Why Speak at The HRSouthwest Conference?

Speaking at The HRSouthwest Conference is an opportunity to take the stage at one of the largest and most respected regional HR conferences in the country. Each year, more than 2,000 HR professionals gather to learn from trusted experts and forward-thinking leaders who are shaping the future of the workplace. Selected speakers join a distinguished lineup of professionals recognized for their expertise, insight, and impact.

This platform offers more than visibility — it offers influence. Presenting at HRSouthwest elevates your professional reputation, strengthens your credibility as a thought leader, and connects you with senior HR leaders and decision-makers from across Texas and beyond. If you are ready to contribute at the highest level and help advance the HR profession, this is your stage.

Education Tracks

The educational program is thoughtfully curated to reflect the evolving priorities and challenges facing today’s HR professionals. These nine tracks represent the core competencies and emerging issues shaping the future of the workplace, ensuring relevant, strategic, and practical learning for every attendee. All proposals must align with one of our nine educational tracks:

• Business Acumen & HR Strategy
• Employment Law & Labor Relations
• Global HR & Cultural Effectiveness
• Human Resources & Organizational Development
• Leadership & Personal Development
• Risk Management
• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
• Total Rewards
• Ethics
  
  

Strong alignment to a track increases the clarity and competitiveness of your proposal.

The Proposal Review Process

The HRSouthwest Conference receives nearly three times as many proposals as we can accept each year. Our review committee thoughtfully evaluates submissions based on several criteria, including but not limited to:

• Relevance and value to today’s HR professionals

• Timeliness and alignment with current workplace challenges

• Originality and educational depth

• Practical takeaways and actionable insights

• Speaker credentials and subject matter expertise

• Past presentation evaluations (if applicable)

Due to the competitive nature of the selection process, we encourage presenters to submit well-developed, clearly articulated proposals that demonstrate both expertise and the potential to impact attendees.

2025 Speaker Hall of Fame Inductee, Linda Swindling

Preparation is Key 

Preparation leads to stronger proposals — and stronger proposals stand out. To strengthen your submission, we recommend preparing in advance:

• Identify which education track your topic best aligns with
• Gather supporting data or case studies to demonstrate real-world impact.
• Clarify your core takeaway. What will attendees be able to do differently after your session?
• Review your past presentation evaluations and highlight strong results
• Start working on your speaking/presentation style video required for your submission 

Best Practices for Submitting A Strong Proposal

If you want to increase your chances of selection? Keep these best practices in mind:

• Be specific. Clearly define the problem you’re addressing and the outcomes attendees will achieve. 
• Focus on the application. Show how your session translates into action back in the workplace. 
• Avoid generic titles and descriptions. Make your session stand out with a compelling angle. 
• Demonstrate expertise. Include relevant experience, data, case studies, or results. 
• Write for the reviewer. Make it easy to quickly and clearly understand the value of your session. 
• No sales language. 
• If your proposal reads like marketing copy, it will not be selected.