Booking Holdings CHRO on Simplifying Work in the Age of AI: 'Don't Try to Do Everything at Once'
This article is based on an interview originally published by HR Dive.
In a corporate landscape increasingly defined by complexity, the mandate for human resources is shifting from administration to strategic simplification. That's the view from the top at Booking Holdings, where Chief Human Resources Officer Paulo Pisano is steering the travel giant's people strategy with a clear mantra: easier is better.
"We've seen that complexity acts like a gravitational force, pulling organizations into inefficiency," Pisano explained in a written exchange. "The antidote is simplification—helping teams focus on fewer priorities and execute them with excellence. HR is uniquely positioned to drive this clarity."
Pisano, who oversees HR for a portfolio including Booking.com, KAYAK, and OpenTable across six continents, believes the function must evolve from a support role to a core strategic enabler. This involves grounding decisions in data, streamlining processes, and integrating talent from non-traditional backgrounds to bolster commercial agility.
Looking ahead to 2026, Pisano identifies a pivotal trend: the maturation of artificial intelligence from a standalone "super-tool" into a foundational layer of workflow. "Leading companies will stop using AI for isolated tasks and start redesigning entire processes with AI as a cognitive co-pilot," he predicts. This shift, he argues, is less about the technology itself and more about forging a productive human-AI partnership—leveraging machine speed and scale alongside human judgment, ethics, and creativity.
Consequently, HR's role in workforce development will become more central, focusing on reskilling employees in problem-framing, critical data analysis, and ethical stewardship.
His core advice for HR leaders navigating this transition is deceptively simple: "Try not to do everything at once." With a function of vast scope, the temptation to equate activity with impact is high. "The key is to pick your battles," Pisano advises. "Understand the business's genuine needs—which may differ from its stated wants—and concentrate your team's energy where HR can deliver maximum value. That focus builds credibility and demonstrates we are outcome-oriented."
Reader Reactions:
Marcus Chen, HR Director at a tech startup: "Pisano hits the nail on the head. The shift from AI as a tool to a workflow foundation is already happening. The challenge for HR is leading the cultural change required to make that partnership work."
Eleanor Vance, Leadership Coach: "The advice on simplification is timeless yet urgently needed. In a world of endless priorities, focus is the new superpower for HR leaders."
David R. Miller, Management Consultant (via LinkedIn): "More corporate platitudes about 'focus' and 'simplification' from another C-suite executive. What's the actual, tangible plan to reduce decision fatigue for the average employee? This reads like a press release, not a strategy. Show us the data on productivity gains, not just the buzzwords."
Priya Sharma, Future of Work Researcher: "The point about reskilling for problem-framing and ethical judgment is crucial. It defines the irreplaceable human role in an AI-integrated workplace. This is the strategic conversation HR needs to own."