MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Sprout Solutions, the Philippines' leading homegrown HR and payroll technology company, will hold the State of HR Summit 2026 on July 8, 2026, at Dusit Thani Manila, bringing together HR leaders, business executives, and people managers to discuss how organizations can accelerate performance with AI while remaining people-first.
Presented in partnership with workplace consultancy BS Works, this year's summit carries the theme "Leading a People-First AI Transformation" and will feature the exclusive launch of the State of HR 2026 Report, based on findings from a nationwide survey of 3,516 Filipino professionals.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in business operations, organizations face a new challenge: ensuring technological transformation strengthens employee trust, engagement, and readiness rather than undermining them. The summit will focus on how leaders can navigate this shift by aligning people, processes, and technology.
The discussion is grounded in findings from Sprout and BS Works' nationwide "AI and Your Evolving Workplace" survey, conducted in May 2026 through Sprout's first AI-powered survey application.
Early results reveal that 95% of Filipino professionals are familiar with AI, while 89% welcome AI-related changes in the workplace. However, organizational readiness appears to lag behind employee enthusiasm. Only 35% of respondents report that their employers currently provide AI-related upskilling opportunities.
From AI Adoption to AI Leadership
The summit will open with remarks from Kislay Chandra, Chief Operations Officer of Sprout Solutions. Cliff Eala, CEO of BS Works, will deliver the keynote presentation and formally launch the State of HR 2026 Report, sharing insights on how employees are adapting to AI-driven workplace change.
Throughout the day, executive panels and discussions will explore the growing need to align HR, operations, and compliance functions, and the leadership capabilities required to guide organizations through rapid technological change.
Among a host of industry leaders joining the summit are Maria Lourdes Ann "L.A." Cruz, Vice President for People at Lufthansa Technik Philippines; Alvanson So, former Regional People Lead at Canva; Eli Harell, Co-Founder of EmergePH; and Atty. Arlene De Castro, Founder and Managing Partner of De Castro Law Firm and De Castro Consulting.
Attendees will also receive a preview of Sprout's product roadmap, highlighting how the company's people-first AI platform aims to connect payroll, compliance, performance, and workforce data within a unified ecosystem.
The Readiness Gap Behind AI Optimism
Additional survey findings highlight the urgency of the conversation. While 84% of respondents report that their organizations already use AI and 83% say AI helps them work more efficiently, nearly 45% feel overwhelmed by the pace of workplace change.
"Filipinos have embraced AI faster than many organizations anticipated. The challenge now is helping leaders close the gap between adoption and readiness by building trust, developing skills, and creating workplaces where people can thrive alongside technology," said Kislay Chandra.
The event's sponsors include mWell by Metro Pacific Health Tech and Singlife as Platinum Sponsors, Hubstaff, Xoxoday, MediCard and MetroMart Philippines as Gold Sponsors, and Hive Health as Silver Sponsor. Supporting the initiative as Strategic Partners are Philippine Society for Talent Development, Mind You, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, World Vision, International HR Institute, and Plan International Pilipinas.
Recognizing Outstanding Organizations Through the Foresight Awards
The State of HR Summit 2026 will also host the inaugural Sprout Foresight Awards, recognizing organizations demonstrating workforce health and people-first workplace practices.
Major awardees will be honored through the Great Employer Awards, alongside other recognitions that celebrate excellence across key areas of organizational health. Through the Foresight Awards, Sprout aims to spotlight companies that are helping shape healthier, more resilient, and future-ready workplaces in the Philippines.
Powered by Foresight, Sprout's new AI-powered predictive and prescriptive HR analytics solution, the awards reflect Sprout’s commitment to helping organizations better understand their workforce through meaningful data and actionable insights.
Secure Your Seat at State of HR 2026
Registration the State of HR Summit 2026 is now open at sohr.sprout.ph. Individual and table packages are available, and interested participants may visit the website for current rates and event details.
About the Survey
The "AI and Your Evolving Workplace" survey was conducted by Sprout Solutions in partnership with BS Works and fielded nationwide in May 2026 through Sprout's first AI-powered survey application. The study gathered responses from 3,516 professionals across major Philippine industries, including information and communication, business process outsourcing, finance, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing, representing multiple generations in the workforce.
