Humans at the Helm: Culture Change in the Era of AI

​AI is changing work fast. But are humans keeping up? Most transformations don’t stall on the algorithms – they stall because people don’t feel clear, safe, or included in what the future of work is asking of them. In this panel, Workhuman leads a conversation that will get practical about the culture mechanics of change.

​This panel will explore how organizations can get the speed and scale AI can unlock, while elevating the uniquely human strengths that drive the business. We’ll unpack what it takes to build alignment during change and how leaders can use everyday human signals to measure new ways of working. Expect candid stories, real tradeoffs, and a playbook for operationalizing AI while keeping humans unmistakably at the heart of work.

​Joining Us in Conversation:

​Moderator - Elles Skony - Founder Fractional People People

​Elles Skony is the founder of Fractional People People (FPP), a community for fractional HR leaders and solopreneurs redefining how meaningful people work gets done. Through FPP, Elles connects and supports leaders building flexible, purpose-driven careers while helping organizations access the right expertise at the right time. Elles believes strong communities and organizations are built by staying human, communicating consciously, and embracing constant change. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children and is a big believer in the power of “thank you” and a well-placed smiley face emoji ☺️.

​Meisha Ann-Martin, PhD - VP, People Research, Workhuman

​Meisha-Ann Martin leads groundbreaking research at Workhuman to improve the employee experience and advises clients on strategies to drive better business outcomes through human-centered workplaces. With a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and nearly two decades of experience as both a researcher and practitioner, Dr. Martin is a recognized expert in People Analytics and Employee Experience. She has held key roles at leading organizations such as Flex, JetBlue, and Raymond James Financial, and previously served as Head of Talent Management at ServiceMaster. A respected thought leader, Dr. Martin is a sought-after speaker on topics including employee recognition, leadership, wellbeing, inclusion, and psychological safety. Her insights are frequently featured in top-tier publications like Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg, HR Executive, HR Dive, and Benefits Pro. She was also named one of the Top 100 HR Tech Influencers by HR Executive.

​Craig Funt - SVP, People & Operations - Qualcomm

​Craig leads the People Strategy and Operations team at Qualcomm, based in Austin, Texas. He is a highly accomplished, innovative, goal-oriented, global HR strategy, operations and technology leader with over 30 years of experience successfully planning, designing, and implementing programs and initiatives that meet or exceed business value goals. His extensive corporate and consulting experience enable him to adapt leading practices to fit for purpose, practical solutions. Craig is passionate about building and leading global high performing teams.

​David Hanrahan - SVP, People Success- SolarWinds

​David Hanrahan has spent more than 20 years building high-performing HR teams and cultures across global companies including Eventbrite, Niantic, Zendesk, Twitter, and Electronic Arts. He currently leads the People Success function at SolarWinds. More recently, David has focused on how societal shifts and advances in AI are reshaping the world of work — and how organizations can redefine success through new models of high performance enabled by emerging technology.