Recognized HR Ethical Practices Leaders 2025

I’m Tawny Rodriguez, an award-winning HR leader with 13 years of experience in building and optimizing HR departments. As the Head of HR at Rowland Hall, Utah's top independent K-12 school, I work closely with leadership to implement strategies that align with goals and drive measurable results. My expertise spans talent acquisition to compliance, and I’m passionate about creating environments where people thrive and businesses succeed. I’ve been featured in top outlets like SHRM, U.S. News & World Report, HR.com, and Indeed, sharing insights on leadership, work-life balance, and the future of HR. Whether navigating complex HR challenges or discussing trends, I’m ready to provide valuable insights that help drive change and spark meaningful conversations.

Jessica Dennis is the HR lead writer at TechnologyAdvice. She has B.A. in English Literature from the University of Michigan and over six years of experience in onboarding, payroll, benefits, compliance, and workforce management as an HR generalist. Since becoming a full-time writer, she's covered additional topics like DEI, engagement, training, communication, hiring, and performance management best practices. Her expertise, in-depth research, and hands-on experience with HR software ensures she provides the best people operations and technology insights to readers.

Ricci shares insights on the latest trends and best practices in marketing, LegalTech, strategy, and e-learning in various industry publications. His multifaceted experience allows him to discuss a broad range of topics, from both strategic and hands-on perspectives. Ricci is a seasoned marketing communications professional with over 20 years of experience helping people connect effectively with their audiences. He currently applies his expertise to learning technology and digital adoption strategy as part of the intellek.io team. Intellek provides robust and effective learning technology to support a diverse client base. Repeatedly named as the best LMS for law firms and legal professionals; alongside a broad eLearning content library, training and assessment creation tool, and a unique onboarding digital adoption platform.

As a forward-thinking HR leader, I specialize in transforming cultures, scaling HR functions, and driving organizational growth in both startups and large enterprises. I leverage AI, automation, and HR technology to optimize talent strategies, workforce planning, and HR operations while strengthening employer brand and business impact. With deep expertise in HR operations, compliance, global talent programs, and compensation structures, I design data-driven, agile solutions that enhance organizational effectiveness, skills alignment, and workforce agility. My hands-on, technical approach enables streamlined processes, improved decision-making, and scalable HR frameworks. A specialist in change management, executive partnerships, and business-aligned HR strategy, I work closely with leaders to implement high-impact HR initiatives that drive performance, engagement, and innovation in fast-paced, evolving environments.

Susan Andrews is a senior HR consultant with over 30 years of experience, specializing in HR functions, employee relations, and workforce strategy. At KIS Finance, she also helps clients navigate complex financial needs. With a deep understanding of risk management, compliance, and employment law, she has worked at board level, ensuring HR strategies align with business objectives. As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD), Susan’s expertise includes designing reward and development strategies, implementing GDPR compliance, and managing complex employee relations issues. Outside of work, Susan enjoys horse riding, pilates, and reading.

James Francis is the founder of Artificial Integrity, a visionary initiative using AI to elevate humanity. He champions AI as Alpha—a force for discovery, empathy, and transformation across sectors. Francis also serves as Chairman and CEO of Paradigm Asset Management, where he has spent over 30 years leading innovation at the intersection of AI, finance, and collective intelligence. A Morehouse College alumnus, he founded BlackChat AI to empower communities navigating the age of AI. His forthcoming book, Artificial Integrity, presents a bold framework for building AI that advances justice, integrity, and human potential. Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or investment advice. Investors should conduct their own research and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Ritesh Seth, CEO and Co-founder of Empathy Employer, is a business leader and Organizational Culture Strategist. With over 15 years of experience guiding cross-functional teams across Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized businesses, and startups, Ritesh combines his business acumen with a passion for human resources to drive organizational excellence and employee well-being. Holding a Bachelor's in Marketing from Concord University and an MBA from Virginia Tech, Ritesh specializes in business strategy, employer branding, marketing, human resources, and leadership development. He is passionate about developing inclusive workplaces, leveraging data-driven insights to build positive organizational cultures that foster both employee satisfaction and business success. As the driving force behind Empathy Employer, Ritesh works at the intersection of business strategy and HR, developing innovative tools to assess and cultivate organizational empathy. He firmly believes that empathy is the bridge connecting people, purpose, and performance. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Ritesh continues to champion the idea that in today's rapidly evolving business landscape, empathy isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a crucial driver of innovation, employee satisfaction, and sustainable success.

I’m a lifesciences compliance strategist with a passion for building real-world, right-sized programs in fast-moving environments. With deep experience in pharma and medtech, I specialize in translating regulatory complexity into practical, actionable frameworks. I’ve spent 7+ years navigating the gray areas of compliance—from training physicians on industry expectations to building startup programs from the ground up. I believe compliance should be ethical, functional, and human-centered—and that culture is built through clarity, storytelling, and respect, not fear. Outside of policy and audits, I speak regularly on startup compliance and love turning “boring” topics into memorable moments. I'm here to connect, create, and contribute.

Nationally recognized and sought after Houston employment law attorney Jacqueline Armstrong is the founding attorney of Armstrong Associates, an employment law firm which has been protecting the rights of employees for over 30 years. Jacqueline and her associates represent employees and never the employer. Attorney Armstrong has an exceptional depth of experience and winning track record in all areas of employment law including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, employment contracts and non-compete agreements, executive compensation & litigation, wrongful termination, whistleblower law, unpaid and underpaid wage claims, and all variations of employment law litigation. Jacqueline is proud of the exclusive team of seasoned lawyers she has at her side and ready to serve her clients. When you work with Attorney Armstrong, rest assured the best available legal team will be representing you in negotiations and when necessary, in trial. Jacqueline has fought many big companies and won on behalf of her clients. She has taken on national chains, large oil & gas companies, government officials, and more. She collaborated with a top-notch legal team to bring Chipotle to justice for allowing a culture where managers were preying on young female employees. She took on a County judge in Texas and obtained an $850,000 judgment. Jacqueline is compassionate and tough and fights tirelessly to preserve her clients’ dignity, reputation, and financial stability. Her passion is helping those in need and getting them the justice they deserve. Jacqueline has been included in the Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters every year since 2019. This exclusive designation is based upon peer nominations and evaluations, experience, and achievements on behalf of her clients. Only 5% of all licensed attorneys in the state of Texas are named to the list each year.

I'm Natasha M. Nurse, Esq., a neurodivergent pathfinder who thrives on storytelling to spark change and understanding. Empathy drives me as I forge inclusive spaces where every voice matters. Through dynamic workshops, impactful content, and insightful conversations, my goal is to integrate diversity into the core of every organization I engage with. My life's motto is simple yet profound: learn something new and meet someone new each and every day. This philosophy fuels my endless curiosity and creative endeavors daily.

With over two decades of experience as an International Protective and Intelligence Specialist, Denida Grow has cultivated a wealth of expertise across various countries and cultures. In 2002, she founded Athena Worldwide & Athena Academy in Greece, a pioneering training and placement company exclusively dedicated to female security professionals. Her vision was to establish a nurturing and empowering environment where women could receive comprehensive guidance in essential areas such as soft skills, protective intelligence, covert protective details, and conflict management. Inspired by the ancient Greek goddess Athena, Denida’s focus was to teach her students to “protect through wisdom and intelligence.” Expanding her portfolio in 2008, she introduced Nannyguards, a groundbreaking hybrid service merging childcare with protective services. Throughout her career, Denida has assumed numerous leadership roles including Executive Protection Operative (both Covert and Overt), Security Consultant, Intelligence Analyst, Instructor, Investigator, and Project Manager. Her clientele has spanned the globe, with work experience in countries such as India, Greece, France, Italy, Albania, and the USA. Holding a BSc in Counseling and Psychology from Teesside University, Denida has received training in various Executive Protection methodologies from esteemed British, American, and Israeli organizations. Over the past decade, she has honed her focus on Protective Intelligence, Intelligence Analysis, and Open-Source Intelligence. Currently serving as the managing partner for LeMareschal LLC, an International Risk Management, Protective Intelligence, and Logistics company headquartered in Seattle, WA, Denida continues to drive innovation and excellence in the field. Fluent in Albanian, Greek, and English, she remains deeply committed to delivering bespoke security solutions and training programs to individuals and organizations worldwide.

As an experienced HR Manager at ProProfs, I am passionate about building high-performing teams, fostering positive workplace culture, and aligning HR strategies with organizational goals. Throughout my career, I have honed expertise in talent acquisition, employee engagement, and performance management, enabling me to drive both individual and organizational success. At ProProfs, I have successfully led initiatives such as: Streamlining hiring processes to attract top-tier talent. Developing training programs to boost employee skill sets and retention. Implementing HR technologies to enhance operational efficiency. I believe that the heart of any thriving business is its people, and I strive to create environments where employees feel motivated, valued, and empowered to excel.

Julie Catalano is a strategic and people-first Human Resources executive with deep expertise in scaling talent, culture, and leadership capability across high-growth and private equity–backed organizations. She has built a career driving meaningful change in fast-paced environments through workforce design, organizational development, M&A integration, and inclusive leadership. Known for translating complex business challenges into human capital strategies that work, Julie partners at the board and C-suite level to align people, culture, and performance. She is also a published thought leader on talent strategy, change management, and the evolving role of HR in business transformation.