In this episode of Redefining Work, I sit down with Angela Cheng-Cimini, Harvard Business Publishing CHRO and senior vice president, talent. Angela and I discuss optimizing AI in HR, communities' role in supporting HR professionals and the importance of speaking truth to power.

Angela took a fortuitous route to human resources. Angela was leaning toward a business major as she looked at colleges. Then, Angela’s father told her about a program at Cornell University. A closer look revealed that Cornell’s program was HR-focused, and the rest is history.

“I think it taps into everything that I love doing, which is having a really microcosm-level impact. You can help a single person and that makes your day,” Angela says. “Or you can help entire organizations turn around like a big ship. So yeah, I feel very lucky to have found my calling really early on.”

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Optimizing AI in HR 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how HR works, particularly the types of work that computers do instead of humans. From employee records management to performance management, HR looks significantly different than it did just a few years ago.

Angela’s team at Harvard Business Publishing has started using AI in small ways — naturally, around content production. She once used ChatGPT to write an article in the Harvard Business Review voice, then sent that article and one written by a Harvard writer to a small group to get their thoughts. The test revealed that people found the AI article more digestible but robotic. 

“So it does make things a lot faster and a lot easier, but it doesn't yet have a heart,” Angela says. 

The challenge for employees across functions, including HR, will be optimizing AI for the best use cases rather than trying to prevent its use.

"I don't know that I'm ever going to just have AI HRBPs, right? I mean, I think if I'm making a policy or I want to draft a program, I think that's perfectly fine,” Angela says. “And I might be even limited in my creativity and the application of it right now. And I think it's folly to hold it at bay. So we have to embrace it and figure out how to use it responsibly."         

Supporting the Asian American HR Community

Angela has increasingly prioritized HR community-building in recent years, influenced by reaching this stage of her career and the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, where she felt isolated. Instead of staying in those feelings, she wanted to put herself out there and give back, particularly to Asian American HR professionals who might benefit from a role model that looked like them. 

Angela began taking more time to connect with these professionals at speaking engagements and networking events.  “I accept their LinkedIn invitation because I'm happy to make time for them, to help them see what's possible, right? Because if you can't see it, you can't dream it,” Angela says.

Angela has also joined HR groups and other platforms that provide resources to leaders like Angela, including Chief and Ascend Leadership, which is the largest Pan-Asian professional network in North America.

Finding Your Voice In HR

Angela urges young HR professionals to find their voice and be courageous. Being willing to speak the truth to power is difficult, but she’s found doing so contributed to the success she’s enjoyed. 

"If you know what's right, and you value protecting what's special about your culture, you'll have those conversations with people when they're working against that,” Angela says.

These conversations don’t have to be adversarial. You can get into deep, productive conversations when you let the other person know you’re on their side and you share the same goals, which Angela describes as “success for them, success for the organization.”

"That's the power of HR, right?” she adds. “It's really understanding, how we get the most out of people, and that's by creating a hospitable environment where people can feel valued and respected and bring impact.”

People in This Episode

Angela Cheng-Cimini: LinkedIn