Human Side Up: Keeping human resources human in the age of AI with Angela Cheng-Cimini

Angela Cheng-Cimini is a seasoned human resources leader with over 30 years of experience, most recently serving as the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Harvard Business Publishing. She has played a pivotal role in developing talent roadmaps, building diverse and engaged workforces, and aligning HR strategies with business goals. Cheng-Cimini is also an advocate for the AAPI community, serving on the Alumni Board of Directors for Cornell University, the T. Howard Foundation board, and CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council. Her contributions to the field of HR have made her a sought-after speaker and mentor. On her final day at Harvard Business Publishing, Cheng-Cimini joined CLARA Founder and & CEO Natasha Nuytten for an insightful conversation on leadership, mentorship, and the future of work. Cheng-Cimini shared her reflections on creating psychologically safe workplaces, the evolving role of HR, and the importance of critical thinking and learning agility in navigating today’s fast-changing world. She also highlighted the potential of AI to transform HR practices, emphasizing that while technology can streamline processes, the human connection remains at the heart of effective leadership and organizational success.

Leadership with humor and humanity

Angela Cheng-Cimini believes that effective HR leadership requires a balance of professionalism and humor. "HR is often seen as the police—buttoned up, all about policy and procedure. But I think we need to have good humor to do this work really well," she shares. By using humor and levity, Cheng-Cimini builds trust and relatability, making herself approachable to employees at all levels. "I don’t want to be an HR person that people can’t confide in. We need to be there for people at their best and their lowest."

She also highlights the importance of embracing flexibility and avoiding rigidity in decision-making. "Very few decisions I make at work are irreversible. I don’t need a 50-page handbook to know how to do what’s right and use common sense," she explains. For Cheng-Cimini, this approach allows her to stay grounded, connect authentically, and bring a human touch to her leadership style.

The power of mentorship

Reflecting on her career, Cheng-Cimini underscoresd the transformative role of mentorship. "I went through much of my early career without seeing any Asian leaders, let alone female Asian leaders," she says. This absence motivated her to provide guidance and inspiration to others. "If I had access to mentors, it could have done wonders for my confidence, accelerated my learning, and helped me feel less alone."

Cheng-Cimini now makes it a point to mentor and connect with others, inviting people to reach out to her for advice and encouragement. "Particularly right now, in this moment, we can’t have too many connections or allies," she emphasizes. For her, mentorship is not just about sharing expertise but about fostering belonging and creating opportunities for others to thrive. "So many gifted people just need the right opportunity, and that can make all the difference."

Lessons in humility and growth

Throughout her 30-year career, Cheng-Cimini learned the importance of humility in building credibility as a leader. Early in her career, she struggled with the pressure to have all the answers, which sometimes came across as arrogance. "I learned quickly that I don’t have to be the smartest person in the room," she reflects. Instead, she prioritized listening and understanding. "There’s a lot of humility in this role, and that humility gives you credibility to stand up and lead when it truly matters."

For Cheng-Cimini, this lesson is tied to maturity and reflection. "It’s about constantly asking, ‘How am I showing up right now?’ Whether in a one-on-one conversation or speaking to hundreds, that self-awareness makes all the difference," she says. By embracing humility, leaders can earn the trust and respect necessary to drive meaningful impact.

Values-driven leadership

Cheng-Cimini championed the importance of organizational values in guiding decisions and shaping culture. At Harvard Business Publishing, she helped redefine the company’s values: Do what’s right, do what’s hard, and do it with excellence. "We wanted values that were actionable and aspirational. For us, ‘do what’s hard’ was key because it encouraged us to take risks, have tough conversations, and make the uncomfortable but necessary decisions," she explains.

These values are now woven into the company’s performance management, vernacular, and culture. "When values are consistently reinforced, people feel good about their affiliation with the organization and trust that accountability exists," she says. Cheng-Cimini believes that a values-driven approach creates workplaces where individuals feel empowered, aligned, and inspired to excel.

Cultivating critical thinking and learning agility

Angela Cheng-Cimini emphasized that critical thinking and learning agility are becoming indispensable in today’s rapidly evolving world. As AI advances at a breakneck pace, the ability to assess, adapt, and make informed decisions has never been more important. However, Cheng-Cimini warns that these skills are at risk of erosion. "We’re losing our ability to think critically," she cautions, highlighting a growing reliance on tools like ChatGPT. While these tools offer tremendous utility, she believes they can also foster intellectual complacency. "Critical thinking is about processing, assessing situations, and making informed decisions with limited data. That’s a skill we must nurture intentionally, not one we can afford to neglect."

For Cheng-Cimini, fostering critical thinking requires a deliberate shift in both individual and organizational priorities. She advocates for creating space within the workplace to slow down, reflect, and focus. "Multitasking isn’t real," she remarks. "We need to work on fewer things with fewer distractions if we want to get meaningful outcomes. Learning agility and critical thinking require focus, not constant juggling."

In the context of hiring, Cheng-Cimini highlighted the importance of testing for curiosity and intellectual engagement in candidates. "When hiring, you need to go deeper than surface skills. You need to test for curiosity and the willingness to learn," she says. She believes this is especially vital as the future remains uncertain, with AI poised to reshape job roles and required skills in ways we can’t yet predict. She noted that while AI tools like ChatGPT may not take over jobs entirely, individuals who know how to leverage these tools effectively will hold a significant advantage in the workplace.

Cheng-Cimini underscored the need for intentionality in developing critical thinking and learning agility. Whether it’s creating space for reflection, prioritizing intellectual curiosity, or learning how to use AI as a tool rather than a crutch, these efforts are essential for preparing organizations and individuals to thrive in an era of rapid change. "We can’t afford to let critical thinking become a lost art."

Watch the latest episode of Human Side Up to hear these insights and more here.