What Teachers Can Learn from Exceptional HR Leaders in the Age of AI

In the ever-evolving world of education, teachers can find unexpected but invaluable lessons from top HR leaders like Cameron Hedrick (Chief Learning Officer at Citi) and Leena Nair (former CHRO at Unilever and CEO of Chanel). Both have mastered the art of human development, culture-building, and adaptation to change—skills that are just as critical in the classroom as they are in the corporate world.

Here’s how educators can apply HR best practices to improve student learning, engagement, and future-readiness in the age of AI.

1. Understanding Human Behavior to Foster Engagement

Great HR leaders deeply understand what drives people. They recognize motivation, learning styles, and engagement strategies—just like great teachers do. HR professionals use behavioral insights to build workplace cultures where employees thrive. Likewise, teachers can leverage this knowledge to create classrooms where students feel valued, motivated, and inspired to learn.

💡 Lesson from Cameron Hedrick: Hedrick sees himself as a "behavior architect" rather than just an L&D professional. He creates environments where employees naturally develop skills without feeling forced. Teachers can take a similar approach, designing lessons that nurture curiosity, autonomy, and self-driven learning rather than just enforcing rigid instruction.

2. Creating Positive, Inclusive Learning Environments

HR professionals build diverse, inclusive, and psychologically safe workplaces where employees perform at their best. In the classroom, a sense of belonging is equally critical for student success.

💡 Lesson from Leena Nair: Nair emphasizes the power of "collective intelligence"—ensuring that all voices are heard, not just the loudest ones in the room. Teachers can take this approach by engaging every student, using varied teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles, and making sure introverted students feel just as included as vocal ones.

3. Mastering the Art of Feedback and Communication

Great HR leaders excel in giving constructive feedback, fostering open communication, and helping people improve. Teachers, too, must master this skill—not just for grading, but for guiding students toward growth in a way that encourages rather than discourages.

💡 Lesson from HR:* In the workplace, feedback isn't just about evaluation—it's about coaching and development. Teachers can rethink assessments as opportunities for learning rather than just judgment. Using AI-powered tools for formative assessments (like AI-generated feedback or personalized learning paths) can help students track their own progress and make learning more interactive and data-driven.

4. Recognizing and Developing Student Potential

HR leaders identify talent, nurture strengths, and create opportunities for employees to grow. Teachers play a similar role in helping students uncover their strengths and passions.

💡 Lesson from Leena Nair: At Unilever, Nair led personalized learning experiences for employees, allowing them to shape their careers. Teachers can take inspiration by allowing students to have agency over their learning, incorporating project-based learning, self-paced study, or AI-assisted tutoring to help students find what works best for them.

5. Navigating Change and Building Future-Ready Students

HR leaders manage organizational change, embrace innovation, and prepare employees for the future of work. Teachers today face similar challenges—helping students adapt to AI, automation, and an ever-changing job market.

💡 Lesson from Cameron Hedrick: Hedrick challenges traditional learning models by incorporating adaptive learning and AI-powered tools to personalize education. Teachers can embrace AI as a co-teacher, using it to differentiate instruction, automate routine tasks, and focus more on human-centered teaching.

Bringing It All Together

The modern teacher is more than an instructor; they are a learning architect, mentor, and change leader. By applying HR strategies to education, teachers can:

✅ Build inclusive, engaging learning environments
✅ Provide meaningful, growth-focused feedback
✅ Recognize and develop student strengths
✅ Help students navigate change and future challenges

In the age of AI, educators have the opportunity to redefine learning by blending technology with human connection. And who better to learn from than those who have already mastered this balance—exceptional HR leaders like Cameron Hedrick and Leena Nair?