Top 17 Human Resources Speakers to Book in 2026
The right human resources speakers can shift how your team thinks about people, culture, and the future of work. I've pulled together the best HR speakers who bring real expertise and practical ideas to the stage—so you can find the right voice for your next event and leave your audience with something worth acting on.
Top 17 Human Resources Speakers
Below are the profiles of the top human resources speakers, covering who they are and the impact they've made in this space.
Josh Bersin
Josh Bersin is a global industry analyst, author, educator, and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, where he studies HR, talent, leadership, work, organizational change, and workplace technology.
Bersin translates workforce research…
Josh Bersin is a global industry analyst, author, educator, and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, where he studies HR, talent, leadership, work, organizational change, and workplace technology.
Bersin translates workforce research and HR technology shifts into practical guidance for leaders. His analysis spans talent, learning, AI, organizational design, and employee experience, giving HR audiences a broad view of the forces reshaping work.
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. is president and CEO of SHRM, where he leads a major global HR membership organization and speaks widely on workforce strategy, executive leadership, and human capital.
Taylor brings…
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. is president and CEO of SHRM, where he leads a major global HR membership organization and speaks widely on workforce strategy, executive leadership, and human capital.
Taylor brings an executive and policy lens to workplace issues, addressing talent pipelines, skills, culture, employment policy, and the changing role of HR. His speaking connects people strategy with business priorities and the wider forces shaping the workforce.
Marc Effron
Marc Effron is president of The Talent Strategy Group, a global HR and talent consultancy, and co-author of One Page Talent Management and author of 8 Steps to High Performance for leaders.
…
Marc Effron is president of The Talent Strategy Group, a global HR and talent consultancy, and co-author of One Page Talent Management and author of 8 Steps to High Performance for leaders.
Effron advocates for simpler, science-based talent practices built around accountability and business value. His consulting, research, books, and speaking address talent strategy, performance management, leadership development, and the decisions organizations make to build stronger talent.
Jennifer McClure
Jennifer McClure is founder and CEO of Unbridled Talent, LLC and Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR, drawing on experience as an HR executive, recruiter, coach, and future-of-work strategist.
McClure helps HR and…
Jennifer McClure is founder and CEO of Unbridled Talent, LLC and Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR, drawing on experience as an HR executive, recruiter, coach, and future-of-work strategist.
McClure helps HR and business leaders build influence, lead transformation, and rethink how work gets designed. Her keynotes and advisory work explore workforce change, AI-enabled leadership, talent strategy, and how HR can move from reacting to disruption to shaping it.
Lucy Adams
Lucy Adams is an author and CEO of Disruptive HR whose experience as the BBC’s HR director informs her work challenging traditional people practices and rethinking how organizations approach HR.
Adams promotes…
Lucy Adams is an author and CEO of Disruptive HR whose experience as the BBC’s HR director informs her work challenging traditional people practices and rethinking how organizations approach HR.
Adams promotes the EACH approach: treating employees as adults, consumers, and human beings. Her books, speaking, and consulting give HR leaders practical alternatives to process-heavy practices across leadership, employee experience, culture, and organizational change.
Erik van Vulpen
Erik van Vulpen is co-founder of AIHR, an education platform focused on building modern HR capabilities, and a prominent voice on data-driven, technology-enabled human resources and AI.
Van Vulpen’s work focuses on…
Erik van Vulpen is co-founder of AIHR, an education platform focused on building modern HR capabilities, and a prominent voice on data-driven, technology-enabled human resources and AI.
Van Vulpen’s work focuses on future-proofing HR through skills in people analytics, digital HR, AI, and business strategy. His writing and education help practitioners understand how technology and data can strengthen HR’s contribution to organizational decisions.
David Green
David Green is executive director, managing partner and co-founder of Insight222, co-author of Excellence in People Analytics, and host of the Digital HR Leaders podcast on data-driven HR.
Green helps HR…
David Green is executive director, managing partner and co-founder of Insight222, co-author of Excellence in People Analytics, and host of the Digital HR Leaders podcast on data-driven HR.
Green helps HR and people analytics teams turn workforce data into better decisions and business value. His research, consulting, and global speaking span people analytics, digital HR, AI, workforce planning, and the future of work, with a strong focus on practical impact.
Tracie Sponenberg
Tracie Sponenberg is a founder, chief people officer, keynote speaker, and advisor who draws on decades of HR leadership to work with manufacturing, distribution, and frontline businesses.
Sponenberg speaks and advises on…
Tracie Sponenberg is a founder, chief people officer, keynote speaker, and advisor who draws on decades of HR leadership to work with manufacturing, distribution, and frontline businesses.
Sponenberg speaks and advises on HR, technology, leadership, and people strategy, with a practitioner’s view of how change lands inside organizations. Her work emphasizes practical people systems, frontline culture, and connecting HR decisions to operational realities.
Joey Price
Joey Price is an author and president and CEO of Jumpstart HR, an HR consulting and outsourcing firm, as well as a speaker and podcast host focused on HR strategy, technology, and…
Joey Price is an author and president and CEO of Jumpstart HR, an HR consulting and outsourcing firm, as well as a speaker and podcast host focused on HR strategy, technology, and work.
Price brings an operator’s perspective to HR for growing organizations, covering hiring, compliance, leadership, culture, and HR technology. Through speaking, research, and media, he translates emerging workplace trends into practical considerations for people leaders.
Steve Browne
Steve Browne is chief people officer at LaRosa’s, Inc., an HR leader, speaker, and author known for a people-first approach shaped by decades of hands-on work inside organizations and teams.
Browne challenges…
Steve Browne is chief people officer at LaRosa’s, Inc., an HR leader, speaker, and author known for a people-first approach shaped by decades of hands-on work inside organizations and teams.
Browne challenges HR professionals to move beyond reactive, siloed work and become active participants in the business. His speaking and writing emphasize relationships, culture, strategic involvement, and practical ways for HR to connect people decisions with performance.
Ben Eubanks
Ben Eubanks is chief research officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, an author and speaker. He examines HR, talent, technology, innovation, workforce trends, and the future of work.
Eubanks combines workforce research…
Ben Eubanks is chief research officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, an author and speaker. He examines HR, talent, technology, innovation, workforce trends, and the future of work.
Eubanks combines workforce research with prior hands-on HR experience to explore AI, HR technology, leadership, culture, and talent. His books, studies, events, and We’re Only Human podcast translate emerging trends into practical ideas for HR and business leaders.
Perry Timms
Perry Timms is an HR and talent technology analyst, author, speaker, and founder of People & Transformational HR. His work spanning organization design, culture, skills, and HR transformation.
Timms explores how HR…
Perry Timms is an HR and talent technology analyst, author, speaker, and founder of People & Transformational HR. His work spanning organization design, culture, skills, and HR transformation.
Timms explores how HR and organizations can become more adaptive, participatory, and human. Through consulting, teaching, writing, and speaking, he connects organizational design, self-management, culture, and HR transformation with practical experiments in how work gets done.
Tim Sackett
Tim Sackett is CEO of HRU Technical Resources and an HR and talent technology analyst, writer, and speaker. He has a deep experience in recruiting, staffing, talent acquisition, and workforce strategy.
Sackett…
Tim Sackett is CEO of HRU Technical Resources and an HR and talent technology analyst, writer, and speaker. He has a deep experience in recruiting, staffing, talent acquisition, and workforce strategy.
Sackett combines hands-on recruiting leadership with commentary on HR technology and talent practices. His speaking and writing examine recruiting strategy, candidate experience, workforce technology, and what actually works when organizations need to find and hire people.
Katrina Kibben
Katrina Kibben is founder of Three Ears Media, an author, keynote speaker, and recruiting trainer. She is known for teaching hiring teams to write clearer, more inclusive and effective job postings.
Kibben’s…
Katrina Kibben is founder of Three Ears Media, an author, keynote speaker, and recruiting trainer. She is known for teaching hiring teams to write clearer, more inclusive and effective job postings.
Kibben’s work sits at the intersection of recruiting, writing, and candidate experience. They train hiring teams to replace vague, biased job language with human-centered communication, bringing a focused and practical perspective to talent acquisition and inclusive hiring.
Jason Lauritsen
Jason Lauritsen is co-founder and lead advisor at Connected Performance Group, as well as a speaker, author, and management expert focused on leadership, workplace relationships, and performance.
Lauritsen challenges conventional performance management…
Jason Lauritsen is co-founder and lead advisor at Connected Performance Group, as well as a speaker, author, and management expert focused on leadership, workplace relationships, and performance.
Lauritsen challenges conventional performance management by putting strong working relationships at the center of how managers lead. His keynotes and consulting address employee engagement, leadership clarity, organizational alignment, and sustainable performance without burnout.
Laurie Ruettimann
Laurie Ruettimann is a former HR leader turned author, keynote speaker, podcaster, and consultant. Her work examines careers, leadership, management, workplace culture, and the experience of work.
Ruettimann draws on more than…
Laurie Ruettimann is a former HR leader turned author, keynote speaker, podcaster, and consultant. Her work examines careers, leadership, management, workplace culture, and the experience of work.
Ruettimann draws on more than two decades in HR to challenge unhealthy workplace norms and promote self-leadership and accountability. Her book Betting on You, podcasting, courses, and keynotes connect personal agency with better management and more humane work cultures.
Claude Silver
Claude Silver is an author, speaker, and Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX whose people-first leadership work centers on empathy, authenticity, belonging, emotional courage, and human connection.
Silver frames humanity as a driver…
Claude Silver is an author, speaker, and Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX whose people-first leadership work centers on empathy, authenticity, belonging, emotional courage, and human connection.
Silver frames humanity as a driver of organizational performance, focusing on trust, psychological safety, emotional courage, and accountability. Her leadership and speaking explore how people practices can build stronger cultures while helping teams perform sustainably.
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.
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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.
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