The HR Research Institute, powered by HR.com, has announced the formation of its 2026 Employee Productivity and Engagement Advisory Board, a group of senior HR leaders, workforce strategy experts, and engagement specialists tasked with shaping upcoming research and a virtual event. As organizations grapple with hybrid and remote work models and the rise of generative AI, understanding how to enhance productivity and engagement has become increasingly critical. The board will guide a research initiative and virtual event aimed at translating insights into practical strategies for HR leaders.
The advisory board will explore how organizations define and measure engagement, identify HR and management practices with the greatest impact, and examine how productivity and performance are perceived across different contexts. It will also investigate the connections between engagement, productivity, performance, and retention to drive better business outcomes. Findings will inform both a research survey and the State of Employee Productivity and Engagement Virtual Event scheduled for August 19, 2026.
The newly formed board includes distinguished experts such as Deepti Chaudhary, Senior HRIS Manager at Dover Corporation; Madeline Des Jardins, Global Senior Director of Internal Communications & Employee Engagement at WalkMe; Janiece Ferrell, Global Program Manager for Talent Supply Chain and Workforce Planning at Dell Technologies; Bridgett Hart, Vice President of Employee Experience at Ibex; Shipra Kamra, Vice President of the People Team and Head of HR Global at Responsive; Susana Kelly, Employee Experience & Engagement Analyst at Numeracle; Sandra Loughlin, Chief Learning Scientist at EPAM Systems Inc.; Cassandra Lowery, Global Human Resources Manager at Liminal; Lauren Mutz, Director of Employee Experience & Engagement at Daiichi Sankyo Inc.; Jason Richmond, Chief Culture Officer at Ideal Outcomes, Inc.; Kristen Ruttgaizer, Chief People Officer (on sabbatical); and Siri Svay, Program Manager of Culture and Engagement at IAT Insurance Group.
“We are thrilled to bring together such an outstanding group of experts to guide this important work,” said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. “Their real-world experience will help HR leaders better connect productivity and engagement in a time of rapid change, and we look forward to the impact this collaboration will bring to the HR community.” The HR Research Institute releases annual “State of the Industry” reports in various HR topic areas, including last year’s HR.com's State of Employee Productivity and Engagement 2025 report. These and other free research reports and infographics are available at hr.com/researchinstitute.
The formation of this advisory board underscores the growing importance of employee productivity and engagement as organizations navigate rapid workplace changes. The insights generated will help HR professionals develop strategies that leverage new technologies and work models while maintaining a motivated and effective workforce. The virtual event and research findings are expected to provide actionable guidance for connecting engagement and productivity to overall business performance.
