Redefining HR’s Seat at the Table: Driving Business Through People | NAHRES26 Panel

HR is no longer a support function—it’s a strategic business driver. In this NAHRES26 panel, senior HR leaders from Merck, IKEA, Levi Strauss & Co., Boston Scientific, Infotech, and Funko, share how HR is shaping growth and leadership at the highest level.

Featuring Betty Larson, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Merck (Moderator), Neena Potenza, Chief People Officer US at IKEA, Karthik Varatharaj, Chief Talent, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer at Levi Strauss & Co., Miriam O’Sullivan, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Boston Scientific, Tara Blythe, Chief People Officer – People, Culture & Communications at Infotech, and Sarah Martinez, SVP & Global Head of People, Culture and Workplace Solutions at Funko, this session highlights how HR leaders are evolving into critical drivers of business strategy.

As organizations face rapid change, HR is moving beyond traditional support roles to become a business-critical function—shaping leadership pipelines, influencing strategy, and driving measurable business outcomes. The panel explores what it truly means to operate as a C-level HR executive, including building credibility with peers, leveraging people analytics, and communicating in the language of ROI and performance.

Through real-world insights and examples, panelists share how HR leaders can position themselves as trusted advisors to CEOs and boards while aligning talent strategy with business growth and innovation.

Key themes include:

- HR’s evolution into a strategic driver within the C-suite
- Building credibility and influence through data and business acumen
- Leveraging people analytics to drive business performance
- Communicating HR strategy in terms of ROI, agility, and growth
- Developing the competencies required to lead at the executive level

About NAHRES:
The North American HR Executive Summit (NAHRES) is a premier gathering of industry leaders, HR executives, and experts dedicated to exploring innovative strategies, emerging trends, and best practices in the evolving world of human resources and talent management. Through curated discussions and expert-led sessions, the summit creates a collaborative environment where leaders can exchange insights, tackle complex workforce challenges, and drive organizational performance through people and culture.

Learn more at https://www.executiveplatforms.com/nahres/

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