Top 100 Human Resources Influencers 2018

2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

Methodology

In order to generate this list, we considered around 300 different professionals within the various sectors of HR. Individuals were selected through a data-driven process that analyzed and scored success in five defining categories. Scores were based on an individuals’ recency, frequency, and relevance in relation to their social media presences, speaking and writing engagements, and innovative contributions to the field. Diversity of the individual was also taken into account so as to ensure that people of all backgrounds were included in the list.

Points to consider

We want to emphasize that this list is not in ranking form. Individuals have been grouped based on the type of work that they have most notably been involved with. These categories are in no way intended to minimize the entirety of these influencers’ careers. HR is an industry that is growing in all directions, and it is difficult to perfectly formulate a process that will recognize all HR professionals that are doing credible work. If you know someone who you think should be featured for next year, please nominate them through our website, as we do consider the names that are received there.

Learn more about the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2018 by hovering over their pictures and exploring their Linkedin, Twitter, and personal and/or company websites.

HR Generalists

LIZ RYAN

CEO AND FOUNDER OF HUMAN WORKPLACE

Former Fortune 500 HR SVP | World’s Most Widely-Read Career Advisor | Author: Reinvention Roadmap | LinkedInfluencer

ADAM GRANT

ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST @WHARTON

Books: GIVE AND TAKE, ORIGINALS, OPTION B |Podcast: WorkLife | @TEDTalks | Success is helping others succeed.

STEVE BOESE

HR TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR

Co-Host of the HR Happy Hour Show and Podcast | Contributor at Fistful of Talent | HR Executive Magazine columnist.

ELLYN SHOOK

CHRO ACCENTURE

Reimagining Leadership and Talent Practices | Member of Accenture’s Global Management Committee and Investment Committee | Strong Advocate for Inclusion and Diversity

MICHAEL VANDERVORT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CUE INC

Co-host on HR podcast Drive Thru HR | Volunteer Leader for the Society of Human Resources Management | Speaker | Writer

TAWNI L. NAZARIO-CRANZ

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER @ WAYMO

Former CHRO @ Netflix | Leading Business Strategist | Culture Transformer | Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech

JEFF HADEN

AUTHOR @ THE MOTIVATION MYTH, INC.

Magazine Contributing Editor | Speaker | Ghostwritten Over 50 Non-Fiction Books | LinkedInfluencer

STELA LUPUSHOR

Program Director, Strategic Workforce Planning Council at The Conference Board | Co – Founder of Strategic HR Analytics Meet-up Group

JOHN DOERR

CHAIRMAN OF VC FIRM KLEINER PERKINS CAUFIELD & BYERS

OKR Expert | TED Talk | “The two things you really look for in a company are a powerful team and a large market.” | Author:”`Measure What Matters”

SUZANNE LUCAS

EVILHRLADY

Writer | Speaker | Career advice and HR explanations with a little bit of snark

STEVE BROWNE

VICE PRESIDENT OF HR AT LAROSA’S, INC.

Strategic HR professional | Employee Relations | Networking | Company Culture

LASZLO BOCK

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF HUMU

Author of “Work Rules!” | Ex-SVP of People Ops at Google | Passionate about making work better for everyone, everywhere | LinkedInfluencer

Tracy-KeoghTRACY KEOGH

CHRO AT HP

Cisive Board of Direcor’s | Risk Management | 2015 HR Executive of the Year | 2016 Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech

JOE GERSTANDT

ADVOCATOR FOR INCLUSIVE CULTURE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

Advocator for Inclusive Culture and Inclusive Employee Experience | Writer | Speaker | Author | Consultant

HR Analytics

STACEY HARRIS

VP RESEARCH & ANALYTICS SIERRA-CEDAR

Passionate about HR, Learning, and Talent Management | Co-Host of HR Tech Weekly Radio Show

DAVID GREEN

FOUNDER & CEO ZANDEL

Advisor | Award Winning Writer | Speaker & Conference Chair | Future of Work | #HROS volunteer

ERIK VAN VULPEN

FOUNDER OF @ANALYTICSINHR

Writer and Speaker | Top Global Influencer in HR Tech of 2018 | #DigitalHR | Making HR more Data-Driven

TRISH MCFARLANE

CEO H3HR ADVISORS

Anaylst | HR Techie | Author HR Ringleader | Pro Speaker | Co-Host of HR Happy Hour

GLEN CATHEY

RECRUITING/SOURCING LEADER

CHARLIE JUDY

FOUNDER OF @WORKXO

Culture-Fueled People-Analytics and Workplace Culture Management | Workforce Technology | Founder | Former Table | First-of-its-kind Culture Management Platform

HR Tech

MEGHAN M. BIRO

CEO @TALENTCULTURE

WILLIAM TINCUP

PRESIDENT @RECRUITINGDAILY

JOHN SUMSER

FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL ANALYST, AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AT HREXAMINER

Online Magazine | Writer | HR Tech Researcher

SOUMYASANTO SEN

ADVISOR PEOPLE & ORGANIZATION

HR Tech & People Analytics Leader | Evangelist Human+Machine & Future of Work | Keynote Speaker & Writer

ESTER MARTINEZ

FOUNDER, CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AT PEOPLE MATTERS

2016 LinkedIn Top Voices List | HR Tech

ALAN WALKER

HR TECH ADVISOR

Recruitment Improver | #ChatTalent Editor | Webinar & Podcast Host | Straight Talker | Blogger

JEREMY ROBERTS

VP OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE @HIRINGSOLVED

Event Organizer @HIREconf | Keynote Speaker | #Startups | #HRTech

TIM SACKETT

PRESIDENT AT HRU TECHNICAL RESOURCES

Experienced HR Pro | Fistful of Talent | Employment Branding | Performance Management

FRIDA POLLI

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER @ PYMETRICS

GEORGE LAROCQUE

FOUNDER OF LAROCQUE AND #HRWINS

SARAH BRENNAN

FOUNDER OF @ACCELIR

PAUL DEBETTIGNIES

MINNESOTA IT RECRUITER

Minnesota IT Recruiter | Minnesota Headhunter, LLC | Blogger | Startup Adviser & Evangelist | Speaker & Consultant on Recruiting & HR

BARRY FLACK

DIGITAL HR & RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS

HR Tech Advisor | Interim & Consulting Assignments | Conference Speaker | Blogger

RAYANNE THORN

INNOVATIVE MARKETER WITH @DOVETAIL

Writer| Talk Radio @HRLatte | Moderator | Social/Mobile Tech Junkie | Innovative Content and Strategy

JARRET PAZAHANICK

SAP HCM AND SUCCESSFACTORS CONSULTANT

KIERAN SNYDER

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER @TEXTIO

Data Driven Recruiting | Linguist | Writer | Previous Product Leadership Roles at Microsoft and Amazon

HEATHER HUHMAN

FOUNDER OF HRTECH PR FIRM @COMERECOMMENDED

JEANNE ACHILLE

CONFERENCE CHAIR @HRTECH EXPERT

Women in HR Tech Summit @Annual #HRTechConf | #PR Pro | #Entrepreneur | #Diversity & #Inclusion #Speaker

Talent Management

MARY KAYLOR

MANAGER AT SHRM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Managing Editor of the SHRM Blog | Creator and Rroducer of #Nextchat | @HRTechConf Insiders Blogger

JAY KUHNS

EXECUTIVE @KINETIXTALENT

Hospital #HR VP | Healthcare Leadership Blog #NoExcuseHR | Speaker | HRIS Tech

MARCUS BUCKINGHAM

WORLD’S LEADING EXPERT ON TALENT

Best-Selling Author | “Nine Lies About Work” | Researcher | Founder of the Strengths Revolution | Researcher of People & Performance

JESSICA MILLER-MERRELL

DIVERGENT THINKER @ WORKOLOGY

MATT CHARNEY

EDITOR IN CHIEF @RECRUITINGDAILY

Chief Content Officer @allegisglobal | HR & Recruiting Nerd | Social Marketing Strategy

EVAN SINAR

CHIEF SCIENTIST & VP AT DEVELOPMENT DIMENSIONS INTERNATIONAL

Author & Top Influencer on #Leadership | #Dataviz | #Analytics | #DataScience | #iot

JEANNE MEISTER

FOUNDING PARTNER AT FUTURE WORKPLACE.

Founding Partner at Future Workplace. Business Operations Advisor.

KEVIN W. GROSSMAN

TALENT BOARD

JOSH BERSIN

CORPORATE TALENT

Learning Analyst | Founder of Bersin by Deloitte, Research and Advisory Firm focused on Management, Leadership, HR Tech | LinkedInfluencer

SHARLYN LAUBY

AUTHOR @HRBARTENDER & @UNRETIREMENTPRO

Human Resources management/leadership consultant | Speaker

GEOFF WEBB

RECRUITMENT SOURCING LEADER-TALENT ACQUISITION

Marriott International via PeopleScout RPO at PeopleScout | Talent Community Management | Co-Founder of TRU

PAUL HEBERT

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SOLUTIONS ARCHITECTURE AT CREATIVE GROUP, INC

Incentive, Reward & Recognition Personality | Humanizing the Organization | Creating Thrivability!

ALEC LEVENSON

SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS AT USC

Economist | #HRAnalytics | #HCM | #BigData

JENNIFER MCCLURE

CEO OF @UNBRIDLEDTALENT & @DISRUPT_HR

Keynote Speaker | Podcaster | Creating #ImpactMakers by helping leaders to build careers that they love & lives that matter

AMBROSIA VERTESI

VP PEOPLE @DUOSEC

Co-Founder #HROS @HROpenSource | Former VP Talent @Hootsuite | Keynote Speaker | Strong Advocate for social HR

KATHRYN MINSHEW

CEO & FOUNDER @THEMUSE

ALLISON POLIN

LEADERSHIP COACH

MATT BUCKLAND

VP OF CUSTOMER ADVOCACY @WORKABLE

Blogger | Successful Recruiter in Software Development, Trading, Financial Services and Sales

FRANCINE KATSOUDAS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER AT CISCO

Learning is my currency |Innovation is my passion | Women Leaders & Sisterhood

DOROTHY DALTON

EXECUTIVE SEARCH AND RESEARCH

CEO @ 3Plus International | International Talent Connector & Strategist | Executive Search and Career Transition Coach | Coach | Conscious recruitment of diversity and bias

VICTORIO MILIAN

CONSULTOR DE RECURSOS HUMANOS

HR Pro con sede en Nueva York | Escritor | Orador | Coaching de carrera | Fotografía digital

Talent Acquisition

JT O’DONNELL

FOUNDER & CEO OF WORKITDAILY

GREG SAVAGE

RECRUITMENT & LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS: ADVISORY

Investment. Speaking. Consulting. | Founder & Owner of Recruitment Solutions | @firebrandtalent | @people2people | @consultnz

WILL STANEY

FOUNDER @PROACTIVETALENT

Co-Founder @TalentBrandOrg | TA Leader turned Consultant | Speaker | Employer Branding | @ATAPGlobalAdvisory Council Member

GERRY CRISPIN

FOUNDER, CAREERXROADS

Co-Founder CareerXroads Colloquium a peer-to-peer TA Community | Talent Board

JEROME TERNYNCK

FOUNDER & CEO OF @SMARTRECRUITERS

the Hiring Success Company | Entrepreneur | Recruiting | Tech | SaaS Evangelist

MERVYN DINNEN

AUTHOR “EXCEPTIONAL TALENT”

HR & Talent Analyst | International Speaker on HR Trends | #7 #SageTop100 Global Business Influencers

JIM STROUD

TRAINER | SPEAKER | AWARD-WINNING BLOGGER

Producer of the “It’s All Recruiting” Podcast | Youtuber of “Jim Stroud Show” | Consultant | Social Recruiting | Job Search Strategy

JÖRGEN SUNDBERG

CEO, FOUNDER & EMPLOYER BRAND CONSULTANT @LINKHUMANS

Publication: Employee Advocacy | Undercover Recruiter

SUSAN S. LAMOTTE

FOUNDER, CEO, AND PRINCIPAL BRAND STRATEGIST OF EXAQUEO.

Founder, CEO, and Principal Brand Strategist of exaqueo. Improving Talent and Recruitment Strategies.

BRYAN CHANEY

EMPLOYER BRAND

MAREN HOGAN

CHIEF MARKETING BRAIN OF @REDBRANCH MEDIA

Helping with recruiting, talent acquisition and HR, marketing, community and social | #TBEX #HRTech

LOU ADLER

CEO OF ADLER GROUP

Performance-based Hiring Learning Systems | The Original Headhunter Author – The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired and Hire With Your Head | LinkedInfluencer

BILL BOORMAN

HAT-WEARING FOUNDER OF #TRU

Social Recruiting Product Advice | Social Recruiting Integration | Social Referral Programs | Blogger | Keynote Speaker

RICH DEMATTEO

CO-OWNER OF @BADRHINOINC SOCIAL MEDIA

Leading Social Media & Careers Expert | Founder of @JobHuntChat | Mr. Job Man | Career Blogger: Corn on the Job

SABRINA BAKER

HR OUTSOURCING

STACY ZAPAR

FOUNDER, TENFOLD & THE TALENT AGENCY

JACKYE CLAYTON

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS

Named Time’s Person of the Year 2006 | Success @HiringSolved@DrPepper | #Recruit-osphere | #HRTech Geek

JOHNNY CAMPBELL

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF @SOCIALTALENT

Online Recruiting Expert | Speaker | Helping Recruiters Learn and Work Smarter since 2010

SHALLY STECKERL

FOUNDER AT THE SOURCING INSTITUTE FOUNDATION A 501(C)(3)

Providing Talent Sourcing and Recruitment Scholarships | Building Enterprise Recruiting Engines for Fortune 500 Brands

CRYSTAL MILLER LAY

CEO @BRANDEDSTRATEGY

Organizational Development

JON INGHAM

DIGITAL CHANGE AGENT

Author of ‘The Social Organization’ | Focused on Innovating HR/OD Strategy and the Future of Work

JASON LAURITSEN

KEYNOTESPEAKER | AUTHOR | CONSULTANT

Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture Expert | Workshop Facilitator | Taller hHlf of @TalentAnarchy

JEREMY SCRIVENS

APPRECIATE FUTURIST

Positively disrupting organisations to #collaborate at scale in the Social & Summit Rooms | Digital Transformation | People First

GAUTUM GHOSH

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

Talent Advisory Services @v_beyond. | Employe Branding | Social Media | HRTech | XLRI Alumnus Blogger since 2002

JASON AVERBOOK

CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF LEAPGEN

DWANE LAY

AUTHOR OF LEAN HR

DANIEL CROSBY

PRESIDENT AT NOCTURNE CAPITAL

President at Nocturne Capital | Author of The Laws of Wealth: Psychology and Secret to investing success | Podcast | Behavioral Finance Expert

DAVID D’SOUZA

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR @CIPD

OD & #Learning | People Development | Future of Work | Author: “Humane, Resourced” and “This Time, It’s Personnel”

MARK STELZNER

FOUNDER AND MANAGING PRINCIPAL OF IA

Leading HR Consultant and Strategic Advisor | @VoiceOfHR | Founder of @JobAngels

KATELIN HOLLOWAY

VP OF PEOPLE & CULTURE AT REDDIT

PeopleGeek | Culture Curator | Aspiring Children’s Book Writer | Diversity & Inclusion | Talent Management

Leadership & Development

LOLLY DASKAL

AUTHOR

CONOR NEILL

EO ENTREPRENEUR

Vistage Chair | Teacher at IESE Business School | Keynote Speaker on Leadership Communication & the Psychology of Mental Strength

GORDON TREDGOLD

INC TOP 100 LEADERSHIP EXPERT KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Inc Top 100 Leadership Expert Keynote Speaker | Business Coach and Consultant | Speaker | Author | Contributor at Forbes, Entrepreneur, & Inc.

BRIGETTE HYACINTH

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

Best-Selling Author on Leadership

DAVID L PETERSON

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER

Executive Coach | Serial Entrepreneur | Bestselling Author of Grounded (Little River, 2016) | Leadership | Fintech

DAVE ULRICH

SPEAKER | AUTHOR | PROFESSOR

HR & Leadership Thought Partner | Co-Founder of @rblgroup | Rensis Likert Professor at @MichiganRoss.

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JENNY DEVAUGHN

VP, TRANSFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS AT ADP

Leads Strategic Outreach to Inform and Engage over 50,000 Associates at this Global Human Capital Management Company