Building a More Human Workplace: Julie Develin on the Future of HR and Workforce Data at HR Southwest 2025

In a business world defined by disruption, HR leaders are racing to keep pace with rapid shifts in technology, workforce expectations, and organizational culture. Recent Gartner research shows that 75 percent of HR leaders say their managers are overwhelmed by the growing pace of change and new responsibilities, while nearly three-quarters report their teams are struggling with change fatigue. From AI-driven platforms to evolving workforce demographics, the way companies understand, support, and engage employees is being rewritten in real time.

So, how can HR professionals bridge the gap between culture and compliance, and between empathy and efficiency, in an era where change never stops?

That question took center stage at the HRSouthwest Conference 2025, where Daniel Litwin, the Voice of B2B at MarketScale, sat down with Julie Develin, Senior Partner for Human Insights at UKG. The two shared an insightful conversation on the state — and soul — of modern HR, exploring how organizations can harness data to elevate people strategies, strengthen trust, and foster belonging in the age of automation.

Organizations can harness data to elevate people strategies, strengthen trust, and foster belonging in the age of automation.

Top insights…

• Workforce Data as Storytelling: Develin emphasizes that data isn't just numbers — it's the story of your workforce. When used effectively, it helps HR leaders understand why employees stay, leave, or burn out, and informs decisions that improve organizational health.
• Culture Is Everyone's Job: Culture doesn't belong solely to HR. It's built across all levels of an organization, through shared values, trust, and listening — not just annual surveys or mission statements.
• Listening as Leadership: Develin argues that the most powerful tool for employee engagement is listening — truly hearing employees through continuous feedback loops and acting meaningfully on what's heard.

The most powerful tool for employee engagement is listening — truly hearing employees through continuous feedback loops and acting meaningfully on what's heard.
— Julie Develin, Senior Partner for Human Insights at UKG

Julie Develin is a seasoned HR strategist and keynote speaker with over 20 years of experience helping organizations align people, technology, and business goals. As Senior Partner for Human Insights at UKG and a Top 100 HR Influencer, she specializes in workforce strategy, human-AI collaboration, and employee experience transformation. A certified SHRM-SCP and longtime adjunct professor at McDaniel College, Develin is recognized for her thought leadership in using data and empathy to build workplaces where people and performance thrive.