Finale - The Future of HR - Beyond Tech

What does "modern HR" actually mean once you strip away the buzzwords? In this final installment of The Future of HR Beyond Tech, host Dr. Jo gathers five HR leaders on the ground at the Philadelphia SHRM Symposium for a candid roundtable on what it really takes to lead people well right now.

The conversation moves from AI and automation to something more fundamental: relationship building, empathy, and psychological safety. The panel digs into why HR has to trade administrative, reactive habits for strategic, proactive ones — connecting people metrics to business outcomes leaders actually care about (think retention, ramp time, and hiring velocity, not just cost-per-hire). They talk candidly about the profession's current uncertainty and attrition, what to look for when bringing new talent into HR, and why the best HR departments are built by people who are, above all, humans first.

Plus, don't miss the closing lightning round, where the panel reveals what they'd be doing in another universe — from running a Cajun restaurant to chasing volcanoes.

Guests:

• Melissa Atkins — Founder, Philly HR Group (HR consulting & employment law)
• Dr. Kayla LaBarge — Senior Consultant, Equilibria Leadership Consulting
• Kaela Blanks — JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Practitioner and Inclusive Culture Strategist
• Stephanie Manzelli — Chief People Officer, Employinc
• Erica Kaufman — President, Evolve Leader Kinetics

Business, Engagement, Human Resources, Management, Thought Leadership, Return to work, Inclusion, Hybrid work, AI, phillyshrm.org