief, not simply when a loss occurs, but as a part of its culture, leadership, and everyday operations? Join Kate Mollison and special guest, Andy McNiel, CEO of The Compassionate Friends, for a candid exploration of grief-literate leadership from the executive perspective. Drawing on Andy's experience leading non-profits and grief-focused organizations, the conversation will examine how leaders can move compassion from an organizational value into practice. Together, Kate & Andy will discuss leadership responsibility, workplace culture, communication policy, and the realities of supporting both employees and the communities organizations serve. This fireside chat will offer an honest look at what works, what companies often get wrong, and what it means to build systems where grief is understood rather than managed around
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Virtual
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
Virtual Day Registration & Early Tech Check
Info: Log in early to get extra facetime with speakers and ensure tech is working smoothly
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:45 AM
Kickoff
Host: Dr. Karen Kramer
Info: Join us for a warm welcome address from our virtual day MC, Dr. Karen! We will go over what to expect for the day as well as a recap from the previous day's In-Person event.
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Keynote Address
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: "From Loss to Leadership: Reflections for Managers, HR & Teams Navigating Loss". Loss and change don't stay outside of the workplace. In this keynote, Kate Mollison explores what leadership[ looks like when employees are navigating grief, caregiving, illness, and major life transitions. Drawing from lived experience and her professional work, Kate examines the gap between organizational policy and the human experience of loss, offering reflections on how leaders can create cultures where people remain supported, connected, and capable through change. ABOUT KATE: Kate Mollison is the Founder and CEO of OTWWB, a grief educator and TEDx speaker. After the sudden death of her husband while working in management, Kate combined her lived experience with nearly a decade of leadership experience to help individuals and organizations navigate grief, change, workplace culture, and employee retention.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Group Plenary 1
Host: Jason Wendroff-Ranwicki
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Skills Lab 1- Breakout Rooms
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: Attendees will be divided into two groups for concurrent breakout sessions. Group A will attend Kate's session while Group B attends Lisa's session. During breakout session 2 in the afternoon, the groups will switch, ensuring that every attendee has the opportunity to participate in both sessions. Your group assignment and breakout locations will be provided at the event day of.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:35 PM
Lunch Break/ Optional Networking
Info: Rejoin the main meeting room and spend time with your peers and presenters. Hear more about the previous day, and get the chance to connect with other attendees
🕑: 12:40 PM - 01:30 PM
Group Plenary 2
Host: Dr. Karen Kramer
🕑: 01:35 PM - 02:35 PM
Skills Lab 2- Breakout Rooms
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: Group will be divided into 2 concurrent sessions. Those who attended session A in the morning will attend B in the afternoon, and vice versa.
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:30 PM
Group Discussion/ Q & A
Host: Dr. Karen Kramer
Info: Come back to the main meeting room, where our event MC, Dr. Karen will facilitate a group led discussion about the day. Attendees will be guided through the experience, leaving the session with a commitment to one take away as well as access to download the digital toolkit you receive for attending.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Host: Kate Mollison
Info: Event Host Kate Mollison closes out the day with final reflections and sponsor mentions
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM
OPTIONAL- meet & Greet with speakers
Info: After event commencement, have the opportunity to chat with speakers from both day 1 & day 2 of this year's Conference. find out about next year's event and sign up for volunteer opportunities.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 179.00
