Leadership Magic: Adam Hickman on Guiding Employees in Today’s Age

The world seems to be changing at a faster rate every single day, and employees are taking the brunt of the change, and fearing for the future. Job loss is rampant, economic uncertainty looms around every corner, and no one truly knows if their same job will be around tomorrow. So, how do leaders guide their teams through such tumultuous times?

According to Adam Hickman, Ph.D., VP of Org & Employee Dev, Partners; The Walt Disney Company, it’s a tale as old as time. That is to say, leaders looking to the past, and focusing on the most human aspects of work, are going to find themselves best prepared for the future.

 HR Daily Advisor got the chance to sit down with Hickman leading up to his attendance and presentation at SPARK HR 2026, where he’ll be teaching HR professionals how to reimagine employee support and connection in the era of AI. Here were our biggest takeaways:

A Leader for the People

Hickman began his journey working in nearly every sector of airlines, from hauling luggage to taxiing planes, until becoming a union rep for his fellow workers. This journey into HR highlights a lesson all HR professionals can embody, which is being a servant to the people rather than an overseer of numbers.

Especially in a time where employee distrust and anxiety are at an all-time high, performing your duties with the people in mind first and foremost will provide an invaluable dividend to retention and employee sentiment.

Efficiency vs. Authenticity

When asked what his advice was to leaders regarding AI, Hickman made a clear point that not many in the HR space have taken. “An AI article outperformed a human written one in their A/B testing. What’s the story there? Obviously that the AI is pretty good. But, as a consumer, knowing that the product was AI, does that change your perception?”

 He goes on to mention the infamous Coca-Cola ads this past winter, which received massive consumer backlash for being AI-generated. When thinking about incorporating AI into your workflow, Hickman supports growth but urges HR leaders and businesses to consider what they’re losing out on in exchange for efficiency.

“You Change the Outfit, You Still Have the Same Problem”

Quoting his great uncle, Hickman explains that the conversations around appeasing the multigenerational workforce in different ways are just a distraction. Asking employees what they want and what they need to be successful will give HR professionals the guidance they need.

Hickman teases his SPARK HR session saying it will tackle the four things all employees need from their leaders, outlining the first two to be “trust and stability.” He explains just how HR professionals can begin to emphasize these aspects, and to learn how, check out the full on-demand webcast here!

If this article got you thinking, just wait until SPARK HR 2026 at St. Pete Beach, FL, April 28-30. From calming AI job-loss fears to spotting flight risks before they walk out the door, you’ll gain practical retention strategies that actually work and actionable solutions for burnout and more. Join the world’s top HR leaders from Meta, Chick-fil-A, LinkedIn, and more. It’s not just another conference—it’s hands-on, interactive, and a chance to connect with people who really get it. Plus, who doesn’t like a good beach trip? Click here to register today!