Top 10: Most Influential HR and People Leaders

HR leaders hold vital influence, driven by their ability to cultivate engaged, motivated and resilient workforces. A highly regarded HR leader strengthens organisational reputation by fostering employee satisfaction, retention and a culture of trust and inclusion.

Their approach to talent strategy shapes how people feel about their work, how long they stay and how effectively they perform.

Beyond policies and initiatives, their leadership inspires connection, purpose and growth.

When engagement, culture and leadership excellence are combined, HR leaders become architects of thriving organisations and key drivers of sustainable competitive advantage.

10. Lisa Chang

Company: The Coca-Cola Company

Revenue: US$46.07bn

Employees: 700,000

As Chief People Officer, Lisa oversees the global human resources strategy, driving a high-performing, inclusive culture across The Coca-Cola Company. Since 2019, she has played a pivotal role in aligning the company’s presence in over 200 countries with its purpose of refreshing the world and making a difference.

Her leadership emphasises empowering employees to succeed and strengthening organisational capability. Deeply committed to a people-first approach, Lisa continues to shape a workplace where everyone can thrive.

9. Becky Schmitt

Company: PepsiCo

Revenue: US$91.85bn

Employees: 319,000

Bala has served as P&G’s Chief Human Resources Officer since 2023, leading the firm’s people and organisation strategy.

Under his leadership, the HR organisation is focused on delivering value creation through organisation design and culture, developing talent as a competitive advantage and delivering a superior employee experience.

Bala believes in employee development: attracting great and principled people for a career, giving them early responsibility and improving wellbeing through tools and resources to help colleagues be at their best.

7. Pat Wadors

Company: Intuitive

Revenue: US$8.35bn​​​​​​​

Employees: 15,600

Jacqui is the Chief People Officer and AI Enablement Officer at ServiceNow, leading all talent strategies since 2021.

Focusing on improving employee experiences, she is preparing the workforce for the future by following her simple strategy of putting people at the centre of transformation.

Jacqui does not just acknowledge that AI is reshaping how people work, she enables it by focusing on how to embed AI across the entire employee experience to unlock capacity, creativity and define the workforce of the future.

5. Gloria Chen

Company: Adobe

Revenue: US$21.505bn

Employees: 30,700

Gloria has served as Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President of Employee Experience at Adobe since 2020, leading all aspects of the company’s global people and workplace strategy, from hiring and developing talent to fostering a high-performing, inclusive culture.

She has played a key role in advancing Adobe’s award-winning culture, guiding its future-of-work strategy, and refreshing its values for the company’s 40th anniversary: Create the Future, Own the Outcome, Raise the Bar and Be Genuine.

4. Donna Morris

Company: Walmart

Revenue: US$681bn

Employees: 2,100,000

Since 2020, Donna has served as Walmart’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, striving to make the company a great place to work. She embodies Walmart’s people-led focus by providing opportunities for associates to grow and belong, while building a workplace that prioritises emotional, physical and financial well-being.

Under her leadership, Walmart US and division Sam’s Club, Walmart China and Walmart Global Tech India have been certified as a “Great Place to Work” for multiple years.

3. Sheri Bronstein

Company: Bank of America

Revenue: US192.434bn

Employees: 213,000

Sheri has served as Bank of America’s Chief People Officer since 2015, leading Global HR, Global Corporate Security and Executive Protection, Global Corporate Communications and Philanthropic Giving, among other areas, and advancing the company’s Great Place to Work commitment.

A dedicated advocate for mental health support, Sheri drives the company’s top-tier emotional wellness efforts and extends her impact through the external Mental Health Forum, where she shines a light on challenges facing youth as they transition into the workforce.

2. Nickle LaMoreaux

Company: IBM

Revenue: US$62.75bn

Employees: 293,400

2020, Nickle leads IBM’s global people strategy and oversees a worldwide HR team. She drives a bold talent agenda powered by AI, focused on reskilling, upskilling and preparing the workforce for a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

This is with the goal of enhancing productivity, fostering collaboration and accelerating innovation through championing a culture of continuous learning and reinvention, ensuring IBM employees are ready to thrive in the future of work.

1. Francine Katsoudas

Company: Cisco

Revenue: US$56.7bn

Employees: 90,400

Francine was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer in 2021 after serving as Chief People Officer from 2014. She unites people and technology to advance Cisco’s Purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All. Her leadership on key policy and social issues has built strategic public-private partnerships.

Known at Cisco as Fran, she leads global People & Communities, Sustainability and Social Impact & Inclusion, while advocating for women’s leadership, homeless youth and closing the digital divide worldwide.