2025 NIRI Southwest Regional Conference

In this session, Kelsey will share expert advice, cutting-edge techniques, and standout approaches to help you navigate the recruiting landscape with confidence. Whether you’re aiming to excel in your current role, position yourself for future opportunities, enduring the current landscape, or want to uncover what truly sets top candidates apart, this session will equip you with the insider knowledge, strategies, and rules you need to win the game of recruiting.

Nearly all of the top 25 holders of US equities now are Passives or asset-allocators, as formerly active managers rush to convert mutual funds to Exchange Traded Funds. Vanguard’s vaunted patent that gave that firm a unique capacity to issue ETFs as a separate share class on the same underlying fund has expired – accelerating the stampede of copycats. Since May 2024, ETFs have added over $2 trillion of assets, bringing the US total to nearly $12 trillion. So, do we step up our efforts to get stock-pickers to offset the onslaught?  Or is there a better strategy?  And do issuers harm their shareholders’ best interests with some prevalent practices?

As we head into the 2025 proxy season, companies should expect a change in how stakeholders engage. In particular, with the SEC’s expanded interpretation of what constitutes an “active” shareholder, large investors will potentially need to change the way they communicate with issuers, be less forthcoming in discussions, or potentially stop engaging all together.  How should IROs manage this paradigm shift, potentially enhancing traditional disclosures like the proxy while considering alternative strategies to ensure effective communication with shareholders. 

Following this review, we will discuss the Fitzcores model and application.  During the session, participants will be invited to engage the test environment to run their own scenarios, and ample time will be reserved for questions and discussion.

AI is transforming investor relations, and those who fail to adopt it risk falling behind. This interactive session goes beyond theory to showcase proven AI solutions that IR teams are using today. Witness secure AI in action—see how it streamlines workflows, drives strategic decision-making, and mitigates risk, all while ensuring security and compliance. Industry leaders will share practical use cases that highlight AI’s role in boosting efficiency, building trust, and unlocking deeper data insights. Witness firsthand how AI is reshaping IR and learn why adopting it is essential to staying competitive.