The editorial team of Personalmagazin has selected the 40 leading figures in human resources for 2025. The award recognizes individuals from management, science, and consulting who are pioneering the transformation of the modern working world. This year’s recipients include Prof. Dr. Anne Burmeister and
Prof. Dr. Dirk Sliwka, members of the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute at the University of Cologne.
With a weakening economy and growing cost and transformation pressures, there is a demand for individuals who can provide innovative ideas and actively shape change. Every two years, Personalmagazin offers an overview through its list of the “40 Leading HR Minds.”
Prof. Dr. Anne Burmeister, a member of ECONtribute at the University of Cologne, was nominated for the first time. She is a professor of organizational behavior. Her research on social interactions and knowledge exchange in the workplace, with a focus on aging and age-diverse workforces, contributes to more effective management of knowledge and diversity in organizations.
Prof. Dr. Dirk Sliwka is a repeat winner, having received the prize ten times. He is a management professor at the University of Cologne. His research focuses on designing effective human resource management practices in companies and evaluating their impact on behavior, performance, and well-being. He is particularly interested in designing incentives and performance management processes, as well as the role of social norms in organizations.
The award-winning scientists
The selection criteria in the science category are excellence in research (e.g., in research rankings), collaboration with companies, and impact in the HR community. In addition to Prof. Dr. Anne Burmeister and Prof. Dr. Dirk Sliwka, the leading HR minds in science include Prof. Dr. Fabiola Gerpott (WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management), Prof. Dr. Katharina Hölzle (Fraunhofer IAO), Prof. Dr. Patrick Kampkötter (University of Tübingen), Prof. Dr. Simone Kauffeld (TU Braunschweig), Prof. Dr. Florian Kunze (University of Konstanz), Prof. Dr. Carsten Schermuly (SRH University Berlin), Prof. Dr. Enzo Weber (Institute for Employment Research), Prof. Dr. Antoinette Weibel (University of St. Gallen), and Prof. Dr. Hannes Zacher (University of Leipzig).