The Human Element

This week, more than 3,000 HR leaders gathered in Las Vegas for HR Transform. The agenda explored how HR leaders can ignite human potential, harness AI for smarter work, build meaningful connections, drive workplace vitality, navigate global challenges, and redefine success through purpose-driven leadership.

This year’s event made it clear: HR professionals have the opportunity to not just influence but lead the charge in how their organizations evolve.

Here are HR Transform takeaways from the Wisq team. 

1. HR leaders need to continuously learn from each other. Despite all the changes in HR—new technologies, shifting workplace expectations—one thing remains constant: the need for strong peer relationships. A leader from a VC firm put it perfectly: her happiness at work is directly tied to the support she receives from fellow HR leaders. Being able to connect with others in the same role at different companies gives her support she needs to succeed at work.

2. HR teams can lead how their companies adopt AI. HR has a pivotal role in guiding how organizations implement AI—not just in HR functions, but across every team. AI is already reshaping how organizations design themselves, augment their teams, and support employees.
   
   As Julian Clarke, Head of Marketing at Wisq, pointed out in a panel, HR leaders will need to answer critical questions: Who will manage AI agents? How should they interact with employees and customers? What skills will organizations need when AI agents are working alongside employees? These aren’t just technology questions; they’re people questions. HR is best positioned to address them.

3. HR leaders are asking implementation questions about AI, signaling a shift. We’ve moved past the “Should we use AI?” stage. Now, HR leaders are asking, “How should we implement AI effectively and ensure it’s a valuable investment?”
   
   Throughout the event, HR leaders engaged with technology providers, including Wisq, to understand how AI-powered platforms can support their teams’ goals. They were looking for solutions to complex HR processes, like knowledge management, leave management and policy exceptions, and evaluating AI’s ability to streamline operations while keeping people at the center. The shift in conversations signals a new phase of AI adoption in HR: leaders aren’t just curious about AI; they’re actively exploring how to integrate it into their organizations.

4. We can’t lose human connection. AI is here to enhance human connection, not replace it.
   
   Brian Little, CPO, Altera, Intel Company, mentioned what he called “The Becky Effect.” “Becky” is the person everyone loves to work with. She makes the workplace better. Just like some people still prefer checking out with a cashier at the store instead of using self-checkout, employees will have moments when they prefer human interaction over AI. Ultimately, AI should be designed to strengthen human relationships, not put technology at odds with the employee experience.

5. We can’t be complacent. The best HR leaders aren’t just reacting to change—they’re reimagining how work is done. Alex Buder Shapiro, CPO, Jasper AI, shared a powerful insight on a panel: “There’s a lot of earnestness right now around bottoms-up experimentation… Comfort isn’t what gets us the seat at the table for strategic HR.” HR leaders who deeply understand their business have a unique opportunity to shape its future. AI can support transformation, but only if leaders take the initiative to experiment, adapt, and push beyond what’s comfortable.

People-led transformation

HR Transform made one thing clear: HR is not just supporting change; it’s leading it. Whether it’s building stronger communities, guiding AI adoption, or challenging expectations around how we work, HR leaders are driving the next era of work.

And as this year’s event showed, the future of HR isn’t just about technology. It’s about people: how we connect, how we support each other, and how we shape the future of work together.

We’re looking forward to continuing these conversations we began at Transform ‘25.