Running HR Like a Quant Fund – Signals, Attribution, and CFO Trust
A new way to turn noisy people data into decisions that stand up to Finance.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Track
Plenary
This plenary draws together the twin threads of impact and innovation. Taras Kowaliw shares how his background in quantitative finance shaped a new approach to people analytics: treat HR like a quant fund. You’ll see how noisy data becomes tested signals, how reporting scaffolds decision-making, and how attribution secures Finance trust. With examples from earlier work in investment and HR, plus a clear view on where GenAI adds value, this session sets up the closing panel with new questions and fresh energy.
This session will explore
- Why predicting human behaviour is hard, but still worth doing well.
- How quant investing methods translate into a Finance-ready HR pipeline.
- Reporting as a scaffold: daily checks, clean feeds, trusted metrics.
Mini case: hiring “diamonds in the rough” through tested signals.
Learning objectives
- Explain HR decisions in Finance’s language of evidence, risk, and attribution.
- Apply a quant-style framework to cut noise and surface real signals.
- Design reporting processes that build trust and accelerate modelling.
- Set realistic expectations for AI inside people analytics pipelines.
- Leave with sharper questions for the closing panel discussion.
Taras Kowaliw
Managing Director, Head of People Analytics · Blackstone
Why this is on the agenda
Organisations face pressure to cut cost, prove ROI, and meet rising expectations on fairness and governance. Finance demands decisions they can audit and defend; HR needs speed and clarity. A quant-style approach blends rigorous testing, technical innovation, and business-ready communication – an essential path for leaders navigating AI, bias, and budget scrutiny.