Opening Keynote Speaker. Author & Industry Leader
Jessica Zwaan
I’m Jessica Zwaan, and I organise my thoughts by thinking and then writing down the bits that feel helpful - to me, and hopefully to you reading this. One of my favourite things to write about is how humans organise themselves into “work”: the mess, the meaning, and all the strange systems we build to make sense of it.
Outside of writing, I help companies notice what they’re doing (not the aspirational version, the real one) and redesign it so people can move with more meaning and less friction. It’s part anthropology, part product thinking, part structured nosiness. Sometimes the work becomes a book. Sometimes it becomes a new way to design work. Sometimes it becomes a tool, a ritual, a way of seeing things differently.
Session Details
People Ops as a Product: The Low Down
Maybe you've heard of People Ops as a Product, its not a new idea but it's gaining traction quickly in modern HR circles. Jessica Zwaan, author of Built for People, has been practicing People Ops as a Product for over 7 years and will talk through the 101s and how things have changed since Built for People.
What you'll walk away with:
- How to think about People Ops as a Product.
- The basics of the ways of working.
- What's changed since Built for People.
People Ops as a Product: Roundtable
Join Jessie for a small-group roundtable designed for people leaders working through real product-led people ops challenges.
This is not a passive Q&A.
Attendees will bring one concrete problem statement, share where they’re at, and workshop it with Jessie and peers facing similar questions.
The session is designed to create practical discussion, meaningful connection, and ideas you can take straight back to your team.
You'll get:
- A chance to pressure-test a real people ops challenge with Jessie and peers.
- Practical ideas for navigating common product-led people team obstacles.
- Exposure to how other teams are approaching similar problems and decision points.
- A more interactive, high-value connection opportunity than a standard keynote or open Q&A.
THIS SESSION IS CAPPED AT 30 PEOPLE, SO RESERVE YOUR SPOT AND JOIN EARLY.
Tickets
Come for the day. Stay for the year. Choose your pass.
Final tickets are now selling. Choose the pass that works for you. However you join us, you’ll get access to the ideas, people and sessions shaping startup People teams right now.
Get in while you still can. SPS 2026 kicks off in:
Final Release
The full SPS 2026 experience. Live sessions across 5 tracks, real-time Q&As with speakers, guided networking built into the day, and your event workbook.
This is the one. Be in the room.
Join the sessions you can live, then catch the rest on replay for the next 12 months.
$385
Company Pass
Bring your whole People team to SPS for one flat fee, with live access for your team, and 12 months of replay included.
A simple way to turn SPS into a shared learning experience.
Sales close 2 September (AEST).
$1,100
Replay Pass
Can’t join us live? Get the complete SPS 2026 session library and watch every session and every speaker at any time.
It's not the same as being in the room, but it means you won't miss a thing.
Price rises to $360 on 4 September (AEST).
$345
Need a little flexibility? BNPL options are available at checkout.
Most attendee's choose to use their L&D budget for their ticket, and Startup People Summit is easily expensed. Here's a template to help you make the case to your boss.
Sponsors
The brands behind Startup People Summit.
SPS 2026 is powered by the companies People leaders actually work with. They're the platforms your team runs on, and the people building what comes next for our function. Get to know them.
Platinum Partners
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Stay in the know
Sign up and we'll keep you posted on important event updates, speaker announcements, agenda drops, ticket releases, and more.
