Dr. Kelly Monahan is a future-of-work and AI expert, researcher, keynote speaker, and bestselling author who helps leaders navigate technological disruption, shifting talent dynamics, and an increasingly uncertain world of work.
Her career has included senior research and leadership roles at Meta, Accenture, Deloitte, and Upwork, where she served as Managing Director of the Future of Work Research Institute. Today, as founder of Beyond the Desk, she helps leaders navigate AI, workforce change, and organizational transformation.
"The system is changing either way. The question is whether leaders will help shape it or be shaped by it."
Kelly’s research looks at how people, technology, and business systems must evolve together. Her work helps leaders move beyond surface-level workplace challenges to make better decisions about talent, organizational design, AI, and the employee experience.
Standout achievements:
📊 Former Managing Director of Upwork’s Future of Work Research Institute and Future of Work leader at Meta
💼 Former Principal Director of Global Talent Research at Accenture and lead future-of-work researcher at Deloitte
📚 Author of the bestselling leadership book Essential and a TEDx speaker
What you’ll learn from Kelly at Workhuman Live:
🤖 How leaders can harness AI responsibly while keeping people at the center of change
🧩 How people, technology, and business systems must evolve together as work changes
⚖️ How research and evidence can support better workforce and talent decisions
Kelly's ideas driving the dialogue:
Book
Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership
Read more
