I’m excited to kick off 2026 with a new type of article. In 2026, I (and the rest of the team) will be bringing forward thoughts connected to articles or pieces of work from other organizations.
First up is my thoughts on the World Economic Forum’s Chief People Officers (CPOs) Outlook. The outlook draws on insights from more than 130 global CPOs and offers a clear view of how organizations are navigating workforce transformation in the months ahead.
What struck me was how important it is for HR functions to lead their organizations through transformation by rethinking structures, talent strategies, culture and purpose, and workforce AI deployment.
A few insights that feel especially relevant for employers:
- Workforce transformation can’t wait.
Preparing for the future requires long‑term thinking about how work, roles and structures need to evolve. With rapid AI integration reshaping job families and workflows, mapping the impact on people, roles and processes needs to accelerate. - Culture and purpose are essential anchors.
Younger generations place high value on flexibility and purpose. At the same time, deeper social and psychological shifts are changing how people work, communicate and connect with organizations. In response, leaders are renewing their focus on collective values, shared purpose and team cohesion. Culture work is no longer “soft”, it’s stabilizing. - AI is moving from experimentation to rapid integration.
Organizations are automating repetitive tasks and embedding AI into daily work. As a result, CPOs are prioritizing job‑impact mapping and human‑centred adoption plans. The opportunity is enormous, but so are the risks if we don’t support people through the transition with training, reskilling and thoughtful change management. - Recruitment is becoming highly strategic.
Talent availability and global distribution are increasingly complex. Attracting niche, high‑demand talent requires forward‑looking strategies, flexible work models and cross‑border recruitment approaches.
All of this reinforces the strategic leadership role CPOs now play. As one CPO put it, “You can’t separate people and business anymore.” I couldn’t agree more, which is why Leaps&Bounds supports both business strategy and HR consulting.
For those of us who’ve spent our careers at the intersection of people, purpose and performance, this moment feels both familiar and entirely new. The challenges are complex, but they’re also solvable with the right conversations, the right strategy and the right leadership mindset.
If you’ve read the report, I’d love to hear what stood out to you. If you haven’t, I’m always happy to share a perspective on what these trends could mean for your organization and your people.
We’re all navigating this together, and the more we compare notes, the stronger our path forward becomes. We share more insights like this in Leaps&Bounds Momentum Moments newsletter – sign up here.
Here’s a link to the full report: Chief People Officers Outlook
