International Scientific Conference
HRMLEAD 2026
2026 theme: Black and White side of HRM and Leadership
We invite you to participate in the international scientific conference entitled „HRM and Leadership – Navigating the Future of Work” (HRMLEAD), which will be held in Wrocław on May 13–14, 2026. With a focus on both „the Black and White side of HRM and Leadership”, this conference provides a unique platform to explore the latest trends, strategies, and best and worst practices in human resource management.
Our comprehensive program includes dynamic discussions on HR strategies and trends, the ethical applications of artificial intelligence in the workplace, organizational culture, leadership, and inclusiveness. Featuring a lineup of distinguished speakers, hybrid sessions, workshops, and practical insights, this conference will empower attendees to shape modern organizations that thrive in an ever-changing business landscape.
In response to today’s global challenges, the conference aims to explore key trends and challenges in the field of human resource management and leadership, taking into account critical voices on their role in organizations and society. Sustainability, social responsibility of organizations and the development of technology make it necessary for HR professionals and leaders to work together to meet the dynamic demands of the labor market and society.
There will be an opportunity to share views and experiences on how responsible human resource management and authentic leadership can become the foundation for positive change in organizations.
Through a variety of formats – from panel sessions and discussions to interactive workshops – the conference will enable deep dive into key topics and engage participants in a dynamic exchange of knowledge and experience.
The key areas in the planned discussions will be:
This track is dedicated to the key challenges and trends in talent management in an international environment. Cultural diversity, globalization, and technology development are influencing how organizations develop talents around the world. Managing global, distributed teams or expatriate in remote or hybrid form requires understanding of the local markets, building flexible organizational frameworks and adapting HR strategies to effectively motivate and develop employees with diverse experiences and expectations.
This track is dedicated to the role of artificial intelligence in HR. To date, AI has revolutionized many HR processes, i.e. recruitment, development, and opened new doors for data analysis. However, the way AI has transformed HR processes also raises many controversies related to ethics, privacy or the future of work. Questions such as whether AI will replace human assessment during recruitment processes, whether AI is able to individualize approaches in talent management, whether AI is able to monitor employee well-being and detect early sympromes of burnout, or whether AI is an effective tool in building transparent HR practices – remain areas of interest.
This track is dedicated to the role of HRM in building sustainable organizations. Recent challenges for organizations include the growing environmental awareness of society and the climate crisis. In the era of these challenges, HR strategies play a key role in building friendly work environments, building pro-environmental attitudes among employees and motivating them to green initiatives, as well as engaging them in social activities and achieving sustainable development goals. In this way, the organization not only builds attitudes and engages employees, but also contributes to building the image of a responsible employer.
This track focuses on the issue of creating a positive employee experience and a cohesive and inclusive organizational culture, which in turn builds competitive advantage for the organization. In an era of increasing competition for talent and rising employee expectations of the work environment, companies must invest in the employee experience at every stage of the employee’s career, from recruitment, onboarding, development, to day-to-day collaboration and a sense of belonging. This includes issues of work-life balance, stress management, combating burnout, and mental wellbeing. This organizational culture fosters innovation and employee engagement.
This track is a comprehensive treatment of key HRM issues. It offers a broad view of contemporary challenges in the area of basic and advanced HR practices. Sample topics in this track include the strategic role of HR in the modern organization, well-being and mental health of employees, diversity, equality, inclusiveness and belonging, competence development, among others, and others.
This track focuses on the complexities of leading in a rapidly evolving global landscape marked by technological advancements, climate change, and economic uncertainties. As organizations and societies face unprecedented challenges, leaders must develop the skills to navigate crisis, foster resilience, and adapt to changing environments. Addressing these dynamics requires strategic foresight, cultural intelligence, and an ability to drive collaboration across diverse contexts. Sessions will explore approaches to remote and hybrid leadership, crisis management, and effective global communication, all essential in building a sustainable and adaptable organization.
This track explores the role of transformative leadership in fostering innovation and guiding organizations through periods of change and growth. In an era where rapid technological advancements and market shifts demand agility, leaders must cultivate a culture of creativity, risk-taking, and adaptability. By focusing on strategies for digital transformation, entrepreneurial thinking, and the development of innovative mindsets, this track will offer insights into how leaders can effectively guide their teams through transformative initiatives, ensuring that their organizations remain competitive and forward-thinking.
This track is dedicated to the evolving competencies required for effective leadership in the future, focusing on the development and continuous learning needed to build strong leadership pipelines. As leadership roles become increasingly complex, organizations must invest in developing critical skills such as emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic thinking. Key themes include mentorship, coaching, and the integration of lifelong learning into leadership development programs. This track underscores the importance of equipping future leaders with the skills to manage change, foster collaboration, and drive organizational growth in an increasingly dynamic world.
This track focuses on the impact of positive leadership styles that empower, motivate, and engage teams to reach their full potential. Positive leadership is centered on building trust, fostering open communication, and creating a psychologically safe environment where team members feel valued and supported. By emphasizing strengths-based leadership and inclusive decision-making, this session will provide insights into practices that not only enhance individual and team performance but also build a resilient and innovative organizational culture. Attendees will explore real-world examples of leaders who drive engagement and cultivate growth-oriented environments that foster long-term success.
This track addresses the spectrum of negative leadership styles, from abusive and autocratic to micromanaging approaches, and examines their damaging effects on employee well-being, engagement, and organizational culture. Negative leadership behaviors can lead to decreased morale, increased turnover, and diminished productivity, creating a toxic environment that impacts both individuals and the organization as a whole. Through analysis of research findings and real-world case studies, this session will help attendees recognize the signs of harmful leadership behaviors, understand the psychological and operational costs, and explore strategies for preventing and addressing negative dynamics to foster a healthier, more constructive workplace.
The track focuses on Leadership 5.0 as a new leadership style which blends individual traits of the leaders, their behavior towards employees and their behavior towards the organization aiming to harmonize technological progress with the well-being of employees and society. The session will explore Leadership 5.0 in the context of organizations which prioritise innovations for human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience according to main assumptions of the Industry 5.0 concept.
This track addresses challenges that go beyond the classical understanding of performance and success: manipulation and abuse of power, toxic organisational culture, pressure for short-term results or unethical strategic decisions. The pathway is dedicated to new approaches to understanding and reducing the destructive mechanisms that affect not only employees and organisations, but entire markets and economies. The track brings together perspectives from management, economics and finance, and brings together the issues of the financial and social costs of unethical management practices, the impact of risk culture and outcome pressures on the dark face of business.
The “HRM and Leadership – Navigating the Future of Work” (HRMLEAD) conference, will take place in Wrocław, the city with a great atmosphere, a large job market, and a rich cultural and entertainment offer. Wrocław is a city with beautiful architecture and plentiful green areas situated on the Odra river on 12 islands connected by over 100 bridges. Wrocław, today the administrative, educational, business and cultural capital of the Lower Silesia region, is a city with a rich history.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology is one of the leading scientific and educational centres in Poland. Wrocław Tech was founded in 1945 but it has over 160 years of intellectual heritage from Lviv University of Technology and technological heritage from Technische Hohschule Breslau.
Available soon!
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…………………………………………….
Until January 15
Until January 15
Until January 30
Until February 16
Until March 30
Until April 30
* Please note that for participants who decide to proceed with the early bird registration, the notification of abstract acceptance will be sent prior to the payment deadline.
Deadline: 30.11.2025
In person: 370€
Virtual delegate: 160€
After 30.11.2025
In person: 390€
Virtual delegate: 180€
- participation in conference events,
- conference materials,
- meals during the conference,
- participation in events accompanying the conference,
- publication costs.
- participation in conference events,
- conference materials,
- publication costs.
Dr Kamila Ludwikowska, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
Contact us:
The organisers provide publication of the reviewer-approved texts of the presentations in the journals: Journal of Management & Organization, Gestin Journal and European Journal of Applied Business and Management.
Detailed information on journal publication with guidelines for authors can be found on the websites:
The organisers reserve the right to direct conference articles to the designated journals.
Articles of up to 30,000 characters should be prepared in English and sent by the deadline of March 30, 2026 to the following e-mail address: hrmlead@pwr.edu.pl. At this stage, the text should meet standard editorial requirements. The qualification of articles for publication in the journal will be made by the organising committee, taking into account thematic consistency with the profile of the scientific journal. After receiving a positive opinion from the organising committee, article authors will be asked to adapt the text to the requirements specified by the journal and send the article to the address of the designated editorial office with the note ‘HRMLEAD’. Publication of the article in a monograph or designated periodical is subject to positive reviews.
The scientific poster should be prepared in English in A1 format. The electronic form should be sent to hrmlead@pwr.edu.pl. Posters will be posted on the conference website.
Printed posters should be submitted to the organizers during registration on the day of the Conference.
