26 People Ops & HR influencers to follow in 2025
Today’s HR leaders are facing a challenging and rapidly changing landscape — from economic pressures and company restructuring to addressing employee well-being and upskilling staff for the future of work.* Leadership development has become a priority, yet 70% of People leaders believe their current programs fall short of expectations.**
At the same time, HR teams are turning to technology like AI to automate processes, analyze data, and improve engagement. While these tools have plenty to offer across entire companies, their implementation means HR professionals must continuously adapt quickly to new systems and strategies.
To navigate these complexities, staying informed is essential. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 26 top HR influencers shaping the conversation around today’s most pressing challenges.
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*Leapsome’s Workforce Trends Report, 2024
**Gartner, 2024
26 top People Ops & HR influencers to follow in 2025
From HR practitioners and consultants to thought leaders with diverse specialties, these influencers will help you stay in the know through 2025 and beyond:
Jenny Podewils
Our very own Jenny Podewils is making waves on LinkedIn. Leapsome’s Co-CEO and Co-Founder is passionate about helping companies scale their businesses, develop their people, and make work fulfilling for everyone. With 18,700+ followers and counting, Jenny shares thought-provoking insights, as well as podcast clips and event roundups on her LinkedIn page.
Jenny regularly speaks on topics such as building thriving organizations, the future of work, organizational agility, and developing a learning culture. In her own words, she lives to tackle new challenges, develop new ideas, and keep learning.
Follow Jenny for an inspiring perspective on leadership and innovation.
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Anthony Onesto
Anthony Onesto is a business leader who specializes in human resources and talent management. He is the Chief People Officer at Suzy, an AI-driven consumer insights platform.
Anthony is the author of The New Employee Contract, which discusses the profound implications of Gen Z’s entry into the workforce. He also created Ella the Engineer, a cartoon and comic book series to encourage young girls to pursue STEM careers.
Anthony regularly shares insights with over 13,000 LinkedIn followers. You can also find Anthony on the Burn the Box podcast, where he talks about his perspectives on life, business, and HR every week.
- LinkedIn
Ben Eubanks
Ben Eubanks is a researcher, bestselling author, and speaker who covers HR and talent technology and trends. He’s the Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, a human capital management analysis company, and has hosted the We’re Only Human podcast for over eight years.
Ben also founded the HR Tech Awards in 2020 to recognize noteworthy firms developing technology for HR, talent management, hiring, and learning. In addition, he started upstartHR in 2009 — an HR blog that aims to help new professionals learn from experienced pros. With over 40,000 followers on LinkedIn, he shares his insights on the latest HR trends.
Claude Silver
Claude Silver has been the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX for over ten years. In this unique role, she works with 2,000 global employees and strives to give them the best professional experience of their careers.
A self-defined emotional optimist, coach, manager, and mentor, Claude uses her LinkedIn presence to share positive and inspiring messages about leadership and company culture. With over 45,000 followers, she is a positive force for change in the workplace.
- LinkedIn
David Green
David Green is a respected HR voice and writer on all things people analytics. With 187,000+ LinkedIn followers, he uses his platform to share tips and insights on data-driven HR and the future of work.
His primary role is Executive Director at Insight222, a company that helps member organizations create more value and improve the employee experience with ethical people analytics. David is also the host of the Digital HR Leaders podcast and speaks at and chairs HR conferences all over the world.
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David Hanrahan
David Hanrahan is a senior HR leader known for building strong People teams and innovative talent practices in growth and transformation environments.
Formerly the Chief Human Resources Officer at Eventbrite, David now works as the Chief People Officer at Flare, a legal tech startup that strives to make legal care accessible to all. On LinkedIn, he shares thought-provoking posts on current HR topics with 20,000+ followers — covering topics from how to measure talent density to why business leaders should take ownership of company hiring efforts.
You can listen to David discuss his time at Eventbrite on our People Over Perks podcast.
Hung Lee
Hung Lee is the former CEO of Workshape.io and Curator at Recruiting Brainfood, a talent industry newsletter. He writes weekly articles that cover everything from AI and HR automation to culture and employer branding.
With over 15 years of experience as an agency recruiter, recruitment manager, internal head of talent, and trainer, Hung keeps his readers updated with the latest developments and trends in the recruiting world. With over 77,000 followers on LinkedIn, he is a highly recommended follow for anyone interested in the future of work.
- LinkedIn
Jackye Clayton
Jackye Clayton is the VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIB at the SaaS HR tech startup Textio. Responsible for overseeing employee experience, talent management, and diversity and inclusion initiatives, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the company and shares her insights on LinkedIn and Inclusive AF, a DEIB-focused podcast.
SDHR Consulting, VidCruiter, and Human Resource Executive Magazine have named Jackye a top voice in the recruitment and HR influencer space. She frequently shares insights on HR tech innovation and the evolving world of work, contributing to discussions on industry trends and best practices. Jackye has amassed a following of 20,000 on LinkedIn.
Jacob Morgan
Jacob Morgan is the founder of the Future Ready Organization, a five-time best-selling author, and a TED and keynote speaker. He is passionate about creating future-ready leaders, employees, and organizations.
Jacob is a strong voice in the HR industry, with over 148,000 LinkedIn followers. He is also the founder of Future Of Work Leaders, a global community of the world’s best C-level people leaders shaping the future of work and employee experience, and the host of the Future Ready Leadership podcast.
- LinkedIn
Jeanne Meister
Jeanne Meister is a respected thought leader in the HR world. She founded and successfully exited two companies — Corporate University Xchange and Future Workplace — and co-authored The Future Workplace Experience: 10 Rules For Mastering Disruption in Recruiting and Engaging Employees. Now, Jeanne works as an independent global HR consultant, helping businesses and institutions in higher education understand the changes in how we work.
Jeanne has contributed to several well-known publications, including the Harvard Business Review, the Financial Times, HR Executive, and Forbes. With almost 20,000 followers on LinkedIn, she shares thoughts and curated content on new work trends and the future of work.
Jessica Zwaan
Jessica Zwaan is the Chief Operating Officer at Talentful. Previously the COO at Whereby, Jessica finds joy in “diverse, kind, and world-changing companies building world-class experience at work” and advocates for treating employees as customers purchasing the experience of work. She’s also the author of Built for People: People Operations as a Product and has a new title for release in 2026.
Jessica’s snappy insights on LinkedIn have earned her almost 30,000 followers. You can hear more about her experiences in People Ops by listening to our People Over Perks podcast episode.
Joey Price
Joey Price is the CEO of Jumpstart:HR, a consulting firm specializing in HR support for small businesses and startups. With over 15 years of HR experience, Joey is also the host and executive producer of the Business, Life, and Coffee podcast, where he discusses topics like workplace culture, leadership, and career development.
Joey is the author of The Power of HR and has been featured on TEDx. He is a thought leader on the Forbes Human Resources Council and an advisory board member for UKG and Arena Analytics. Joey has been featured in Forbes, SHRM, and HR Magazine; he has also been honored as a SHRM Top 30 Under 30 award winner and named one of Forbes Magazine’s Top 100 Employee Engagement Experts in the World.
- LinkedIn
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. is the President and CEO of SHRM and a global authority on workforce trends, policy, and leadership. He’s also served on the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, frequently testifies before Congress on key workforce issues, and chaired the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The Women Business Collaborative named Johnny C. Taylor Jr. as one of its 2023 Trailblazers in Gender Equity and Diversity for his work to achieve equal position, pay, and power for all women in business. Johnny has a weekly USA Today column called Ask HR and shares regular updates about HR evolution and SHRM on LinkedIn (where he has 483,000+ followers).
- LinkedIn
Josh Bersin
Josh Bersin is a renowned HR industry analyst and founder of the Josh Bersin Academy, a global development academy for HR professionals. He’s a trusted voice on the future of work, HR technology, and corporate learning.
Josh is a renowned keynote speaker, thought leader, and personal coach. With nearly 1 million LinkedIn followers, he regularly shares expert insights on his blog and social media, covering trending topics in people management and analytics — including the evolving role of AI in HR.
- LinkedIn
Kathleen Hogan
Kathleen Hogan is Microsoft’s Chief People Officer and EVP of Human Resources. Having worked in several roles within the organization over the last two decades, she has the breadth and depth of knowledge necessary to drive positive change across the people management spectrum.
Kathleen says her goal is to empower Microsoft’s over 220,000 global employees to achieve the company’s mission and create a culture that attracts and inspires the world’s most passionate talent. On LinkedIn, she shares thought-provoking articles and research from across the HR industry, with specialist insights from fellow business leaders.
With 152,000+ followers, Kathleen is a LinkedIn Top Voice. She sits on the board of the National Center for Women & Information Technology and is a member of the SHRM Executive Council.
Kelli Dragovich
Kelli Dragovich is a four-time CHRO and a seasoned HR executive with experience at companies like Google, GitHub, and Intuit. She’s currently the Interim Chief People Officer at Quizlet. She runs a podcast called HR Heretics, where she breaks down how CPOs, CHROs, founders, and boards build high-performing companies.
Kelli focuses on the “sixth sense” of leadership, which she describes as the magic and skills that make up “how” we do our jobs and work with others. She also offers personalized coaching and fractional leadership to support HR leaders and founders across all functions.
Lars Schmidt
Lars Schmidt is the Founder and CEO of Amplify Talent, an HR leader development platform and community. His experience also includes writing a best-selling book, Redefining HR: Transforming People Teams to Drive Business Performance, advising companies in the HR and People tech space for PeopleTech Partners, and contributing stories to Fast Company about the intersection of talent, brand, recruiting, and innovation.
Lars believes that in this new world of work, “HR stands at the forefront of a transformational wave, reshaping the very fabric of our professional lives.” His mission is to build a better world of work through executive search, nurturing the next wave of HR leaders, pioneering editorial ventures, and championing open-source endeavors. With over 53,000 followers on LinkedIn, Lars is a powerful voice in the HR space.
- LinkedIn
Laurie Ruettimann
Laurie Ruettimann is an HR leader who has become a speaker, consultant, and author of Betting On You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career. She also hosts the Punk Rock HR podcast, which welcomes special guest speakers who share insights on HR, culture, employment tax, diversity, well-being, leadership, and tech.
Laurie is also a popular LinkedIn Learning Instructor — her content has over two million views — and the President of the Board of Directors for the Income to Support All Foundation. The workplace expert shares her thoughts on trending HR topics on LinkedIn, where she has more than 68,000 followers. Laurie also publishes regular newsletters and blog posts about “fixing the world of work.”
Lily Zheng
Lily Zheng is a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist with over 170,000 followers on LinkedIn. They help leaders go beyond just “caring about” DEIB to collaboratively build diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations with expert consulting.
Lily has been named a LinkedIn Top Voice on Racial Equity, a Forbes DEIB Trailblazer, and an HonestCulture Top DEIB Influencer. You can find some of their work in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the New York Times. The strategist also does speaking engagements and LinkedIn Learning courses, on top of publishing four books to date on social and organizational change, self-help, and identity.
- LinkedIn
Liz Ryan
Liz Ryan is the Founder and CEO of Human Workplace, a coaching firm that aims to “reinvent work with a human voice.” A former Fortune 500 HR executive, Liz is a leading voice in modern HR strategies, leadership, and career development.
Liz has written extensively for Forbes, The Denver Post, and Harvard Business Review, sharing insights on leadership, workplace culture, and employee empowerment. With nearly 3 million LinkedIn followers, Liz offers guidance on navigating today’s HR challenges with a personal, people-first mindset.
- LinkedIn
Madison Butler
Madison Butler is dedicated to creating workplace equity and scalable strategies to achieve psychological safety. She is the Founder and CEO of Blue Haired Unicorn, an organization that helps companies build equitable workplaces.
Known for her bold and unfiltered takes on LinkedIn, Madison provides insights into creating trauma-informed work environments and fostering authenticity in the workplace. She’s also the Chief Experience Officer at GRAV, founded the Black Speakers Collection, has a podcast called ByeByeBinary, and co-founded the Triple B Community — a community for queer folx by queer folx, aimed at building community through education, virtual events, dialogue, and dismantling heteronormativity.
- LinkedIn
Marie Richter
Marie Richter is an HR and compensation consultant and a fractional VP of People. With experience at companies like Google, SoundCloud, and Billie, she now works with CEOs to develop strategic and scalable HR solutions.
On LinkedIn, Marie shares recent data about the world of talent management, along with expert commentary on relevant topics. Marie joined us for a recent webinar on strategic budgeting for HR leaders and was also a key contributor to Leapsome’s 2024 Workforce Trends Report.
Mark Stelzner
Mark Stelzner is a seasoned HR professional with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He’s the Co-Founder of The Advisor Collective, a nonprofit association of HR consultants, brokers, advisors, thought leaders, and managed service providers. He’s also the Founder and Managing Principal at HR consulting firm IA, supporting strategic initiatives that transform how organizations work.
Mark is a trusted C-level leader advisor, offering “unbiased and candid guidance on complex and strategic initiatives.” He’s been named a Top 100 HR Technology influencer for six consecutive years and is, in his own words, “passionate about fostering relationships, sharing insights, and creating value for his clients, partners, and peers.” Mark is active on LinkedIn and co-authors a monthly column on HR transformation for Human Resource Executives.
- LinkedIn
Meghan M. Biro
Meghan M. Biro is a globally recognized talent management and HR tech expert. She is the CEO and Founder of TalentCulture, a consulting firm specializing in employer branding, workforce engagement, and digital HR strategy. On LinkedIn, Meghan champions the human connection between talent and recruiters to 53,000+ followers.
Voted one of HR Examiner’s Top 25 HR Trendsetters, Meghan regularly serves on advisory boards for leading HR and technology brands, making her a trusted voice in the industry. Meghan is also the host of the #WorkTrends podcast, where she interviews top HR leaders about the future of work. A regular contributor to Forbes and SHRM, she shares insights on HR transformation, leadership, and innovation.
- LinkedIn
Melanie Naranjo
Melanie Naranjo is the Chief People Officer at Ethena, a modern compliance training company dedicated to fostering ethical and inclusive workplaces. With over a decade of HR experience, she is a trusted voice in talent management, performance enablement, and employee engagement.
Melanie shares actionable HR strategies and career advice with her 57,000+ LinkedIn followers, helping HR professionals navigate leadership development and compliance challenges. She has also been featured in HR Brew, Bloomberg, and NBC.
You can hear some of Melanie’s expertise first-hand by watching our recent webinar on helping managers thrive (and not just survive) with Leapsome’s VP of People and Culture Luck Dookchitra.
Roberta Matuson
Roberta Matuson is an executive coach and leadership consultant with 25 years of experience in talent attraction and retention, helping organizations maximize leadership potential and reduce employee turnover.
She is the author of books like Evergreen Talent and Suddenly in Charge and has contributed to Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company. Roberta’s LinkedIn audience of 208,000+ follows her for expert insights on building high-performing teams.
- LinkedIn
Reinvent your feed with the top HR influencers in 2025
There you have it: 26 must-follow influencers shaping the future of HR and People Ops. Whether you’re looking for advice on analytics, DEIB, AI in HR, HR tech, or the future of work, these thought leaders offer valuable perspectives to guide you in 2025 and beyond.Whether you’re an HR leader, a People management consultant, or simply an enthusiast, these influencers will enrich your timeline with their research, opinions, and advice — helping you enjoy valuable, actionable content.
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