The HR Research Institute has formed its Future of Coaching and Mentoring for Leadership 2026 Advisory Board, bringing together distinguished practitioners to advance 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 use in leadership development.
The advisory board will direct HRRI's extensive 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.
Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized the importance of leadership development during times of unprecedented change. The new Advisory Board will guide HR in building stronger leaders through effective coaching and mentoring, with the right balance of artificial and human intelligence.
The initiative will provide evidence-based recommendations and actionable insights for HR professionals aiming to enhance leadership development programs, optimize mentor-mentee relationships, and create sustainable pathways for nurturing high-potential talent. The board includes industry professionals such as Lizzie Bentley Bowers, Anne Bloom, Mitwuana Bruce, Morgan Kemick, Mark Monaghan, Helen Patterson, Tracey Power, Michelle Prince, Rey Ramirez, Iyad Uakoub, Anja van Beek, and Jason Walker.
The HR Research Institute releases annual "State of the Industry" reports across various HR topics, including recent research available at https://hr.com/researchinstitute. These resources help more than 2 million HR professionals make strategic decisions with informed research findings. The virtual event scheduled for March 4, 2026, will further explore how organizations can harness coaching and mentoring methodologies to address evolving leadership demands in the modern workplace.
For HR vendors serving the human resources industry, this development signals important shifts in the coaching and mentoring market. The advisory board's focus on balancing AI tools with human connection creates opportunities for vendors developing hybrid solutions that combine technology with personalized human interaction. The emphasis on responsible AI use in leadership development suggests growing demand for ethical frameworks and governance tools within coaching platforms.
The research outcomes will likely influence purchasing decisions as organizations seek evidence-based approaches to leadership development. Vendors offering coaching technologies should anticipate increased scrutiny around how their solutions maintain human connection while leveraging AI capabilities. The board's recommendations may establish new standards for what constitutes effective coaching in AI-enhanced environments, potentially reshaping vendor offerings and competitive positioning.
The March 2026 virtual event represents a significant opportunity for vendors to understand emerging requirements and expectations in the leadership development space. As organizations prepare for this future, vendors will need to align their product roadmaps with the insights generated through this initiative. The focus on scalable coaching cultures suggests growing market demand for solutions that can be implemented across organizations of varying sizes and structures.
