I see a bright future for the way we work, one where people leaders, founders, and HR teams all have the support they need to focus on what really matters: people.

As Co-Founder and CEO of Humaneer, I’m proud to be leading the team reimagining how businesses manage their people operations through AI. Our platform, Mak, helps anyone doing HR handle the heavy lifting of compliance, admin, and process so they can focus on culture, strategy, and impact.

With over 20 years in the people space, building and leading global teams, I know the daily juggle of managing people and running a business. That’s why we built Humaneer: to make people operations faster, smarter, and more human.

I also sit on the UNSW HR Advisory Board, helping shape the future of HR and the next generation of leaders driving change in how we work.

Careen Redman-Matthews

This is Maisie, she turned 100 this week - (15 in human years) 
And we've been best friends since she was 7 weeks old. 

I'll admit it, totally pup crazy over here 🙋‍♀️ But I never used to be, in fact I was scared of dogs as a child, really scared. If I could hear a dog bark walking home from school, I would walk the long way home just so I didn't have to walk past it.

Thats how scared I was. 

Yet, when a housemate of mine was getting her puppy (Hamish) it was love at first sight when I saw this little bundle of joy. 

And overnight... I became a dog person. 

So much so, that in the past 15 years Maisie and I have fostered 6 dogs to get them ready for a forever home (and one foster fail (Rusty) who ended up spending his last few years with us as part of the family 🙌

Dogs are incredible beings, and i think we can learn a lot from them, heres my take on what they do better than some humans: 

🫶 Wake up every morning with excitement for what the day will bring (turning in circles is optional
🫶 Curious about everyone they meet 
🫶 Everyone is a potential friend 
🫶 Find joy in the small things, a leaf, a bird...wait...🐿️
🫶 Make everyone feel seen 
🫶 Food is the BEST thing EVER- never gets wasted 

Be more like Maisie 
Happy Friday 😀

Careen Matthews

CEO & Co-Founder | The platform for the HR work most systems ignore

A few weekends ago I caught my dad heading out for coffee wearing our (vintage logo) company t-shirt humaneer.

He didn’t just get it because he’s my dad. He earned it.

He helped me at an expo last year, lugging screens, banners, boxes and fliers in 40-degree heat with zero complaints. Just getting on with it because it mattered to me and our team.

So seeing him here in Australia, visiting from Scotland for Christmas, choosing to pack that t-shirt in his suitcase, even when their weight limit was already maxed out with the 4000 decaf Tea bags from M&S (IYKYK 😂) it honestly meant the world.

Earbuds in. Smart watch on. (Kindle in hand) - He is absolutely ROCKING IT

There’s something really special about seeing someone who’s been in your corner long before any of this existed, supporting what you’re building in such an understated way.

A small moment that carried a huge amount of weight for me over the break 🫶

Sometimes support shows up loudly. Other times, it shows up in the little moments. 

Happy Friday 🚀

This is my husband and I on our wedding day. When he said his vowes they didn't include being an unofficial co-founder. (Thats the one with no equity and no title) 😜

But he is my rock through it all. The long days. The late nights. Holding the fort when Im travelling. Listening to my moments of doubt and celebrating our moments of momentum at humaneer.

What he brings, more than anything, is grounding.
He comes from a heritage where connection to the land is non-negotiable.
Shoes off. Feet on the earth. Breathe. Get perspective.

And especially as an expats in Australia, with no family here permanently, that grounding matters more than I can properly explain.

When my world starts to narrow to decisions, deadlines, and momentum, he gently pulls it wider again. Reminds me to slow down. To step outside.

To remember there’s a bigger picture beyond the immediate problem in front of me.

Building a company is rarely done in isolation, and as a female founder, I’ve know just how much this journey depends on the village around you. 

 - Friends who check in (and let you stay in their spare room when your travelling 🫶).
- Co Founders who are are driven and committed to the mission (heres looking at you Kimberly Burns Annie Johnson) 🚀
 - Neighbours who show up.
 - Mentors and advisors who offer perspective when you’re too close to see clearly.
 - An incredible community that reminds you you’re not doing this alone.

And at the centre of mine is this human.
Supporting, beleiving. And being there. 

It’s easy to celebrate milestones and wins.
But today I wanted to acknowledge the people who make it possible to keep going.

Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it. 

Happy Friday 😀

Chuckling as I write this...

I’ve never been someone who “goes for a jog” or "goes for a run". That just… wasn’t me. A few months ago I couldn’t run for the bus never mind a park run. 

And yet, two Saturdays ago, I did. 5km on a Saturday morning... And it was incredible 😁

On my birthday in November last year, I decided to give myself a different kind of present. The gift of health and wellbeing.

So I started where I was (To be fair the bar was pretty low after a massive year at humaneer and juggling #parentlife).

There have been times, when it's been tough to get out and get away from the screen, when the effort has been real. 

But ....I finished... I blinking finished that first park run... 

And that’s the part that’s driving me now... 

I know ...it's only 5km.. but that seemed impossible 2 months ago and it reminded me how much we can change when we take that first little step. 

I’m still very much a beginner. Still building fitness. Still figuring it out.

But already...
I have more confidence. More energy, and I'm super proud of myself. 

So if anything, this post is a reminder that if you want something to change - start small ...but start.

Whether that’s at work, in life, or somewhere in between.

2 months ago I couldn't run. 

Until I did. 

Happy Friday 🎉

Last year, I made some mistakes.
Not the dramatic kind (thank goodness). More little ones that happen when you’re moving fast, making calls with imperfect information without losing momentum along the way. 

Now, with a bit of distance, I can see why. Doing what startups do. Moving quickly (because we have to). Responding to customers. Building while learning and making decisions based on base level data (because that’s what we have). 
Speed wasn’t my issue. Lack of reflection was (and lack of time was the excuse).

In the startup environment we work in, speed isn’t optional for us. Our runway is real. The market keeps moving. Decisions stack up quickly. And most days, everyone is wearing more than one hat (10 hats) IYKYK Kimberly Burns Annie Johnson.

The thing about startups is we don’t just move fast - we change shape constantly. Our priorities shift. Roles evolve. Plans get rewritten, and growth creates new problems before we have had time to understand the last ones. 
Without moments to pause and make sense of it, this speed can feel like: whiplash, rework, constant context-switching, confusion passed off as agility or fatigue disguised as ambition.

And so,  I needed to find a way to perform better, to reflect quickly and make better decisions, fast. 

A framework that supports me. 

So I wrote down 5 questions which have formed a mini framework for me to work fast and better when time is scarce… (Feel free to save this and use them) 

📍 What problem are we actually trying to solve right now?
📍 What have we learned that may change our thinking?
📍 What are we doing out of habit that might not make sense?
📍 What’s the clearest next decision (not the perfect one)?
📍 What is this going to cost us, (time, money and sanity)?

It’s not a long reflection. It’s not workshops or off sites. It’s my brief, intentional internal calibration. 

I learned the hard way last year that speed without reflection doesn’t stay fast. It creates rework and it can slow you later with more mess (and stress).

Already this way of working has cleared my thinking and given me just enough room to reflect quickly when I need to. It's not about hesitation, it`s not about slowing down. It’s what’s going to make the speed sustainable and the decisions better at humaneer 🚀

The HR Events calender (ANZ ) 2026 is LIVE 🚀

Thats right- no more googling "HR events near me" anymore 😂

And this year its gone up a notch, we have included a playbook to "Get the most out of HR events" (virtual and in person) 

The Calendar comes with the following 

✅ Events Calendar
✅ Playbook - Get the most out of HR events
✅ Submit an event link 

Coming soon.... The reviews page- so you can rate events you have been to and see what others thought. 

The link is in the comments, if you know of a HR/HR Adjacent event thats not in there- let me know below in the comments and Ill get it added quick smart. 

Happy Monday 😀

And thanks so much Matt McFarlane for the nudge to get this live - you ROCK 🚀

Kimberly Burns Annie Johnson Andrea Kirby Jason Portelli Cindy Hayer Kathryn Palmer Adam Axon Nick Sayer-Gearen (MBA, MAHRI) Katie McLean Tash Pieterse Christina Carden (she/her) Sharon Banfield Jodi Rosenthal John-Paul Costales Samantha Grabish (nee Williams) Kylie Fuller

Hey HR Friends 👋
A little reminder.... You’re not meant to have all the answers alone.

Some of the best HR decisions I’ve been part of didn’t come from a framework or a strategy deck. They came from conversations with people who’d been there before.

Quick sense-checks.
Different perspective.
PSometimes a moment of reassurance that you’re seeing the situation clearly.

After many (many) years in HR, I’ve noticed something important.

As HR leaders we rarely struggle with knowing what to do.
What we often look for is confidence in our judgement, especially when the responsibility is real and the implications stretch beyond the moment.

Because we know the HR decisions aren’t in isolation...
They affect people’s livelihoods.
They shape culture.
They influence trust, fairness, and long-term outcomes.

That’s why community matters so much in this profession. Not as a place for noise, hot takes, or performative opinions. Not as a substitute for expertise or experience.

But as a space for us to:

✅ Talk through nuance
✅ Share context that perhaps doesn’t fit neatly into policy
✅ Learn from lived experience, not just theory

When we, as HR leaders can sense-check decisions with peers who truly understand the role, something powerful happens.

Clarity improves.
Confidence grows.
And we can move forward knowing we are not carrying responsibility in isolation.

This kind of support doesn’t dilute judgement. It strengthens it. Its powerful. 

And at a time when HR is being asked to operate with more care, more consideration, and more impact than ever before, that kind of support isn’t a “nice to have”.

It’s foundational.

If you havent already, come check out the humaneer community, we would love to welcome you 🫶

Kimberly Burns Andrea Kirby

If your HR role feels busier than your calendar suggests, this is probably why.

Because so much of the work doesn’t sit neatly in tasks or meetings.
It lives in the thinking.

Checking before a conversation. What context we’re holding, understanding and assessing legislation... “if we do this, what happens next?” 

All of this is constantly running in our heads. 

Then we have a meeting.... and the next part of the work continues.

Notes.
Documentation.
Follow-ups.
Turning a conversation into something clear, fair, and defensible.

For a long time, I thought all of that was just the extra part of the role.
Something we absorb. 

It took me building a solution humaneer to truly address the reality of working as a HR professional to really understand that this is THE work.

Not just what happens in the room (or virtual room), but everything before and after it.

That’s why HR roles can feel mentally full even when calendars are not back to back (though back to back calendars .... thats a post for another day 😜).

If you work in HR, this probably won’t surprise you, but it might explain why the role feels the way it does.

HR doesn’t need "another" strategy deck this year. (Yep I'm saying it)

I say this having spent years in HR leadership roles where the strategy was clear and still the pressure sat with execution.

The real admin heavy work for me always came after meetings:

✅ Writing up decisions properly - ensuring everyone was clear on what was discussed, actions and outcomes. 
✅ Checking compliance twice (thrice in some spicy situations)
✅ Making sure nothing was missed 
✅ Weighing up,  then carrying the risk long after everyone else logged off (yep, most of this work was done after hours) 

We didn’t lack vision as a function, we didn't lack capability . We lacked capacity and execution support.

So strategy quietly became another responsibility in HR  - without the systems to carry it to full capacity.

That’s one of the big reasons sometimes our roles can feel heavy. We get  bogged down in the execution layer.

We doesn’t need more frameworks or slides. We need systems that actually do the admin work.

That’s how strategy stops being aspirational and becomes sustainable.

Do you agree? I'd love to know.... 

Kimberly Burns humaneer

HR isn’t just a role.
It’s a responsibility.

Sometimes I try to explain why I care so deeply about our industry and the people in it.

Because it can be a lot.

Imagine doing a role where your judgement is constantly questioned.
Where people drop into your office, your DMs, your inbox, asking for a “quick chat”. (that 9 out of 10 times is never quick 😉)
Where advice is sought and sometimes ignored until something goes wrong.

Imagine knowing that getting it wrong isn’t just awkward or inconvenient.
It can mean legal action.
Tribunal hearings.
Real consequences that follow people and companies for years.

And imagine carrying the awareness that what you advise could directly affect someone’s livelihood, wellbeing, and sense of worth.

That doesn’t switch off at the end of the day.

So when I talk about supporting HR better, it’s because I understand what comes with this profession.
Not because the role needs sympathy, but because it carries responsibility most people never see.

And supporting this industry, and the people in it, is a responsibility we take seriously and with the utmost respect humaneer

If HR feels heavy already, it’s not because you’re failing.

It’s because the system you’re working in was never designed to support the reality of modern HR.

More complexity.
More legal and people risk.
More expectation to be strategic.

With the same tools.
The same capacity.
The same admin-heavy execution sitting with you.

So if January already feels like you’re carrying too much, that’s not your motivation, it’s not a resilience gap. It’s an execution problem.

HR leaders aren’t struggling because we lack capability.
They’re struggling because too much critical work still relies on manual follow-up, memory, and work happening after hours.

There is a better way to work, one where execution is supported and not silently absorbed by HR.

And no, you don’t need to “try harder” to get there.

If you’re curious how HR leaders are reclaiming capacity, comment "LESS ADMIN" if you want the short execution load check I’ve been sharing privately with our HR friends. 🙌

humaneer

As a new week begins, there’s something I’m very clear on after 20 years in the People Space... capability has never been the issue.

I’ve worked alongside HR professionals who are thoughtful, principled, technically superb and deeply committed to doing the right thing, (often in tough situations where there is no perfect answer).

What has changed is the level of responsibility the role now carries.

More complexity, more expectation, more legislation and more nuance in how decisions affect people, culture, and the business.

For a long time, we've adapted quietly. Thinking ahead and connecting dots others couldn’t see all while holding context, judgement, and care. Often working out of hours to ensure this.

What gives me real optimism now is that this no longer has to be the norm....

We finally have better ways to support how HR actually works, not just documenting decisions, but supporting judgement, execution, and follow-through in concise ways that reflects the importance of the decisions and actions we take. 

And this matters.

Because when HR is properly supported (especially at the execution layer), it doesn’t just make the work feel more sustainable, it increases our capacity and our impact. 

And I'm here for it!

This is the version of HR I’m deeply invested in helping build.

Who's with me? 😀

humaneer

Most people think the HR work happens in the meeting.
It doesn't.

Certainly alot of work happens in meetings, but a HUGE proportion of the work we do happens around them.

Before a meeting there are: 
✅ The checks.
✅ The context.
✅ The history.
✅ The legislation.
✅The thinking through of how this could land (and what happens if it doesn’t) and preparing for scenarios.

None of this shows on the calendar invite. But it’s essential.

Then there’s the meeting itself.
✅ The conversation.
✅ The reading of the room. Noticing tone changes, slight shifts
✅ The split-second judgement calls you make as things unfold.

And once the meeting ends, the work continues.
✅ Notes.
✅ Documentation created
✅ Decisions that need to be captured properly.
✅ Follow-up that has to be clear, fair, (and sometimes defensible).
✅ Turning what was said/decided/discussed into action.

For a long time, I thought all of the work outside the meetings was just “part of the job” - something we did in the background.

It took me years to really see that this IS one of the biggest parts of our job.

Not just the conversation, but everything that surrounds it.

That’s why I care so much about how HR is supported across the whole arc (shameless plug for humaneer 😜) - before, during, and after.  Not just in the moment everyone sees.

Because when that work is properly supported, everything feels steadier, clearer and more sustainable.

What do you think, do you agree?

The meeting ends. The work doesn’t.

One thing I didn’t really appreciate early on in my HR career was just how much of the work happens after the conversation.

Everyone leaves the room and moves on to the next thing.
And HR keeps thinking.

Replaying what was said, wondering how it landed, working out how to turn intent into words that are fair, clear, and considered.

Because no matter how much we prepare for meetings, the variable is always people.

Things can get messy.
Feelings can get hurt.
Egos can get bruised.

Not because anyone meant harm, but because work is human, and people bring emotion, history, and context into the room with them (and thats what makes us human).

For a long time, I just thought (or accepted) that was part of the job. Something you did quietly, unseen, that just happened.

It wasn’t until much later and once I stepped into building humaneer that I realised how much judgement, care, and responsibility sits in the moments after the meeting is over.

That thinking isn’t extra. It’s not overthinking. It’s the work.

What makes me genuinely optimistic now is that we finally have better ways to support ourselves in HR for those moments. Not just pre meeting or in the meeting itself, but afterwards, when decisions are being shaped and our confidence really matters.

That’s where things become clearer. And that’s where expertise and impact shows up.

I'd love to ask my HR friends - do you agree... so much of our work starts after the meeting?

Stepping out and being brave today by sharing this article I wrote in December.  Writing has never been a strength of mine, and delving into it at the end of the year to write articles has been a "journey"... and one that I am thoroughly enjoying now.
Don't forget the humans is a little corner of the web for curiosity, rubber ducking on paper and making sense of the world of work - I'd love to know what you think....

How does organisational culture hold up when so much knowledge now lives in systems, not people? This is something I’ve been thinking about alot recen

Open article: If systems hold knowledge and humans hold culture. What happens if one starts replacing the other? by Careen Matthews • 5 min read

If systems hold knowledge and humans hold culture. What happens if one starts replacing the other?

House of Talent is BACK 🕺🏼

A night of People people and great house music- where it's all about connection not content. 

We absolutely love teaming up with Viren Thakrar and Andrea Kirby for this event again in Melbourne. 

If you love music and meeting people this event is for you.

🗓️ Thursday 26th Feb
⏰ 5.30-9.30pm 
📌 Secret Melbourne CBD cocktail bar (details released to ticket holders before the event) 


Early bird tickets are live - details down below in the comments 👇🏼

Kimberly Burns Annie Johnson Jodi Rosenthal Tamara Di Veroli Tammie McDonald Ivan 'Harry' Harrison Matt Vido Adam Axon Bridget Thakrar GAICD humaneer 

can't wait to see you on the dancefloor ...

Fractional People Leader | Founder of Stakkd - Join our #HRtech benchmarking beta

Hiii, I’m Jess!
I’m an Australian living in Germany, a boy mum, and the founder of Stakkd.

I’ve spent over 14 years working across corporates, startups, and scale-ups. I’ve seen great HR teams drowning because of the wrong tech infrastructure.

While on maternity leave, I started putting together a Notion table to make sense of all the HR tech out there. It was meant to help a few friends, it ended up helping a lot more. That’s how Stakkd started.

Now I spend my days making sure People and Talent teams find the right HR tech for their business.

I’m also raising a little boy as a build Stakkd, and figuring it out as I go!

Head to the Stakkd platform now to discover the best HR tech: stakkd.tech

And if you’re a vendor who wants to be featured, send me a DM.

Jessie Schofer

32 HR TECH TOOLS YOU NEED TO KNOW
(all founded by women) 🎬 Take 2


A few weeks ago I posted about women founded HR tech.

And so many were tagged in the comments I decided to do a take 2

→ because women building deserve way more visibility

So check out these amazing women and HR tech products:

✨ Harriet | Cecily Motley - People ops AI
✨ Opre | Kate O'Neil - AI performance Management
✨ SquarePeg | Claire McTaggart - AI screening
✨ Pando | Barbra Gago - Performance Management
✨ Shapes (formerly DreamTeam) | Shirley Baumer - AI native peopleOS
✨ Hi Remi | Mina Gole - AI sourcing tool
✨ Zelt | Polina Priebe - all-in-one HRIS
✨ Leapsome | Jenny Podewils- all-in-one talent management/HRIS
✨ Waggle AI | Sarah Touzani - performance intelligence AI
✨ CLARA | Natasha Nuytten - AI screening
✨ Included.AI | Laura Close - people analytics AI
✨ humaneer | Kimberly, Careen, Annie - AI HR Assistant
✨ pemundo | Christina Mokoru - HRIS based on Microsoft
✨ AllVoices | Claire Schmidt - AI Employee Relations
✨ Wellpay.ai | Cynthia Abbott Kerr - AI compensation
✨ Deploi | Cassie Watson - AI compliance & background checks
✨ Copilotim | Anna, Anastasija - People Ops AI
✨ Informed Decisions | Shiran Danoch - AI interview insights
✨ MeBeBot® | Beth White💡- AI employee support platform
✨ Vizzy | Jess Woodward-Jones - reinventing the CV
✨ Empley | Melina Andresson - AI workforce planning
✨ Hello Canopy | Emma Earley - AI people ops
✨ Copilotim | Anastasija Gromova - AI people ops
✨ UJJI AI ✨ AI | Ludmila Milla - AI learning
✨ Niural AI | Nami Baral - AI payroll & benefits
✨ Slipstream | Aubrey Brueckner - onboarding tool
✨ Powered By Diversity | Cat Wildman - DEI data & training
✨ Textio | Kieran Snyder - AI feedback
✨ Kokoon | Alice Ivanoff-Boardman - early career development
✨ Marovi | Vicky Whitley Wilkens - executive hiring
✨ beyobie | Katharina Schulze - people analytics 
✨ F4e | Irem Yelkenci - AI talent management

WOW look at that 🔥 

There are so many I couldn't tag everyone!

AND I will make sure to add all of these products to the stakkd.tech HR database.

Please tag more women building HR tech below 👇

Let’s make this list impossible to ignore 🚀

Helping you navigate HR tech | Founder @ Stakkd | HR Tech Queen | Speaker

11 HR TECH TOOLS YOU NEED TO KNOW
(all founded by women) 😎


✨ Harriet | Cecily Motley - people ops AI
✨ CLARA | Natasha Nuytten - AI screening tool
✨ Waggle AI | Sarah Touzani - performance intelligence AI
✨ Opre | Kate O'Neil - AI performance management
✨ Included.AI | Laura Close - people analytics AI
✨ Shapes (formerly DreamTeam) | Shirley Baumer - AI native peopleOS
✨ Hi Remi | Mina Gole - AI sourcing tool
✨ MeBeBot® | Beth White💡- AI employee support platform
✨ Vizzy | Jess Woodward-Jones - reinventing the CV
✨ Leapsome | Jenny Podewils - all-in-one talent management/HRIS
✨ Zelt  | Polina Priebe - all-in-one HRIS

Check out these and 340+ tools on stakkd.tech 🤗

ANND pls tag more HR tech founded by women below 👇

8 EVENTS FOR HR AND RECRUITERS
(and yep, they are all free!)


There’s so much being done to level up the HR and recruiting community.

So check out these events worth attending:

↳ How to use n8n for HR with Paul thanks to Shapes (formerly DreamTeam) 
learn how you can use n8n practically in HR

Jan 28, 12:30 CET 👉 join here: https://luma.com/ff65vvyd

↳ Humaans HRIS live demo with Vanessa
your chance to see what this HRIS has to offer

29 Jan 3:30 CET 👉 join here: https://luma.com/3vfrxi1i

↳ Build an AI agent live with Jan
a workshop to build agents that work

29 Jan 18:00 CET 👉 join here: https://lnkd.in/dCGvEyKx

↳ AI Outreach & Personalisation for Recruiters with Joe
walkthrough how to build a good outreach tool with AI

4 Feb 17:00 GMT 👉 join here: https://luma.com/60cr3gz9

↳ Are Leadership Programmes Finally Dead? with Adam
why leadership programs aren’t working and how to fix them

12 Feb 1:00 GMT 👉 join here: https://luma.com/g2i5kw8t

↳ 50skills AI Automation live demo with Yvonne
see the Zapier for HR and how you can automate easily

12 Feb 3:30 CET 👉 join here: https://luma.com/hp6j0sij

IN PERSON EVENTS 

↳ LONDON: Open Org People Meet
Open Org's very first in-person meetup, you won’t want to miss it

3 Feb 18:00 GMT 👉 join here: https://luma.com/2zcxl2lh

↳ BERLIN: TA Workshop Series with Talent Crunch Berlin (TC)
150 talent practitioners, 4 workshop themes, eight sessions

18 Feb 18:30 CET 👉 join here: https://luma.com/d97siazq


ps: tag someone who would find these useful!👇


What kind of sessions do you want to see next?
Let me know and I’ll try make it happen 🔥

I got laid off 17 days after having my son

It was terrible timing 

I was sleep deprived 
Confused and hormonal

And just like that…… *poof* 

I had no job 
And all I could think was: F*&K

Yep. 

It was a preeettttyyy rough time. 
I definitely cried a lot.

And sadly, this happens way more often to new mothers then we want to admit.
So with so many layoffs happening at the moment
Just remember:

Your job is NOT YOUR WORTH 

And if you do get laid off
- Don’t panic
- Have a good cry
- Remind yourself it’s not the end and you DO have value
- Talk to people, connect, reach out to your network (they can help you more than you’d expect)
- Have a break if you can and regroup

Being laid of is such a horrible feeling 
But it says nothing about your worth

So make sure you surround yourself with people who care about you and people who can help you

And most of all, be kind to yourself

🫶🏻

Note to self:
48h in london is ALWAYS worth it ✈️ 🇬🇧

The Secret HR Society started in Berlin 🇩🇪
BUT this week was their first London event!! 🇬🇧

Amy Weidner Hilary Klassen & Sonita Uijt de Haag made it magical

They’ve built such an AMAZING community!
I love being part of it <3

I also got to catch up with some of my favourite people
Elisabetta Hung Joe
Just GOOD humans 🫶

Then I jumped over to the exclusive launch event of New Breed of Engineers hosted by the wonderful Daisy Ilaria and Daniël Siahaya

Google offices..debate format..actual opinions..actual discussion

So so so good
(and yes I’m stealing the format 😅)

Then there was this one moment that REALLY got me...

Paul Finan came up to me and said: ”are you Jessie from FemTechConf® 2024?”

Me: *buffering symbol* 🤔

And then he goes: ”Remember, you went out of your way to help me get the wifi password at the conference, even though you didn't know me! And I'll never forget that.”

Whaattt?!?

THANK YOU Paul for sharing that
It made my day 🫶🏻

(and ofc we also failed to get a photo 😂)

Just remember: being kind really is free
And you never know what people take with them

As a small business owner I do sometimes look at travelling for events and think...

London is SO expensive
Is it worth it?!

But then nights like this happen

and it is DEFINITELY always worth it 💛

PLUS it was lovely to connect with new people too like Angeliki Galanopoulou 🌸Christiane Wong (🇬🇧/🇨🇦) Anais Leon Jenny Guo Akbar Karenga and more

I guess I'll be back to London 🤣

I really LOVE speaking positively about people when they’re not around


especially the ones who believed in me before I fully believed in myself

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and it makes me emotional 🥺

it’s easy to forget to thank people who helped along the way

but there really is just something magical about talking positively about others

so as a good start to the new year, here is my THANK YOU to the people who helped me when they didn’t have to:

(100% should follow them all if you don’t already)

1/ Thomas Kohler

he told me he thought I’d be good at my own business and to start something when I was on maternity leave 

2/ Willem Wijnans

the first BIG brand yes when Stakkd was an idea and no one had a clue who I was 🙏🏻

3/ Anna Ott + Thomas Otter (who she connected me to)

both helped me when I just got laid off and only had an idea and wasn’t sure what I was doing

4/ Hung Lee

he’s been nothing but helpful and supportive, giving me straight up advice when I needed it

5/ Joe Atkinson

super kind, willing to help and exchange on ideas as an early stage founder which has been a great support

6/ Mina Golesorkhi

sharing insights and great talent and just all round being a supporter as a female founder

7/ Rudi Bauer

great person who wants to learn from the HR community and bring people together + always connecting me where he can

8/ Adam Horne + John Faulkner-Willcocks

both gave me some bootstrapped advice when I first started out that was invaluable and have been supporters since

9/ Alexandre Kantjas

sharing how he built his business, giving me tips and supporting my not so great content when I first started out 😁 

10/ the whole girlsclub 

because you all give me fire and support everyday and I love all of our chats (it’s amazing what a group women who support each other can do)

and lastly to ALL the amazing HR professionals who are:

in my dm’s
using Stakkd
showing up to the Humans in the Loop HR Community
supporting me every step of the way

I guess I am not really a solopreneur after all 😉 

thank you for everything

LFG into 2026 with a bang together 🫶 

AND if you ever need help please reach out and I will do my best to help out 🙏🏻

ps. sorry that was a long one - if you made it to the end you deserve a medal 🏅

Helping you navigate HR tech | Founder @ Stakkd | HR Tech Queen | Speaker | Boy Mum

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 👀
*drum roll* 🥁

Borderless AI are becoming the second Community Partner of Stakkd this year!!

But wait..?

What the (?) is Borderless AI? 😁

It’s an AI-native Employer of Record (EOR).

They help teams hire, onboard, and pay globally in 170+ countries compliantly, using AI behind the scenes to reduce delays and make the whole process smoother.

Super exciting to see progress in this space.

So what does it mean for all of you?

It means more accessible learning about HR tech is coming your way this year.

It is SO important that HR and TA take this wild ride with AI by the hands and reinvent how we do what we do.

→ The next years will define our function.

That is why learning is non-negotiable.

And why I use this platform to make sure experts can share their brains to as many of you as possible, so we can collectively level up.

And to make it EVEN BETTER, the team at Borderless AI are providing an exclusive offer for the Humans in the Loop HR Community members

Join now so you don’t miss out 👉 https://tally.so/r/81oJL5

AND of course this is just ONE of HUNDREDS of tech products out there.

So make sure you check out full database at stakkd.tech

ps. if you don’t want to miss out on any of the free webinars, workshops and demos this year, subscribe to my event page on luma 👉https://lnkd.in/d8qDgMjY

#partner

Brand partnership • Helping you navigate HR tech | Founder @ Stakkd | HR Tech Queen | Speaker

FREE WEBINAR: HOW TO USE N8N FOR HR 👇


Excited for this one!

Paul Karrmann and I are doing something DIFFERENT 

We’re gonna SHOW YOU how to use n8n for HR

Here’s what you will learn:
👉 Practical ways to approach automation in HR
👉 See inside n8n and how it can be used
👉 LIVE demo where we show you a build in n8n
👉 Open Q&A - bring your questions and we'll figure it out together

500 ALREADY REGISTERED 🤯

Will you join us too? → 🔗https://luma.com/ff65vvyd

SAVE THE DATE 👇
📅 28th January 
🕒 12:30 CET 
📍 online & completely FREEEE thanks to our sponsor Shapes (formerly DreamTeam)

…see you there? 👀

If you feel BEHIND in HR.. read this 👇


firstly, you are not alone if you feel this
but the elephant in the room is that a lot of the time HR is UNDERTRAINED

and instead of saying that out loud
we just keep telling HR to “be more strategic” 🙄

no one trains you for half the stuff you’re expected to do in HR 

(and no one gives HR the support or respect they need either)

one day you’re deep in comp architecture
next day you’re mediating a conflict
…was this in the job description?! 😅🍿
and you’re supposed to STAY CALM
measured
professional
ALL THE TIME

so if you feel like you’re winging it
you probably are
because we all are.. 😬
that doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job
it means that companies need to DO BETTER

HOWEVER
there is a BIG HOWEVER
you ARE meant to stay curious

so here are some things you can do to help yourself:
→ learn by doing is always the best, involve yourself in projects where you can
→ observe how others a few steps ahead operate
→ find communities and people online where you can get support
→ share what you know, even if it feels small 🤍
→ try ONE thing differently, implement it and see if it gets you further
→ ask about training budget!!! (then USE IT 💸👀)
→ teach a coworker something - if you can teach it, you know it
→ join free workshops and webinars, it’s an easy way to digest new hot topics

remember..
you weren’t meant to know everything
not at the start
not now
not ever

small moments of learning in your day > one big training once a year

ps. it really is okay not to know something 😎 I promise, you’re not the only one!

Read caption 👇





Jumping on this trend 🫣


2016 ➞ 26

- brown hair
- travel
- yoga teacher training completed
- living in Australia
- working in transformation


2026 ➞ 36 (almost 😁)

- blonde hair
- speaker
- obsessed with optimizing my health
- living in Germany
- soloprenuer
- top 11% of LinkedIn creators
- a mum ❤️

What didn’t change?

My selfie angle 😂


Had to scroll for a few mins to land on photos from 10 years ago 😁 


Where were you 10 years ago?

ps. Should I do more video in 2026? Let’s see…

SERIOUS QUESTION: why would anyone want to build HR tech? 😁


The answer is no one knows, but plenty of people still do.

And we NEED people who do.

We use people tech EVERY SINGLE DAY

And yes, they are sometimes the systems we love to hate

But WHO ARE the humans behind these tools

What kind of person wakes up and goes "yeah I want build HR software"

I talk to a lot of HR tech founder with my work at Stakkd and found their stories and how they think fascinating

So I did what everyone does these days and started a podcast!!

→ FOUNDER STORIES

I sit down (virtually) with the founders building the future of work

and simply get to know them
how they got to where they are
and how they think

these conversations are way more fun than they should be 🎙️

you’ll learn less about HR tech and 100% more about the humans who build what you work with

first episode drops TODAY

with Tom Hacquoil CEO of Pinpoint Applicant Tracking System

🎧 listen here: https://lnkd.in/dWyySCDe
🎥 watch here: https://lnkd.in/dDBmTzs9

So if you've ever wondered who are the people who create HR tech

this is the podcast for you

(plus they drop super interesting tips and stories about building)

ps: if you know someone doing cool stuff in the people tech space send them my way ✨

Want real AI use cases deployed at scale👇



Last friday I was invited by Thomas Otter to speak to uni students about HR tech

(me. talking. to students 😭🙏🏻)

…alongside these AMAZING women leading HR Transformation:

→Erika Rasch, Dr. Swathi Palasamudram and Stefanie Remp from Bosch.

(yep.. THAT Bosch!.. #likeabosch 😎)

AND I was SO happy to see a screen full of WOMEN presenting.

PLUS the students were there to listen to us all voluntarily!!

We shared about:
– the state of HR tech based on Stakkd data
– how AI is making learning and knowledge INSTANTLY accessible at Bosch
– and why HR needs to keep pushing the boundaries and upskilling

I also remember Erika sharing something that stuck.

.. most HR tech projects fail because of 👇🏻
the human part.
yep.

What a great way to spend a few hours on friday.

Thank you for trusting me!

And thanks to the Bosch team for sharing the amazing work they are doing 💛

Looking forward to the next gen of HR professionals entering the workforce with a bang 🔥

The HR tech vendors who will win in 2026 are the ones who….



don’t just “add AI”, but leverage it
care about compliance & ethics
have a modern UX & UI
deliver on promises
are obsessed with 
their customers

is this too much to ask? 😁 

wdyt?

Single use AI tools: hot or not? 🔥


I came across A LOT of interesting reads on Linkedin the past weeks.

This year I bringing you my top scroll-stopping non-AI slop posts that you should read!

Inside you’ll find my 2 cents on:
→ Millennials leaving Tech?! Katelin Holloway
→ EU pay transparency Amiel Barrimond
→ Single use AI tools: yes or no? John Wetzel
→ Another lawsuit: time to rethink vibe coding Andreea Lungulescu
→ Why fewer goals outperform many Sonita Uijt de Haag

ANNNDDD I am working on a new brand identity 🌈 can’t wait to share more on that soon 👀 thanks Gabrielle Gerbus

Go read it here 👇 and as always, let me know what you think

This newsletter is sponsored by our friends at gradar ✨

Today's newsletter is sponsored by our friends at gradar The EU Pay Transparency Directive gives employees a clear right to information - and organisa

Open article: Single use AI tools: hot or not? by Jessie Schofer • 7 min read

FREE LIVE HR TECH DEMO 🚨
(you’ll want to see this one)


I am excited to kick off 2026 with some new demos.

Let me take you behind the sales pages and see what all the hype is about.

We are starting off with a demo of Humaans by Keane Ryan

Never seen this HRIS? Now’s the chance 😀

Join our amazing co-host Vanessa Monsequeira - चित्रलेखा and I 👇

Register here to watch it: https://luma.com/3vfrxi1i

📅 Date: 29 Jan
⏰ Time: 3:30pm CET | 2:30 GMT

ps. what tools should we do next?! let me know in the comments

Product ≠ impact


My interview with J.Y Delmotte co-founder of BuddiesHR was such a great look into how to build a...

BOOTSTRAPPED
successful
useful 
HR tech product

There isn’t any “10x mindset” stuff.

Just a builder sharing how a 2 person team created something people love

BuddiesHR taught him this 👇

→ product ≠ impact
→ engagement isn’t a feature
→ the best HR tech supports humans + founders

J.Y grew BuddiesHR from $15k → $43k MRR 📈
while becoming a first time dad 👶

He really shows that it’s possible to build great tech, be a good human and do it all without VC money.

List to the full espisode now on Founder Stories 🎧 https://lnkd.in/dRa4qXwR

ps: if you are building HR tech and want to be on the podcast, reach out 🙂

________

Founder Stories is all about
the human side of the people who build HR tech
why they started
how they think
what drives them

Subscribe here so you don’t miss any 🔥https://lnkd.in/dhvEZGvf

90% of HR work is basically invisible 🫠
(not bad. not useless. just unseen.)

HR builds GREAT stuff!
policies
programs
benefits
guides
all the things ✨

on paper?
everything exists ✨

handbooks
portals
platforms
docs

technically… it’s all “available”
but real life looks different 🙃

people only use what’s easy to find
and when someone is stressed, overwhelmed, or short on time…

they’re not going on a little scavenger hunt 🧠💨

“can you raise a ticket for that”
“just check the handbook”
“log into the portal”
“it’s in the doc”

that already feels like too much effort 😬

and once there’s friction?
people give up
or they DM HR instead
or they just don’t use the support at all
and complain

support that’s hard to access
might as well not exist 🤷🏼‍♀️

this isn’t HR doing a bad job
it’s about changing how we work
it’s about design

accessibility always wins

good intentions fall apart when delivery is complicated

the best HR systems don’t ask people to go somewhere else

they show up where people already are 🤍

not “how do we add more?”
but “how do we make this easier to use than to ignore?”

because if people have to deeply search for help…
the system already failed 🫠

and when access gets easier?
usage goes up
experience improves
trust grows
same content
better delivery
way better results ✨

THANK GOD WE HAVE AI NOW FOR THAT 😎

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