Ditch the Dashboard: Career Growth That Actually Sticks | All Things Work

Why It Matters

The talk reframes retention and engagement as problems solvable through straightforward, low-tech methods that scale across managers and teams, offering a faster, cheaper alternative to expensive software implementations. Companies that adopt these practices can improve talent development and reduce turnover by empowering employees to own their career trajectories.

Summary

At SHRM Talent 2026 in Dallas, Pete Schram, founder of Latitude Career Development and now VP of Partnerships at Govini, outlined his Pathfinder methodology for employee growth, centered on three elements: ikigai (purpose), a five-dimension career map (the path), and a personal board of advisors (the people). Schram argued organizations too often chase new tech to fix engagement and retention problems, when the real gaps are execution, accountability, manager involvement, and simple human-centered practices that can be done with pencil and paper. He demonstrated a hands-on worksheet approach to help employees identify skills, passions, and practical next steps, stressing that anyone—not just HR—can support career development. The session emphasized low-cost, scalable behaviors over costly platform rollouts to create lasting career progress.

Original Description

Feeling stuck at work? It’s not always about effort or lack thereof. It's often about clarity, purpose, and the right people in your corner. Pete Schramm, career development expert and the founder of employee connection and retention platform, Lattitude, argues that better employee engagement comes from something far more human than what a new app or dashboard could offer.

Schramm walks through three practical tools: “Ikigai” to rediscover what makes your work meaningful, career maps to reveal options beyond your current role, and a personal board of advisors to take the pressure off finding one perfect mentor. It's a refreshing take on growth that puts people first.

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