Workday Rising US 2025 is just around the corner. From September 15 to 18, thousands of professionals will come together at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California for a world-leading event that explores technology, artificial intelligence and the future of work.

There’s so much to see, so much to learn and so many people to network with that it’s easy to miss out on some of the biggest opportunities over the four days. We’ve put together this guide on how to plan your Workday Rising experience, and some of the events and sessions that you simply can’t miss.

Our top 6 tips for Workday Rising US 2025

1. Don’t miss Brené Brown’s Welcome Keynote conversation

This year’s opening keynote, hosted by Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach, will feature the world-renowned researcher and bestselling author Brené Brown. She’ll be drawing on her decades of experience exploring vulnerability, courage and empathy, and provide key insights on how these principles can be applied to modern workplace transformation. 

Brown brings invaluable expertise in building resilient teams and fostering psychological safety — essential capabilities as organizations adopt AI-powered solutions. Her insights on leading through uncertainty are particularly relevant for HR professionals, payroll specialists, and IT leaders navigating this period of rapid technological change.

2. See CloudPay’s live Leading Practice Session [25-SPTS1242]

CloudPay’s Director of Solutions Consulting, Sammy Molinaro will take to the stage to share the very latest on Global Payroll Connect. In his session, ‘One Integration, Endless Impact: Real-World Wins with Global Payroll Connect’, you’ll hear real stories of success of global businesses using Workday’s Global Payroll Connect. This includes how global pay can be managed seamlessly, how it can be used for unrivalled visibility of payroll performance, and how organizations are leveraging on-demand data capabilities.

Whether you’re a director, manager, or practitioner, this session will help you explore solutions and consulting across workforce management, productivity, and payroll. Come prepared with the Workday Events app and headphones for the live audio feature — and plan to arrive early since seating is first-come, first-served.

Our Chief Customer Officer, John Pearce, will also be running the ‘Payroll Integration: Automating Seamless Data Flows’ session, and our Chief Revenue Officer, Tim Johnson, will be breaking down what sailing teaches us about Payroll in his session ‘Tack, Jibe, and Reefing’. Unfortunately, both sessions are now fully booked. But if you visit us at Booth D40, our team will be able to answer any queries you have on all things integration, automation and payroll related.

3. Maximize your networking opportunities

Workday Rising US 2025 doesn’t have to be work, work, work. It’s also an ideal opportunity for networking in a relaxed environment, both inside and outside the 9-to-5.

You’ll find plenty of coffee lounges and expo corners where you can have quiet conversations and get some rest away from the crowds. There’s a range of social events too, including the Sunrise 5K fun run and walk, morning yoga, and the Customer Appreciation Party on Wednesday night, starring British music legends Duran Duran.

4. Curate your must-see sessions

With so much on offer, there’s something for everyone at Workday Rising, no matter your experience level or what you’re looking to learn.

Are you a first-timer? Check out the introductory sessions for HR, finance, IT, services, and student management. Looking for department-based expertise? Then the role-based keynotes for the offices of HR, finance, payroll and IT are for you. And if it’s AI you want to explore, then there will be a range of sessions exploring the technology in detail, too.

5. Plan ahead for the expo

Don’t wait until you get there. Your Workday Rising US 2025 planning should start now. Many booth meetings get booked up fast, especially with the top vendors, so you should create a shortlist according to your strategic initiatives and start making some reservations. Use the Workday Events app to secure your spots.

Make sure you’re prepared for every eventuality too. It might be cooler in the evenings (and indoors!) so make sure you have some layers, and comfortable shoes for plenty of walking. A power bank, water bottle and business cards should also be in your backpack, and don’t forget to look up how to get to the Moscone Center, whether through MUNI and BART public transit, or Uber and Lyft rideshare.

6. Don’t forget to follow up

The show’s not over when Workday Rising US 2025 closes its doors. Now you have the chance to follow up your inquiries and new contacts: we recommend sending personalized messages to new LinkedIn connections, scheduling meetings with any promising vendor contacts, and documenting any key takeaways from the sessions you’ve attended. If you’ve traveled a long way to get to San Francisco, then these are perfect jobs for the journey home.

Other notable Workday Rising sessions we’ll be attending

CHRO Advantage: Unlocking Agility, Unleashing Human Potential [25-KEY4]

Learn how Workday is driving adaptability and scalability thanks to innovation, and the collaboration between humans and machines. You’ll also discover how HR teams can seize the opportunity to take a bigger leadership role at a time of rapid change.

Simplifying Global Payroll with Global Payroll Connect [25-HRLP1528]

Explore the innovative features within GPC that can revolutionize your payroll operations, how the Workday payroll team uses GPC to optimize its payroll processing, and the full reach of the global partner network.

What’s New: Global Payroll Connect [25-HRWN1514]

Maggie Hoang, Senior Product Manager at Workday, runs through some of the new and exciting features within GPC. She’ll cover how they can deliver seamless experiences for employees and practitioners alike, reduce complexity, save time and effort, and maximize the potential of AI in payroll processing.