Workhuman®, the world’s leading employee recognition company, and The WSJ Leadership Institute, a premium executive learning and leadership program from Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, today announced the launch of the WSJ Chief People Officer (CPO) Council. This first-of-its-kind executive leadership community brings together CHROs and CPOs from the world’s largest organizations to influence the future of corporate strategy—elevating people leadership to the same criticality as CEOs and CFOs in setting global business direction. Unveiled on stage in Denver at Workhuman Live 2025, this invitation-only Council elevates human capital leadership to the forefront of corporate strategy and recognizes what today’s business climate demands — that people strategy is business strategy.
“This Council cements what we’ve long believed: people leadership is business leadership,” said KeyAnna Schmiedl, Chief Human Experience Officer at Workhuman. “Workhuman is proud to be at the forefront of elevating CPOs to where they belong — at the strategic center of every modern enterprise. This isn’t merely a seat at the table. It’s a new table entirely.”
The WSJ CPO Council will be led by Alan Murray, founding president of The WSJ Leadership Institute and former CEO of Fortune, and Gwendolyn Bounds, SVP & Head of Content for the Institute. The Council will convene executives from billion-dollar enterprises through curated gatherings and global activations — including a two-day flagship summit modeled after the WSJ CEO Council and an international presence at events such as Davos. This is more than networking. It’s a real-time think tank, built for action. From AI ethics to workforce transformation, DEI to well-being — the Council will forge and share industry-shaping POVs to influence corporate strategy at scale.
“How human talent evolves to coexist with new AI technology will be one of the most profound global workplace shifts of our time,” said Bounds, who will chair the WSJ CPO Council. “We believe it’s time to center the leaders who must navigate that complexity every day and who will play an increasingly critical role in C-Suite decision-making.”
Why Now? The Stakes Have Never Been Higher.
Business is being rebuilt in real time — with AI, geopolitics, generational change, and social polarization reshaping every aspect of how we work. In this moment of uncertainty and reinvention, the voice of the Chief People Officer is no longer optional — it’s essential.
Today’s CPOs are navigating the most existential business questions of our time:
– What does leadership look like in the age of AI?
– How do we build belonging across a divided world?
– What roles will even exist in five years — and who will fill them?
This Council ensures the right leaders — those who understand culture, people, and impact — are in the rooms where key business decisions are being made.
Together, Workhuman and The Wall Street Journal are redefining how businesses grow: through their people. This Council marks a pivotal step in reshaping the future of work — not with theory alone, but through real-world leadership, lived experience, and the undeniable power of human connection. It’s where the most forward-thinking minds will convene to challenge assumptions, share breakthroughs, and illuminate a new path forward for culture-driven growth.
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