From Human in the Loop to Human in the Lead: A CHRO's Case for AI with Anju Chaudhary Live from Human X in San Francisco

What does it mean when the only HR professional in a room of 6,000 AI innovators refuses to stay silent? Anju Chaudhary attended HumanX in San Francisco, looked around, and decided that was not a coincidence. It was a calling.

In this live conference conversation recorded at HumanX, Lori Adams-Brown sits down with Anju Chaudhary, a seasoned Chief Human Resources Officer, to talk about what it really means to keep humans at the center of one of the most consequential shifts in how we work. Anju's message is clear: people leaders do not belong on the sidelines of the AI conversation. They belong at the head of the table.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why Anju was the only HR professional among 6,000 attendees at a major AI conference, and what that signals for the profession
• The mindset shift every people leader needs right now: from "human in the loop" to "human in the lead"
• How building her first AI agent in under two minutes changed the way she talks about AI adoption
• What India's vast cultural and linguistic diversity taught her about adaptability, care, and meeting people where they are
• A practical, courage-forward invitation: take your first step, ask for help, and remember, we are all co-creating this together

About Anju Chaudhary:Anju Chaudhary is a Chief Human Resources Officer with global leadership experience spanning IBM, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and beyond. A passionate advocate for human-centered AI adoption, she believes the people who understand the human element are exactly the ones who need to be shaping the future of work.

Find Anju Chaudhary at:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-chaudhary1

Timestamps:[00:00] Welcome and live recording introduction at HumanX, San Francisco[01:30] Anju's global journey: IBM, a traveling husband, and the richness of India's cultural diversity[04:00] What excites her most: creativity, collaboration, and the human-AI partnership[05:30] "From human in the loop to human in the lead"[07:00] What concerns her: people feeling helpless, frozen, and left behind[08:30] Building her first AI agent in two minutes and why that first step changes everything[09:30] A call for more HR and people leaders at AI decision tables[10:30] Final wisdom: raise your hand, ask for help, and co-create the journey forward

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Lori Adams-Brown, Host & Executive Producer

A World of Difference Podcast