It comes as little surprise that AI has dominated the most-read stories on the UNLEASH site so far this year.

As HR leaders mobilize to learn as much as possible to effectively deliver on CEO mandates and employee’s needs in this arena, the value of success stories and expert insights on AI have never been higher.

We spoke to IBM and PwC to find out more, and compiled the key learnings from speakers at year’s UNLEASH America event, to get the inside story on AI for HR.

But it wasn’t the only topic on the list so far this year. Inclusion, flexible working, wellbeing and neurodivergence all appeared among the most-read, highlighting just how serious HR leaders are about providing positive employee experience opportunities across the board.

As you’d expect, the UNLEASH Editorial team covered all these topics with exclusive interviews, analysis and news from some of the biggest and most innovative employers out there. Check out the top 10 below:

1. Google: ‘I promise you, you’re going to see returns’ on disability inclusion

Any time Google makes a statement it’s worth paying attention – especially when it concerns often underrepresented issues such as disability inclusion.

In this exclusive interview, UNLEASH sat down with Valeisha Butterfield, VP of Partnerships and Engagement at Google, to chat all about inclusion, and why data, community and partnerships are the secret to success.

Butterfield told us the $306 billion Fortune 100 tech giant is committed to moving the needle on disability inclusion (both internally for its 156,000 employees, and externally in its products) – and the secret to success is data and partnerships with organizations such as the Valuable 500.

2. ‘Chronoworking’: Is this the future of flexible work?

Flexible working has caused a huge upheaval in how both employees and employers view productivity, often without any form of consensus.

As more people begin to experiment with what flexible working can mean, new terms come to the fore, such as ‘chronoworking’.

UNLEASH spoke to a range of HR experts to understand what this approach, which eschews traditional working hours in favor of when people are most productive based on their body clock.

While this method of working won’t suit all employers – or employees for that matter – there is evident to suggest that it can make a different for firms that are chasing greater productivity and are open to trying something new.

3. IBM is adopting AI ‘because consulting is a profession that thrives on knowledge’

Everyone working in HR should have received the message by now – businesses who don’t get on board with AI will get left behind.

That’s the view of technology giant IBM, and this explains why the employer is leaning into this disruptive technology through the rollout of its IBM Consulting Advantage services platform to empower consultants.

UNLEASH sat down with IBM Consulting’s global managing partner of assets, offerings and industries, Luq Niazi, to discover how the firm is rolling out AI for its 160,000 global consultants, and why ethics are top of mind – something all HR leaders need to get in mind when considering how they leverage AI.

4. Deloitte: Why HR needs to be everyone’s job in 2024

Organizations are stuck in the past. They aren’t built for the new mode of work; one where people are disrupted, skills (not jobs) are the workplace currency, and “lightning-fast” advances in technology – particularly AI – power employee experiences.

Those were the findings of the Deloitte 2024 Global Human Capital Trends Report, which calls on organizations to reset and rethink how they work.

To do this, HR needs to become boundaryless and part of everyone’s skills – and CHROs need to become ‘chief work officers’.

UNLEASH took a deep dive into the report and its proposed solutions with Art Mazor, global human capital practice leader at Deloitte.

5. Cemex director of talent: ‘We need to keep innovating’ to drive EX

Learning, development and skills are top of mind for $15bn global construction giant, Cemex. It is constantly experimenting and innovating, most recently with a coaching pilot with CoachHub.

UNLEASH sat down with Cemex’s EMEA talent and development director, Carlos Delgado Conde, to discuss what the future holds for the organization and its 43,000 workers worldwide from an L&D perspective.

In a wide-ranging interview, Delgado offered insights into how Cemex changed the perception of coaching within the organization’s EMEA operations through its partnership with CoachHub, as well as his views on internal mobility driven by a skills-first approach.

6. AT&T: ‘Investing in wellbeing is going to pay dividends’

Bereavement support is not an often-discussed topic but it undeniably impacts every part of a person’s life. Not only is there grief and intense emotions, but it has impact on their finances, their health and their relationships.

One employer that is really going above and beyond to support its employees is Fortune 100 telecoms giant AT&T. While most US employers offer some form of bereavement leave for employees, however AT&T’s commitment to the spectrum of wellbeing goes above and beyond for employees.

UNLEASH sat down with associate vice-president of benefits at AT&T, Matthew Phillips, to get the exclusive inside story.

7. 45% of the C-Suite identify as neurodivergent – here’s why businesses should care

More than one third of 16-24-year-olds self-identify with neurodivergent conditions and this figure increases the further up the career ladder:  55% of business owners, 45% of C-level executives, and 32% of senior management.

In an exclusive interview with UNLEASH, CYPHER Learning explains how and why L&D needs to be more inclusive, ensuring opportunities reach the needs of neurotypical and neurodiverse individuals, alike.

Additionally, CYPHER’s research found that 76% of workers are more likely to stay with an employer that prioritizes training opportunities, but that expectations for L&D have evolved – personalized development plans and training hold the key.

8. PwC’s Future of Work Officer: Responsible AI will ‘redefine’ the work of leaders

Unsure what the future of work has in store for your business? One business that is particularly focused on paving the way to a successful future is PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), after appointing Michael Fenlon as Chief Future of Work Officer.

But what does this role actually entail, and will it catch on to other businesses? In an exclusive interview with Fenlon, UNLEASH gets the inside track to discover how PwC – which generated a whopping US$50 bn in 2022 – is preparing for the future.

Fenlon details what PWC predicts will be the possible trends to sweep the world of work going forward.

9. HCM tech giant Ceridian to acquire L&D platform eloomi to ‘supercharge’ Dayforce

HR technology M&A activity has been rife so far this year. At the start of 2024, Human Capital Management (HCM) technology business Ceridian – now operating as Dayforce – detailed plans to acquire L&D platform, eloomi.

In an exclusive conversation with UNLEASH, chief product and technology officer Joe Korngiebel explains what this will mean for both businesses. Put simply, the acquisition was to “supercharge” the people development capabilities of Dayforce.

This was particularly important as the global learning management system (LMS) market size is expected to skyrocket, reaching $54.69bn by 2032.

10. HR’s favorite two letter word: AI at UNLEASH America 2024

As you’ve come to expect, there were a plethora of HR insights served up at UNLEASH America this year and top of the pile in 2024 was AI.

From the vendors on the exhibition floor to the startup booths, the Main Stage to the breakout workshops, AI was the talk of the town. As Mercer’s Jason Averbook put it: “AI is HR’s favorite two-letter word.”

UNLEASH compiled the key takeaways from the International Festival of HR to bring you a clearer picture of how HR leaders are both thinking about AI and using it now to make transformational change in their organizations.