Most organizations treat onboarding as a short-term event, yet the first year of employment is the strongest predictor of long-term performance and retention. Traditional onboarding ends too early, leaving managers unsupported and new hires unclear on expectations. In this practical, research-backed session, Amber Watts—author of From Onboarding to Everboarding—shares a three-phase development model that turns onboarding into a continuous, performance-driven employee journey.
Participants will learn how to design experiences that build clarity and capability from day one, define role-specific readiness at 30/60/90 days, and measure impact using predictive metrics such as time to proficiency and early performance behaviors. This session offers TD leaders a roadmap to modernize onboarding, strengthen manager involvement, and drive lasting employee success.
Capabilities Model: This address Organizational Capability - Talent Strategy & Management
ATD Certification Credits
ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.
ATD Certification Credits for this program: 1.00
Presenter:
Amber Watts | Author
Amber Watts doesn’t believe in checking boxes. She believes in building better workplaces. As the author of From Onboarding to Everboarding: Redefining Employee Development (ATD Press), a speaker, founder of Radical GrowthWorks, and a Global Performance Consultant at LinkedIn, Amber helps organizations move past surface-level training and start investing in long-term growth for their people.
A former Chief Revenue Officer turned talent strategist, Amber brings real-world experience to every stage, session, and conversation. She’s spent over 15 years leading enablement and development initiatives in high-growth environments. That’s where the Everboarding framework was born. Everboarding is a systems approach that supports employees well beyond Day 1 and helps companies drive performance over time.
Amber is known for her ability to connect dots others don’t see by linking people development to business strategy in ways that actually stick. Her background spans sales enablement, leadership development, change management, and learning design. She’s served as President of ATD Nebraska, a National Advisor to ATD Chapters, and speaks regularly at conferences like ATD ICE, ATD SELL, ATD Chapter Conferences, and Training Magazine.
When she's not working with clients or writing about the future of learning, you can find her hosting book clubs, at her sons’ sporting events, or planning her next big idea over coffee. Amber’s sessions are known for being refreshingly honest and full of takeaways you can actually use.
If you’re ready to ditch the checkbox onboarding and build a culture of continuous development, Amber’s the one you want alongside your team.