HR has proven its strategic value through the past few years of disruption, but now faces the challenge of driving organizations forward under heightened expectations. Gartner’s chief of HR research Peter Aykens returns to the Talent Angle to offer guidance as organizations continue to face economic volatility, tight labor markets and other competing priorities. Peter shares why sustaining employee performance, improving managers’ impact and evolving the HR function will be imperative for HR leaders in the year ahead. He offers a sneak peek of the emerging themes and insights from Gartner’s research teams and offers advice for HR leaders looking to make an impact in 2023.

Peter Aykens is the chief of research for Gartner’s HR practice. He is responsible for building and leading research teams within the practice to address clients’ key initiatives. Before his current role, he spent over 25 years at Gartner leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy, producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channels, marketing, customer experience and product challenges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Olaf College; a master’s degree in international politics from Aberystwyth University (formerly known as the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth); and a master’s degree and a doctorate in political science from Brown University.

Jessica Knight is a Vice President of Research in the Gartner HR practice. She leads research teams to identify best practices and new opportunities to address HR executives’ most urgent challenges. Her areas of focus include employee experience, organizational culture, change management, and the future of work.