The State of AI in the People Function is a recurring conversation with the leaders doing the work of AI adoption. We take stock of where AI has genuinely changed People and HR workflow, where it hasn't lived up to the hype, and what they're paying attention to next. June 2026 was our inaugural live session.
Value from AI for the People function is coming from drafting comms and analytics support.
When AI fell short, the most common reason wasn't the model. It was readiness: skills, training, strategy.
Leaders' top worries are keeping data safe and keeping up. Job loss ranked far down the list, despite the headlines.
Diane has partnered with 50+ companies on AI adoption strategy and writes/speaks on human–AI collaboration and responsible implementation. A 20+ year org transformation leader, she’s trained 100,000+ professionals globally.
Prior to Stitch Fix, Sari was Founder of Nine of Us, a culture consultancy focused on turning high performing employees into leaders. With previous leadership experience at Meta and T-Mobile, she brings a practical and people-centered perspective to the evolving intersection of AI and HR. Her work focuses on how organizations can use technology to enhance learning, leadership, employee experience, and human connection at scale.
Stacey Nordwall is the VP of People Strategy at Pyn where she has created Pyn's 50 Over 50 Women in Tech list and the Guide to Inclusive and Equitable Workplace Communications. She is also the creator and host of the Toot or Boot podcast. Stacey is passionate about creating inclusive workplaces where people can thrive and helping People teams evolve to meet the new world of work. She has an MA with Honors in Counseling Psychology from St. Mary’s College of California and a BA in Psychology and Communication from Stanford University.
Stephanie’s expertise is in HR process improvement, scaling teams, employee relations and compliance, and she has guided multiple companies through phases of dynamic growth and change. Her experiences in the healthcare and criminal justice sectors greatly influenced her approach to transparent leadership and instilled her dedication to promoting fair and just cultures. She is a champion for people, healthy organizational cultures, IDEA, and simply doing the right thing.