HR leaders are being asked to rethink how work gets done while still tackling hiring, development, engagement, and retention. These HR influencers share research, frameworks, and firsthand lessons that can give you new ways to approach the people decisions on your plate.
Top 28 HR Influencers
Below are the profiles of the top HR influencers, covering who they are and the impact they've made in this space.
Josh Bersin
HR Industry Analyst & Researcher
Oakland, United States
Focus area:
#HR technology#Talent strategy#Skills#Future of work#AI
Josh Bersin is an industry analyst, researcher, educator, and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company. He studies HR, workplace technology, talent, leadership, and the evolving future of work.
Bersin turns research on…
Dave Ulrich
HR & Organizational Leadership Expert
Alpine, United States
Focus area:
#Strategic HR#Organizational capability#HR transformation#Leadership#Talent
Dave Ulrich is a University of Michigan professor emeritus and RBL Group partner whose research, consulting, and extensive writing have helped shape modern thinking on HR and leadership.
Ulrich helped move HR…
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Stacia Garr
Co-founder & Principal Analyst at RedThread Research
Redwood City, United States
Focus area:
#HR technology#People analytics#Employee experience#Talent management#Leadership
Stacia Garr co-founded RedThread Research after leading talent research at Bersin by Deloitte. Her work spans HR technology, people analytics, employee experience, leadership, and talent.
Garr researches employee experience, HR technology, DEI,…
Connect with Stacia:
Ravin Jesuthasan
Global Transformation Leader at Mercer
Chicago Area, United States
Focus area:
#Future of work#Workforce transformation#AI#Work design#Talent models
Ravin Jesuthasan is a Mercer senior partner and global transformation leader, author, and futurist. His research examines how AI, automation, and new talent models are redesigning work.
Jesuthasan studies how leaders can…
Peter Cappelli
Professor & HR Researcher at Wharton
Philadelphia, United States
Focus area:
#Talent management#Employment practices#Performance management#Hiring#Workforce policy
Peter Cappelli is the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at Wharton and director of its Center for Human Resources, researching employment, talent, performance, and workplace policy.
Cappelli is known for evidence-based,…
Connect with Peter:
David Green
People Analytics Leader & Author
United Kingdom
Focus area:
#People analytics#Data-driven HR#Workforce transformation#AI#HR capability
David Green is an Insight222 senior vice president and managing partner, author, speaker, and host of Digital HR Leaders, with extensive experience in people analytics and data-driven HR.
Green has helped…
Connect with David:
Madeline Laurano
Founder & Chief Analyst at Aptitude Research
Boston, United States
Focus area:
#Talent acquisition#HR technology#Employee experience#Recruiting#HCM
Madeline Laurano founded Aptitude Research and serves as its chief analyst, drawing on years of HCM research to examine talent acquisition, employee experience, recruiting, and HR technology.
Laurano's research follows the systems…
Connect with Madeline:
Nickle LaMoreaux
SVP & CHRO at IBM
New York City Area, United States
Focus area:
#HR transformation#AI in HR#Skills#Employee experience#Future of work
Nickle LaMoreaux is IBM's senior vice president and chief human resources officer, leading its global people strategy and an HR organization supporting more than 300,000 employees worldwide.
LaMoreaux is driving an AI-enabled…
Connect with Nickle:
Donna Morris
EVP & Chief People Officer at Walmart
Bentonville, United States
Focus area:
#People strategy#Skills#Career mobility#Employee experience#Workforce transformation
Donna Morris is Walmart's executive vice president and chief people officer, leading global people strategy for more than two million associates and serving on the company's executive committee.
Morris leads workforce strategy…
Connect with Donna:
Francine Katsoudas
EVP & Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco
Los Gatos, United States
Focus area:
#People strategy#Leadership#AI readiness#Employee experience#Organizational culture
Francine Katsoudas is Cisco's executive vice president and chief people, policy, and purpose officer, bringing the company's people strategy, public policy, and social impact under one organization.
Katsoudas connects people leadership with…
Connect with Francine:
Steve Boese
President & Co-founder at H3 HR Advisors
Focus area:
#HR technology#Future of work#HCM#AI#Talent management
Steve Boese is president and co-founder of H3 HR Advisors, an HR technology advisory firm, and a longtime conference chair, podcast host, writer, and commentator on the changing world of work.
Boese…
Ben Eubanks
Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory
Huntsville, United States
Focus area:
#HR technology#AI in HR#Talent strategy#Employee experience#Future of work
Ben Eubanks is chief research officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, an author, speaker, and former HR practitioner whose research explores talent, technology, AI, and the employee experience.
Eubanks blends workforce research…
Marc Effron
President at The Talent Strategy Group
Mills River, United States
Focus area:
#Talent strategy#Performance management#Leadership development#Talent management
Marc Effron is president of The Talent Strategy Group, where he advises organizations on talent strategy and performance. He is also an author and longtime talent management practitioner.
Effron advocates simpler, evidence-minded…
Connect with Marc:
Jennifer McClure
HR Leadership & Future-of-Work Strategist
Cincinnati Area, United States
Focus area:
#Strategic HR#Leadership#Future of work#Talent strategy#Organizational change
Jennifer McClure is CEO of Unbridled Talent and chief excitement officer of DisruptHR, combining experience as an HR executive, recruiter, coach, speaker, and future-of-work strategist.
McClure helps HR and business leaders navigate…
Connect with Jennifer:
Hung Lee
Recruiting & Talent Intelligence Curator
London, United Kingdom
Focus area:
#Recruiting#Talent acquisition#HR technology#AI#Future of work
Hung Lee is the editor and curator behind Recruiting Brainfood, a weekly newsletter and community covering recruiting, HR technology, AI, employer branding, and the changing world of work.
Lee shares tools,…
Katrina Kibben
Recruiting Expert & Founder of Three Ears Media
Rockford, United States
Focus area:
#Recruiting#Job postings#Candidate experience#Recruiter training#Inclusive hiring
Katrina Kibben founded Three Ears Media and works as a recruiting trainer, author, and keynote speaker, helping hiring teams improve job posts, recruiting processes, and candidate communication.
Kibben focuses on the language…
Brian Elliott
CEO at Work Forward
San Francisco, United States
Focus area:
#Future of work#Flexible work#AI#Organizational design#Leadership
Brian Elliott is CEO of Work Forward, a future-of-work advisor, and co-founder of Future Forum. His career spans startup leadership and senior executive roles at companies including Google and Slack.
Elliott studies…
Connect with Brian:
Anthony Onesto
Principal, AI & People Solutions at livingHR
New York City Area, United States
Focus area:
#AI in HR#Workforce transformation#People strategy#Work design#HR technology
Anthony Onesto is the principal of AI & People Solutions at livingHR. As a former chief people officer and product leader, he focuses on AI, workforce strategy, and HR.
Onesto uses his…
Christopher Rainey
Co-founder & CEO at HR Leaders
London, United Kingdom
Focus area:
#HR leadership#Future of work#AI#Talent#Workplace culture
Christopher Rainey is co-founder and CEO of HR Leaders, a digital media platform focused on HR executives and experts, where he hosts conversations on work, leadership, talent, culture, and AI.
Rainey has…
Connect with Christopher:
Meghan M. Biro
Founder & CEO at TalentCulture
Portland, United States
Focus area:
#HR technology#Talent management#Future of work#Recruiting#Workplace culture
Meghan M. Biro is founder and CEO of TalentCulture, an HR and HR tech media community. A former high-tech recruiter, she also hosts the long-running #WorkTrends podcast on the world of work.
…
Heather R. Younger
Workplace Culture & Leadership Expert
Denver, United States
Focus area:
#Employee engagement#Active listening#Leadership#Workplace culture#Employee experience
Heather R. Younger is founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, an author, and a keynote speaker whose work centers on leadership, active listening, employee engagement, workplace culture, and change.
Younger turns research…
Laurie Ruettimann
Workplace Author & HR Commentator
Raleigh, United States
Focus area:
#Workplace culture#HR#Careers#Employee wellbeing#Leadership
Laurie Ruettimann is a former HR leader turned author, speaker, podcaster, and advisor. Her career spans corporate HR and a body of work that challenges organizations to make work better.
Ruettimann draws…
Brigette Hyacinth
Leadership Author & Workplace Speaker
Trinidad and Tobago
Focus area:
#Leadership#Employee experience#Future of work#Digital transformation#Workplace culture
Brigette Hyacinth is an author, international keynote speaker, and leadership consultant whose work addresses leadership, employee experience, digital transformation, and the future of work.
Hyacinth writes and speaks about leadership, focusing on…
Tracie Sponenberg
Fractional People Leader & Advisor
Concord, United States
Focus area:
#People strategy#HR transformation#HR technology#Frontline workforce#Employee experience
Tracie Sponenberg is a fractional people leader, advisor, speaker, and former chief people officer with decades of HR experience across people strategy, HR technology, and organizational change.
Sponenberg uses the years inside…
Connect with Tracie:
Tsedal Neeley
Professor of Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School
Newton, United States
Focus area:
#Digital transformation#AI#Global work#Organizational change#Leadership
Tsedal Neeley is the Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, where she researches digital transformation, global work, culture, and organizational change.
Neeley's research explains how leaders manage digital…
Connect with Tsedal:
Steve Browne
Chief People Officer at LaRosa's
Cincinnati, United States
Focus area:
#HR leadership#Workplace culture#Employee connection#People strategy#HR community
Steve Browne is chief people officer at LaRosa's, an author and longtime HR practitioner known for a people-centered approach to HR, culture, employee connection, and the profession itself.
Browne argues for an…
Jamie Jackson
HR Creator & Podcast Co-host
Nashville, United States
Focus area:
#HR culture#Workplace humor#Employee experience#HR community#People management
Jamie Jackson is an HR professional, creator, and co-host of HR Besties. Known online as the Chief Meme Officer, she built Humorous Resources as a candid community around the realities of…
Connect with Jamie:
Ashley Herd
Founder & CEO at Manager Method
Atlanta, United States
Focus area:
#People management#Manager training#Employee relations#Leadership#HR compliance
Ashley Herd is founder and CEO of Manager Method, an author, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and HR Besties co-host whose background spans employment law, corporate legal work, and HR leadership.
Herd translates employment-law…
Selection Methodology
I selected the leaders on this list based on their relevance, demonstrated expertise and impact, professional credibility, and ongoing contributions to the field.
I look for evidence such as leading meaningful initiatives or delivering notable results within their organizations, developing influential ideas or practices, publishing research or educational resources, speaking or teaching, and other contributions that demonstrate impact within their work or the broader field.
Further Reading
For more perspectives on the changing workplace, explore our roundup of future of work speakers to find voices that can help your team think ahead.
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