For today’s CHROs and CPOs, exposure to the business is critical
Program Director Weighs in on the new Role of CHROs
For 16 years, Cornell University’s school of Industrial and Labor Relations has offered a program focused on the “modern CHRO.” Promising HR leaders are nominated by their CEO or CHRO to participate in the professional program, which offers development training in areas like board management, executive compensation, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
The demands of the CHRO role look different today than they did a decade ago, said program director Karen Siewert. Historically, HR departments haven’t been viewed as revenue generating. But in 2024, aspiring CHROs have to be deeply intertwined with the business, something that Cornell has tried to stress in its four-month program, according to Siewert.
“In order to enable the business, you need to understand the business,” Siewert told HR Brew. This type of exposure is particularly relevant given the “fast” and “constant” pace of change many organizations are enduring in the current economy, she added.