The technology is moving fast, but the bigger HR challenge is preparing people for what comes next.
HR has spent years talking about becoming more strategic. Now AI is accelerating that shift, but it also raises a harder question: what happens to the people whose work is changing? AI, workforce transformation, employee communication, compliance, and business partnership are becoming one conversation.
In this episode… Lois Gordon explains why HR needs to bridge the gap between decision-makers and employees, prepare people for AI instead of simply rolling out new tools, and keep the human side of work at the center of technology-driven change.
Key Takeaways :
HR still has an information gap to solve. The people closest to the work often have critical information that decision-makers don't, making communication between employees and executives essential.
AI conversations often skip the human piece. Organizations talk about streamlining and centralizing processes, but preparing employees for changing roles needs equal attention.
Bristol County Savings Bank is creating space for employees to learn AI. Employees can discuss how they're using AI and the issues they're encountering without having the technology simply forced on them.
AI agents raise organizational questions, not just technical ones. If agents become part of how work gets done, HR has to think about transparency, responsibilities, role changes, and who manages those tools.
Fear is part of the AI conversation. Employees naturally wonder what happens to their roles when technology takes responsibilities away, making communication and education critical.
AI doesn't eliminate the need for human judgment. Lois compares AI to a screwdriver: the tool can make work more efficient, but a human still has to operate it. In banking especially, she sees a continuing need for HR to be a strong business partner.
This episode was recorded live at SHRM Annual 2026
The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved.
isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.
Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/
Guest : Lois Gordon
Vice President Human Resources at Bristol County Savings Bank, Lois brings 15 years of HR experience, from talent acquisition to business partnering, with a focus on connecting organizational decisions with the people affected by them.
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/loisgordon/
The Heroes of HR Podcast is hosted by
Amy Miller, Product Evangelist at isolved
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycmiller/
Ryan Leary, Co-founder at WRKdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
William Tincup, Co-founder at WRKdefined
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
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