California HR leaders are facing a perfect storm: aggressive AI adoption, new 2026 compliance requirements like SB 294, and rising expectations for culture, trust, and transparency. Most sessions talk about these pressures; this lab helps you work through them. In this highly interactive “war room,” participants tackle real scenarios—AI in recruiting and performance, SB 294 fallout, toxic managers, and accommodation/caregiving conflicts—using a 20-minute People Problem Triage framework I use with clients across California. Small groups move through three lenses: risk (legal and regulatory exposure), culture (trust, equity, psychological safety), and communication (who to involve, what to say, and how to document). You’ll leave with a reusable triage template, risk matrix, and practical scripts you can use Monday morning with your managers.