ATD Blog

This Is an Investment in You

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An ATD attendee reveals what keeps her coming back to the International Conference & EXPO.

Tue May 20 2025

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Tonya Tucker Collins HR Executive San Francisco, California

Tonya Tucker Collins
HR Executive
San Francisco, California

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On her current role: Currently, I’m in between companies. I start my new job on June 2.

On her current role: Currently, I’m in between companies. I start my new job on June 2.

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On her ATD conference experience: This is either my eighth or ninth [ATD annual conference]. The community is what keeps me coming back every single year. Also, the learnings. I always walk away with something I didn’t know I needed and something I knew I needed. In addition to that, sometimes a refresh on areas I wasn’t thinking about.

On her ATD conference experience: This is either my eighth or ninth [ATD annual conference]. The community is what keeps me coming back every single year. Also, the learnings. I always walk away with something I didn’t know I needed and something I knew I needed. In addition to that, sometimes a refresh on areas I wasn’t thinking about.

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On memories of her first annual conference and lessons she’s learned: My first conference, I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people. I can’t even remember what city it was in. All I remember was thinking, “I have to go to everything. I have to do everything.” And by the end, I was completely wiped out. Now, I take it a little bit slower.

On memories of her first annual conference and lessons she’s learned: My first conference, I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people. I can’t even remember what city it was in. All I remember was thinking, “I have to go to everything. I have to do everything.” And by the end, I was completely wiped out. Now, I take it a little bit slower.

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That’s probably my biggest feedback to anyone if you’re doing it. Take it a little bit slower, get focused, and don’t be selfish. That’s a point my colleague makes. We don’t have to be on for work and this. This is an investment in you. Enjoy it!

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On what she’s looking forward to this year: So, this is a generation thing. Not only am I a speaker—I went from being a volunteer to a speaker—but my son is speaking. I’m serious! It’s a proud mom moment. I get to see my son up on stage as a speaker in this setting that I love, and what more could you ask for? His name is Kelvin Jenkins. He has his own practice, AP Business Collective, and I get to see him help others accelerate their careers. That’s, for me, the biggest thing. He figured it out, and he does better than me in a lot of ways, and I know I had a part in that. That’s my highlight.

On what she’s looking forward to this year: So, this is a generation thing. Not only am I a speaker—I went from being a volunteer to a speaker—but my son is speaking. I’m serious! It’s a proud mom moment. I get to see my son up on stage as a speaker in this setting that I love, and what more could you ask for? His name is Kelvin Jenkins. He has his own practice, AP Business Collective, and I get to see him help others accelerate their careers. That’s, for me, the biggest thing. He figured it out, and he does better than me in a lot of ways, and I know I had a part in that. That’s my highlight.