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Before Alison Borland assumed the chief people and strategy officer at global workplace mental health platform Modern Health earlier this year, she worked directly with the CEO to develop her new title. It’s a nod toward the increasing assimilation of the people and business strategy—and HR’s critical role in driving both, she says.
As HR leaders evolve their hard-won seat at the table to be one of the most essential seats, Borland says, it creates significant opportunities for more innovative and strategic HR functions.
“People leaders are ready to do more, and there’s increased receptivity for CEOs and other business leaders to pull them in. It’s a good time for this to happen,” she says.
Borland—whose most recent titles include chief growth officer and chief wellbeing officer at Silvertrain AI and Alight Solutions, respectively—recently spoke with HR Executive about the potential of more strategic HR teams, and how she’s using her platform to make employee wellbeing an ongoing priority at Modern Health.
HR Executive: How does having a more strategic focus to the HR function affect the skill sets that chief people officers need today?
Borland: It’s more of an external focus and a future-forward focus. It’s less about what
