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Dr. Kelly Monahan is a globally respected leader in the future of work whose career has been dedicated to helping organizations thrive amid technological disruption, shifting talent dynamics, and economic uncertainty. As a former tech research executive, she led Future of Work at Meta and served as Managing Director of Upwork’s Future of Work Research Institute, partnering with senior executives to apply cutting-edge insights to workforce strategy, organizational design, and leadership transformation. Her research has shaped how some of the world’s most influential companies understand distributed work, talent development, and the human experience at work.
Monahan introduces audiences to the human side of workplace evolution as she draws from her firsthand research to reveal current and future trends that are shaping the workplace and provide decision-makers with the information, tools, and resources they need to understand and meet the needs of their employees now and in the future of work. She points to key data that will provide the stimulus for improving people-related decision-making in the workplace, and discusses the role of technology as organizations rework their talent strategy. With a philosophy rooted in an unshakeable belief in human potential, Monahan’s people-first approach to the future of work is intended to help organizations arrive at their own personalized solutions to fostering more purposeful workplace experiences for all.
Prior to joining Big Tech, Monahan served as Principal Director of Global Talent Research at Accenture and was the lead future of work researcher at Deloitte. Earlier roles across human resources, analytics, and media strategy give her a holistic understanding of how people, technology, and business systems must evolve together to shape the future.
Today, as the founder of Beyond the Desk, Monahan brings world-class research and cross-industry insights directly to leaders navigating the next era of work. She equips executives with evidence-based guidance on harnessing AI responsibly, redefining talent needs, and building resilient, human-centered organizations in a rapidly shifting economic landscape. With a background spanning behavioral science, technology, and global workforce strategy, she translates complex trends into clear, actionable strategies that empower leaders to make confident decisions amid uncertainty.
An expert whose daily work is laying the foundation for a future of work that works, Monahan has been recognized and published in both applied and academic journals, including Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and Journal of Strategic Management. She is the author of the best-selling leadership book, Essential (Wiley, 2025), has written more than two dozen publications, is a TEDx speaker, and is frequently quoted in the media on talent decision-making and other aspects of the future of work. She has recently appeared on Bloomberg, WSJ, CNBC and Forbes. In her own words, her research is driven by her desire to make our workplaces more meaningful.
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