Workhuman®, the global leader in employee recognition, and The WSJ Leadership Institute, a premium executive learning program from Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, have launched the WSJ Chief People Officer Council. This groundbreaking leadership community, aimed at reshaping corporate strategy, brings together Chief Human Resource Officers and Chief People Officers from the world’s largest organizations to position people leadership at the heart of business decision-making. The initiative was unveiled at Workhuman Live 2025 in Denver, marking a historic moment in elevating human capital leadership as critical to setting global business direction.
Features of the WSJ Chief People Officer Council
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A Strategic New Table for CPOs:
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This first-of-its-kind executive community positions people leadership as essential to corporate strategy, empowering CPOs to lead alongside CEOs and CFOs.
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As KeyAnna Schmiedl, Chief Human Experience Officer at Workhuman, noted, the Council is more than a “seat at the table” — it’s about creating an entirely new space for CPOs to influence the direction of their organizations.
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Leadership by Industry Experts:
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The Council will be led by Alan Murray, founding president of The WSJ Leadership Institute, and Gwendolyn Bounds, SVP & Head of Content.
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The Council’s initiatives will include curated gatherings, a flagship summit, and international activations at prominent events like Davos, ensuring real-time discussions around business-critical issues.
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A Real-Time Think Tank:
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With a focus on AI ethics, workforce transformation, DEI, and employee well-being, the Council aims to create actionable insights that will influence corporate strategy at a global scale.
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The goal is to address the most pressing business challenges in real time, through a network of top executives and forward-thinking leaders.
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A Focus on Future Workforce Dynamics:
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The Council will delve into critical topics such as how AI and human talent will coexist, what leadership looks like in this new era, and how organizations can foster belonging in an increasingly divided world.
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The Council ensures that the voices of CPOs, who understand people, culture, and impact, are integral to shaping business decisions.
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Why Now? The Urgency of People Leadership
In today’s world, business is undergoing rapid transformation driven by AI, geopolitical shifts, generational changes, and social polarization. As organizations navigate this era of uncertainty and reinvention, the role of CPOs is more critical than ever.
Today’s CPOs are tasked with answering the toughest questions facing businesses:
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How do we define leadership in the age of AI?
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How do we create inclusivity and belonging across a divided world?
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What roles will exist in five years, and how do we prepare for them?
The WSJ CPO Council ensures that the right leaders those who deeply understand culture, people, and organizational impact are positioned where key business decisions are made.
Through the WSJ CPO Council, Workhuman and The Wall Street Journal are not just rethinking corporate growth, but actively reshaping it. By placing human capital leadership at the forefront of corporate strategy, this collaboration will foster culture-driven growth and provide CPOs the platform to lead the transformation of the modern workplace.
The WSJ CPO Council marks a pivotal moment in reimagining the future of work, not through abstract theory, but through leadership rooted in real-world experience and human connection.
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