HR Tech Trends: Navigating Today and Shaping Tomorrow
April 15, 2026 1:00 PM ET
The HR technology landscape is evolving at lightning speed, with AI driving unprecedented change. Valued at over $40 billion today and projected to hit $100 billion by 2035, HR tech is reshaping roles, strategies, and the future of work.
Join Kenneth Pyle, HR technology lead analyst at SHRM, Cal Engstrom, senior researcher for SHRM's Thought Leadership team, and Jerry Won, host of SHRM's Tomorrowist podcast, as they unpack the past, present, and future of HR technology. Discover how the IT-HR partnership is evolving, the cultural shifts artificial intelligence is sparking, and the common pitfalls to avoid when modernizing. From the post-pandemic tech surge to the rise of AI-driven user experiences, we’ll explore the trends transforming the workforce. Whether you’re tackling today’s challenges or planning for what’s next, this session is your road map to staying ahead in HR tech.
SHRM Knowledge Advisors will join the live webinar to answer your questions in real time—right in the chat. If we don’t get to your question during the session? No problem, SHRM members can head to SHRM Connect after this webinar to keep the conversation going with advisors for 30 extra minutes. This benefit is only for members who join the live webinar and not included later on demand.
Meet the Presenters
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Kenneth Pyle
Kenneth Pyle is the HR Technology Lead Analyst at SHRM where he leads a team bringing practical HR technology insights to its members. Leveraging more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries, Pyle has spent the past decade in HR, focusing his teams’ efforts on their clients’ questions. Prior to SHRM, he was the Senior Director, Advisory at Gartner for eight years, and two years as the Senior Director of Strategic Consulting at TalentNeuron after the division was acquired.
He enjoys helping HR leaders achieve their strategic goals through data insights and HR best practice research. From founding a startup to working at a Fortune 500 company and from academia to the entertainment industry, his broad background helps find solutions for a diverse set of clients.
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Cal Engstrom
Cal Engstrom drives innovation as a Senior Researcher for the Thought Leadership team at SHRM. He leads a variety of research projects focusing on artificial intelligence, HR technology, robotics, total rewards, organizational benchmarking, and layoffs. Within his current role, he directs the organization's Benefits research, investigates the impact of AI in the workplace, and analyzes the evolving HR Technology Marketplace.
Cal also assists in creating comprehensive technology guides to help leaders make informed decisions. Beyond his traditional research duties, he serves as the primary programmer and specialist for Opus, SHRM’s robot employee.
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Jerry Won
Jerry Won is a renowned keynote speaker, speaking coach, and entrepreneur. He has worked with JPMorgan, Harvard Business School, SXSW, Google, and Meta, and his insights have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, LinkedIn, and more. In 2023, he hosted a conversation with Vice President Harris at The White House Forum for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Jerry is the Founder & CEO of Just Like Media, an innovative storytelling company, and World Class Speakers, a speaker coaching and training company.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.