The challenges we’re facing cannot be solved in silos

By Orla Clancy 

This afternoon, we hosted the “Building the Return on Talent Playbook: A Strategic Executive Roundtable on HR + Communication in the AI era” at Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher’s in Brussels.

We believe that communication and business leaders, and the organizations they collaborate with, need a different kind of space. One built not just for content, but for connection. Not just for ideas, but for influence. And most importantly, one that brings the right people into the room to have the conversations that move our profession forward. 

Today was that kind of space.

The roundtable was intentionally small, invitation-only, and cross-functional – because the challenges we’re facing cannot be solved in silos. As we’ve seen across our global community, the boundaries between HR, communication, leadership, and business strategy are dissolving faster than ever.

Trust is shifting. Skills are evolving. And AI is fundamentally changing how we think about work – and what work is worth. 

This session was not about listening to presentations or passively absorbing ideas. It was about working – together – on the real questions:

• How do we define and measure the return on talent in a way the business truly values?
• How do HR and Communication operate not as separate functions, but as a unified system for decision-making and behavior change?
• And how do we build operating models that actually hold up under the pressure of continuous transformation?

We were joined by experts in these fields Ed Davis, Founder at Agency X; Peter Lyall, Director at Ascent Advisory Services Limited; and Malcolm O’Neal, Chief Human Resources Officer at the architectural firm The MOREGroup. They participated in a panel discussion moderated by Mike Klein, followed by breakout sessions with participants.

Today was designed as a space without vendor agendas, where senior leaders challenged assumptions, shared openly, and co-created practical answers.

Each one of the leaders in the room brought a unique perspective – from their organizations, their markets, and their leadership roles. But what connected them is this: they are all operating at the intersection of people, performance, and change.

And that intersection is where the future of our organizations and profession will be decided.

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Photos: Robert Allred

Orla Clancy is founder and managing director at Strategic.