
Practitioners Corner · 2026-08-18 · 29 min
In this episode, Laura speaks with Liz Mattila, Chief People Officer and explores how HR professionals can use AI to improve recruitment, talent development, and workplace processes without losing the empathy, judgment, and personal connection that make HR effective. Listeners will learn where technology can streamline transactional work, where human involvement remains essential, and how organizations can strengthen communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills alongside new AI capabilities. Key Takeaways: AI can streamline recruiting and HR processes, but human judgment remains essential for important people decisions. Candidates and employees still value empathy, compassion, and authenticcommunication. HR professionals need to develop strategic thinking and interpersonal skills alongside technology skills. Organizations should identify which HR interactions benefit most from personal attention. AI should support human relationships rather than turn important workplace interactions into transactions. Simple approaches such as conversations, coaching, and lunch-and-learn sessions can create meaningful employee connections.