From AI Curiosity to Strategic Human Capital Decisions

At this kick-off event for HRSF’s AI-Collaboratory, we are excited to host a fireside chat with Dr. Boudreau to discuss how the role of CHROs and their HR teams is evolving in the age of AI-driven organizations. If you are looking to go beyond the application of AI to exploring how HR can enable the optimal partnering between humans and AI, this session is for you. You can expect to be enriched by gaining a human capital decision science perspective on AI transformation. The conversation is guided by HRSF Board Chair Dr. Shreya Sarkar. Our discussion will shed light on new ways to think about jobs, work, and workforce capabilities. The discussion with Dr. Boudreau will help dispel myths and address the pitfalls of popular perspectives in this space.

We will explore:

• Where can HR add the most value in their organization’s AI-adoption journey?
• What must HR unlearn and do differently? (including mental models, ways of working, and human capital processes)
• How must we think about critical talent in an AI-driven organization?
• What is the most impactful workforce-related investment HR can influence to accelerate AI-adoption?
• What is the biggest human capital risk in AI adoption that leaders are underestimating?

Speaker

Dr. John Boudreau

Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Scientist

Center For Effective Organizations, University of Southern California

Dr. John Boudreau is a scholar and leading authority on Human Capital Strategies and the future of work.  He is a sought-after advisor to CHROs at some of the world’s largest multinational corporations, including Boeing, Corning, Frito-Lay, GE, Hartford, IBM, Mattel, Merck, Microsoft, Novartis, Royal Dutch Shell, Sun Microsystems, Unilever, the United Nations, and Williams-Sonoma. He was the architect and first Visiting Director of Sun Microsystems’ unique Research and Development Laboratory for Human Capital.

A recipient of numerous academic and HR awards, Dr. Boudreau’s research continues to advance science while addressing the most pressing organizational needs, including the strategic role of HR, work automation, HR measurement and analytics, and decision-based HR. His work is featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Fast Company and Business Week, Talent Management, CFO.com, and NPR, among others.  His scholarly research is published in leading journals, including Management Science, Academy of Management Executive, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Personnel Psychology.

Moderator

Dr. Shreya Sarkar

Board of Chair, HR Strategy Forum
CEO, Human Capital Growth

Dr. Shreya Sarkar is an organizational psychologist, executive advisor, and CEO of Human Capital Growth, an evidence‑based talent advisory firm. Her work focuses on helping organizations strengthen leadership pipelines, make sound human capital decisions, and navigate digital and AI‑enabled transformation using research‑grounded methods.

In 2019, Dr. Sarkar received the SIOP Scientist–Practitioner Presidential Recognition Award. She serves as an Affiliate Research Scientist at the University of Southern California’s Center for Effective Organizations and is the Board Chair of the HR Strategy Forum. She has authored multiple books, book chapters, and peer‑reviewed research publications.