2027 ATD CHI Kick-off 

Jim Perona, a professional musician, will share the story behind Rhythm Under Pressure and how his journey from professional musician to keynote concert speaker has evolved.

Enjoy a live music-infused refelction that helps leaders and teams perform at their best when conditions are at their worst.

Through live music, storytelling, and practical frameworks, audiences discover how high performers adapt when certainty disappears, recover when plans fail, and maintain excellence under pressure.

Event Agenda

4:30–5:00 p.m.: Networking

Reconnect with colleagues, meet new professionals, and enjoy light refreshments.

5:00–6:15 p.m.: Session

Rhythm Under Pressure: A Networking Session Built for People Who Develop People

6:15–6:30 p.m.: Closing Remarks & Wrap-Up

***AIT WORLDWIDE is excited to host us for this event!**

Jim Perona is a keynote concert speaker and internationally recognized classical guitarist who helps organizations perform with greater adaptability, consistency, and confidence when conditions change.

After more than 1,000 professional performances, a career-threatening hand injury, and a life-changing multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Jim discovered that his greatest lessons were not about music. They were about performing under pressure. Those experiences inspired him to create Rhythm Under Pressure, an experiential keynote that blends live music, storytelling, and practical performance principles to help audiences navigate uncertainty and execute when it matters most.

As a performer, Jim has appeared at more than 1,000 events, earned over 750 five-star reviews, performed on the main stage of Chicago’s United Center, and recorded on a Billboard No. 1 album. Today, he brings those experiences to organizations through keynote presentations that transform real-world challenges into meaningful learning experiences.