Workflow-Wednesdays: Sign up for a weekly session column about building automated journeys
30
Sign up today50skills triumphs as category winner and secures 2nd Place overall at HR Technologies UK!
7
Learn more
Day 2 of UNLEASH World 2024 in Paris continued the exploration of how AI is reshaping the future of HR. From insightful keynotes to engaging case studies, the focus remained on AI’s transformative role in improving everything from talent acquisition to employee experience and leadership development. As industry leaders and HR professionals gathered for another day of learning, the conversations highlighted both the opportunities and challenges AI brings to the HR landscape.
The day began with a keynote from Josh Bersin, who spoke on the distinction between AI-enhanced and AI-native technologies. He explained how AI is fundamentally transforming recruitment, retention, performance management, and pay equity. Josh emphasised the crucial role that data plays in making AI solutions effective, particularly in HR, where diverse data sets can refine systems to drive more accurate outcomes. His insights set the tone for the day, demonstrating that the future of HR will increasingly rely on both AI-enhanced and AI-native technologies to achieve success.
At 50skills, we have seen firsthand how AI-driven data analytics can help HR teams make better, faster decisions by automating routine tasks and offering insights that empower HR to focus on strategic initiatives. Our platform enables organisations to capitalise on the power of AI while ensuring compliance and ethical use.
A key session explored how employee experience is fast becoming a critical differentiator for businesses. The panel, featuring experts like Séamus Moore, Chief Marketing Officer at Atlas, focused on how organisations are leveraging employee experience to drive long-term business success. As companies adapt to global talent shortages and rapid technological change, HR leaders are increasingly turning to strategies that prioritise employee experience as a way to attract and retain top talent.
The discussion covered the shift towards hiring for skills rather than qualifications, and how global hiring is providing new ways to access talent. Denisse Becerra, Chief Compliance Officer at Atlas, and Rosanne Bakker, Deputy Director People, Finance & Operations at Mama Cash, also spoke on how Employer of Record (EOR) services are evolving beyond compliance to offer improvements in diversity, benefits, and employee development.
A standout session of the day was the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Strategy Report, which featured insights from some of the world’s top CLOs at companies such as Boston Consulting Group, L’Oréal, Novo Nordisk, and Sodexo. Moderated by Anand Chopra-McGowan, GM, UK & Europe at Emeritus, this panel delved into fresh research on how these CLOs drive their companies' strategic objectives through Learning and Development (L&D).
The panel addressed the need for CLOs to move beyond vanity metrics like satisfaction and focus on metrics that reflect real business outcomes. Anna Gullstrand, Chief People & Culture Officer at Mentimeter and SaaS Leader of the Year, shared her thoughts on the session, noting how learning success is shifting from basic metrics towards engagement, retention, and behavioural change.
For example, Lidia Juszko, Chief Learning Officer at Boston Consulting Group, highlighted how true success lies in engagement and retention, with time spent learning serving as an important proxy. Nathalie Estellat, Global Chief Learning Officer at Sodexo, shared how their leadership programme directly contributed to improved retention rates. Sanne Mantoni Macaire, Global Head of Learning & Development at Novo Nordisk, emphasised the importance of measuring behavioural change before and after interventions to prove business impact, while Nicolas Pauthier, Global Chief Learning Officer at L’Oréal, reported that employees at L’Oréal benefit from an average of 38.5 hours of learning annually, significantly boosting engagement.
Anna Gullstrand reflected on these insights, noting how CLOs are moving beyond satisfaction metrics and focusing on true business impact, although defining and attributing these metrics remains a challenge. As Anna put it, “There is no unified way. I am curious—what are your best practices? How does your LMS help you measure business impact?”
AI’s role in fostering workplace equity was another major theme on Day 2. Ayse Semiz-Ewald, Vice President of Diversity at Deutsche Telekom, led a compelling session on how AI can be used to create a more equitable recruitment process. She discussed the differences between equity and equality, and how AI-driven tools can mitigate biases in hiring. Ayse highlighted both the risks and rewards of using AI in talent acquisition, with a clear message that, when implemented thoughtfully, AI can be a powerful catalyst for creating a more inclusive workplace.
Stewart O’Brien, Group HR Director at HL Display, led a session on aligning HR initiatives with business needs, which stood out as a practical discussion on balancing the excitement of new HR technology with the immediate priorities of the business. Stewart urged HR leaders to focus on what the business needs now, while also considering long-term strategies. His advice was to see technology investments as partnerships, ensuring that both the technology and the provider are aligned with the company’s broader goals. This session resonated with attendees looking to strike the right balance between innovation and practicality.
At 50skills, we understand the importance of aligning HR technology with business objectives, which is why our platform is designed to provide long-term value, helping HR teams meet both current and future business needs.
Anastasia Belousova, Chief People Officer at Growe, shared her insights on scaling HR functions in a rapidly expanding company. Reflecting on her experience growing the team from 30 to over 1,000 employees, Anastasia emphasised the importance of strong leadership, efficient global hiring practices, and a thriving corporate culture. Her journey demonstrated the power of digital tools in streamlining HR processes and how a strong employer brand can support rapid scaling while maintaining employee engagement.
Francesca Campalani, SVP Consulting Principal and former Goldman Sachs and Deloitte executive, shared some thought-provoking insights during Day 2. Francesca emphasised that being cognitively smart and emotionally smart is no longer enough to succeed in today's fast-evolving work environment. She noted that while many understand what is coming, very few know how to navigate the impending changes effectively.
Francesca’s reflections on the resistance to change echoed throughout the event. She reminded attendees that, “If you do not change change, you’ll be changed by it, and it could be bad. Very, very bad.” Her powerful message underscored the importance of intentional transformation, aligning with the broader themes of the day on embracing AI and innovation to stay competitive in the HR landscape.
The afternoon sessions explored the interplay between human intelligence and AI. Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Professor at Harvard University & CEPS, discussed how AI is transforming work and how businesses must adapt to the evolving relationship between humans and machines. His session examined the division of labour between AI and human creativity, highlighting which cognitive tasks are most susceptible to automation, and how businesses can foster innovation in an AI-driven world.
The day concluded with two inspiring keynotes. Dr Ethan Kross, Professor of Psychology and Business at University of Michigan and author of the international bestseller “Chatter,” spoke about the role of emotion management in enhancing performance and wellbeing. His session provided practical tools for regulating emotions, helping HR leaders understand the impact of emotions on team dynamics and how to build habits that promote resilience and performance.
Dr Kirstin Ferguson, award-winning leadership expert and author of “Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership,” followed with her keynote on modern leadership, encouraging attendees to find a balance between leading with the head and the heart. Kirstin challenged HR leaders to rethink how they approach leadership in an increasingly complex business environment. She emphasised that effective leadership requires balancing intellectual rigour with empathy and compassion, particularly in today’s demanding work landscape.
Day 2 of UNLEASH World 2024 was packed with insights on how AI is transforming every facet of HR, from recruitment to leadership. The focus on the human element—whether through fostering a positive employee experience or mastering emotional resilience—served as a reminder that while AI is crucial to the future of HR, the human side remains just as important.
As the event draws to a close, we at 50skills are excited to see how these conversations shape the future of HR. Our AI-powered platform is already helping HR teams streamline workflows and make data-driven decisions, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives that drive growth. Visit our stand to learn more about how we can help your organisation thrive in this new era of AI and HR.
At 50skills, we've crafted an AI-powered platform that streamlines HR workflows and reduces manual tasks, allowing your team to focus on the strategic initiatives that truly drive growth. Whether your goal is to optimise recruitment, enhance employee engagement, or future-proof your HR strategy, our solutions are here to help.
Book a demo today and discover how we can elevate your HR operations. Let us show you how to automate your workflows and achieve greater efficiency with AI.
