The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

Kit Krugman, SVP of People & Culture at Foursquare, shares her innovative journey from education to HR transformation. She discusses the reasons behind rebranding HR to 'People' and outlines Foursquare's North Stars of vibrancy and velocity. Kit elaborates on applying design thinking to enhance the employee experience and implementing team-based performance models. She reveals the power of organizational network analysis, measures success with a notable 43% increase in perceived velocity, and offers valuable advice for overwhelmed people leaders.

Shannon Hobbs, Chief People Officer at BNY, is leading a culture-first transformation in banking, focusing on early-career talent and innovative AI integration. She shares insights on scaling the analyst program from 500 to 2,000 members and emphasizes the importance of flattening organizational structures for cross-functional collaboration. Shannon introduces Eliza, BNY's in-house AI hub, highlighting its impressive stats: over 15,000 agents trained. Her practical advice for HR leaders centers on inclusive education and tying AI to talent development.

Luke O'Mahoney, Founder of Sapienˣ and expert in product-led PeopleOps, shares insights from his journey in HR. He discusses the three models transforming HR: HR as a Service, Programs as Products, and Work as the Product. Luke emphasizes the need for a product mindset, moving away from legacy HR, and the real risks of 'Agile theater'. He offers practical frameworks for implementing these ideas and advises HR leaders on integrating business strategies with people experience. It's all about creating impactful changes in the HR landscape!

Darren Murph, a former leader at GitLab and Zillow, is a sought-after consultant on remote work. He discusses the four-pillar operating model essential for distributed teams, emphasizing knowledge management as the foundation. Murph explains why companies often misjudge their remote maturity and highlights the importance of fixing organizational systems rather than just individuals. He shares insights on treating knowledge like a product and showcases effective tools for documentation and project management, paving the way for improved performance in a distributed landscape.

Brandon Weber, Co-founder and CEO of Nava Benefits, shares his insights on revolutionizing employer healthcare. He explains why benefits have surged to the second-largest company expense and how HR can strategically manage this cost. The discussion also covers the complexities of healthcare plans, the emergence of the 'alt marketplace,' and tools to streamline benefits administration. Brandon emphasizes data-driven approaches to cut costs while enhancing employee outcomes, all while advocating for a more transparent healthcare system.

Andrew Golden, Chief People Officer at RetailNext, shares his insights on transforming HR by aligning it with business workflows. Known for his expertise in lean PX design, he discusses how RetailNext merges hardware and data for enhanced retail experiences. Andrew emphasizes the importance of HR-IT partnerships, the benefits of building in-house AI tools, and the optimism for HR's future. His journey includes redefining HR processes and advocating for agile solutions that tackle employee pain points directly.

Gena Smith, the CHRO of LVMH North America, boasts extensive experience in HR transformation across luxury brands. In this discussion, she highlights her role in spearheading LVMH’s AI transformation across 75 brands. Gena emphasizes the need for HR to lead in AI change management, reframing AI as a cultural advantage. She discusses overcoming employee reluctance toward AI and advocates for upskilling as essential for future-proofing careers. Her insights on creating internal narratives and normalizing AI adoption are both inspiring and actionable.

HR leaders expressed their unfiltered thoughts on AI at a recent tech conference. The discussion unveiled insights on agentic workflows versus autonomous agents and the essential need for governance in AI adoption. Participants highlighted connectivity issues as major blockers to progress and emphasized the significance of a living organizational brain. Fun wishes included automated payroll and smarter recruiting processes, while candid remarks revealed the struggles of managing change in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Angela Crossman, an experienced people leader, Hernan Chiosso, an AI advocate in HR, and Jean-Luc Charles, a people operations expert, discuss AI's transformative role in workplaces. They explore structured conversations that clarify AI adoption and the spectrum of HR maturity regarding AI. The trio debates the pros and cons of AI as a managerial coach while emphasizing HR's vital role in change management. They also highlight community-driven approaches to overcome challenges, and how AI can serve as an innovative thinking partner rather than a definitive answer.

Joy Rothschild, Chief Human Resources Officer at Omni Hotels & Resorts, shares insights from her extensive career in hospitality. She discusses the unique culture at Omni, emphasizing a balance between guests, owners, and associates. Joy explores how the company navigated crises like 9/11 and COVID, making bold investments despite challenges. She revives the 'Power of One' initiative with memorable principles that empower employees. Her heartfelt stories about guest experiences illustrate the importance of internal narratives and accountability in service excellence.