Cegid recently celebrated the second edition of Cegid Connections HR at the Real Fábrica de Tapices in Madrid, drawing together about 450 human resources professionals for a day focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on talent management and the strategic role of HR departments in organizational transformation.
The institutional opening was delivered by Daniel López Paíno, head of the HCM Business Unit for Iberia, LatAm, and Africa at Cegid, who underscored the role of HR departments in today’s context: “The labor market is changing faster than ever. In this context, choosing a talent management platform is not just a technological decision but a strategic one. At Cegid we have a clear mission: put people at the center so that, through technology, organizations can make better decisions.”
AI, Leadership, and Motivation: Keys to the Future of HR
Throughout the day, speakers approached the current challenges in people management from complementary perspectives. During her talk, titled “The Power of Water,” artist and international reference Gemma Mengual shared lessons about effort and success in sports that are applicable to the corporate world: “Talent matters, but without consistency, effort, and discipline you don’t get far. In teams, as in sports, every person matters, but none is indispensable: success depends on how we work together and our ability to adapt to difficulties.”
Ángel Zuate, Product Strategy Director for Iberia, LatAm, and Africa at Cegid, offered one of the most compelling sessions of the day with “HR 2026: The Future Is Here.” Zuate traced the evolution from traditional AI—based on rigid rules and predefined workflows—toward autonomous, goal-driven AI capable of executing tasks and determining for itself the steps needed to reach objectives. In this framework, he introduced Cegid Pulse, a set of intelligent AI agents integrated into Cegid’s HCM solutions, which guide users, automate processes, and accelerate workflows, with the aim of moving from reactive management focused on “putting out fires” to a proactive model that anticipates the needs of teams.
“We are at a turning point: AI is no longer just predicting, but also acting. Thanks to models based on anticipation, automation, and autonomy, we can anticipate employees’ needs. The key is to integrate this technology as a copiloto helping us make better decisions, always with human judgment as the ultimate element,” Zuate explained.
The event also featured a space for relaxation and humor thanks to the appearances of multi-faceted actor Edu Soto with his monologue “Better Alone than a Hundred Flying.” To close the session block, Víctor Küppers, a leading figure in positive psychology, championed in his talk “Living with Joy” attitude as the engine of performance: “The difference between our best and our worst version isn’t knowledge, but mood. Attitude is a daily decision that makes the difference in how we work, lead, and relate to others.”
In a landscape marked by uncertainty and constant transformation, the event underscored the need for HR departments to evolve toward more agile models, supported by technology but without losing the human element essential to talent retention.
Recognizing Best Practices: Cegid HCM Awards 2025
To close the speaking program, Javier Torres, General Manager for Iberia, LatAm and Africa at Cegid, and Eva González, Director of Partners of Human Capital Management at Cegid in Spain, presented the Cegid HCM Awards, distinctions that celebrate leadership, loyalty, and talent transformation within organizations. The winners of this edition are:
- Talent Transformation Leader 2025: Comunidad de Madrid and Madrid Digital (Agency for the Digital Administration of the Community of Madrid).
- HCM Excellence 2025: Kiabi.
- Customer Loyalty 2025: Caser (Helvetia Group).
- New Alliances Leader HCM 2025: Squarepoint.
- Excellence Partner HCM 2025: EY.
