At Illoominus, we believe people leaders are better empowered to navigate rapid technological and social shifts when they have access to shared learning across peers. That belief is why we host conversations like Developing High-Performing, Resilient Teams, our recent CPO community event featuring James D. White and Krista White, co-authors of the new book Culture Design.

Together, the father–daughter team shared a practical and deeply human view of what it takes to build a culture that doesn’t just perform, but endures.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are on the rise again. But if history is any guide, most organizations aren’t ready.

• Two-thirds of HR leaders admit they are unprepared for the surge in M&A activity expected in 2025 (WTW).

• 70–90% of M&A deals fail to deliver promised value (AIHR, HBR).

• And the #1 stumbling block? Data completeness and integration.

Recently, Bolt’s CEO announced they were “eliminating HR.” At our most recent CPO roundtable, we spoke with Kelly Lawson Pihl, who leads People Operations (and HR) at Bolt, to unpack what this means. She shared how Bolt is aligning its teams around People Ops as a driver of business strategy, and how they’ve shifted their mindset to make this real.

It’s no secret that HR is evolving. For the CPOs who join our Community events, it’s a recurring theme. What’s behind Bolt’s announcement is a larger trend: a shift from traditional HR toward People Ops. The central question is: how can People Ops best support the business?

Today we’re introducing the next phase of Illoominus.

As we’ve been listening to our customers and community, we continue to hear a clear message: today’s tools and resources aren’t keeping pace with the unprecedented technological and social shifts reshaping the workplace.

Now more than ever, people leaders need visibility across the employee journey and tools that empower strategic, data-driven decisions.

[Atlanta, Georgia] — June 18, 2025 — Today, Illoominus officially launches a first-of-its-kind employee data platform designed to help HR teams move faster, lead smarter, and make confident, data-backed decisions without waiting on IT.

Built with insight from over 300 HR leaders, Illoominus unifies disconnected people data, layers in AI-powered analysis, and surfaces what’s working across the employee journey from onboarding to retention to performance so teams can take action before it’s too late.

When Noelle sat down with Torin for a conversation on what’s next for HR, people leaders, and organizational design, one theme kept surfacing: our tools can’t do the hard work of human connection for us. But they can help make it easier.

Here are three things that stuck with us from the conversation:

The other day LinkedIn showed about 2,400 companies currently hiring People Analytics roles. Employers often think if they hire a People Analytics role, then their organizations will have actionable, data driven insights overnight.

In addition to investing in a full-time employee to help your organization figure HR and people data, there are tools and resources that organizations should invest in that can help set these People Analytics hires and HR teams up for success.

What happens when hundreds of HR leaders gather to discuss the future of work? At Illoominus, we recently had the privilege of attending Transform, one of the premier conferences for Chief People Officers. The consensus was clear: the only constant in today's workplace is change itself.

Meet the leaders investing in data-driven strategies that transform organizations into people-first workplaces.

These are Chief People Officers, Chief HR Officers, VPs and Heads of HR who:

• Leverage HR data to measure and track workforce sentiment, representation, retention and program effectiveness

• Invest in strategic programs and benefits that support employees professionally and personally

• Implement a culture of transparency and reliable communications with all employees

• Value representation at all levels of the organization

• Make people a part of every strategy business decision

The restaurant industry is all about people. For a fast-growing restaurant brand like Tupelo Honey, having strong people managers is mission critical. Location general managers are one of the most important roles — responsible for brand, guest experience, food service, and more.