Last year, Bill Kutik retired from his role as chairman, grand poobah and institutional curmudgeon of the world famous HR Technology Conference & Expo.
If you don’t know anything about the show, it’s the one place where you can see everything and learn everything you need to know about the intersection of talent, organizational performance and human resources. There’s nothing else like it for HR leaders out there.
Bill Kutik is my scurrilous stepfather and defacto mentor. I write an annual letter about Bill and the conference, and this year feels weird. His successor, Steve Boese, doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to being cranky and dismissive.
Dang it. I miss Bill already.
Bill and I spoke, a few months ago, and I asked him how he feels about retirement.
“I’m not retired,” he said.
All old people say that.
I asked him how he expects to feel when he shows up in Las Vegas for this year’s conference and isn’t in charge.
He said, “I don’t know.”
So I told Bill how every old-slash-retired person feels when a company doesn’t crumble upon their departure.
- They are immensely proud of those who have carried the mantle forward.
- They are extremely picky about the details.
- The whole thing feels bittersweet. New chapters are great, but they come with challenges.
Bill said, “I think you’re probably right.”
(The student becomes the teacher. Circle of life. Lion King shit. Right here.)
Anyway, I hope you can attend the HR Technology Conference & Expo and meet Bill Kutik in his role as Chairman Emeritus. There is no one else in the world who knows our industry more than Bill.
Certainly, no one has his tan or his charm.
If you want to attend, you can use my discount code LAURIE14.
I’ll see you in Las Vegas. Bill and I will be hanging out at the nickel slots. I’ll be gambling away his retirement fund.
I can’t wait!
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