5 HR Leaders Share Their Current Top Focus Area

As the world of work evolves at an unprecedented pace, Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) are navigating a landscape marked by rapid technological advancement, shifting employee expectations, and continuous change. Within Gartner CHRO Communities, leading HR executives come together year-round to connect, exchange strategies, and tackle these challenges together. Guided by our By CHROs, For CHROs® model, each community is shaped by the real-world experiences and priorities of its members. 

At a recent Dallas CHRO Community Executive Summit, five senior HR leaders shared their perspectives on their top mission critical priority for the months ahead. From leveraging AI to cultivating a culture of lifelong learning, here’s what’s top of mind for five CHRO community members:

1. Scott Sherman, SVP & Chief Legal & HR Officer at Sally Beauty Holdings, on Embracing Change as the New Normal 
   

“I think the top thing for HR leaders to focus on over the next six months is infusing a change mentality in your organization. It's not about change management of a specific project or task – it's about how change is constant. You have to get yourself, your team, and then the broader organization ready for that to be the norm going forward.”
 

1. Carrie David, EVP & CHRO at SRS Distribution, on Reimagining the Future of Work

“It’s about reimagining what work looks like in your business over the course of the next several years – because through that, you start to focus on talent and on how the work is going to shift with emerging platforms. Technology has changed more in the last couple of months than in the last decade, so think about how you craft your organizations to have that blend of things that are uniquely human with things that you can automate and use Agentic AI for going forward.”
 

1. Joe Hudson, Chief People Officer at LURIN, on The Impact of AI on People and Culture 

“In my opinion, the number one thing HR leaders should be focused on is the real impact of AI over the course of the next six months, a year, two years. Not just how we can make people more efficient or how it's going to impact jobs, but also how it impacts organizational culture and how we keep the ‘human’ in human resources as we move forward.”
 

1. Cara McDaniel, Chief HR & Talent Officer at Veritex Community Bank, on Bridging AI with Emotional Intelligence

“HR leaders are all talking about AI – as are our CFOs and CEOs. I think the important part for us is we are the bridge that brings AI with emotional intelligence. We have to figure out how we can take away some of the drudgery of employees’ jobs, but keep the work that is fulfilling so that we have a workforce that's highly engaged. Marrying those two is going to be really important for Chief HR Officers to focus on in the next six months.”
 

1. Praveena Nathawat, CHRO at ACI Worldwide, on Continuous Learning from HR Peers

“The number one thing HR leaders should focus on is continuing to learn, whether it's reading about what's going on, podcasts, or more importantly, these in-person community events. These [events] are really powerful in accelerating your learning and just giving you that energy to go through the challenges that we do with fresh new ideas.”
 

These executives’ perspectives underscore the dynamic and human-centered approach required for HR leadership today. In addition, whether it’s reimagining work, leveraging AI, embracing change, or fostering continuous learning, challenges are best met with the support of a peer community.

Ready to connect with fellow HR leaders, exchange practical strategies, and stay ahead of the curve? Join Gartner CHRO Communities and discover how you can be part of this powerful network. Already a member? Sign in to find your next community gathering.