If you want to understand where the modern workplace is heading, listen to the people building it. According to three powerhouse HR leaders, Anna McMurphy, Chief People & Experience Officer at MNTN; Theo Apanco-Perez, Chief People Officer at Riser Fitness; and Suubi Christie, Chief People Officer at Hlx Life Sciences, the industry is moving toward a more human-centered approach that prioritizes practical leadership development and people-first culture building that can hold up under today’s workplace demands.
Together, their insights form a blueprint for how companies across industries can rethink connection, culture, and capability in 2026 and beyond.
MNTN: Redesigning Leadership for a New Generation of Work
According to Anna McMurphy, MNTN is moving fast and intentionally. As the Chief People & Experience Officer of one of AdTech’s most recognized performance TV platforms, Anna leads people strategy for a company that continues to innovate in an industry where creativity, diversity, and trust determine competitive edge.
Anna’s journey began far from tech boardrooms. “I didn’t have a college degree, and I started as a bookkeeper,” she shared. 
“Someone saw potential in me, gave me a chance and I’ve built my whole career around giving that opportunity back to others.”
Her commitment is reflected in MNTN’s focus on expanding representation in ad tech, through initiatives such as their own internal ‘Summit to Success’ and partnerships with Creative Ladder, Outlast, and the Future Perfect Project to name a few. According to Anna, these programs are not performative, they are the future of workforce development in industries historically lacking diversity pipelines, and their goal is to focus on empowerment, leadership and making sure these communities are aware of these opportunities.
Anna emphasized the company’s success toward deep connection within fully remote teams.
“We have Wim Hof breathing classes, sound baths, and resources like Modern Health because people can’t perform if they’re not taking care of themselves. Humans first, always.”
And her philosophy on leadership transitions is a wake-up call: “If a leader comes from a big corporate environment, they have to sometimes relearn how to connect with their team and be present. Technical skills aren’t enough, heart-centered leadership is the differentiator.” We don’t want to work with the corporate version of you, we want the real you!!
Riser Fitness: Modern Leadership for an Industry Built on Energy, Innovation & People
According to Theo Apanco-Perez, Riser Fitness operates within one of the most fast-paced workplace ecosystems in the country, part of a fitness industry that moves as quickly as the people it serves. With high consumer expectations, constant need for innovation, and a talent pool motivated by performance and purpose, strong HR strategy is essential for the business.
Riser Fitness is not just a gym brand, it’s a community movement fueled by coaches, sales leaders, trainers, and frontline staff who carry the company’s culture through every interaction. For Theo, that means leadership development must be hands-on, not hypothetical.
“In fitness, leadership needs to be felt,” he explained. “Leaders must know how to hold performance conversations, read emotional cues, and motivate people authentically. You can’t teach that through a slide deck.”
Riser Fitness is scaling rapidly, which is why Theo has constructed clear operational foundations that support growth without chaos. His HR team built a dedicated vision, mission, and code of conduct, giving the department crystal-clear role clarity even when the broader company is evolving.
“Your mission is what you execute daily,” Theo said. “If you do that consistently, the vision happens on its own.”
According to Theo, growth in fitness requires more than passion, it demands process. Aligning leaders on what performance looks like, how potential is defined, and why scalable systems matter ensures everyone moves with the same intention.
Far from struggling, Riser Fitness is maturing its operations proactively, building leadership capability at the same speed the company grows. That’s the difference between a fitness brand and a fitness institution.
Hlx Life Sciences: Scaling People Strategy in a Company Growing at Rocket Speed
Few industries move as rapidly or demand as much precision as biotech and life sciences. And according to Suubi Christie, Chief People Officer at Hlx Life Sciences, the challenge is balancing rapid growth with thoughtful culture design.
Hlx launched in January 2024 and already employs 30+ people and has made revenue of £15 million within 2 years, backed by a leadership team with deep expertise from across the life sciences industry. Hlx made sure from day one that their core products were innovative and differentiated from their competitors.
“We’re building something special,” Suubi said. “We grew quickly because we execute and we invest in our people.”
People First, Culture Always is more than a philosophy, it’s the engine of their growth. Hlx continues to invest in its people and the tools that support them, including a newly introduced CRM system that helps teams connect more effectively with candidates and clients, improving efficiency and elevating customer experience. The culture is grounded in trust, reflected in progressive holiday policies and a deep respect for working parents. As Suubi shared, “Understanding is the policy. When people feel supported, they perform at a higher level.”
According to Suubi, growth requires intentional development. The company conducts quarterly reviews, runs strategic career conversations, and emphasizes long-term goals over short-term metrics, a rare practice in young startups.
Her passion for L&D is clear: “Seeing someone grow through training or coaching, that’s the best part of HR. One-to-one support changes careers.”
The Through-Line: Humanity Is the New Performance Strategy
Across industries, ad tech, fitness, and life sciences, these leaders agree: connection, clarity, trust, and development are no longer “nice-to-haves.” They are performance levers.
And while each company operates differently, all three leaders emphasized that HR must become the architect of behavior, conversation, and capability, not just policy.
Where HIC Consulting Fits In
Across every conversation, one theme emerged: companies are hungry for practical, behavior-based development that translates directly into daily leadership performance.
This is exactly where HIC Consulting has been partnering with organizations, through scenario-based simulations, management labs, and culture-first training experiences that help teams practice the conversations and decisions that shape real culture.
The very gaps these leaders describe, clarity, capability, connection, are the same skills HIC builds alongside HR teams.
About the Author
From securing an $8M breakthrough inside a global fintech to being named CEO of the very platform she built, Netta Jenkins has mastered the art of turning bold ideas into lasting business transformation. With a LinkedIn community of over 200,000, she’s the CEO redefining how organizations drive employee engagement and performance through AI. A two-time Wiley author, Netta’s work has been amplified by Arianna Huffington to more than 10 million people. Her latest book, Supercharged Teams: How Every Manager Can Create a Culture of Excellence, gives leaders the playbook to transform everyday teams into high-performing powerhouses.
As founder of HIC, a workplace consulting firm and creator of HIC HR Hub, a private community for senior HR leaders to share and gain new insights. She also hosts Beyond Management™, a viral LinkedIn leadership series with over 50 million impressions, where she sparks street-level conversations that elevate employer brands, attract top talent, and inspire customers. A seasoned TEDx and international keynote speaker, Netta has energized audiences across the U.S., Ghana, the Netherlands, and Turkey with bold insights and measurable takeaways. With 15+ years of global advisory experience, she shares weekly video tips that empower managers at every level. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, McKinsey, Forbes, Fortune, and more. Named one of CIO Views’ Top 10 Most Influential Black Women in Business to Follow.
Netta helps organizations connect workplace culture, technology, and performance to deliver measurable, lasting impact. Previously serving as VP of Global Inclusive Strategy at IAC, Netta partnered with brands like Match.com, Vimeo, and Daily Beast. She advises Betterment, consults executives via the Intro app, and is pursuing a doctorate in quality systems. Currently, she collaborates with Marc Lore (former CEO of Walmart) and Preet Bharara (former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York) to build Telosa, a visionary new city in America. Residing on the East Coast with her family, Netta continues to make a transformative impact in both the corporate and startup landscapes.
