Adapting to change: Top takeaways from HR Tech

Cornerstone had another incredible experience at HR Tech, where the industry comes together from specialisms across the HR spectrum to share insights, spark new ideas, and shape the future of work. The energy of the shining lights of Las Vegas is the perfect backdrop to showcase the latest technological innovations, connect with people leaders and experts and frankly — gossip endlessly about what’s next in HR.

Nailing the skills agenda has proven to be a challenge for many organizations. And one we’re thrilled to be helping our clients tackle effectively. But at large? The way the world of work is evolving at lightning speed means companies need to adapt quickly or risk falling behind. Organizations must forecast emerging skills, rethink talent strategies and create agile learning environments to stay competitive as AI advances.

Those who embrace these changes and can actually step back and reimagine how they develop, hire and promote people will be better positioned to meet future challenges. Conversely, those slow to adapt will struggle to remain relevant. As one expert put it, “2025 is going to see a reckoning on skills, where organizations need to flick the switch to keep up with changing market conditions — and their competition.”

Cornerstone VP of Strategic Initiatives Mike Bollinger and Skyhive founder Sean Hinton delved deeper into this transformative shift in their session, "How a Skills Economy Can Help Solve the Workforce Readiness Gap." They provided an in-depth look into the future of the skills economy and how organizations can prepare for the evolving landscape. Sharing proprietary research, they highlighted key trends and offered real-world examples of companies implementing skills-based structures.

Both stressed the importance of anticipating future skill needs and discussed how AI-powered tools like SkyHive help companies map and forecast these emerging skill sets. Mike and Sean emphasized that bringing everyone — employees, managers, and the C-suite — on board with this approach is essential, sharing case studies illustrating the positive impact of adopting a skills-based model.

Later in the day, the standout "mega session," as the HR Tech conference calls its keynotes, was from Stacey Harris of analyst and research firm Sapient Insights, with the results of its 27th (yes, you read that right) annual HR technology survey. Representing the "voice of the customer," Stacey shared insights from 3,318 unique organizations across 59 countries, representing over 25 million workers.

The data shows some real positives. HR is becoming more strategic. As we focus more on business outcomes, we collectively are definitively moving the needle. However, the landscape is shifting rapidly with new HR roles emerging, new business models to adapt to (and a balance between HR and IT when it comes to tech) and, of course, the impact of Gen AI (klaxon!).

We can't urge you enough to download this data. We are grateful to Stacey for her shout-out of our fearless Chief Customer Officer, Toya Del Valle, and the award recognizing customer feedback and satisfaction with Cornerstone across the board — truly a highlight of the event for our fantastic team.

Elsewhere, Josh Bersin's keynote, "HR Technology 2025: An Existential Change Driven by AI," provided his traditional annual deep dive into the market with a lens on how AI fundamentally reshapes the $200 billion HR tech market. He highlighted major trends, from the rise of new AI tools to disrupting traditional HR systems. Bersin explored AI's transformative impact on core HR processes like recruitment, learning and development and employee experience, emphasizing the need for organizations to adapt quickly. The talk offered a comprehensive view of the future of HR, making it clear that AI is redefining the industry.

As our final conference highlight, "Unlocking The Future: Transform HR with Generative AI," Charlene Li examined how generative AI enhances employee experience and productivity. She covered topics like establishing an AI Center of Excellence and ethical leadership. Ravin Jesuthasan's session, "The Skills-Powered Organization," urged a shift from jobs to skills as essential for resilience amid global challenges, outlining the HR framework needed for this transition.

There is plenty of homework for all of us in HR to take home.

In a full circle moment following the award from Sapient Insights, our very own Cornerstars, Chief Customer Officer Toya Del Valle and Chief People Officer Carina Cortez, joined experts from GE Healthcare, DaVita and Estée Lauder for the session "Hazards Ahead: How to Solve the Workforce Readiness Gap." They tackled the critical disconnect between workforce resilience and the rapid pace of change.

With 63% of leaders noting their teams' lack of adaptability, the discussion highlighted the significant costs organizations face by neglecting workforce agility strategies. They emphasized the risk of employee turnover and misalignment from failing to invest in comprehensive agility initiatives. Participants left with actionable insights on developing essential skills and learned how high-performance organizations can successfully bridge this readiness gap.

With dozens of sessions at this year's conference, attendees had a wealth of options to explore. Key takeaways included focusing on financial wellness, AI's impact on the workforce, and the shift toward skills-based hiring. Buzzwords like "employee experience," "financial wellness," and "agility" echoed throughout discussions.

Attending the Women in HR Tech Summit was truly inspiring! The opening keynote celebrated pioneering figures like Katherine Johnson, Ada Lovelace, Admiral Grace Hopper and Adele Goldberg, whose contributions laid the groundwork for today's HR technologies. We heard from three industry superstars — Chris Havrilla, Opal Wagnac and Meg Bear, chaired expertly by Jeanne Achille — who drive innovation behind the scenes, sharing their journeys and passion for technology that creates opportunities and closes gaps.

Other sessions tackled pressing topics like DEI, pay equity, and data transparency, leading to engaging discussions on how to drive change in our organizations. Plus, the camaraderie among attendees was electrifying! This summit wasn't just a conference but a movement celebrating women's impact in HR tech, which remains a male-dominated industry. So, please, more of this — cheers to the future!

The HR Tech Expo was an absolute whirlwind! Picture this: over 500 solution providers, from industry giants to buzzing startups, all under one roof, showcasing the future of HR tech. We wandered through aisles of cutting-edge products, joined in-depth demos that took us beyond the booth hype and even caught live pitches from ambitious startups vying for the $30K prize. Cornerstone's booth buzzed with excitement as attendees flocked to explore our unified solutions for workforce agility and talent management.

From AI-driven tools to personalized HR solutions, it was all there. And let's not forget the pub crawl and happy hour — perfect opportunities to chat with fellow HR pros while having fun! The vibe? Electric. The innovation? Unstoppable.

We conclude another extraordinary year at HR Tech, brimming with the ideas, inspiration and insights we gained along the way. This year was a vibrant celebration of innovation, where creativity flowed and connections flourished. So, where does all that take us next? The Gen AI rocket has lifted off with skills in full flight. As many HR professionals look to navigate their future, we’re proud and excited to lead many of them to success as trusted partners and advisors. Cornerstone is about to celebrate 25 years in HR tech (we know we don’t look old enough) and is uniquely positioned to provide a North Star through the unchartered terrain ahead. (Is that enough Galaxy-related metaphors? You get the idea!)

To infinity and beyond…