Against the stunning backdrop of Lake Mendota, I watched as human resources professionals entered the reception hall to begin our day at the SHR Symposium 2024. I met alumni, current MBA and undergraduate students, faculty and staff, industry professionals, and friends of the SHR center who gathered not just to enjoy the view, but to engage in thought-provoking discussions and forge new connections. The symposium’s theme of “Engaging Minds, Creating Connections, Future Thinking, Now!” encouraged attendees to think and talk about how we can accomplish each of those goals as HR professionals. These opportunities transformed the SHR Symposium into more than just a conference—it became a catalyst for change.
Throughout the symposium, we were able to attend an opening session by Sarah Condella of Exact Sciences, three breakout sessions of our choosing, and a closing Senior Human Resources Leader Panel. In addition to the opening and closing sessions, I chose to attend the following breakout sessions:
- “Navigating Authenticity and Corporate Culture” – Marcus Alston and Abhishek Shroff of Cisco
- “Humanity in the Workplace: Hot Topics in Global HR” – Dan Waldman and Ada Dolph of Seyfarth Shaw
- “Digital HR: Enabling a More Human Workplace through Technology and Generative AI” – Leo Cardoso of Land O’Lakes
My three most significant takeaways from this conference were: staying true to your core values, embracing and planning for the future, and keeping the humanity in human resources.
Being True to Your Core Values
In her opening presentation, Sarah Condella covered this topic from the business perspective. She spoke about her experience being involved in establishing a powerful company purpose and using that to develop both a mission statement and core company values. Every decision the company made, from methods for employee recognition to personnel decisions, was aligned with its purpose.
In their presentation on authenticity in the workplace, Marcus Alston and Abhishek Shroff took a more personal approach by emphasizing the importance of identifying and adhering to your own personal values, while also learning to interact with others that may have different values. I appreciated their insight that listening to others with different perspectives is not a betrayal of your own values.
These sessions prompted me to think about my own core values and what efforts I make now to live them. Having and sticking to core values, whether on an individual or organizational level, provides us guidelines and direction in making decisions, further helping us progress toward our goals in meaningful ways. Additionally, strong core values foster employee engagement and strengthen company culture, both of which are crucial for long-term business success.
Embrace and Plan for the Future
The second recurring theme I noticed throughout the symposium was embracing and planning for the future. While each session included forward-thinking elements, the two that I felt focused on this most were the session by Dan Waldman and Ada Dolph as well as the session by Leo Cardoso. In Dan and Ada’s session, the topic of supply chain transparency was especially intriguing. In today’s world, companies are being held increasingly accountable for their ethical practices. The ability to proactively address, and even prevent, human rights issues is no longer just an ethical practice—it’s now a necessity.
Leo Cardoso also addressed this topic as he spoke about AI in the workplace. There are many ways AI can be used, from streamlining workflows to improving intercompany communication. One striking example he shared was how through using generative AI a video message from a CEO of a global company could quickly be translated into multiple languages so each employee could hear the CEO’s message in their own native tongue. I can imagine how much something this simple would help employees feel more connected to their company leaders. Leo emphasized that the purpose behind using AI like this is not to trick people, but to help create meaningful connections. I left this session energized and eager to explore how AI can improve both my professional and personal practices.
As the world becomes more concerned with ethical practices and as it becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it is critical for HR leaders to embrace these changes and use them to increase efficiency and to foster stronger human connections.
Keep the humanity in human resources
This final point resonated with me the most as I have thought about what I learned at the symposium. More than anything else, it is essential for us to think about the humans involved in every aspect of business. Sarah Condella captured this perfectly when she said, “humanize impact,” reminding us to consider the actual people that will be affected by the choices we make. We have the responsibility as human resource professionals to be people-centered and to guide our fellow business leaders in following that approach.
I left the SHR Symposium having built new connections and having learned more about the practical, everyday applications of human resources principles. I felt excited to apply these insights to both my education now and to my future leadership roles. For business students and HR professionals alike, these sessions provided actionable insights on how to be true to your core values, embrace and plan for the future, and always keep the humanity in human resources. This is the type of forward-thinking that will shape the future of HR.