Navigating Leadership and Innovation at SIOP 2025

From April 2-5, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) 2025 Conference in Denver, Colorado. As an undergraduate student, this experience was a major highlight of my academic journey. 

I attended SIOP to present a research poster with my supervisor, Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett, on “An Exploration of Toxic Leadership Behaviors and Impacts.” I had worked on this project during the 2024 Winter semester, and it was rewarding to share our findings at an international conference of practitioners, researchers, and students. Throughout the poster session, I engaged in meaningful conversations with attendees who offered valuable feedback and encouragement to continue this work. We even stayed 30 minutes past our scheduled time due to the number of questions and discussions, which was incredibly motivating. 

In addition to presenting, I volunteered at the registration desk, gaining a behind-the-scenes view of how a 5,000-person conference operates. It gave me a new appreciation for the logistics behind large-scale events and offered opportunities to connect with attendees in a more relaxed setting. I also participated in the SIOP Ambassador Program, which connects first-time attendees with experienced mentors. Through this, I was paired with Dr. Anand van Zelderen (Zurich University) and Maaike Schellaert (Ghent University), who generously shared their time and insights. They encouraged me to attend as many mixers and socials as possible to get the most out of the experience. 

At a coffee shop, I met Dr. Steve Jex, a prominent researcher in work stress and founding member of the Society for Occupational Health Psychology (SOHP). I later attended the SOHP reception, along with events like Asians in I/O, SIOP Canadians, and University of Calgary socials. These were some of the most enriching parts of the conference, allowing me to meet others from diverse backgrounds and stages in their careers and learn about emerging directions in the field. 

More on the scholarly side, I attended sessions focused on the future of work, especially the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models. Many panels discussed how these tools are reshaping hiring, performance evaluations, and employee experience. One particularly compelling session examined the balance between HR policies that restrict AI use in hiring and the increasing value of AI skills in today’s workforce. It emphasized the need to clarify when AI use should be limited and when it should be recognized as a strength, reflecting broader shifts in the labor market. 

I'm especially thankful to the Scholars Academy Career and Professional Development Award and the Student Activities Fund for supporting this experience. Attending my first international conference as an undergraduate left me with new knowledge, connections, and a clearer sense of how I want to grow within the academic and professional communities.