Michael Arena
Michael Arena is the author of a best-selling book, Adaptive Space: How GM and Other Companies are Positively Disrupting Themselves and Transforming into Agile Organizations and the former Chief Talent Officer for General Motors Corporation. His research on social capital and networks won the 2017 Walker Prize from People + Strategy and has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Harvard Business Review, and Sloan Management Review. He was also recently nominated to the Thinkers50 Radar class of 2020 for his work on network roles in creating adaptive organizations.
Arena also serves as a faculty member in Penn’s Masters in Organizational Dynamics. Prior to GM, Arena spent two years as a visiting scientist with MIT’s Media Lab studying network theory. He also served as Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at Bank of America.
Read Arena's latest report for HR Exchange Network: How to Make Hybrid Work Effective, Engaging, and Empowering
More content by Michael Arena
Fostering Friendships: The Game Changer in Employee Retention
September 26 by Michael Arena
Discover how friendships among colleagues can serve as a secret weapon in the quest for employee retention.
Enabling High-Velocity Teams
February 07 by Michael Arena
Read this column to learn about high-velocity teams and how Human Resources leaders can help get the most out of people, so they can collaborate.
The Disruptive Nature of Small, Cohesive Teams
November 15 by Michael Arena
Learn from the latest research on the importance of cohesive, fast teams on collaboration in an organization and how HR can leverage this information to manage talent.
Return to Office Strategy - Designed Serendipity
September 21 by Michael Arena
Get expert advice from HR Thought Leader Michael Arena on a return to office strategy that he calls designed serendipity, which will lead to discovery interactions.
Effective Strategies for Intentional Collaboration in the New World of Work
June 06 by Michael Arena
Learn strategies, based on extensive research, on intentional collaboration from HR Thought Leader and Professor Michael Arena.
Beware of the Activity Avalanche That Can Damage Employee Well-Being
March 29 by Michael Arena
Discover the latest threat to employee engagement, the Activity Avalanche, which is proven by HR Thought Leader Michael Arena's latest research.
How to Make Hybrid Work Effective, Engaging, and Empowering
February 24 by Michael Arena
Read this guide based on research by Michael Arena, bestselling author, top HR influencer, and University of Pennsylvania Professor, to learn how to best manage the hybrid workforce.
Moments that Matter: 3 Network Advantages of Being Face-to-Face
January 25 by Michael Arena
Gain insight from the incredible research on network advantages of being in person, which helps HR leaders determine how to best organize hybrid work.
The Fragility of Informal Interactions with Hybrid Work
November 17 by Michael Arena
Find out about formal and informal interactions in hybrid work, and discover new research to help HR leaders navigate the mix of RTO and WFH.
Is Innovation Possible for Remote Workers?
September 13 by Michael Arena
Learn about the latest research from those who shared how to overcome the neighborhood effect in hybrid work and determine whether innovation is possible among remote workers.
Overcoming the Neighborhood Effect
August 10 by Michael Arena
Learn about how HR leaders can overcome the neighborhood effect to improve the employee experience of hybrid work.
Hybrid Work: Getting Leaders to Stay Connected with Teams
June 15 by Michael Arena
Learn about how to improve employee engagement for leaders, an often overlooked group by HR, in an organization.
