Achievers asked HR executives and influencers from around the world for their perspectives on the changes and challenges they’re facing in 2015. We’re sharing their answers to three questions with the HR community to provide insight on a new year, with new challenges.

1. THEFUTURE
OFWORK:
HR’s top priorities in 2015
Insights from global HR executives
and influencers.

2. Achievers asked HR executives and
influencers from around the world for
their perspectives on the changes and
challenges they’re facing in 2015.

3. We’re sharing these perspectives with
the HR community to provide insight
on a new year, with new challenges.

4. What keeps you up at night
given the rapidly changing
workforce?

5. The exit of institutional knowledge.
It’s difficult for a company to achieve
aggressive visions with constant churn.
Delta Emerson, SPHR
EVP and Chief of Staff, Ryan LLC
Dallas, Texas
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

6. The only thing that keeps me up at night is
the excitement of working in HR. Change in
the workforce put HR front and centre of
business success, meaning there is so much
opportunity to make a difference in this field!
Jon Ingham
Strategic Dynamics 2013 Top #25 Most
Influential HR Thinker, HR Magazine
Reading, UK
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

7. There are so many things changing...
How is everyone going to manage
without becoming overwhelmed?
Karin Volo
Chief Joy Bringer, Evoloshen
Best Selling Authour, Engage!
Stockholm, Sweden
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

8. Today’s workforce is more informed than ever
before—the idea of presenting a consistent
and attractive employer brand to this 24/7
connected group can be overwhelming.
Mariah DeLeon
Vice President, People, Glassdoor
California, USA
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

9. The fact that our organisations are built
for the past. We’re going to have to
reinvent ourselves and our workplaces.
Neil Morrison
Group HR Director, UK and International
Companies at Penguin Random House
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

10. Hiring, and retaining top talent who can
work and lead in a global environment.
Jun Kabigting
Chief Community Officer, The Japan HR
Society & Managing Editor, The HR Agenda
Tokyo, Japan
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

11. Not having the “right” talent needed
(or enough) to ensure we fulfill our
mission.
Crystal Kohanke
Vice President, HR, CHRISTUS Health
Texas, USA
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

12. We are into a world where there is the
need for taking new and informed risks.
This is no longer just about small
incremental steps but more about
transformational change.
Barry Flack
Head of Talent Acquisition & Employer
Branding at Primark Stores Limited
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

13. The seemingly ever-changing needs
of the different generations in the
workplace.
Suzanne Dowd Zeller
CHRO, Allianz Life Insurance Company
Minneapolis, USA
Q: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT GIVEN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKFORCE?

14. What should HR’s top
priorities be to make impact
in your business in 2015?

15. Capitalise on the opportunities offered
through technology, big data & analytics
and the changing employee mindset
to create lasting change in how the
organisation identifies, recruits, activates
and develops top talent.
David Green
Director, Europe, Cielo
London, UK
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

16. Purpose, engagement, and focus on the triple
bottom line of people, planet, and profits.
Engagement is essential to maximise the
potential of an organisation. Shifting from
solely profit driven to purpose driven will take
into account a larger scope of positive impact
that makes the business a force for good.
Karin Volo
Chief Joy Bringer, Evoloshen
Best Selling Authour, Engage!
Stockholm, Sweden
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

17. EQ is increasingly as important, if not more,
than IQ when it comes to leadership and
management of people. HR leaders need
to do everything possible to understand EQ,
hire those who have it, and develop those
who don’t.
Delta Emerson, SPHR
EVP and Chief of Staff, Ryan LLC
Texas, USA
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

18. The difference that makes the biggest,
long-term impact to business success is
putting people first and building a people
centric organisation where people can do
their best work.
Jon Ingham
Strategic Dynamics 2013 Top #25 Most
Influential HR Thinker, HR Magazine
Reading, UK
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?
The difference that makes the biggest,
long-term impact to business success is
putting people first and building a people
centric organisation where people can do
their best work.
Jon Ingham
Strategic Dynamics 2013 Top #25 Most
Influential HR Thinker, HR Magazine
Reading, UK
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

19. My number one priority is to make sure
Glassdoor is a place where people love
their job and love the company. Glassdoor
is growing quickly and I want to make sure
that we bring in the best of the best.
Mariah DeLeon
Vice President, People, Glassdoor
California, USA
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

20. 1. Finding, hiring, and retaining top talent.
2. Developing global skills & competencies.
(beyond just language)
3. Diversity and work/life balance.
(i.e. flexibility, wellness, making the
workplace more women and disabled
friendly). Jun Kabigting
Chief Community Officer, The Japan HR
Society & Managing Editor, The HR Agenda
Tokyo, Japan
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

21. Retention requires a need to keep focusing
on recognition and evolving our performance
management process. To support the business
strategically we’ll do more to understand our
talent needs, assess capabilities, and provide
opportunities to help develop talent.
Suzanne Dowd Zeller
CHRO, Allianz Life, Insurance Company
Minneapolis, USA
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

22. 1. Becoming a purpose and values led
business, weaving that into everything we
do so it becomes natural and instinctive.
2. Attracting and retaining the talent we
need to meet our world class ambitions
3. It’s about releasing the potential of
everyone who already works for us.
Richard Waddilove
Head of ER & Reward, Shop Direct
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

23. Create the theatre that allows employees
to deliver the performance of their lives.
People perform in the right environment.
Neil Morrison
Group HR Director, UK and International
Companies at Penguin Random House
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

24. Use 2015 as a jumping off point to get beneath
the core essence of your organisation. Take
an honest look at the inventory of your people,
process and technology arms of the
HR machine.
Barry Flack
Head of Talent, Acquisition & Employer
Branding at Primark Stores Limited
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT SHOULD HR’S TOP PRIORITIES BE TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015?

25. What’s your book
recommendation for a
fellow HR executive?

26. I recently read Grounded: How Leaders
Stay Rooted in an Uncertain World by Bob
Rosen. It really brought home that leaders
that take care of themselves do a better
job of leading.
Crystal Kohanke
Vice President, HR, CHRISTUS Health
San Antonio, Texas
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

27. Social by Matthew Liebermann is the most
interesting book I’ve read on neuroscience
and a great explanation for why we need
to shift our focus from just people to social
relationships as well.
Jon Ingham
Strategic Dynamics 2013 Top #25 Most
Influential HR Thinker, HR Magazine
Reading, UK
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

28. Lead Without a Title by Robin Sharma
- It’s the only HR book I’ve read all the
way through in several years. It’s a
life changing read, both in life as
well as at work.
Richard Waddilove
Head of ER & Reward, Shop Direct
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

29. The Innovation Book by Dr. Max
Mckeown and The Chimp Paradox
by Dr. Steve Peters.
Wendy Cartwright
Director of Corporate Services & NED,
University of East London
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

30. Can I recommend my own book?
Engage! It shares secrets of the most
amazing companies to work for.
Karin Volo
Chief Joy Bringer, Evoloshen
Best Selling Authour, Engage!
Stockholm, Sweden
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

31. Employer Branding for Dummies,
Glassdoor Special Edition by Alicia
Garibaldi, The Female Brain by Louann
Brizendine M.D., and The Male Brain
by Louann Brizendine M.D.
Mariah DeLeon
Vice President, People, Glassdoor
California, USA
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

32. It’s a bit of a hard one for me given
my workplace, but I’d definitely
recommend Leaders Eat Last by
Simon Sinek.
Neil Morrison
Group HR Director, UK and International
Companies at Penguin Random House
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

33. The Shift by Lynda Gratton - to help
provide some great thinking about that
essential jumping off point we face
today. It delivers a power packed view
of the future of work.
Barry Flack
Head of Talent, Acquisition & Employer
Branding at Primark Stores Limited
United Kingdom
Q: WHAT’S YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR A FELLOW HR EXECUTIVE?

34. Every year the landscape of the modern
workplace changes. Millennials, technology,
and talent management are hot topics
for 2015, and engaging, aligning, and
recognising employees will continue to
be the key to drive business success.

35. Thanks to all that participated,
and good luck to our HR champions
from around the world in 2015.
Click on a profile above to find any of our HR leaders on Linkedin.
Barry Flack
Primark Stores
Limited
Delta Emerson
Ryan LLC
Mariah DeLeon
Glassdoor
David Green
Cielo
Jun Kabigting
The HR Agenda
Suzanne Dowd Zeller
Allianz Life Insurance
Company
Jon Ingham
Strategic Dynamic
Consultancy
Services
Crystal Kohanke
CHRISTUS
Health
Karin Volo
Evoloshen
Neil Morrison
Penguin Random
House
Richard Waddilove
Shop Direct
Wendy Cartwright
University of East
London

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