HR Research Institute Forms Advisory Board to Shape Future of Leadership Coaching and Mentoring

The HR Research Institute (HRRI) has announced the formation of its Future of Coaching and Mentoring for Leadership 2026 Advisory Board, comprising distinguished practitioners focused on advancing leadership excellence. This expert panel will guide organizations on modern coaching and mentoring approaches that balance AI-driven tools with essential human connection while shaping policies for responsible AI implementation in leadership development.

The advisory board will direct HRRI's comprehensive research project and virtual event, exploring how organizations can leverage coaching and mentoring to build robust leadership pipelines and accelerate professional growth. Their collective expertise will reveal effective methodologies for implementing and scaling coaching cultures that foster leader readiness and organizational resilience in an increasingly AI-enabled workplace.

This initiative will provide evidence-based recommendations and actionable insights for HR professionals seeking to enhance leadership development programs, optimize mentor-mentee relationships, and create sustainable pathways for nurturing high-potential talent. The research builds upon previous work, including HR.com's Future Demands in Coaching and Mentoring Research 2025, which can be accessed at https://hr.com/researchinstitute.

The newly established advisory board features industry professionals including Lizzie Bentley Bowers, author and coach at The Causeway Coaching; Anne Bloom, CEO and founder of Your Aspire Coach; Mitwuana Bruce, senior human resources officer at The Hunger Project; Morgan Kemick, HR/OD consultant and leadership coach; and Mark Monaghan, VP of organizational development and coaching at iQor.

Additional board members include Helen Patterson, HR leader and fractional VP of people and culture; Tracey Power, chief people officer and performance coach at Highspring; Michelle Prince, executive career coach and global leadership consultant; Rey Ramirez, co-founder of Thrive HR Consulting; Iyad Uakoub, chief coach and behavioral scientist at Sparathon; Anja van Beek, agile talent strategist and executive coach; and Jason Walker, founder and chief people officer at Thrive HR Consulting.

Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized the timing of this initiative, stating that leadership development is essential during periods of unprecedented change. The advisory board will help HR professionals build stronger leaders through effective coaching and mentoring while maintaining the right balance between artificial and human intelligence.

The HR Research Institute, which publishes annual State of the Industry reports across various HR topics, serves more than 2 million HR professionals worldwide. The institute has published hundreds of high-quality research reports that help organizations make strategic decisions based on informed insights. Additional research resources are available at https://hr.com/hrresearchinstitute.

This collaborative effort comes at a critical juncture as organizations worldwide grapple with integrating artificial intelligence into leadership development while preserving the human elements that drive meaningful coaching relationships. The advisory board's work will help define the evolving role of leaders in technology-enhanced workplaces and establish best practices for developing future-ready leadership capabilities.