Today, I have a dynamic discussion with Q Hamirani, an influential figure in the HR, AI and remote work sphere. He is known for his groundbreaking work at Airbnb and his current role as Chief People Officer at an ed-tech company, Paper and most recently founded the world's largest community for HR and AI enthusiasts called PeopleGPT (you can join at www.thepeoplegpt.com) - this is a community I have been an early member of and really enjoy etc. Discover the implications of generative AI for HR, how embracing technology can redefine organizational structures and career paths, and why we should never choose the status quo. Here are four takeaways to apply as a leader: 1. Embrace and Drive Change Q underscores the importance of challenging the status quo and actively seeking ways to improve and innovate. As employee engagement is still at record low levels, encourage your teams to question existing processes and to explore new ideas that could lead to the development of pioneering programs like Airbnb’s "Work Anywhere" initiative. 2. Strategic Integration of Technology in HR ‍As Q says, in HR, it's always a combination of technology with humans in the loop. Use technology to free you up to do more interesting and complex work. This goes beyond automating routine tasks to leveraging advanced technologies like generative AI for more strategic purposes, like enhancing decision-making, improving employee engagement, and personalizing the employee experience. As leaders, fostering a culture that embraces technology will be key to staying competitive and efficient. 3. Choosing the Right Technology Whether it’s HR technology or IT technology like collaboration tools, you have to be tied to the hip as HR leaders, because these platforms deeply influence the employee experience. As Q said, it's important for HR or people leaders to be very opinionated and influence what collaboration tools are being given across the organization by IT typically. Q is also a big advocate of centralizing onto one platform, especially for communication and knowledge management, and especially in remote companies where this becomes the employee experience 4. Navigating Generative AI If you feel a bit behind, you’re not alone. This conversation reminded me that we're still all figuring it out. One thing is for sure, there is a lot to figure out, for example, workforce planning as AI can do the job of one or multiple people. We may also need less manager. So everyone, including HR, needs to jump in and get familiar. Plus, there may be some teams in your org who are using it actively, so why not spotlight this to the rest of the company so you can all learn together? As people leaders, your stewardship in these areas will shape the future of work within your organization. Q’s insights remind us that the path to innovation and success is paved with curiosity, courage, and a commitment to putting people at the heart of everything we do – especially as it relates to new technology like Gen AI. Future Work is a weekly newsletter and bi-weekly podcast to help people-centric leaders stay ahead in the future of work. Like reading more than listening? Find the article on our website: www.flexos.work/learn/unicorn-chro-how-to-embrace-generative-ai-q-hamirani-paper