In this episode of #HRTechChat, Nicole Roberts (Senior Analyst & Advisor, 3Sixty Insights) is joined by David Edwards—strategic workforce planning practitioner, advisor, and author of The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook—for a candid conversation about the gap between SWP theory and the messy reality of execution. David explains why strategic workforce planning still suffers from an identity crisis (too many definitions, too many expectations), and why organizations keep getting trapped in short-term thinking that freezes out long-term capability building. Together, they unpack why chasing “perfect data” can be just as risky as oversimplifying, and why the real skill leaders need—especially as AI accelerates planning inputs—is judgment: knowing what’s decision-grade, what matters most, and what to do next. The conversation also tackles the evolving role of managers, […]
Nicole Roberts Contributes Analyst Perspective to HR Voices 2026 Compliance Report
As HR compliance grows more complex in 2026, Nicole Roberts, Principal HR Industry Analyst at 3Sixty Insights, emphasizes a critical reality: compliance technology is only as effective as the expertise guiding it. In the HR Voices: 2026 Regulatory Transformations and Disruptions in HR Compliance report, developed with OutSolve, Nicole highlights the widening gap between tool adoption and practitioner judgment. As organizations deploy more automation across HR and compliance workflows, validating outputs with experienced human oversight becomes essential. Nicole’s contribution centers on the operational risks emerging from overreliance on systems alone. “Tools can’t replace expertise,” she explains, noting that compliance teams must still interpret signals, validate decisions, and understand regulatory nuance beyond what dashboards and alerts can provide. This perspective reflects what many HR leaders are […]
Research Agenda: Workforce Strategy, HR Enablement & HR Technology in an AI-Augmented World
Analyst Overview Nicole brings more than 20 years of senior HR leadership experience, including serving as Chief People Officer and the first HR executive at several high-growth, private-equity–backed, and multi-site organizations. She has built HR functions from the ground up, led organizations through Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and rapid scaling, and evaluated, selected, and implemented a wide range of HR technologies as a buyer. She specializes in helping HR leaders translate workforce data into clear, executive-ready narratives that resonate with CEOs, CFOs, and private-equity stakeholders. In addition to her executive experience, Nicole serves as faculty with the Human Capital Institute, where she teaches courses in strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, HR business partnering, change management, and leadership development. This work provides deep insight into the […]
Analyst Insight: From Skill to Practice – Why Manager Enablement Is Becoming HR’s Most Critical System Design Challenge
In a recent HRTechChat podcast conversation with Jeff Smith, PhD, COO of AI-powered performance management platform 15Five, a consistent theme emerged: the future of performance management and manager enablement will not be driven by more training, frameworks, or one-time interventions. It will be driven by system design that reinforces behavior continuously, in the flow of work. As HR teams face unprecedented pressure, from AI disruption and capacity constraints to escalating expectations placed on managers, traditional approaches to performance and leadership development are no longer sufficient. What organizations need now are mechanisms that turn expectations into daily practice, supported by technology that helps provide real-time feedback and augments human judgment rather than replacing it. Key Insights from the Conversation 1. HR Is at the Center of […]
LinkdedLive: HR Bytes Workbreak | February 12th @ 12pm Eastern
Join 3Sixty Insights’ Nicole Roberts for an upcoming LinkedLive as they bring brief, digestible bytes on the 𝗛𝗥 𝗕𝘆𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸. They will dive into the latest trends and innovations shaping the now and next of HR. They will also be discussing AI-Powered HR: From Hype to Implementation. BIG question on everyone’s mind, “How do we and our people build trust with these systems?” Learn more and register for the event here: HR Bytes Workbreak
HR Must Speak the Language of the Business or Be Excluded from the Decisions That Matter
HR leaders are not lacking insight, empathy, or strategic intent. What often limits their influence is not the absence of data, but the absence of shared language with the executives making organizational decisions. Even when HR has the right information, its impact can fall flat if those insights are not framed in terms that connect directly to how leaders think about performance, risk, and value creation. In a recent episode of HRTechChat, I spoke with Maria Scarangella, founder of Marstella and former Vice President of Talent and Enterprise Learning at GEICO. Our conversation explored a challenge many HR leaders intuitively understand but often struggle to address directly: HR is not sidelined because it lacks value. It is sidelined when its insights are framed in HR […]
#HRTechChat: The Economics of HR – Speaking the Language of Business with Maria Scarangella
In this episode of #HRTechChat, Nicole Roberts is joined by Maria Scarangella to tackle one of the most persistent challenges facing HR today: proving business value in a climate defined by cost pressure, efficiency mandates, and heightened executive scrutiny. Drawing on her 37-year career at GEICO—including leadership of a $2.5B P&L—and her current work building Marstella, Maria explains why HR risks losing its strategic seat when it speaks only in HR metrics instead of business outcomes. Together, they explore how quantifying the true cost of hiring, onboarding, training, and turnover can fundamentally change executive decision-making—from smarter workforce planning to more targeted investments in technology and development. Maria outlines why “a lot” is not a number, how lifecycle cost visibility creates accountability across leaders, and why […]
#HRTechChat: Jeff Smith of 15Five on Building Better Managers in the Age of AI
In this episode of #HRTechChat, Nicole Roberts sits down with Jeff Smith, COO of 15Five, to unpack what it really takes to build better managers in an era of AI, constant change, and overflowing HR to-do lists. A psychologist by training with deep R&D and product experience, Jeff brings a rare lens on how organizations can redesign systems, expectations, and technology to truly support people leaders—not just measure them. They dig into the mounting pressure on HR and managers, the shift from “HR owns all people issues” to shared accountability, and why management has to be treated as a daily practice, not a one-time promotion. Jeff explains how tools like 15Five and Kona AI can turn everyday one-on-ones into continuous performance data, simplify review cycles, […]
Case Study Vignette: Amdocs Streamlines Contingent Workforce Operations through Papaya’s Contingent OS
Partnering with experts who can help you reach and stay ahead of technological advances is a must in today’s world. Amdocs Limited provides such expertise by managing information technology (IT) services in different disciplines, ranging from designing and optimizing networks for telecommunications customers such as Bell Canada, AT&T, T-Mobile, Telefonica and Claro to providing content adjustments to movies and series for customers like Netflix. The multinational corporation acquires 4-6 companies each year, and Shachar Teper, who heads Amdocs’ department of business services and procurement, is in charge of the technology services that Amdocs acquires in order to support projects. “What I am purchasing is two major products,” Teper explains. “There’s the time and materials (T&M), which is the resources based on time and material that […]
UKG Aspire | November 3 – 6, 2025
We’re excited to share that Nicole Roberts, a valued member of the 3Sixty Insights team, will be attending UKG Aspire 2025, one of the premier gatherings for HR, workforce management, and technology leaders. At this year’s event, Nicole will engage with leading industry professionals, explored the latest trends in human capital management, and gained firsthand insights into the evolving role of AI and advanced workforce technologies. Her participation reflects 3Sixty Insights’ commitment to staying at the forefront of HR innovation and delivering actionable intelligence to our clients. Stay tuned for Nicole’s key takeaways from the event, where she will highlight the most impactful strategies, emerging technologies, and thought leadership shaping the future of workforce management. Learn more about UKG Aspire here: https://aspire.ukg.com/event/dd109a60-ebf8-4e79-9ad5-5fe3a903aabb/home-new-brand?RefId=home-ukgevents
3Sixty Insights Named to Fama’s Favorite Influencers in Q3 2025
We are thrilled to announce that 3Sixty Insights has been recognized alongside our own Nicholas Biron, Dylan Teggart, Nicole Roberts, Mark Feffer, and Geoff Webb as part of the esteemed Fama’s Favorite Influencers in Q3 2024! This honor underscores our commitment to providing actionable insights and research that shape the future of HR and talent acquisition. View the full list: Fama’s Favorite HR Influencers: Q3 2025 Edition
theHRDIRECTOR: Key takeaways from this year’s HR technology conference
My heart is full and my battery is drained, but in the most beautiful way. Prior to HR Technology Conference, my experience with conferences was from the practioner’s and blogger perspective. I had the opportunity to attend HR Tech as a learner and an analyst in an industry where I’ve been a customer, a decision maker, and a functionality geek. I got to see some amazing people I had not seen in years or even had never met IRL. I’ve always loved learning, attending demos, and seeing how people are looking to solve their business challenges with people tech solutions. It was fun to have the experience of being in HR for 20+ years and now having a different conversation with vendors, finding out from […]
Amplify Your Signal | Nicole Roberts Podcast
Amplify Your Signal, hosted by Nicole Roberts, is a podcast dedicated to elevating the voices of job seekers, professionals in transition, and individuals navigating career shifts. Each episode dives into the human side of career journeys — beyond résumés and job titles — to explore resilience, determination, and the drive to succeed. Through personal stories, expert interviews, and actionable advice, Nicole gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to pivot careers, embrace change, and find opportunities that align with their passions. Topics range from leveraging LinkedIn and networking to understanding hiring trends, leadership, and the future of work. Whether you’re in between roles, considering a major career move, or simply looking for inspiration to take the next step, Amplify Your Signal offers motivation, […]
From Practitioner to Analyst: My Takeaways from This Year’s HR Technology Conference
My heart is full and my battery is drained, but in the most beautiful way. Prior to HR Technology Conference, my experience with conferences was from the practioner’s and blogger perspective. I had the opportunity to attend HR Tech as a learner and an analyst in an industry where I’ve been a customer, a decision maker, and a functionality geek. I got to see some amazing people I had not seen in years or even had never met IRL. I’ve always loved learning, attending demos, and seeing how people are looking to solve their business challenges with people tech solutions. It was fun to have the experience of being in HR for 20+ years and now having a different conversation with vendors, finding out from […]
3Sixty Insights’ Nicole Roberts to Facilitate HCI’s Strategic Workforce Planning Certification
Sixty Insights is happy to share that Nicole Roberts, Analyst with 3Sixty Insights, will serve as a facilitator for the Human Capital Institute’s (HCI) Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) Certification program. The SWP Certification is one of HCI’s flagship offerings, designed to help HR and business leaders build a forward-looking approach to workforce planning. Participants learn how to align talent strategies with organizational goals, identify and close skill gaps, and create actionable plans that drive measurable impact. Nicole brings her extensive expertise in HR strategy, organizational effectiveness, and people-centric leadership to the classroom. As a facilitator, she will guide participants through HCI’s evidence-based SWP framework, interactive exercises, and practical toolkits that can be applied immediately to real-world challenges. This collaboration underscores 3Sixty Insights’ commitment to advancing […]
Video: Behind the Scenes – Nicole Roberts Prepares for Her First HR Tech
Join Nicole Roberts, Analyst at 3Sixty Insights, as she shares her excitement ahead of attending her very first HR Tech Conference. In this video, Nicole talks about the briefings she has lined up, the innovations she’s eager to explore, and why this trip marks a special personal and professional milestone. Whether you’re attending HR Tech or following along virtually, this video gives you a glimpse into how 3Sixty Insights connects with industry leaders, uncovers the latest trends in HR technology, and builds meaningful relationships. Nicole will be at HR Tech Wednesday–Friday — connect with her and the 3Sixty Insights team if you’ll be there too!
Workology Article: Q&A With Nicole Roberts
This interview is part of Workology’s HR spotlight series, where they highlight influential HR leaders who are shaping the future of work through bold ideas and real-world impact. For this post, they spoke with Nicole Roberts, 3Sixty Insights Analyst, Founder and President of People Solutions Group. Nicole Roberts is an HR strategist, executive advisor, and the Founder and President of People Solutions Group, a consulting and training firm that helps organizations align people practices with business strategy. With more than 20 years of experience spanning high-growth, PE-backed, and mission-driven organizations, she combines strategic foresight, human-centered insight, and practical HR leadership to drive meaningful results. Her expertise includes strategic workforce planning, leadership development, change management, culture transformation, and talent advisory. Nicole is especially skilled in guiding organizations through […]
Humans of Fuzia Article: Nicole Roberts – Turning Adversity into Purpose and Empowering Others to Thrive
Nicole Roberts’ journey is one of resilience, strength, and an unwavering commitment to helping others. After facing back-to-back life-altering challenges—including a job loss and a breast cancer diagnosis—Nicole built her path forward with courage and purpose. She founded People Solutions Group, where she guides organizations and individuals on people strategy, leadership, and career growth. Today, Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature her story for our global community of over 5 million members. Nicole’s experiences remind us why lifting each other up—through He for She and She for She—creates ripples of hope and transformation for women and changemakers everywhere. Q: Nicole, what inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey? Nicole: In December 2022, I experienced two major life shifts within just nine days—I was laid off […]
3Sixty Insights Welcomes Nicole Roberts as HR Industry Analyst
We’re thrilled to announce that Nicole Roberts has joined the 3Sixty Insights team as an HR Industry Analyst, focusing on Workforce Strategy and Innovation. Nicole brings a practitioner’s perspective to the evolving world of work, helping bridge the gap between technology, strategy, and the people experience. Since joining our Global Executive Advisory Council in 2021, Nicole has contributed valuable insights on leading people strategy through change. In her role with 3Sxity Insights, she will continue to explore topics including: Talent acquisition transformation M&A and workforce integration Leadership during times of transition The evolving role of HR in a tech-enabled world Nicole’s expertise also spans facilitation with the Human Capital Institute, consulting through People Solutions Group, and hosting the Amplify Your Signal podcast. We’re excited for […]
3Sixty Insight’s Announces Winners of the 2021 Transformation and Leadership Case Study Awards
Boston, MA – June 10, 2021 – 3Sixty Insights today announced the winners of several awards for the ability to lead and transform organizations in exceptionally strategic and successful ways. Based on evidence from the related 3Sixty Insights case studies highlighting these leaders’ agility, creativity, and drive to persevere through challenging times, winners were chosen for three awards: Best Cultural Transformation, Best Digital Transformation, and Inspirational Leadership. Best Cultural Transformation – Awarded to Alex Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer for the City of Memphis: About five years ago, Alex Smith joined the City of Memphis to lead human resources there. Memphis had been struggling with a lack of employee engagement and high employee turnover, and the newly elected mayor at the time hired Smith as […]







