Human-first thinking for the future of work presents actionable insights, thoughtful book summaries, and signature frameworks to help you lead with empathy in an age of algorithms.
What Is Friendly CHRO?
Staying human in the world of artificial.
In a world where technology is accelerating, leaders must slow down to think deeply, act wisely, and lead humanely.
Friendly CHRO is a personal platform by Sharad Verma, an HR guy, a writer, and AI-in-HR explorer. This is where tech meets empathy, where systems meet stories, and where future-ready HR gets its human voice.
Whether you’re an HR leader navigating AI disruption, or a curious learner seeking clarity in a noisy world, you’re in the right place.
What You’ll Find Here
Thought Leadership on AI x HR
Understand the future of work through my lens. From Gen AI to talent analytics, you’ll get curated thinking and frameworks you can use.
Here are some thought leadership articles on AI x HR:
11 Ways AI is Transforming Work
Future of Work: 7 Emerging Trends
9 Critical Career Problems: Can AI Solve These?
20 Ways AI Empowers HR Leaders
Curated Learning Paths: Essential Guides
Deep, reflective, and actionable summaries of books on leadership, personal growth, and performance. The best ideas curated and worth remembering.
Here are a few essential guides for HR functions:
A Comprehensive Guide to AI Mastery for HR Leaders
The Ultimate Guide to AI for L&D Professionals
The Definitive Guide to AI for HR Business Partners
Developing Future-Ready HRBP Competencies with AI
Signature Frameworks
Explore original models, scorecards and frameworks—tools that simplify complex change and help HR stay relevant.
Here are a few:
Enterprise Model of AI in Human Resources (AI in HR)
How AI Can Make Recruitment More Human
How AI Is Quietly Reshaping Employee Experience
Responsible AI in HR: 12 Questions Every CHRO Should Be Asking
AI‑First Readiness Checklist: 25 Questions
🧠 Responsible AI Checklist for HR Leaders
Demystifying AI for HR Professionals
These articles demystify AI for HR articles and tackle the latest in a fast developing field:
Humans vs Large Language Models – how do they work? A basic guide
A Basic Guide to Agentic AI: How Autonomous Agents Will Change HR
Prompt Engineering vs. Context Engineering: Understanding the Difference
An AI Chatbot versus an Agent – 7 Key Differences
When AI Can Predict Human Cognition
GPT-5 features and functions: A quick guide
Exploring GPT-5 for HR: What It Means for the Future of Work
Meet Sharad
As a keen HR student of the world of work for more than 35 years, I care about celebrating and growing talent and building high-trust cultures where people love to work. I care deeply about staying curious, creative and clear.
Now, I’m building The Friendly CHRO—a platform for thinking HR leaders who want to stay human in the age of artificial.
Check out these popular stories:
- The 4-Layer AI HR Tech Stack Framework: Your Roadmap to Smart HR Technology
Overwhelmed by AI HR tools? This 4-layer framework helps you understand where different AI technologies fit and how to build a tech stack that actually delivers results. - Designing an AI-Driven Succession Planning Framework for Leadership Continuity: A Signature Framework for the Future of HR
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, ensuring robust leadership continuity is paramount. This article delves into the strategic design of an AI-driven succession planning framework, a cutting-edge approach that leverages artificial intelligence to identify, assess, and develop future leaders with unparalleled precision and efficiency. - Prompt Packs for Compensation and Benefits Professionals: Your AI-Powered Toolkit for Indian IT Services Total Rewards Management
AI-powered prompt packs for C&B professionals managing compensation, variable pay, and benefits in India’s IT services sector. Includes 10 practical prompts. - The Chief People Officer’s Guide to Ethical AI Deployment in the Workplace
Essential ethical frameworks for Chief People Officers implementing AI in hiring, performance evaluations, and employee management systems. - The HRBP’s Guide to Upskilling for AI-Powered Performance Management: 6 Core Competencies You Need by 2026
HRBP Guide: AI-Powered Performance Management The traditional annual performance review is rapidly becoming as outdated as the fax machine. While 73% of organizations still rely on conventional performance management systems,… Read more: The HRBP’s Guide to Upskilling for AI-Powered Performance Management: 6 Core Competencies You Need by 2026 - The AI Readiness Maturity Model for HR Teams: A Practical Framework for Digital Transformation
AI Readiness Maturity Model for HR Teams When a Fortune 500 company recently deployed an AI-powered recruiting tool without proper preparation, they faced an unexpected crisis: their HR team couldn’t… Read more: The AI Readiness Maturity Model for HR Teams: A Practical Framework for Digital Transformation - Agentic AI That Actually Works: 5 Lessons from McKinsey for CHROs and Business Leaders
AI is no longer a futuristic buzzword—it’s an operational reality. Yet most organizations are still figuring out how to move from flashy pilots to AI that actually delivers business impact.… Read more: Agentic AI That Actually Works: 5 Lessons from McKinsey for CHROs and Business Leaders - From Desire to Life Purpose: How AI Can Help You Discover What Truly Drives You
We often talk about “purpose” at work and in life. But very few people actually know how to discover it. Most of us confuse “wants” with “purpose.” We chase titles,… Read more: From Desire to Life Purpose: How AI Can Help You Discover What Truly Drives You - The Three Brains of AI: What CHROs Need to Know About Predictive, Generative, and Agentic AI
Artificial Intelligence is not just one technology—it’s a whole ecosystem of cognitive capabilities. BCG’s framing of AI as having a left brain, right brain, and frontal cortex offers a compelling… Read more: The Three Brains of AI: What CHROs Need to Know About Predictive, Generative, and Agentic AI - AI-Powered Competency Frameworks: Building Future-Ready Talent Pipelines
AI-Powered Competency Frameworks The dynamic landscape of modern business demands an agile workforce, adept at navigating unprecedented technological shifts and market volatility. Traditional competency frameworks, often static and labor-intensive to… Read more: AI-Powered Competency Frameworks: Building Future-Ready Talent Pipelines - Automate HR Workflows: Free Up Time with AI for Strategic Impact
Transform your HR department by leveraging the power of AI to automate repetitive workflows. This guide explores how AI can handle administrative burdens, from onboarding to payroll, allowing your HR team to shift their focus from tactical execution to strategic planning and employee development. Learn to unlock new levels of efficiency and deliver greater value to your organization by embracing intelligent automation in human resources. Elevate your career and department by harnessing AI for a more impactful HR future. - Future-Built Companies Pursue Five Strategies (BCG)
Reference BCG’s “Future-Built Companies Pursue Five Strategies” In every era of business transformation, a few companies pull ahead—not just by innovating faster, but by thinking differently. Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG)… Read more: Future-Built Companies Pursue Five Strategies (BCG)