Transforming Human Resources for the Future
CAHRS Fall Partner Meeting Recap
This year's CAHRS Fall Partner meeting took place on the Cornell University campus at the Statler Hall Auditorium. Brad Bell, William J. Conaty Professor of Strategic Human Resources, and CAHRS Academic Director, opened the Fall Partner Meeting by challenging attendees to think in terms of 'Transformation with a capital T' and to consider what comes next for the profession. The ongoing evolution of HR as a long-term transformation -- one that is accelerating toward a new era defined by agility, technology, and human connection.
The first session was comprised of a dynamic, multi-generational panel consisting of Michael D'Ambrose (Retired CHRO), Simon King (CPO, Daiichi Sankyo Inc.), and Carolyn Roach (CHRO, XPO). They examined HR's current state and future direction, focusing the discussion on HR's increasing strategic relevance, the integration of technology and human performance, and the courage required to lead transformation. With the complexity of change, the panelists underscored the importance of staying grounded in the mission; prioritizing the employee experience; and leading with clarity on expectations, business outcomes, and shared ownership of solutions.
Next was the most discussed session of the meeting, where Nickle LaMoreaux, IBM Senior Vice President (SVP) & Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), and CAHRS Advisory Board Chair shared IBM's decade-long evolution with Artificial Intelligence (Al), balancing innovation with governance. Her central message: technology is easy leadership and process change are hard. She encouraged HR leaders to experiment boldly but purposefully.
After a short break, Erin King Sweeney -- Senior Associate Director, Cornell Brooks Institute of Politics and Global Affairs (IOPGA), gave a talk titled “Adapting to the New Workplace Environment in the Trump Administration. Erin provided a policy-level briefing on the evolving regulatory landscape under the current administration, focusing on employer implications across labor, immigration, and compliance. The discussion was analytical and practical, and it raised significant concerns about costs and complexity for large organizations.
CAHRS Partner Company Shell was next up, represented by Christine Hillier, HR Manager, Polymers Chemicals; and Brandon Davis, Industrial Relations Advisor in the discussion "How HR is Empowering Shell's Evolution." Christine and Brandon provided an inside look at the company’s transformation, tackling workforce complexity and leadership development in a diverse global organization. Their tone was grounded and pragmatic, focusing on execution and trust.
The group reconvened after lunch for Jordana Kammerud, former Corning SVP & CHRO's outline of Corning’s AI-driven workforce design. The “Rethinking Workforce Strategy in the Age of Al” presentation explored the rapid shift from revolutionary technology to essential capability. Jordana emphasized adaptability, skill evolution, and the importance of human-centered transformation.
Workday's Talent Philosophy was delivered by Sandra Scott, Principal Talent Management Strategist. Sandra's presentation, titled "Three High-Impact Talent Practices for Driving Performance Management Adoption and Outcomes" walked attendees through Workday's new enterprise talent philosophy and high-impact practices. Her content resonated for its clarity and measurable outcomes.
In closing, Brad Bell introduced the CAHRS HRBP Framework, summarizing common themes, and tying the sessions together. The conversation emphasized curiosity, courage, and the need for HR to lead transformation with both vision and empathy.
Across the day, recurring themes emerged around courage, clarity, and capability. Speakers converged on the idea that HR's future depends less on new technology and more on behavior change, trust, and learning agility. The CAHRS community demonstrated strong alignment on both the human and technical sides of transformation.
For more detailed information about the speaker discussions, be sure to review the CAHRS Partner Meeting Recap.
Be sure to save the date for the 2026 CAHRS Fall Partner meeting on Thursday, October 22nd - with a networking reception the night before.
