In the days that have passed since the HR Technology Conference, I find myself reflecting on both the progress our industry has made and the challenges that perpetually remain. The show itself is always equal parts energizing and exhausting, but this year felt especially meaningful. Being back in the mix, sharing ideas on stage, and catching up with so many friends and colleagues reminded me why I love this community so deeply.

As expected, the floor was buzzing with the usual parade of shiny tools and promises of transformation. But what really stuck with me were the hallway conversations. The honest, unfiltered chats about what’s working, what isn’t, and how we’re all trying to navigate this moment of change. Yes, AI was everywhere, but the real story was how people are wrestling with how to use it thoughtfully without losing sight of the humans it’s meant to serve.

If there was an unspoken theme, it was resilience. People leaders are juggling uncertain markets, shifting expectations, and the constant pressure to do more with less, and yet there was still an undercurrent of optimism. Attendees showed up curious, willing to share, and ready to learn from one another. And here’s the part I’ll carry forward: Our best insights rarely come from a keynote slide, but instead from the peers beside us joining hands, minds, and hearts to figure things out together.

All of this demonstrates our collective ability to show up curious, candid, and committed to driving impact. If anything, the conference was a reminder that our field thrives not in isolation, but in connection. The most valuable insights came not from a product demo or keynote slide, but from the open, vulnerable exchanges between peers trying to solve real-world challenges together.

So as we head into Q4, I invite you to reflect on how these conversations can ripple back into your own work. Technology will keep evolving, but it’s our authentic and deeply human voices that will foundationally shape and reshape the future of work.

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THE LATEST

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In this month’s PM Corner, we highlight the benefits that governance brings to any program or project. 

Most leaders see governance as bureaucracy, a necessary evil at best, a growth-killer at worst. But the truth is, strong governance doesn’t slow organizations down; it clears the path for faster, smarter execution. In this article, Sammye Walton explores how the right governance model transforms chaos into clarity, giving teams the focus and confidence to deliver what matters most.

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We believe that solutions need to be built around your unique business, not some trendy framework. So we don’t pre-package services for you before we’ve gotten to know you – but we can show you the possibilities.