Is People Analytics Ready to be CHRO & Executive Search - Jennifer Wilson - #169

Is People Analytics Ready to be CHRO & Executive Search - Jennifer Wilson - #169

From Directionally Correct, A People Analytics Podcast by WRKdefined Podcast Network

April 20, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Jennifer Wilson discusses the evolving role of the CHRO and the increasing expectations for HR leadership.

Thanks to HRBench for powering this episode. To find out more about the company building the future of people intelligence, reach out to book a demo at hrbench.com/directionallycorrect ! Check out this episode of the #1 people analytics podcast with special guest, Jennifer Wilson, Partner and Global Co-Head, HR Officers Practice at Heidrick & Struggles! In this wide-ranging and deeply practical conversation, Cole Napper sits down with Jennifer Wilson to unpack how the role of the Chief Human Resources Officer is evolving in real time—and why the expectations for HR leadership have never been higher. Jennifer shares her unconventional path into executive search, describing how her early career in consulting and global work across Hong Kong and the US shaped her perspective on leadership, organizational design, and the human side of business transformation. What emerges is a clear view of executive search not just as recruiting, but as a front-row seat to how leadership itself is changing. A major theme throughout the discussion is the rapid expansion of the CHRO role. Drawing on research from Heidrick & Struggles, Jennifer explains how the number of required capabilities for CHROs…

People in this episode

Host: Cole Napper

Guest: Jennifer Wilson

Topics covered

  • People Analytics
  • CHRO Role
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership
  • Organizational Design
  • Business Transformation

Keywords

  • People Analytics
  • CHRO
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership
  • Organizational Design
  • HR Leadership
  • Business Strategy

Sponsors

HRBench

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Heidrick & Struggles

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