The 2026 HR Executive Top 100 HR Tech Influencers, now in its eighth year, recognizes practitioners, product leaders, analysts and advisors who influence, shape and communicate how enterprise technology directly affects the workforce.

"If HR can't clearly connect the dots between engagement, retention and contribution to EBITDA, it's not a business case," says Rebecca Wettemann, CEO of Valoir, an analyst firm experienced with the business impact of HR technology.

Employers should brace for an uptick in employee pushback against return-to-office policies as gas prices continue to rise, highlighting a deepening employee financial wellness crisis.

From change management challenges to the widening AI fluency divide, here's where HR needs to recalibrate.