For this special episode of Executive Platforms' bluEPrint Podcast series we sat down with two of the top speakers from the 2025 edition of the long-running North American HR Executive Summit series for a wide-ranging discussion about the issues, ideas, challenges, and opportunities that are top of mind for human resources leaders today, as suggested by the attendees of the event. Give it a listen!

This roundtable includes…

Panelists:

Denise Abbott
Senior Vice President Human Resources
FedEx

Denise Abbott has served as Senior Vice President HR for FedEx Express Corporation since November 2021.

In this Business Partner role, Denise leads the HR strategy and service delivery for FedEx International and Airline Operations with a focus on talent, human capital management and enhancing the employee value proposition.

Denise has more than 30 years of employee relations experience working with corporate professionals in a variety of industries. She joined FedEx Ground in 2011 as a Senior Attorney in the Labor Law Group and held various roles within the company before becoming Vice President Human Resources at FedEx Ground in 2017. In 2020, Denise joined the FedEx Express team in Europe, expanding her role to include a global remit in 2023.

Denise earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She is the recipient of the prestigious FedEx Five Star Award.

Denise currently lives in Amsterdam with her husband David where she enjoys traveling the world and learning to speak Dutch.

Karen Light
Vice President, Total Rewards
Walmart

Karen Light has more than 20 years of experience as a senior HR executive responsible for People, Total Rewards, and Benefits Programs that drive talent retention and engagement, lead business transformations, and deploying solutions to decrease costs, reduce risk, and improve efficiency. At Walmart, she is responsible for supporting the well-being of more than 1.5 million associates.

Moderator:

Geoff Micks
Head of Content & Research
Executive Platforms

Geoff joined the industry events business as a conference producer in 2010 after four years working in print media. He has researched, planned, organized, run, and contributed to more than a hundred events across North America and Europe for senior leaders, with special emphasis on the energy, mining, manufacturing, maintenance, supply chain, human resources, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, finance, and sustainability sectors. As part of his role as Head of Content & Research, Geoff hosts Executive Platforms’ bluEPrint Podcast series as well as a blog focusing on issues relevant to Executive Platforms’ network of business leaders.

Geoff is the author of five works of historical fiction: Inca, Zulu, Beginning, Middle, and End. The New York Times and National Public Radio have interviewed him about his writing, and he wrote and narrated an animated short for Vice Media that appeared on HBO. He has a BA Honours with High Distinction from the University of Toronto specializing in Journalism with a Double Minor in History and Classical Studies, as well as Diploma in Journalism from Centennial College.