The NASPP Blog

Our popular “Meet the Speaker” series, featuring interviews with speakers at the 24th Annual NASPP Conference, is great way to get to know our many distinguished speakers and find out a little more about their sessions in advance of the Conference.

For today’s “Meet the Speaker” interview, we feature Aaron Oberg of E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, who will lead the session “Globe Trotting, Equity Compensation Style!”

Here is what Aaron had to say:

NASPP: What is the most critical thing NASPP Conference attendees need to know about administering global stock plans?

Aaron: Administration of a global stock plan can seem overwhelming. There is no doubt that complexity with offering equity in multiple jurisdictions grows exponentially with the number of locations that are added. The constantly changing arena is also hard to keep up with. Our session is designed to break it down into manageable chunks that focus on what you need know and do, as well as how you can do it with tools, partners and processes accessible to you today. We will discuss the complexities, but our goal is to give you practical knowledge on how to apply workable strategies that you can start with today.

NASPP: What is a common mistake companies make when administering their global plan and how can they avoid this?

Aaron: A common mistake we see is inaction or inadequate action caused by fragmentation within a company. This mistake is also one of the easier ones to solve through building a more cohesive cross-functional team. Many times we see that there is not one single group or person that has the entire picture in view. This causes either the lack of implementing any process, or implementing a solution piecemeal that does not provide an optimized process. The most successful engagements we have seen include a combination of collaboration, accountability, and access to tools and resources required for an efficient and controlled operation.

NASPP: What is the silver lining to your topic?

Aaron:  The global landscape is not all doom and gloom, but it can be intimidating. The silver lining to our topic is arguably that equity compensation is becoming more complex and prevalent. While this creates new challenges for stock plan professionals every day, it also makes it more and more visible beyond the industry. This attention to it is making it easier to get the help and backing needed to tackle it all. This can be managed, and we see companies do it all the time.

NASPP: What is something people don’t know about you?

Aaron: Most people don’t know that I originally worked at ski resorts to get through aviation school. However, after I saw the exciting world of equity compensation, I quickly left all that behind for a more fun career in stock plan administration.

Don’t miss Aaron’s session, “Globe Trotting, Equity Compensation Style!,” at the NASPP Conference!

About the NASPP Conference

The 24th Annual NASPP Conference will be held from October 24-27 in Houston. This year’s program features close to 100 sessions on today’s most timely topics in stock and executive compensation; check out the full agenda and register today!