356: Can HR Build Trust in an Age of AI Uncertainty? With Tracy Layney, Former CHRO of Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly

Tracy Layney is a seasoned HR leader with more than 15 years of experience shaping people and culture strategies at Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly. She currently teaches Human Capital Strategy as an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Tracy holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Tracy shares her unconventional path from English major and aspiring lawyer to CHRO at Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly, and how consulting shaped her approach to organizational strategy.
• She reflects on lessons from working with iconic leaders like Eva Sage Gavin and Chip Bergh, including leading Levi’s through the early days of the pandemic.
• She explains why excellence and heart-centered leadership must coexist to build values-driven, high-performing cultures.
• She explores how AI and other disruptive forces are reshaping HR, from talent strategy to employee expectations, and why adaptability is critical for leaders.
• She discusses the importance of transparency and trust-building between HR and employees during times of uncertainty, drawing parallels with past crises.
• She shares her perspective as a professor on how future HR leaders are navigating unprecedented change, mental health challenges, and the rapid rise of AI in the workplace.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter
• Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn
• AI fun fact article
• On How To Democratize Content Creation using AI