The Transform 2025 conference was, once again, a game-changer for HR professionals navigating today’s complex world of work. Bringing together thought leaders, HR professionals, and business innovators, the event sparked conversations on how technology, leadership, and culture are reshaping the workplace. With AI integration, employee well-being, and leadership adaptability as central themes, attendees walked away with actionable insights to drive real change at their organizations.
Here’s a breakdown of our key takeaways from the conference and a deep-dive into a standout session.
4 themes from Transform 2025
The conference covered a wide range of HR topics, each tackling critical aspects of work and leadership transformation. Here were a few of the key themes that stood out to us from the sessions:
- AI is transforming every dimension of HR, for the better. There’s been massive innovation in AI tools for hiring, developing, and retaining talent—and these tools are delivering real business impact.
- HR leaders are embracing AI—with caution. Transform 2025 was abuzz with conversations about implementing AI in a thoughtful, intentional, and human-centric way.
- Skills-based hiring is here to stay. Advances in HR technology, including skills assessments and other AI-powered tools, are enhancing companies’ ability to identify qualified candidates based on real skills, not resume keywords.
- Leadership skills matter more than ever. Several speakers highlighted how trust and engagement are in decline in today’s workforce. To overcome these challenges, leaders need to focus on building their employees’ resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Session deep-dive: Human-Centric GenAI
One keynote session that touched on several of these themes was Human-Centric GenAI: Redefining Skills and Leadership in 2025. A discussion between Tigran Sloyan, CEO of CodeSignal, and Cassie Kozyrkov, Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, this session explored how Generative AI is reshaping work and leadership. Here were their key insights:
- With GenAI, now anyone can talk to machines. Previously, the only people who could “talk” to machines were computer programmers who learned specialized coding languages. The accessibility of GenAI tools means that nearly anyone can now “talk” to machines using natural language. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone will do it well. Prompt engineering—knowing how to frame effective questions and commands—is quickly becoming a core skill.
- From managing people to managing AI agents. Sloyan pointed out a massive workplace shift: many employees’ jobs will evolve from managing teams of people to managing teams of AI agents. For instance, a marketing manager might oversee multiple AI-driven assistants—one that drafts content, another that analyzes campaign performance, and another that responds to customer feedback.
- Managing AI starts with asking the right questions. Good AI outputs depend on clear, critical thinking. Leaders will need to coach teams not just on what to do—but on how to ask smart, strategic questions. This shift from execution to inquiry marks a significant evolution in leadership and communication skills.
- Learning by doing is essential. As Sloyan noted, the best way to learn AI is hands-on. Educational institutions and companies alike need to focus less on theory and more on applied experience. Tools like CodeSignal Learn are helping fill that gap, offering interactive environments where users build real-world AI skills through practice.
- Creativity and collaboration remain human strengths. While AI can handle tasks like summarizing documents or translating text, it can’t replace human creativity, vision, or the kinds of “lightbulb” moments that happen through collaborative work. Kozyrkov highlighted the importance of protecting time for collaboration and big-picture thinking—skills that are hard to measure, but central to innovation.
- AI is best for structured language tasks. GenAI excels at tasks where the desired output is known and easily validated—like rewriting a job description, translating documents, or summarizing email threads. These are often tasks delegated to junior employees, but now AI can take the first pass, freeing up humans for more creative work.
- Education needs to catch up. Sloyan noted that demand for junior-level roles is on the decline—and it’s now the responsibility of higher education to prepare students for a new workforce where AI is center stage. Graduates need to be equipped with not just the ability to leverage AI tools effectively, but also skills in critical thinking, experimentation, and collaborating with both human and AI co-workers.
- AI as an equalizer. Lastly, Kozyrkov and Sloyan pointed out that GenAI has the power to level the playing field. By giving more people the tools to solve problems creatively, it enables talent from all backgrounds—not just those with a technical background—to innovate in ways previously not thought possible.
The future of work: Key takeaways
With discussions spanning AI, leadership, workplace equity, and operational efficiency, Transform 2025 left attendees with powerful insights:
✔ AI is a powerful tool—but human oversight is key. Organizations should embrace AI-driven recruitment and people analytics while ensuring ethical considerations guide decision-making.
✔ Skills-first hiring is here to stay. Companies are shifting toward evaluating talent based on capabilities over credentials, making skills-based assessment tools essential for future hiring strategies.
✔ Leadership must evolve. Whether it’s a move toward fractional executives or AI-powered decision-making, the traditional leadership model is undergoing a major shift.
✔ Workplace well-being is a business priority. Organizations that invest in mental health, burnout prevention, and equitable support programs will see increased engagement and performance.
✔ Remote work isn’t just a trend—it’s a new reality. The workforce is demanding flexibility, and companies that embrace hybrid, remote, and global workforces will stay ahead.
Take the next step
Want to see what AI-powered hiring and learning could look like at your organization? Schedule a call with a CodeSignal expert today.