By Tim Huff
President & CEO, TLG
As I write this, I’m reflecting on the selection of Colorado University’s Travis Hunter as the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, the most coveted individual award in college football. It got me thinking about who is going to be the MVP in our organizations for this upcoming year. Considering the challenges and opportunities that we face going into the new year, I’d put my vote in for the CHRO!
We’ve had some adventurous and challenging years recently, but in 2025, with the stakes continue to be as high as ever, CHROs are positioned well to have a deep impact. They find themselves at the center of enterprise strategy, transformation, and culture. I think this isn’t just HR’s moment in the spotlight; it’s a defining season for the entire profession.
As the pace of change accelerates and the complexity of leadership increases, HR’s role has evolved from back-office support to strategic powerhouse. According to the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), five priorities will dominate the CHRO’s agenda in 2025—and each one plays a critical role in driving organizational success (https://www.i4cp.com/predictions).
- Agility: The MVP’s Core Skill
Just as an MVP adapts to the ebb and flow of a football game, HR must remain agile, anticipating shifts and pivoting in real-time to align talent strategies with enterprise goals. Whether it’s responding to market dynamics or navigating unforeseen challenges, agility allows organizations to stay ahead of the curve.
To enhance agility, HR leaders are:
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- Leveraging workforce analytics for real-time insights that inform better decision-making.
- Streamlining processes to respond to enterprise changes with speed and precision.
- Partnering cross-functionally to ensure alignment between business and people strategies.
- Culture: The Locker Room Dynamic
A strong team dynamic is the backbone of any championship team, and in the workplace, that’s the role of a healthy organizational culture. It inspires collaboration, builds trust, and fuels performance—but it doesn’t happen by accident.
HR’s focus in 2025 will be on:
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- Listening to employees with tools like pulse surveys to measure culture in real-time.
- Developing leaders to foster the values and behaviors that align with the organization.
- Reinforcing purpose and values to ensure every employee connects their work to the organization’s mission.
- Succession: Building the Next MVPs
Even the greatest MVP knows the importance of a strong bench. HR leaders in 2025 must proactively plan for leadership transitions, identifying and developing the next generation of C-Suite talent.
Key plays include:
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- Identifying and defining the most valuable leadership skills and competencies that are best suited for the organization.
- Using scientifically valid and reliable assessments to help identify high potential leaders based on identified leadership skills.
- Building leadership pipelines through executive coaching, leadership development programs, and experiential learning.
- Effective Use of AI: The Secret Weapon
In today’s game, every MVP needs an edge—and for HR, that edge can be Artificial Intelligence. AI isn’t replacing HR; it’s amplifying it, helping organizations execute faster, smarter, and with greater impact.
Opportunities for AI include:
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- Talent acquisition: Predictive analytics match candidates to roles with precision.
- Performance management: AI tools deliver actionable insights to managers and employees.
- Personalized learning: AI tailors upskilling programs to individual strengths and goals.
- Upskilling: The Training Camp for Champions
Championship teams never stop training, and the same applies to organizations. With rapid advancements in technology, upskilling the workforce is essential for staying competitive and future-ready.
In 2025, HR leaders are:
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- Identifying skills gaps to align workforce capabilities with business needs.
- Investing in Learning and Development functions to close the skills gap.
- Partnering externally to provide specialized training in emerging areas like leadership, AI, cybersecurity, and data science.
HR: The MVP of Organizational Success
In 2025, HR isn’t just playing a role—it’s leading the game. Agility, culture, leadership pipelines, AI, and workforce development are the critical plays that will define success for organizations. This is HR’s moment to shine—to be the MVP that helps businesses win in a complex and ever-changing world.
As we look ahead, one thing is clear: the organizations that thrive will be the ones with HR leaders who rise to the challenge—prepared, agile, and ready to lead their teams to victory!