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In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), HR is changing. How will emerging technologies like AI redefine the HR landscape as we know it? One thing is for certain: AI is ushering in rapid HR transformation.
In the ninth episode of the HR Game Changers series, a dynamic panel of HR leaders gathered to discuss how AI is poised to redefine the landscape of human resources.
Hosted by Janelle Henry, their discussion explored AI’s impact on strategic HR initiatives, workforce personalization, and the future of employment relations.
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Speakers
Janelle Henry: VP of People at RadAI (moderator)
Sarika Lamont: Vice President, People and Culture at Vidyard
Sunaina Lobo: CHRO, formerly at Gong, Marqeta, and Navis
Hebba Youssef: Chief People Officer at Workweek
Halai Shukran: Chief Operating Officer at Pluribus Digital
Key Takeaways
Strategic AI Implementation: Focus on solving specific business problems by aligning AI to company priorities and talent strategies.
Personalization and Employee Experience: Explore AI-powered personalization with custom learning paths and development opportunities.
Workforce Planning and Analytics: AI can transform workforce planning with enhanced predictive metrics for talent needs.
Manager Enablement: AI-assisted coaching and feedback, better documentation, and bias mitigation are opportunities for AI.
Transforming HR: From Administrative to Strategic
The conversation began by tackling the shift from HR’s traditional administrative roles to strategic initiatives that align with broader business goals. Sunaina Lobo emphasized the role that AI can play in anticipating workforce needs, ensuring organizations are prepared for future demands.
“Leveraging AI, we aim to anticipate workforce needs rather than reacting at the last minute. Predictive analytics allow us to strategically source talent, ensuring we’re always prepared for future demands.”
—Sunaina Lobo, CHRO, formerly @ Gong, Marqeta, and Navis
Halai Shukran reflected on the role of AI in enhancing HR strategies, rather than simply automating processes. This mindset shift mirrors the evolution of HR from administrative to strategic functions with AI playing a critical role. Her perspective underscores the value of curiosity and agility in navigating the evolving HR landscape.
“Adopting AI should enhance our HR strategy rather than merely automating processes. We need to understand not just what’s being done, but why, aligning our initiatives with overarching business goals.”
—Halai Shukran, Chief Operating Officer @ Pluribus Digital
Personalizing Employee Experiences with AI
A significant portion of the webinar was dedicated to discussing the potential of AI to create personalized employee experiences. Sunaina was a vocal advocate for this transformation, underscoring AI’s potential to tailor HR services more directly and effectively to individual employee needs.
“I get excited about AI’s potential for personalization, imagining a bot providing tailored resources directly to employees. When scaled, this approach can deeply enhance the overall employee journey.”
—Sunaina Lobo, CHRO, formerly @ Gong, Marqeta, and Navis
Hebba Youssef echoed this sentiment, foreseeing a future where personalization is expected across all aspects of employment, requiring that HR innovates continually to keep up with emerging technologies, trends, and demands.
“It’s only a matter of time before employees start expecting personalization in all aspects of their experience. From benefits to learning paths, this expectation will extend throughout their professional journey, pushing HR to innovate continually.”
—Hebba Youssef, Chief People Officer @ Workweek
Proactive Workforce Planning
The panel also explored AI’s role in enhancing workforce planning, transitioning from a reactive to a proactive approach. Halai emphasized utilizing AI to anticipate workforce shifts.
“AI’s potential for proactive workforce planning is a game-changer, helping us anticipate talent shortages and skill gaps before they impede progress. However, this requires an integrated approach, combining predictive analytics with human insight.”
—Halai Shukran, Chief Operating Officer @ Pluribus Digital
Challenges and Opportunities in Integrating AI
A recurrent theme was the challenge of integrating AI into HR practices while preserving a human touch. Hebba shared her outlook on AI as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement, highlighting a balanced integration strategy.
“I view AI as a partner and counterpart, not a replacement for HR functions. It takes over routine tasks, freeing up HR professionals to focus on strategic, human-centered challenges that AI cannot address alone.”
—Hebba Youssef, Chief People Officer @ Workweek
Sarika Lamont agreed, acknowledging the role of AI in streamlining processes, not replacing HR. The need for human oversight remains a key opportunity when leveraging AI in the workforce.
“AI helps streamline processes but doesn’t replace the need for human oversight. AI serves as an enhancer in our workflow, not a replacement.”
—Sarika Lamont, Vice President, People and Culture @ Vidyard
Future Trends in AI and HR
Looking ahead, aligning technologies like AI with critical business priorities emerged as a key piece of advice from the panelists. Before adopting AI, consider the specific processes and outcomes you hope to achieve in order to gain the maximum impact from AI investments.
“Use AI to improve business processes by aligning with company priorities. Before implementing any tool, understand the specific processes and workflows related to those priorities for maximum impact.”
—Sarika Lamont, Vice President, People and Culture @ Vidyard
Final Thoughts
This enlightening episode of HR Game Changers offered a comprehensive look at how AI is reshaping HR functions from strategic planning to personalized employee engagement. By leveraging AI thoughtfully, HR leaders can forge new paths toward enhanced productivity and improved employee experiences.
As the HR landscape continues to evolve, the integration of AI provides an exciting opportunity to redefine traditional roles and responsibilities in favor of a more dynamic, data-informed approach. This promises a future where HR not only administers but innovates, engendering growth and transformation at every organizational level.
How GoProfiles Drives Employee Connection
As discussed in the webinar, tools like GoProfiles are transforming the digital workplace. Using AI to drive employee engagement and meaningful connection, GoProfiles fosters stronger work relationships and more inclusive workplaces.
