Mind the Gap: When Values and Behaviors Don’t Match

Culture breaks down when what we say doesn’t match what we do. This presentation by the Silicon Valley chapter of the NHRA we'll address the gaps between stated values and everyday behaviors that damage trust. You’ll learn how to spot early warning signs, use employee feedback to conduct a culture audit, and guide leaders toward alignment. This matters because employees decide whether to trust leadership based on what they see, not what they hear. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to close the gap and build credibility in your role.

Learning Objectives

• Identify contradictions between stated values and actual behaviors.
• Perform a quick contradictions audit within their own organization.
• Select strategies to realign leadership actions with cultural values.

Agenda

5:30 PM IN-PERSON NETWORKING (dinner included)
6:00 PM VIRTUAL SESSION BEGINS
6:05 PM LEGAL UPDATES
6:15 PM PROGRAM
7:15 PM Q&A 

Speakers

• Samantha Schneider is the founder and Principal of AmpersandPeople, Inc. She is an established People Leader with over 20 years of experience in recruiting and human resources, working with a variety of industries, and was recognized as one of BLOC’s 100 Most Impactful Women & Allies for 2025. Samantha holds a Bachelor's in Organizational Communications from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. When she’s not working, she enjoys adventuring to places she's never been & exhausting her Annual Pass to Disneyland, as well as mentoring & giving back to her community.
   
• Ashley Carson is a mission-driven, people-first HR executive turned consultant with over 20 years of experience leading People & Culture functions across startups, healthcare, and biotech. After years in-house, she now partners with early- to growth-stage organizations as a HR consultant and fractional leader—helping build people systems, develop leadership capability, and scale cultures that last. She is a systems thinker with a bias for action. Known for challenging the status quo, she believes that just because something “works” doesn’t mean it can’t be better or more efficient. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, always grounded in clarity, curiosity, and care.

Organizer

This event is organized by the Silicon Valley chapter of the NHRA and co-sponsored by the UCSC Silicon Valley Professional Education Human Resource Management certificate program.

Student Discount

To attend free, use the student discount code: YUVZCD5W