On June 15, the 27th Annual AmCham China Human Resources (HR) Conference was held in Beijing. Under the theme “AI, Talent, and Transformation: Building Future-Ready Organizations,” the conference brought together HR leaders, business executives, and industry experts from multinational corporations to explore talent strategy, organizational change, and leadership transformation in the age of artificial intelligence.
The conference opened with welcome remarks from AmCham China Vice President Claire Ma, who introduced the event’s first-ever virtual moderator. She noted that AI is reshaping business operations and talent management, creating an opportunity for HR leaders to rethink organizational and talent development. In an era of rapid change, Ma added that HR will play an increasingly vital role in driving business transformation and growth.
AmCham China Chairman James Zimmerman reflected on the 27-year history of the conference in his opening remarks, noting that as the business environment and technology continue to evolve, HR professionals will face both new challenges and opportunities.
AmCham China HR Committee Co-Chairs, Michelle Zhang, Vice President of Human Resources at Pfizer and Charles Shao, Managing Director of Consulting and Digital at Korn Ferry Greater China, then jointly presented the conference agenda and introduced key topics.
The first keynote from Ernan Cui, China Consumer Analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, offered a macroeconomic perspective on the labor market. She examined the business environment and talent challenges facing companies today, sharing observations on the future trajectory of the workforce and talent development.
Charles Shao followed with his own keynote on organizational transformation and talent innovation in the AI era. Drawing on real-world digital transformation practices, he explored the relationship between technology adoption, organizational effectiveness, and talent development.
In a session on risk management in HR practice, Phoebe Yan, Partner at Loeb & Loeb, addressed compliance challenges and HR-related risks in corporate operations. Through case studies, she explored strategies for strengthening risk management capabilities and organizational resilience.
The morning panel, “Rethinking Leadership and Talent Strategy in a Time of Transformation,” was moderated by Johnny Xiong, Talent Management Director at Microsoft. He was joined by panelists Victoria Wu, HR Head of Greater China at Cisco; Lydia Zhou, Vice President of Human Resources at ConocoPhillips China; and Victor Liang, Senior Vice President at Baidu. The conversation centered on leadership development, critical talent cultivation, and organizational capability building in the AI era.
The group shared their perspectives on the evolving role of leaders, talent strategy upgrades, and how organizations can navigate rapidly changing business environments.
In the afternoon, Tate Wang, Managing Partner of LABOURS, discussed the HR challenges that arise during corporate strategic transitions. She discussed organizational development, talent management, and risk prevention, exploring both the opportunities and difficulties companies face during periods of change.
Yuting Shen, Deputy General Manager of GLOBIS China, followed with a session titled “When AI Becomes Your Colleague.” She shared observations on AI adoption trends, organizational collaboration, and the changing nature of work, while highlighting key considerations for companies driving AI transformation.
The afternoon panel, “AI and the Evolution of HR: From Operations to Innovation,” was moderated by Michelle Zhang. Panelists included Helen Zhang, Chief HR Officer at IBM Greater China; Connie Zhu, Human Capital Advisory Partner at Deloitte; and Echo Li, Head of HR at HPE China. The panel focused on AI-enabled talent management, organizational transformation, and the future role of HR.
Their conversation addressed digital transformation, organizational capability building, and talent development, as well as the emerging opportunities for HR in the AI era.
The conference concluded with an executive panel, “Leading Through Transformation: AI, Talent, and the Future of Business,” moderated by AmCham China President Michael Hart. The panel featured Dr. Yang Hou, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft and Chairman & CEO at Microsoft Greater China, and Justin Zhao, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Johnson & Johnson China.
The two executives, both of whom are on the current AmCham China Board of Governors, discussed innovation, talent development, organizational growth, and leadership, offering perspectives on how companies can seize opportunities and achieve long-term success in a rapidly shifting business environment.
From talent strategy to organizational transformation, from leadership development to HR innovation in the AI era, this year’s HR Conference brought together experts and business leaders from diverse industries to share best practices and exchange insights.
Special thanks to our 2026 HR Conference sponsors:
Click here to learn more about the HR Committee or contact Melody Wen at mwen@amchamchina.org.