Top 15 HR Tech Speakers to Follow in 2026
Introduction
HR tech is changing fast. New tools, especially AI, are reshaping how teams hire, plan, and support employees. It’s hard to keep up. That's why we need to follow the right voices in the HR industry. The best HR tech speakers aren’t just sharing ideas. They’re working through these changes in real teams and bringing back what actually works.
In this guide, we’ve highlighted 15 HR tech speakers to follow in 2026. Whether you’re an HR professional seeking trusted insights or an HR team planning a webinar or event, these speakers are worth your attention. They are organized by what they are known for.
| # | Speaker | Role | Company | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Bersin | Founder | Josh Bersin Academy | HR tech research, AI in HR, corporate learning |
| 2 | Jeanne Meister | Co-founder | Future Workplace | Future of work, employee experience, Gen Z workforce |
| 3 | Lucy Adams | CEO | Disruptive HR | Rethinking traditional HR, HR Disrupted book |
| 4 | Wolfgang Brickwede | Director | Institute for Competitive Recruiting | Recruiting benchmarks, AI in talent acquisition |
| 5 | Ben Eubanks | Chief Research Officer | Lighthouse Research & Advisory | AI in HR, Artificial Intelligence for HR book |
| 6 | Manjuri Sinha | VP HR | Miro | Skills-based hiring, scaling talent in tech companies |
| 7 | Theo Smith | Founder | Neurodiversity at Work | Neuroinclusive hiring, DEI, Neurodiversity at Work book |
| 8 | Nickle LaMoreaux | CHRO | IBM | AI-powered HR at enterprise scale, skills-based talent strategy |
| 9 | Stacy Donovan Zapar | Founder | The Talent Agency | Talent attraction, candidate experience, employer branding |
| 10 | Katrina Kibben | Founder | Three Ears Media | Job posting writing, human-centered hiring |
| 11 | Anastasia Dedyukhina | Founder | Consciously Digital | Digital wellbeing, AI and human attention, Homo Distractus book |
| 12 | David Timis | AI & Future of Work Speaker | Generation | AI literacy, skills-based hiring, future of work |
| 13 | David Green | Executive Director | Insight222 | People analytics, data-driven HR, Digital HR Leaders podcast |
| 14 | Jacob Morgan | Author & Founder | Future of Work Leaders | Future leadership, employee experience, The Future Leader book |
| 15 | Hung Lee | Curator | Recruiting Brainfood | Recruiting trends, talent community building, AI in recruiting |
If you're looking for the best platform to host HR thought leadership webinars, see our guide to the best webinar software for HR teams.
What Makes a Great HR Tech Speaker
Not every HR influencer makes a great speaker. The ones who consistently deliver at webinars and events tend to share a few qualities.
Storytelling and Authenticity
They use personal anecdotes and real-world scenarios to create emotional connections and make complex information memorable.
Empathy and Human-Centricity
They understand employee experiences, addressing the "human" side of human resources to boost morale rather than just focusing on policies.
Active Listening and Engagement
They foster a two-way dialogue, encouraging interaction and actively listening to their audience rather than just presenting to them.
Practitioner Experience, Not Just Theory
The best HR tech speakers have done the work. They've led talent functions, built recruiting teams, navigated workforce change, or built tools for the industry. That lived experience shows in how they answer questions and handle pushback.
The Top 15 HR Tech Speakers in 2026
Industry Influencers and Keynote Speakers
Established voices with broad reach and deep expertise across HR strategy, technology, and the future of work.
1. Josh Bersin
Global HR industry analyst and founder of the Josh Bersin Academy
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Josh Bersin
- Website: joshbersin.com
- Podcast: The Josh Bersin Company podcast
Josh Bersin is one of the most recognized names in HR technology. He founded Bersin & Associates in 2001 before selling to Deloitte, and has spent over two decades researching and advising on HR tech, talent management, and corporate learning. He now leads the Josh Bersin Academy, a development platform for HR professionals, and publishes widely-followed research on AI's impact on HR.
What he speaks about:
- AI and automation in HR and talent management
- The future of corporate learning and skills development
- HR technology market trends and vendor landscapes
- Building a human-centered, data-driven HR function
Why HR teams should book him: Josh brings research-backed insights to complex topics and translates them into practical implications for HR leaders. His name alone drives registrations.
2. Jeanne Meister
Workplace futurist, HR consultant, and co-author of The Future Workplace Experience
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Jeanne Meister
- Website: jeannemeister.com
Jeanne Meister has spent decades studying how work is changing and what that means for HR. She co-authored The Future Workplace Experience and now works as an independent global HR consultant advising companies and higher education institutions on workforce transformation.
What she speaks about:
- The future workplace and workforce trends
- Gen Z and multi-generational workforce dynamics
- Employee experience and the changing nature of work
- Upskilling and reskilling strategies
Why HR teams should book her: Jeanne combines long-term perspective with current research, making her well-suited for HR leadership audiences navigating major workforce transitions.
3. Lucy Adams
CEO of Disruptive HR and author of HR Disrupted
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Lucy Adams
- Website: disruptivehr.com
- Podcast: The Disruptive HR podcast
Lucy Adams is the founder of Disruptive HR, a consultancy and community challenging traditional HR thinking. A former BBC HR Director, she is the author of HR Disrupted, which is one of the most widely-read books in the HR practitioner community. She also hosts a podcast that has built a significant following among forward-thinking people professionals.
What she speaks about:
- Rethinking traditional HR models and practices
- Building HR functions that treat employees as adults, consumers, and contributors
- HR's strategic role in modern organizations
- Leadership and culture change
Why HR teams should book her: Lucy brings a refreshingly direct and often contrarian take to HR topics. Her sessions generate strong discussion and are especially effective for audiences ready to challenge the status quo.
4. Wolfgang Brickwedde
Director of the Institute for Competitive Recruiting (ICR) and Germany's top HR influencer
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Wolfgang Brickwedde
- Newsletter: ICR RecruitmentBuzz
Wolfgang Brickwedde is the founder and director of the Institute for Competitive Recruiting, which runs proprietary annual research with up to 1,000 companies and produces Germany's most-referenced recruiting benchmarks. Before the ICR, he held senior roles at SAP and Philips in employer branding and recruitment across Europe. He organizes the Future of Recruiting Summit and the ICR Recruiting Trends Conference, each attracting up to 3,000 participants.
What he speaks about:
- Recruiting performance management and benchmarking
- AI and technology in talent acquisition
- Employer branding and sourcing strategies
- Data-driven recruiting and HR tech adoption
Why HR teams should book him: Wolfgang combines real research with practitioner experience, making him a strong choice for evidence-based sessions on recruiting strategy and HR technology trends.
5. Ben Eubanks
Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory and author of Artificial Intelligence for HR
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Ben Eubanks
- Podcast: We're Only Human
- Website: lhra.io
Ben Eubanks leads research at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, where he studies how HR technology is reshaping talent acquisition, learning, and workforce management. He is the author of Artificial Intelligence for HR, one of the most practical books written on AI's role in people functions, and hosts the We're Only Human podcast focused on the intersection of technology and people.
What he speaks about:
- AI in HR — practical applications and what actually works
- HR technology adoption and implementation challenges
- Talent acquisition technology and recruiting innovation
- Learning and development in the age of AI
Why HR teams should book him: Ben translates research into actionable advice without the hype, making him a practical and credible voice for HR teams actively evaluating technology.
Practitioners and People Leaders
HR leaders with real-world experience running talent functions, building people teams, and navigating organizational change.
6. Manjuri Sinha
VP HR and Global Head of GTM Org Success at Miro
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Manjuri Sinha
Manjuri Sinha has over 20 years of international HR experience spanning talent acquisition, talent management, DEI, and HR business partnering across tech, e-commerce, and consulting. She is recognized on the Talent100 Global Power List and has spoken at LinkedIn Talent Connect New York, Unleash World Paris, HR Core Lab Barcelona, and dozens of other global conferences.
What she speaks about:
- Building and scaling talent acquisition functions in tech companies
- Skills-based hiring and talent architecture
- DEI strategy and inclusive hiring practices
- AI as a teammate — reshaping leadership and team dynamics
Why HR teams should book her: Manjuri speaks from genuine practitioner experience at high-growth tech companies and brings a data-informed perspective to talent topics that HR leaders can immediately apply.
7. Theo Smith
Founder of Neurodiversity at Work | Award-winning author and keynote speaker
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Theo Smith
- Podcast: Neurodiversity with Theo Smith
- Website: neurodiversityatwork.co.uk
Theo Smith is a leading neurodiversity advocate, talent acquisition leader, and co-author of the award-winning book Neurodiversity at Work. He has worked with global organizations including EY, LinkedIn, Zalando, and the NHS to build neuroinclusive hiring frameworks and train hiring managers. He hosts the Neurodiversity with Theo Smith podcast and has trained 50,000+ professionals across 25+ countries.
What he speaks about:
- Neurodiversity in the workplace — practical frameworks, not just awareness
- Neuroinclusive hiring and talent acquisition strategies
- DEI and inclusive HR practices from a lived-experience perspective
- Future of work and unlocking neurodivergent talent
Why HR teams should book him: Theo brings lived experience and practitioner depth to a topic that most HR teams are still figuring out. His sessions consistently generate the highest Q&A engagement of any panel or event.
8. Nickle LaMoreaux
Chief Human Resources Officer and SVP at IBM
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Nickle LaMoreaux
Nickle LaMoreaux is IBM's CHRO, overseeing people strategy for a 275,000-person global workforce. She was named HR Executive of the Year in 2024 and keynoted HR Tech 2025 in Las Vegas, where she shared insights from IBM's AI transformation journey, including how AI agents are reshaping employee experience and HR operations at scale. She is one of the most credible voices on what AI-powered HR actually looks like in practice at enterprise scale.
What she speaks about:
- AI implementation in HR at enterprise scale
- Skills-based talent strategy and workforce planning
- Employee experience in large, distributed organizations
- HR's strategic role in driving business transformation
Why HR teams should book her: Nickle speaks from the experience of running one of the world's largest people functions through a major AI transformation. She shares insights that are directly applicable to enterprise HR teams navigating the same shift.
9. Stacy Donovan Zapar
Founder of The Talent Agency | Recruiting expert and keynote speaker
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Stacy Donovan Zapar
- Website: thisistenfold.com
Stacy Donovan Zapar has over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition, including roles at Amazon, Netflix, and Zappos. She founded The Talent Agency, a boutique consultancy specializing in talent attraction, sourcing, and executive search. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on modern recruiting practices, employer branding, and candidate experience, and has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and The Washington Post.
What she speaks about:
- Modern talent attraction and candidate experience
- Social recruiting and employer branding
- Building and scaling high-performing recruiting teams
- Diversity sourcing and inclusive hiring practices
Why HR teams should book her: Stacy combines deep practitioner experience with an approachable, practical speaking style. Her sessions on candidate experience and modern recruiting practices are relevant to any HR team actively hiring.
10. Katrina Kibben
Founder of Three Ears Media | Recruiting writer and keynote speaker
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Katrina Kibben
- Website: katrinakibben.com
Katrina Kibben founded Three Ears Media after starting their career as Monster.com's first social media hire. They specialize in helping organizations write better job postings and build more human-centered hiring strategies. Their workshops have helped recruiting teams at Fortune 100 companies transform how they attract and connect with candidates.
What they speak about:
- Writing job postings that attract the right candidates
- Human-centered hiring strategy
- Candidate communication and employer voice
- Inclusive language in recruiting
Why HR teams should book them: Katrina covers a topic every HR team deals with, which is "how to write about open roles."
HR AI and Future of Work Experts
Speakers focused specifically on how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping work, hiring, and the HR function.
11. Anastasia Dedyukhina
Founder of Consciously Digital | Two-time TEDx speaker and author of Homo Distractus
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Anastasia Dedyukhina
- Website: anastasiadedyukhina.com
Dr. Anastasia Dedyukhina is a globally recognized expert on digital wellbeing and the founder of Consciously Digital, an international network of 130+ digital wellbeing coaches. A two-time TEDx speaker and bestselling author of Homo Distractus, she has delivered over 1,000 keynotes worldwide for clients including Microsoft, Google, HSBC, and Lush. Her work explores how technology use affects focus, trust, cognitive performance, and employee wellbeing in the AI age.
What she speaks about:
- Digital wellbeing and tech-life balance at work
- The impact of AI on human attention, creativity, and mental health
- Building organizational cultures ready for the future of work
- Neuroscience of distraction and how to manage it
Why HR teams should book her: Anastasia addresses one of the most urgent and underserved challenges in HR – employee wellbeing in an always-on, AI-saturated work environment with research-backed insights and a compelling personal story.
12. David Timis
AI & Future of Work Speaker | Global Shaper at WEF | Communications Manager at Generation
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: David Timis
- Website: davidtimis.com
David Timis is a keynote speaker focused on the impact of AI on the future of work. A Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, he has delivered keynotes and workshops for Google, the European Commission, Coca-Cola, KPMG, Cambridge University, and TEDx.
What he speaks about:
- The impact of AI on jobs, skills, and the future of work
- AI literacy and prompt engineering for professionals and organizations
- Skills-based hiring in the age of automation
- Career coaching and navigating the changing job market
Why HR teams should book him: David is one of the most active voices on AI and the future of work, with a broad range of formats from keynotes to interactive workshops.
13. David Green
Executive Director at Insight222 | People analytics expert and keynote speaker
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: David Green
- Podcast: Digital HR Leaders
- Website: insight222.com
David Green is a globally recognized expert in people analytics and data-driven HR. As Executive Director at Insight222, he works with global organizations to use employee data ethically and strategically. He previously served as Global Director of People Analytics at IBM Watson Talent, and hosts the Digital HR Leaders podcast, one of the most widely followed shows in the HR tech space.
What he speaks about:
- AI's role in HR decision-making and workforce planning
- People analytics strategy and implementation
- The ethical use of employee data
- Measuring HR's business impact through data
Why HR teams should book him: David is the most credible and accessible voice on people analytics, which is a topic HR teams increasingly need to understand but often struggle to act on.
14. Jacob Morgan
Bestselling author of The Future Leader | Keynote speaker and founder of the Future of Work Leaders community
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Jacob Morgan
- Podcast: Future Ready Leadership
- Website: thefutureorganization.com
Jacob Morgan is a five-time bestselling author whose books include The Future Leader, The Employee Experience Advantage, and The Future of Work. He founded the Future of Work Leaders community, which is a global network of C-level people leaders. He also hosts the Future Ready Leadership podcast. He has spoken for hundreds of organizations including Cisco, Gartner, and SAP.
What he speaks about:
- The future of work and leadership in a changing world
- How AI is reshaping the workplace and the powerful new role humans play
- Building future-ready leaders and organizations
- Why leading with vulnerability wins in the age of AI
Why HR teams should book him: Jacob consistently translates big-picture future of work trends into actionable leadership and HR strategies, making him effective for executive and HR leadership audiences.
15. Hung Lee
Curator of Recruiting Brainfood | LinkedIn Top Voice in Talent
Where to follow:
- LinkedIn: Hung Lee
- Newsletter: Recruiting Brainfood
- Podcast: Brainfood Live
Hung Lee is the curator of Recruiting Brainfood, one of the most widely-read talent industry newsletters globally, and the host of Brainfood Live, a weekly live show covering the latest developments in recruiting and HR tech. A former CEO of Workshape.io, Hung has become one of the most connected and respected community builders in the talent acquisition space.
What he speaks about:
- Recruiting trends and the evolving talent market
- AI's impact on talent acquisition and sourcing
- Building and engaging talent communities
- The changing role of the recruiter in an AI-first world
Why HR teams should book him: Hung has his finger on the pulse of the global recruiting community more than almost anyone. His sessions feel current, direct, and grounded in what's actually happening in the market right now.
How to Choose the Right HR Tech Speaker for Your Webinar or Event
Match the Speaker to the Topic, Not Just the Name
A well-known speaker covering the wrong topic won't deliver. Before reaching out, be clear on what your audience needs to hear. Do you need a practical talent acquisition advice, a challenge to rethink traditional HR, or a data-driven take on AI adoption? Then find the speaker whose specific expertise matches that need.
Consider Their Audience Overlap With Yours
The best speakers bring their own audience. When evaluating a speaker, look at their LinkedIn following, newsletter, and community presence, not just their credentials. A speaker with an active, relevant audience in the HR space will drive more registrations than a famous name with a passive following.
Check How They Perform in Live, Interactive Formats
Speaking on a stage and performing well in a webinar or panel are different skills. Look for evidence of how a speaker handles live Q&A, audience interaction, and unscripted moments. Testimonials from event organizers, video clips from past webinars, and podcast appearances are the fastest way to assess this.
How to Book HR Tech Speakers for Your Webinar or Event
Find Speakers Through HR Communities and Events
The best HR tech speakers are active in the communities they serve. Start by looking at speaker lineups from:
The speakers your audience already knows and trusts are the easiest to convert into registrations.
Reach Out With a Clear, Specific Ask
Speakers receive a lot of vague outreach. A clear, specific ask gets a much faster response than a generic inquiry. Include:
- Date and format (webinar, panel, keynote)
- Audience size and who will be in the room
- Topic and time commitment
- What's in it for them: audience access, replay distribution, exposure
Offer Audience Exposure and Distribution
Many speakers, especially practitioners who aren't full-time public speakers, are motivated by audience reach more than fees. If your webinar reaches an HR audience they want to be in front of, lead with that.
- Highlight your audience demographics, not just the size
- Mention any newsletter, social promotion, or community distribution that comes with the event
Use Find a Speaker to Simplify the Process
Finding the right HR tech speaker for your specific audience and topic can take weeks of research and outreach. Find a Speaker is a free tool that helps HR teams and event organizers connect with verified speakers across HR and other industries.
Booking a speaker through Find-a-Speaker is easy and only takes three steps:
- Use the category filter and choose “HR.”
- Check out the speaker profiles and watch their previous sessions.
- Send them a message directly through their preferred contact method.
FAQs About HR Tech Speakers
What topics do HR tech speakers typically cover?
HR tech speakers typically cover talent acquisition and recruiting technology, AI's impact on HR and the future of work, people analytics, employee experience, DEI, digital wellbeing, skills-based hiring, and workforce planning. The best speakers connect these topics to practical, organization-level implications rather than staying at the trend level.
How do I find the right HR speaker for my webinar?
Start with what your audience needs to hear, not who is most famous. Identify two or three specific topics your HR audience is actively trying to solve, then find speakers with real knowledge in those areas. Check how they perform in live formats. Tools like Find a Speaker can also surface relevant options you might not already know.
How much does it cost to book an HR tech speaker?
Speaker fees vary widely. Industry analysts and authors with large followings typically charge $10,000–$30,000+ for keynotes. Mid-level practitioners and community voices may speak for significantly less or in exchange for audience exposure. For webinars specifically, many practitioners will speak for free if the audience is relevant to them.
Conclusion
The HR tech space has no shortage of opinions. What it does have a shortage of is speakers who combine genuine practitioner experience with the ability to make complex topics accessible and actionable for a live audience.
The 15 speakers on this list represent a range of perspectives from global industry analysts and seasoned CHRO practitioners to neurodiversity advocates and AI-focused future of work experts. Whether you're building a webinar series, planning an HR event, or simply looking for voices worth following in 2026, this list is a strong starting point.
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