DisruptHR 2.0: Putting humanity at the core of HR

DisruptHR returned to KLU to spark minds and move conversations forward around current trends and the future of human resources. Nearly 100 guests gathered in the university’s auditorium Golden Egg on June 11 for the second edition of the event this year, following the well-received first edition in January.

Save the date: DisruptHR 3.0, on November 12, 2026.

Audience members smile and applaud during DisruptHR 2 Hamburg, capturing the lively atmosphere of the event.

Co-organized by Prof. Dr. Brooke Gazdag, Alycia Boyer (KLU Employer relations), and KLU student Ksenia Ramaj, the event featured nine speakers, including KLU professors, senior HR leaders, CEOs, and representatives of premium partners such as CMA CGM. Together, they addressed challenges related to leadership, organization, growth, and relationships both within and beyond the corporate system.

Coffee, timer, and inspiration

The guests – including KLU students and external participants, representatives of various companies, staff, faculty, and partners – arrived at the KLU campus early in the morning to start their day with coffee, a crepe, and lively conversations.

The second breakfast edition of DisruptHR brought together a stellar lineup of speakers who shed light on a wide range of topics: from leadership on the football pitch and the neurological synchrony of groups working toward the same goal to the new leadership skills that parents can develop during parental leave.

Through fast-paced, timed talks, the speakers left the audience with useful tips, emotional moments, and inspiring ideas to discuss during the networking session that followed the presentations.

“You know many of these things, but when someone points them out, that’s when you actually realize this is how it should be done,” said Sonali Jadhav, a student at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), who attended the event following a recommendation from a friend who had participated in the first edition.

A common denominator: a focus on humanity

The talks covered a very broad range of challenges and observations from the perspectives of people navigating the field of HR: how to apply leadership, how to manage transparency, how to support parents in the workplace, how to become a creative brand ambassador for an organization, and how to remove corporate blockages, to name just a few.

Despite the diversity of ideas and perspectives, one conclusion was clear: organizations should make use of technology, but they also need to remain human.

The world needs more connection, greater closeness, and more spaces that allow creativity and growth. Companies that disregard these needs are likely to encounter problems sooner or later.

As Babette Lammerts, HR Director Benelux for CMA CGM, shared in the networking session, “Make choices. Do it! Take care of the environment. There are great things that can be done, and AI is just a tool.”

DisruptHR 3.0 at the horizon

With DisruptHR Hamburg, KLU continues giving space to influential voices redefining people’s leadership in the world of business. The next edition, DisruptHR 3.0, on November 12, promises to keep the momentum and tackle more exciting topics. 

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