FOW 2025: Digital transformation and the future of the people profession

Session 1: Practical Workshop on Skills and Productivity

The first day of these workshops was led by Tim Cradock (HR Director Group Reward, Pensions & Benefit, Network Rail) and Adam Stanbury (Director of CIPD Employer Solutions) and the central message was clear: technology must serve people, not replace them.  Technology should be a tool that empowers people, not a substitute for their value. 

Organisations are moving toward more agile, human-centric models supported by AI and automation. These technologies are freeing up time for employees to focus on high-value, creative, and strategic work. However, to fully unlock their benefits, leaders must approach digital transformation with curiosity, not fear -ensuring it is implemented equitably and inclusively. 

The evolving world of work demands new skills; for Network Rail, Tim gave examples such as in engineering, systems analysis, cybersecurity, and project leadership. There is growing concern that the education system and current development pipelines may not keep pace. The people profession has a pivotal role to play in leading this transformation, acting as a strategic enabler and helping organisations navigate change with empathy, agility and vision. 

 Key opportunities include: 

• streamlining processes while keeping people at the centre 
• building efficiencies to allow focus on meaningful work 
• personalising employee and customer experiences through data. 

 Challenges include: 

• managing diverse digital skillsets across age groups 
• bridging the digital skills gap 
• avoiding over-reliance on AI at the cost of human connection. 

 The call to action for senior leaders is clear: lead with purpose, empower your people, and embed technology in ways that optimise both human experience and organisational productivity.

Session 2: Strategic themes in digital transformation 

The second sessions, led by culture change expert Radha Bharj and Director of CIPD Employer Solutions Adam Stanbury, highlighted that transformation is not just about technology, it is also about how we develop capability and align AI with human potential.

Key themes discussed included: 

• Reimagining work: Digital transformation must focus on agility, speed, and human-centric design. It is a shift in mindset - not just a toolset - requiring adaptive cultures and continuous learning. 
• Human first, tech second: AI and automation can solve productivity challenges, but only when grounded in human needs. Successful transformation starts with people and builds technology around them. 
• The people profession's evolving role: 
  • the people profession is no longer a support function - it is a strategic enabler. 
  • Leaders must orchestrate agile teams that work across boundaries and embed responsible use of AI. 
  • The people profession must prepare workforces for jobs that don’t yet exist by cultivating both technical and human skills. 
• Building future skills: Digital literacy is now essential across all roles. the people profession must lead on upskilling initiatives that are relevant, inclusive and accessible to all. 
• Equity, diversity and inclusion in tech: 
  • Embed AI fairly and equitably to boost productivity while preserving human experience. 
  • Address bias, ensure psychological safety, and build trust in new technologies. 
• People as consumers of work: The workforce expects meaningful, human-centred experiences. The people profession must balance efficiency with empathy, technology with authenticity to drive the employee experience and realise productivity gains. 

The fifth industrial revolution 

As organisations enter what experts term the Fifth Industrial Revolution, the people profession has unprecedented opportunities to lead with confidence, design for meaningful impact, and champion the essential balance between technological capability and human potential. This new era demands leaders who can navigate complexity while maintaining focus on human development and organisational purpose. 

Lead the transformation 

Both sessions converged on a clear imperative for senior leaders: lead with purpose, empower your people, and embed technology in ways that optimise both human experience and organisational productivity. The people profession has a pivotal role to play in leading this transformation, acting as a strategic enabler and helping organisations navigate change with empathy, agility and vision. 

The future belongs to organisations that successfully integrate technological advancement with human potential, creating workplaces that are both efficient and authentically human-centred. Leaders must approach this transformation with curiosity, ensuring that as we advance into the digital future, we never lose sight of the human element that remains at the heart of all meaningful work. 

Find out what’s possible when people and technology thrive together.