In HR and People Ops, staying relevant means staying plugged into the best ideas, communities, and conversations. The way we build culture, develop leaders, and support employees is shifting fast—driven by technology, hybrid work, and evolving employee expectations.
That’s why it’s essential to have a steady stream of insights from trusted resources: podcasts to spark new thinking, communities where peers share unfiltered lessons, and conferences that set the agenda for the future of work.
This guide curates the top resources every HR and People Ops professional should know about—so you can expand your network, sharpen your skills, and lead with confidence in 2025 and beyond
Table of Contents
Top HR & People Ops Podcasts
If you want to expand your knowledge in 2024, why not start the year by checking out some HR podcasts? These HR podcasts help demystify human resources, giving you the tools to upgrade your HR department and transform your workplace culture. Plus, they’re perfect for listening on your commute to work or during your lunch break, making them a great way to grow your industry awareness. Let’s jump into the best HR podcasts for 2024 without further ado.
The Modern People Leader
The Modern People Leader hosts interviews with top HR innovators, allowing them to share their stories and how they got to where they are today. These interviews are fascinating and engaging and give you insight into the evolving world of HR, making this a great podcast for anyone looking to engage with the world of HR.
They branch out from HR interviews from time to time, taking a look at industry specialists and how they operate. If you’re looking for a great podcast that dives into the industry’s secrets while also focusing on key modern leaders in the workforce, you’ll want to check this podcast out.
#WorkTrends
#WorkTrends, hosted by Meghan M. Biro, dives into the ever-changing industry of HR. Aimed at those working within HR, this podcast attempts to shine a light on innovation and evolving standards in the workplace. Industry leaders, HR vendors, and more all guest stars on this news-focused podcast, allowing you to glimpse what 2024 has in store for the world of HR. They even host a live chat on Twitter every Wednesday at 1:30 PM EST, allowing you to join in the conversation.
Redefining Work
If you’re interested in how the modern workforce changes and evolves daily, you’ll love Redefining Work. Host Lars Schmidt sits down with innovators in the workforce to talk about how things are growing and changing going into 2024. Listeners gain insights into how things are changing, crucial work tips, and even riveting stories about workplace changes. If you’re looking for an engaging podcast to help elevate your workplace knowledge while remaining entertaining and engaging, check out Redefining Work.
Corporate Drinker
This enlightening podcast focuses on the complex relationship between social drinking in the workplace and maintaining a healthy relationship with alcohol. Corporate Drinker may not be exclusively HR-focused, but the topics covered by this podcast are all things HR deals with daily.
Podcast host Laurie Ruettimann dives into all things workplace and alcohol-related, tackling complex issues like consulting and drinking and modern trends like mommy wine culture. If you’re interested in hearing someone discuss the various sides of grabbing a drink after work and how it can impact employees, Corporate Drinker is a must-listen podcast.
WorkLife with Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant thinks you should enjoy your time at work as much as possible. After all, you spend much of your life working, so why not figure out how to enjoy it? WorkLife focuses on that unique work-life balance everyone strives for and covers topics like engaging with your workplace rival and enjoying your work even on your busiest days.
Diving into the psychology behind working, this podcast is an entertaining and enlightening way to restructure your work approach and help you gain that coveted work-life balance.
Digital HR Leaders with David Green
HR is going digital, and David Green is here to talk to industry HR leaders about how the push toward digital literacy is changing HR as a field. Digital HR Leaders with David Green dives into the ever-evolving needs of HR and HR personnel in the modern workplace and how technology is revolutionizing the field. This podcast is a great way to learn about emerging HR trends and how technology will shape the industry in 2024.
DriveThruHR
Short, sweet, and (sometimes) to the point, DriveThruHR covers industry news in 30 minutes or less, delving into HR-relevant topics while taking the time for witty sidebars and irreverent conversations. With frequent guest hosts, this podcast covers everything you need to know about the evolving world of HR in 2024 while keeping industry news engaging and entertaining. Plus, with a backlog of episodes back to 2010, you can binge-listen to this podcast while driving to work.
#SECURETHESEAT
Minda Harts interviews women of color in her podcast, #SecureTheSeat, where she covers how WoCs find their way in a workforce that doesn’t always invest in their success. Join this podcast to discover how discrimination and hidden biases can influence the workforce even today and how modern women work to succeed despite those biases.
While not directly HR-focused, this podcast acts as a great look at intersectionality in the workforce and interviews workforce leaders about how they manage to succeed in a work culture that, at times, views them with indifference.
How I Built This
Have you ever wondered how certain industry leaders started? Want to know the secrets behind building some of today’s biggest brands? How I Built This interviews industry leaders about their success, their struggles, and how they grow their businesses. This NPR podcast is fascinating and worth listening to, as it dives into the little-known success stories behind some of today’s biggest brands while diving deeper into the lives of the people who built the brands from the ground up. If you’re looking for engaging entrepreneur success stories, How I Built This is the right podcast for you.
People Managing People
Becca Banyard hosts People Managing People, a diverse look at the thought leaders who drive HR worldwide. Each episode talks with a different HR professional, including innovative people leaders, giving you plenty of new material to listen to weekly. If you want to hear from some top industry leaders, this should be your HR podcast in 2024.
Top HR & People Ops Slack Communities
Whether you’re a part of an HR department, work closely with the People Operations team at your business, or work in employee relations in any capacity, there are plenty of Slack communities for your unique interests. For example, being a successful employee representative involves constantly learning and evolving your understanding of workplace culture.
With these Slack communities, you can work with other HR and People Ops enthusiasts to share resources, answer questions, and discuss ways to improve your workplace’s culture. While there are countless different Slack communities, we’ve rounded up some of the best Slack communities for HR and People Ops professionals. First, we’ll review Slack communities as a whole and what to expect, then we’ll cover our top picks.
What Are Slack Communities?
Slack communities are similar to many different forums depending on your familiarity with online groups. For example, think of a Slack community like a Facebook Group in that they are made to target a specific interest. You can also think of a Slack community like a subreddit, a Discord server, or any other online gathering place where people get together to discuss their interests. Unlike these other platforms, Slack communities are more workplace-focused and tend to attract like-minded professionals looking to improve their office culture and grow their skills.
Slack communities allow users to share resources, videos, and posts and communicate with other users. While you may use Slack to talk with coworkers, with Slack communities, you can interact with other professionals on your own time to grow your skills and learn about your interests.
How to Tell if a Slack Community Is Right for You
Since Slack is primarily a professional platform, many HR and People Ops specialists use the community function to share insights and connect with others like them. However, like choosing the right study group in high school, choosing the right Slack community can make or break your experience. Before joining a Slack community, there are a few things to remember.
First, look for an active community with a lot of users. While smaller communities are great for one-on-one conversations, if this is the first Slack community you’re joining, go for a larger group to get used to the flow of conversation. Finding an active community helps keep you engaged and gives you plenty of fellow professionals to chat about your interests and insights.
Make sure any Slack community or channel you’re joining is well-moderated, and take the time to review the rules and read channel descriptions before you start posting. Not only is this a general courtesy, but it can also help you avoid unwanted confrontations and embarrassment. After all, nobody wants to be the one posting on the wrong channel!
Since you’re looking for professional insights, try to find a professional community for your needs. While casual communities are great, when it comes to HR and People Ops resources, you want to find a group of people who are serious about their interests and share high-quality, reliable resources and insights.
Our Favorite Slack HR Communities
Now that you know what to look for in a Slack community, let’s look a the best Slack communities for HR and People Ops professionals. These communities are some of the most active out there. They’re incredible resources for any employee relations professional looking to expand their knowledge and connect with like-minded people.
#People
#People is a Slack community for people people, as their website says. Following our advice to find a well-moderated community should bring you to #People. This Slack community is made especially for People Ops and HR professionals, and each application is screened carefully before joining the community. This ensures that all members are on the same page and share the same interest. No bots, product placements, and trolls make #People a great Slack community to join and chat with your peers without interruptions. Check out their website to join today.
Secret HR Society
Everyone wants to be in a secret society, and the Secret HR Society is no different. This is a highly selective Slack community, considering you have to be referred by an active member to join. While they’re incredibly exclusive, they focus on providing insight to HR and People Ops professionals and are highly rated.
The group is located in Germany. However, it is open to English speakers with 5+ years of HR or People Ops experience. If you’re interested in joining this secretive Slack community, there’s no invisible ink required; check out their website to learn more and potentially connect with a current member.
Resources for Humans
We’re assuming you’re a human if you work in Human Relations, meaning the Resources for Humans Slack community is right up your alley. This Slack Community is home to over 10,000 HR and People Ops professionals sharing what they know with fellow employee relations enthusiasts. The topics are well-moderated, and all conversations center around People Operations resources, as well as how to advance your professional knowledge and improve the field of Human Resources.
If you’re looking for ways to broaden your horizons and improve your company culture, this is the group for you. However, remember that their code of conduct is quite strict, so read the rules thoroughly and bring your discussion topics. You can learn more about this Slack community on their website.
PeopleGeeks
If you’ve ever found yourself getting excited thinking about ways to inspire people and connect with employees, Peoplegeeks is the right Slack community for you. This community, run by CultureAmp, welcomes passionate professionals looking to connect with and learn alongside like-minded people. With over 15,000 members, this far-reaching Slack community is perfect for expanding your horizons and connecting with people globally.
While there are plenty of Slack channels to discuss your interests with others, they also host events and meet-ups to introduce HR and People Ops professionals and share insights in person. To find out more, check out their website.
Hacking HR
Are you an innovator? Do you crave new information about HR techniques and methods revolutionizing the workforce? Does the thought of cracking Human Resources strategies like the main character from an early ’90s film hacking into a mainframe excite you? Hacking HR is the Slack community for you.
This community works to combine technology, HR practices, and modern resources to create future HR policies. Their goal is to innovate and revolutionize employee relations departments, paving the way for future People Ops guidelines and working together to develop new and innovative ways to connect with employees.
If you want to share insights, create new ideas, and stay on the cutting edge of HR, this is the community for you. Click here to find out more and to join today.
#PeoplePeople
If you’re looking for innovative suggestions about hiring, employee management, and more, #PeoplePeople is a Slack community geared toward people management. This group of professionals works to share techniques, recommend programs, and connect HR and People Ops professionals worldwide with innovative ideas to revolutionize their workspace.
This community welcomes anyone with experience hiring and managing employees and emphasizes innovation and learning. If you’re looking to shift your workplace toward people-oriented HR management or are looking to connect with other similar professionals, this is an excellent Slack community to join. To find out more or to join, check out their website.
HRtoHR
Are you sick of work conferences? Do you find organized meetings tiring and feel stagnated by endless professional gatherings? Then, you’re in good company with HRtoHR. This community was sick of a conference’s dull, stifling atmosphere and wanted to create a relaxed, informal environment for workplace professionals to share insights and ideas.
This Slack community focuses on real-time learning, with space to discuss current challenges, get advice, find new tools, and even rant about your day. If you’re looking for the resource list of a conference without the gruelingly dry meetings, HRtoHR is the right place for you. To apply or to find out more, check out their website.
POPs United
No, this channel is not for popcorn enthusiasts, though we’re sure there’s a Slack community for that. Instead, POPs United is a space for People Ops. This Slack community offers resources, problem-solving, and a support system for anyone in management or HR. Whether you work at a small startup company or are part of a large corporation, there are plenty of professionals in the same situation as you to talk to in this Slack community. While they require you to fill out an application, anyone with management or HR work can join. Check out their join form to start chatting in their community today.
Of course, there are plenty of other HR and People Operations Slack communities out there that may be a good fit for you, so be sure to do some research on your own to find a Slack community that fits your unique professional needs.
Human Resources (HR) and People Operations (PeopleOps) are critical functions in every organization. They are accountable for the entire lifecycle of an employee’s journey with the organization, business optimization, and strategy. In addition, HR and PeopleOps diligently recruit, train and manage the essential asset of any company: its people. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the adoption of HR technology by organizations to streamline their HR processes and improve efficiency. To stay up-to-date with the latest HR technology trends and innovations, attending HR technology conferences in-person or virtual conferences are an absolute must in 2023.
This blog post will discuss the top 10 2023 HR and PeopleOps technology conferences to attend virtually and in person!
Best HR & People Ops Conferences
HR Technology Conference & Exposition
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA — Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Dates: September 16-18, 2025
Description:
HR Tech is one of the largest and most influential HR tech gatherings. It draws HR leaders, product teams, vendors, HRIS specialists, CHROs, and innovators focused on how technology is transforming HR—from recruiting and onboarding to analytics, automation, and employee experience. The agenda blends keynote speakers, demos, panel discussions, and vendor expos, making it a high-signal event for spotting emerging tools, best practices, and shifts in how HR can scale with tech.
SHRM Annual Conference & Expo
Location: Orlando, Florida, USA — Orange County Convention Center
Dates: June 16-19, 2026
Description:
The SHRM Annual is a flagship event covering a full spectrum of HR topics: compliance and labor law, compensation & benefits, talent acquisition, leadership development, DE&I, employee well-being, and more. It tends to attract large audiences including HR generalists, specialists, VP/Heads of HR, legal advisors, and consultants. It’s especially useful for seeing what’s trending in HR policy, getting continuing education credits, and gaining broad strategic insights that span beyond just tech.
UNLEASH America
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA — Caesars Forum
Dates: March 17-19, 2026
Description:
UNLEASH America is heavy on innovation, trends, and the future of work. It brings together leaders interested in how HR, worktech, learning, employee experience, and AI converge. Attendees often include CHROs, talent and L&D leads, HR tech product teams, and people interested in what’s next in workplace culture, remote/hybrid work, and employee experience. It’s a strong event if you’re interested in thought leadership and change-oriented strategies.
HR Tech Asia
Location: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore
Dates: May 4-7, 2026
Description:
HR Tech Asia is a premier event for the Asia-Pacific region. It focuses on HR technology, people analytics, workforce transformation, agility, well-being and integrating new tools and practices to meet regional/market-specific needs. In addition to a large expo hall with vendors, there are masterclasses, power talks, and regional case studies. For companies operating or expanding in APAC, it’s a key place to see locally relevant benchmarks and innovations.
Workhuman Live
Location: Orlando, FL, USA — Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Dates: April 27-30, 2026
Description:
Workhuman Live is more focused on the human side of work: recognition, culture, well-being, inclusion, leadership. It’s less about raw HR tech demos and more about how to build workplaces where people feel valued, psychologically safe, and connected. Expect strong storytelling, best practices in recognition programs, case studies from companies trying to amplify culture, and sessions on behavior change and engagement. It’s excellent for HR leaders seeking ideas to deepen connection, retention, and culture rather than just optimize process.
Conclusion
Whether you’re an HR leader charting strategy, a People Ops practitioner solving daily challenges, or simply someone passionate about shaping better workplaces, the resources here provide the tools and inspiration you need. Podcasts keep you learning on the go, Slack communities create real-time peer support, and global conferences deliver a front-row seat to the latest trends. The field of HR is evolving at a rapid clip—but with the right network and knowledge at your fingertips, you’ll not only keep up, you’ll lead the way. Bookmark this list, join a new community, or register for an upcoming event—your next breakthrough idea could be waiting in one of these HR and People Ops resources.
