For decades, leaders have focused on performance metrics while overlooking the primary driver of sustained results: relationships. This session introduces The Relationship Chain, a practical, research-backed framework that helps talent and HR leaders understand how trust, alignment, and connection shape engagement, retention, and performance over time.
Drawing on insights from Transforming Teams: Build Teams that Connect, Collaborate, and Achieve (ATD Press, July 2026), this presentat
ion by Ed Cohen reframes relationships as a leading indicator of organizational success rather than a “soft” outcome. Using real-world examples from global organizations, participants will explore how relational health can be intentionally built, measured, and embedded across the employee life cycle to create resilient, high-performing teams.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss why relationships act as a leading indicator of engagement, retention, and performance.
- Explore how the Relationship Chain supports trust, alignment, and connection across teams.
- Identify where relational health is being strengthened or eroded across the employee life cycle.
- Apply practical strategies to intentionally build and sustain relational health within talent development and HR practices.
ABOUT YOUR PRESENTER:
Ed Cohen is a global leadership strategist, author, and former Chief People Officer at SprintRay. Over more than five decades and across 75 countries, his work helped organizations transform how they develop leaders, teams, and culture. Teams he has led and organizations he has supported have been recognized twice as #1 in the ATD BEST Awards and earned more than 50 ATD Excellence in Practice Awards, reflecting sustained impact at scale.
Ed is the author of Leadership Without Borders and the forthcoming Transforming Teams: Build Teams that Connect, Collaborate, and Achieve (ATD Press). His work shaped talent and culture strategies for hundreds of organizations around the world including Booz Allen Hamilton, Tech Mahindra (formerly Satyam), Warner Bros. Discovery, Western Union, and SprintRay.
You can pre-order Ed's book at td.org or read a sample chapter. Remember to use the Chapter Code CH8028, when ordering.
ATD Capability Model
ATD Talent Development Capabilities Covered by the Presentation:
- Building Personal Capability – Collaboration and Leadership
- Developing Professional Capability – Coaching
- Impacting Organizational Capability – Performance Improvement
ATD Los Angeles Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.
This program qualifies for a maximum of 1 professional development point.
Find out more about APTD/CPTD Certifications here.
IMAGE Release: By registering for this event, I do hereby give ATD Los Angeles and and its associates or assigns, or anyone acting under its authority or permission, the irrevocable and unrestricted right and permission to: capture the image, audio, and content via photograph, videotape, audiotape, transcription, or other means now available, copyright in its own name or otherwise, and use, reuse, publish, and republish any and all material of which I presented, or may have been included in presenting, in whole or in part. I consent to the use of all media now or hereafter known for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products and the advertising copy or other matter that may be used in connection therewith or the use to which it may be applied. If I do not provide permission, I understand that I will not activate my web camera during virtual sessions.
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All ADA accommodations require a 21-day advanced notice by email to office@atdla.org (use Subject line: ADA Accommodations Request) so that we can reasonably search for and secure accommodations. ATD-LA cannot guarantee that accommodations can be reasonably secured with shorter notice. ATD-LA will cover costs for accommodations as required by law, for the published duration of the event only.
