About Rob Catalano Session:

Keynote: The Hidden Growth Engine: How People Drive Performance

Location: Main Stage, Rosseau Ballroom

What You'll Learn:

In a mortgage industry navigating through digital transformation and customer experience, one of the most powerful performance drivers remains overlooked: the human experience. This session reframes how the experience of employees and contractors directly influences retention, productivity, profitability, and customer loyalty. 

Drawing on global evidence and industry patterns, leaders will see why organizations that invest intentionally in people experience consistently outperform their peers. Attendees will leave with practical, evidence-based frameworks to turn People Experience into a source of competitive advantage, resilience, and sustainable growth.

Key Takeaways:

• See People Experience as a growth strategy, not HR fluff - Understand how the experience of employees and contractors directly drives mortgage performance, productivity, retention, and customer outcomes.
• Recognize the hidden risks and blind spots limiting performance - Learn why perks, and traditional metrics miss the real drivers of results and why under-investing in people experience creates strategic risk right now.
• Apply practical, evidence-based pillars to build high-performance mortgage teams - Leave with clear frameworks focused on listening, recognition, trust, clarity, and leadership behaviors you can act on in the next 30–90 days.

View the Full Altitude 2026 Agenda → HERE

About Rob Catalano

Rob Catalano is a sought-after speaker, HR technology leader, and trusted advisor to HR executives, focused on leadership, employee experience, and the future of work. In 2026, he was named one of the Top 100 Global Employee Engagement Influencers, recognizing his impact on how organizations think about culture, leadership, and the employee experience in an increasingly complex workplace.

Rob has spent more than two decades building HR technology and advisory companies with the perspective of both a business leader and, more importantly, a people leader. Early in his career, he was part of the founding team at Achievers, one of the pioneers in employee recognition technology. That experience shaped his belief that recognition, listening, and leadership behaviors are not “soft” initiatives, but core drivers of performance, trust, and retention. In 2015, Rob co-founded WorkTango, where he continued to focus on helping organizations better understand their people and translate feedback into meaningful action.

Throughout his career, Rob has worked closely with HR leaders and executive teams navigating culture change, leadership development, employee listening strategies, and recognition programs at scale. More recently, his work has expanded into helping organizations think more thoughtfully about the role of AI in HR, advocating for approaches that enhance human connection rather than replace it. His perspective is grounded in real-world application, shaped by years of building products, advising leaders, and seeing firsthand what works — and what doesn’t.

As a speaker, Rob brings a practitioner’s lens to the stage. His talks blend research, real-world insight, and candid storytelling, challenging conventional thinking while delivering practical frameworks leaders can apply immediately. Rather than relying on buzzwords or abstract models, Rob focuses on clarity and action, helping audiences connect big ideas to everyday leadership decisions. He regularly speaks on topics including leadership effectiveness, employee listening, recognition strategy, culture change, and the thoughtful adoption of AI in HR.

Rob’s speaking style is engaging, grounded, and refreshingly honest. He creates space for reflection while equipping audiences with tangible tools and ideas that resonate long after the session ends. Known for his ability to connect equally well with HR professionals and business leaders, Rob has spoken in over 50 cities at HR conferences, leadership events, and internal organizational sessions around the world.

Outside of his professional work, Rob is an avid hockey and volleyball player, an enthusiastic traveler, a former metal-band guitarist, and a self-described “pointaholic” who collects loyalty points for just about everything. He can be reached at rob@robcatalanospeaks.com, and more information is available at https://www.robcatalanospeaks.com .

See Rob Catalano Live at Altitude 2026

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the world's leading experts on employee experience. Rob's session will equip you with the tools and inspiration to build a workplace culture that not only attracts and retains top talent but also drives unparalleled business success.

[REGISTER FOR ALTITUDE 2026 NOW]