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For the first time, the Mirro team participated as sponsors at Unleash World, one of the world's biggest HR conferences, held on October 16 and 17, 2024, in Paris.
We are truly passionate about the future of work, HR, and technology, so participating in this dynamic event was eye-opening and offered us a glimpse of what’s next in this industry. We’re really grateful for the valuable networking and future-shaping conversations we had.
The biggest takeaway we had taken home with us? While technology transforms how we work, the human element will always remain at the heart of everything. Because when your people thrive, your business thrives.
And because we believe in the power of knowledge sharing, we comprised the main insights gathered from all the speeches we attended. Hopefully, you will find them as valuable as we did.
How to stay human when scaling an organization
Speaker: Kathleen Fujawa, VP of People Operations, Ignite Reading
We started our speech tour with Kathleen Fujawa’s eye-opening keynote about her journey with Ignite Reading and the power of being intentionally human when scaling an organization. Kathleen shared that a strong mission, clear core values, and the right systems are the key ingredients for a people-focused company.
The ingredients for a people-focused organization
Kathleen did a deeper dive into these three elements, highlighting that simply stating the mission isn’t enough. People must understand how their daily work connects to that mission. This alignment creates a sense of purpose that drives engagement.
“It's not about people knowing what you do but how your people carry on with that mission.”
Values, she further emphasized, must be authentic. They shouldn’t be aspirational statements but reflections of the current company culture, co-created with team members.
Moreover, HR systems should be chosen carefully, ensuring they align with the company’s needs and growth plans. Scalability, data integration, and engagement tools are essential for creating a unified experience, especially when navigating the challenges of remote or hybrid work.
The importance of transparency in communication also stood out—engaging employees in all-hands meetings, sharing the company's financial health, and being honest about challenges helps foster trust and connection, regardless of physical distance.
Key takeaway: Your mission and values must be more than words—they must be woven into your people's daily actions and decisions to foster genuine engagement.
How to lead with courage
Speaker: Claire Isnard, Global Chief People & Organization Officer, Chanel
Another powerful keynote that also focused on leaders’ human side was the one moderated by Jess Von Bank, Global Leader, HR Transformation, and Technology Advisor, who was joined by Claire Isnard of Chanel. The discussion on the power of courageous leadership rooted in trust, inclusion, and humanity was extremely refreshing.
“Without our people, there is no Chanel.”
Claire’s leadership philosophy is built on trust and openness. She emphasized that courageous leadership is about creating a culture where people can fully be themselves and realize their potential. This approach doesn’t just benefit individuals—it drives the collective success of the business. Claire stated, “The business benefits from its people and vice versa. And if your people thrive, your business thrives.”
A core element of this strategy is supporting people throughout their entire journey. Isnard detailed how Chanel invests in its people from day one, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends roles and generations. Their approach to inclusion is proactive, providing development opportunities that help their people grow professionally and personally. This dedication to individual growth is critical to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, trusted, and, most importantly, dignified.
Claire further pointed out that people don’t stay with a company for a contract. At our core, we all have the same human needs—belonging, relationships, and community involvement. She advised people leaders to pay more attention to how people connect and understand each other. This vision is embedded into Chanel’s DNA and incorporated into daily language. For example, Chanel never refers to its people as “employees.” They also never point out how one person accomplished something but how the TEAM managed to do it. This is why, for Chanel, being a team player is the most important skill when hiring someone new.
Key takeaway: Courageous leadership is about bringing our hearts to business and using them to create a culture of inclusion and belonging where everyone can realize their potential.
How to lead with the head and heart
Speaker: Dr. Kirstin Ferguson
Dr. Kirstin Ferguson's talk on modern leadership challenged HR professionals to lead with both head and heart. She posed a powerful reflection: think of a leader who saw potential in you and compare them with someone who didn’t. This exercise helped me realize the power of the managers and mentors I had throughout my career.
Dr. Kirstin Ferguson's quote on leadership
She outlined eight critical leadership capabilities, divided between the head (curiosity, wisdom, perspective, and capability) and the heart (humility, self-awareness, courage, and empathy). While all are essential for modern leadership, Kirstin highlighted three capabilities she believes are especially important for HR professionals: curiosity, perspective, and self-awareness.
Curiosity, she noted, is foundational. Leaders who are curious not only about their teams but also about the wider world tend to excel in other leadership areas as well. However, studies show that less than a quarter of us are actually curious about our job. Bureaucracy, fear, and assumptions usually stop us from being curious.
Perspective is the ability to read the room but also to recognize who or what is missing from the conversation. It’s about understanding not just the visible dynamics of a situation but the hidden gaps—voices that aren’t being heard, ideas that haven’t surfaced, and how these absences impact decision-making and inclusion.
Lastly, self-awareness is a cornerstone of effective leadership, though Kirstin highlighted that it’s often misunderstood. While 95% of leaders believe they are self-aware, only 10%-15% of their teams would agree. Being truly self-aware requires acknowledging personal triggers and limitations, actively listening to feedback, and being open to growth. It’s about recognizing when you might dominate a conversation or fail to seek input from others and adjusting accordingly.
Key takeaway: Modern leadership is about balancing wisdom with empathy. Leaders must remain curious, humble, and self-aware to make an impact on their people and their organizations truly.
When people come together, great things happen
Our time at Unleash Paris was nothing short of inspiring. We walked away with new insights, meaningful connections, and a renewed sense of excitement for the future of work and HR. Hearing from industry leaders and learning how they shape people-centric, innovative workplaces was incredible. Being part of this vibrant community reminded us of the importance of keeping the human element at the heart of everything we do.
The Mirro team at Unleash Paris
We can’t wait to be back next year, and we’re already looking forward to continuing these conversations and exploring new opportunities to create better workplaces together.
If you’re as passionate about the future of work as we are, keep an eye on us! Give us a follow on LinkedIn to see what we’re up to. We’re organizing quarterly in-person events, bringing people together to share ideas, spark innovation, and build lasting relationships. After all, when people come together, great things happen.
