Breakout: Human Capital and the Future of Work

Human capital has become an increasingly important value driver for corporations in today’s economy, where a corporation’s most significant assets walk out the door each evening. In response, boardroom attention has begun to focus on “human capital management,” which includes topics ranging from employee health and safety to workplace diversity to employee recruitment, training, development, and retention. Most of these human capital issues have traditionally been viewed as topics for management and outside the scope of the board’s responsibilities. But increasingly investors are calling on companies to disclose more information about human capital development and risks, while calling on boards to be more engaged in oversight of a company’s human capital management strategies. At the same time, corporations are facing enormous changes and disruption in the workplace with the growing efficiency of machine learning and automation and the adoption of remote working environments. These trends will likely upend traditional conceptions of work, alter the landscape for procuring and retaining skilled employees, and challenge companies to redefine their talent strategy for the future. This session will examine how board members should be thinking about these risks and opportunities and share strategies on working with management on talent and human capital.