Géraldine Hassler, head of people & culture at KPMG Luxembourg, is a finalist in the HR Leaders of the Year 2026 contest in the Services category. Photo: Paperjam

Géraldine Hassler, head of people & culture at KPMG Luxembourg, is a finalist in the HR Leaders of the Year 2026 contest in the Services category.  Photo: Paperjam

On the occasion of the second edition of the HR Leaders of the Year contest, Géraldine Hassler, head of people & culture at KPMG Luxembourg and finalist in the Services category, shares her views on her role and the current challenges facing the HR sector.

Which human resources director are you and what personal learning has most influenced the way you are an human resources director?

. – “As a passionate HR director, I defend a vision where performance and humanity are mutually enriching. With my team, I’m committed to building an environment that fosters talent development and strategic alignment. Self-taught, I’ve learnt a lot on the job, from HR and business professionals, by observing and sharing, and these encounters have forged my pragmatic and human leadership. What I’ve learnt above all is that you don’t just manage an organisation, you support people in complex and constantly changing contexts. I’ve learnt to listen, to make decisions in a pedagogical way and to manage change by taking into account the people who live it, not just the simple KPIs. When governance, vision and attention to employees are solid, results naturally follow.

In your opinion, what will be the main change in the HR profession over the next few years?

“For me, HR is naturally taking on the role of architect of human relations, and I see this through three concrete changes. Firstly, data and AI are becoming invaluable tools that HR can use to better anticipate skills needs and inform their choices, always ethically and transparently. Secondly, we need to provide in-depth support for cultural transformation: encouraging agility, day-to-day learning and a sense of community. Finally, I believe more than ever in human and behavioural skills such as benevolent leadership, curiosity, a critical mind and a growth mindset, because there is no substitute for truly listening and adapting to people's needs.

What simple advice would you give to an HRD just starting out in their career to boost their impact quickly?

“I would say to him: take the time to observe, listen and understand before you act. When I took up my post as HR Director of at just 33 years old, in 2015, I set out with passion and determination, convinced that quick action was the key to getting things done. Today, I smile when I look back on that period: that daring made me grow, but it also taught me a valuable lesson. I realised that lasting impact does not come from energy alone, but from active listening, a careful reading of human dynamics and a deep understanding of what is at stake. It is by taking this step back, by aligning decisions and the human context, that action becomes fair, relevant and truly transformative.”

Discover all the finalists in the HR Leaders of the Year 2026 contest .

The winners of the contest’s four categories (Institutional, Retail & Hospitality, Services, Financial Sector), as well as the HR Leader of the Year 2026, will be announced on 27 January 2026 at the Tramsschapp during the Paperjam HR Leaders 2026 event. If you wish to attend this gala dinner, you can book a table .