SHRM25 Recap
Tony Buffum recaps a successful week at SHRM Annual meeting with 75+ executives at the forefront of technology and talent.
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SHRM25 Recap: Culture, Compliance & the (Responsible) Rise of AI
Tony Buffum
Head, Enterprise Strategy
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SHRM25 brought the HR community together with clarity, energy, and a shared sense of purpose. A few key themes stood out:
DEI is evolving, not fading. HR leaders are rethinking how they approach Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — not by backing away, but by doubling down on equity and rebranding efforts to make the work more inclusive and sustainable. The goal? Keep the values strong and bring employees along for the journey.
AI is everywhere, but it’s not everything. AI practicality ruled the tech floor. Yes, AI was in most demos, but the standout solutions weren’t about full-blown bots — they were about solving real, immediate problems through smart automation. HR teams are seeking wins that don’t require a full AI transformation, which many feel their organizations are still not ready for.
Civility is making a comeback. After years of disruption, the need for respectful, human-centered leadership is more important than ever. SHRM’s call for civil conversations hit home, reinforced by keynote moments like CEO Johnny Taylor’s message to HR about their role in pushing through the storm of change, (not waiting it out). This was also reflected on Jason Sudeikis’ appearance (after the poorly rationalized explanation for missing last year’s conference last-minute) which was mostly about the Ted Lasso character he created and the great example it sets for the impact a leader can have on culture. Finally, this was also reflected in Joe Biden’s closing words, which were far from partisan rhetoric, and focused on recognizing the value and importance of the way work provides people with dignity and contribution to community, and we need to remember and celebrate that.
Of course, no great conference is complete without a few great gatherings. We were proud to host two standout events:
The Human Cloud Executive Dinner (powered by Mellow) kicked things off with a powerful conversation around global talent access and how Mellow’s solution makes hiring top-tier international contractors fast, compliant, and easy.
The Closing Cocktail Hour (powered by Ourly) wrapped things up in style with insights, laughs, and conversations on the future of flexible, W2-based talent models. Ourly’s solution clearly struck a chord with leaders looking to stay compliant while meeting evolving on-demand workforce needs.
Want to get in on the action? Check out Human Cloud Events: https://humancloud.comm/events
Tony Buffum
Head, Enterprise Strategy
Former VP of HR Client Strategy at Upwork, CHRO at FLIR Systems and VP of HR at Stanley Black & Decker.
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