Unite 24: Top takeaways for HR leaders

Transformative Takeaways for HR Leaders from the Ultimate Employee Experience Conference

Unite 24 brought together EX leaders, innovators, and changemakers together to share ideas that will shape the future of work. With the employee experience more critical than ever, the event delivered timely insights for enhancing workplace culture, engagement, and productivity. From reimagining employee engagement for a new generation to exploring the potential of AI to transform the workplace, the conference presented HR leaders with actionable ideas to improve organizational agility and resilience. Here’s a look at some of the most impactful sessions and insights from the event.

1. Performance champions are focusing on Organizational Velocity

The conference kicked off with the introduction of a compelling new concept: Organizational Velocity. First coined by Unily CEO Chris Ciauri in the opening keynote Unily: The Future, Organizational Velocity offers a fresh lens on the challenges large enterprises face adapting to the modern world of work.

Many companies face difficulties connecting their hyper-distributed workforces and maximizing the potential of the digital workplace, resulting in what Ciauri called “velocity drains.” These drains impede agility and slow down critical decision-making processes, hindering companies’ ability to respond quickly to market shifts and opportunities in a decade defined by constant change.

The big strategic question being asked was: How do we maneuver ​our complex, multinational organizations at new speed, with a modern digital workforce? ​

The answer? A laser focus on Digital Employee Experience (DEX) transformation. As became clear in the subsequent sessions, engaged employees who are empowered by a world-class Employee Experience Platform will underpin the next generation of performance champions.

As part of the keynote, Unily announced three new capabilities designed to help organizations regain lost momentum:

• Insights Center: This innovative feature introduces a “bring-your-own-AI-Assistant” approach, which enables large organizations to unify multiple AI assistants and leverage them to streamline workflows and accelerate productivity. The Insights Center empowers employees by simplifying tasks and centralizing tools, enhancing efficiency and enabling faster, more informed decision-making across the board.
• AI Reporting: In an effort to stay attuned to employee needs and engagement, Unily also unveiled AI-driven sentiment analysis capabilities. This tool allows HR leaders to monitor and analyze employee sentiment in real-time, providing crucial insights into morale and engagement levels across the organization. By using sentiment data, leaders can proactively address challenges and respond to evolving needs, ensuring a more responsive, supportive workplace culture.
• Unily Go: A new mobile app offering targeted at frontline and on-the-go workers designed to promote community and connectivity among the hardest-to-reach segments of the workforce.

These capabilities are designed to help organizations streamline their work processes, improve alignment, and foster a culture of agility, positioning them to thrive even in turbulent times.

2. The New Rules of Employee Engagement

Continuing on the theme of keeping up with the pace of change, Emma Grede, the founder of disruptive mega-brands including Skims, shared her perspective on employee engagement and leadership for the modern enterprise. In conversation with Unily’s Community Insights Lead, Kaz Hassan, Grede discussed her "new rules" of engaging and motivating employees. Emma emphasized that in today’s work landscape, the most successful organizations go beyond product innovation to focus on building a culture that prioritizes people.

One of her key takeaways was that once an organization has achieved product-market fit, “people and culture is all that matters.” To Grede, this means meeting employees’ evolving expectations for work-life balance, flexibility, and meaningful contributions. She underscored that employees need a workplace that enables them to thrive in their personal lives, which, in turn, enhances their contributions to company goals.

In her view, integrating AI should be about leveling up human performance, not replacing jobs. “I want to work with people, not computers,” Grede remarked, advocating for a thoughtful, people-centric approach to technology. AI, when used to augment employees rather than drive financial efficiency alone, empowers HR leaders to create a workplace that maximizes the unique strengths and creativity of the human workforce. Grede’s advice encourages HR leaders to foster an inclusive, supportive environment where technology elevates rather than overshadows the employee experience.

3. Mo Gawdat on Removing Barriers to Workforce Happiness

Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google’s moonshot factory, Google X, and a best-selling author known for his work on AI and happiness, delivered a thought provoking session on creating happier, more engaged workplaces. Gawdat’s philosophy emphasizes that while business leaders may not be able to “make” employees happy, they can play a powerful role by removing obstacles that contribute to dissatisfaction.

He urged leaders to identify and address common sources of unhappiness within the workplace, whether related to technology, communication, or organizational culture. Gawdat also discussed the importance of designing workflows that respect employees’ time, attention, and creativity, reducing unnecessary friction that can lead to burnout and disengagement. By understanding employees’ daily challenges and minimizing stressors, HR leaders can create a supportive environment that naturally fosters satisfaction and engagement.

Gawdat’s approach aligns with a growing trend among leading companies: a commitment to holistic well-being that doesn’t focus solely on perks or benefits but addresses root causes of dissatisfaction. For HR leaders, this session reinforced the need for empathy and proactive support as fundamental drivers of workforce happiness and productivity.

Building a Thriving Workplace in 2024 and Beyond

Unite 24 underscored a vital truth for HR leaders: the future of work hinges on an engaged, empowered, and connected workforce. The insights shared give HR leaders a roadmap to create a workplace where employees feel valued and supported, and where technology enables rather than impedes their success.

From embracing AI responsibly to rethinking employee engagement strategies, the conference highlighted the essential role HR plays in shaping a resilient, agile, and human-centered workplace. As organizations continue navigating an era of rapid change, Unite 24’s takeaways offer inspiration and practical strategies for building a future-ready workforce that thrives in both productivity and well-being.

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