Cole Napper

Cole Napper, PhD, is a leading voice in people analytics, workforce planning, and the strategic application of generative AI in HR as well as talent intelligence. As Vice President of Research, Innovation, and Talent Insights at Lightcast, Cole helps organizations, governments, and higher education institutions make sense of a rapidly changing labor market through data and technology. He is also the co-host of the Directionally Correct podcast and newsletter, where he explores the future of work, talent intelligence, and the evolving intersection of economics, AI, and HR.

Cole’s work is grounded in real-world business impact, drawing from his background in industrial-organizational psychology and years of experience advising C-suites on talent strategy. His debut book, People Analytics: Using Data-Driven HR and Gen AI as a Business Asset, offers a no-nonsense guide to how organizations can move beyond dashboards and truly leverage people data to drive productivity and transformation. Whether speaking on stage, writing in-depth research, or training the next generation of HR leaders, Cole’s perspective is provocative, practical, and future-focused.