Category: Blog
Eightfold’s Cultivate Recap: Answering the Question- What Does Eightfold Do?
I have been covering Eightfold for the better part of a decade, and I attend a lot of conferences. This is not going to be
Indeed Launches Smart Screening
For years, the top recruiting challenge that companies faced was reach. The ability to attract more candidates, generate more applicants, and expand the top of
Five Years Later, We are Revisiting the Recruiter Experience
When Aptitude Research published its first report on the recruiter experience in 2021, it was filling a gap. Nearly all the talent acquisition research at
Introducing the State of Hiring Automation 2026: the gap is larger than you think
Aptitude Research and Phenom released the State of Hiring Automation 2026 this week. It was a labor of love that we started last year. It
Visier Outsmart Event: Community, Talent Decisions, and Workforce AI
Last week at Visier Outsmart was a different event from most I have attended. Not just the content or the product announcements. But the experience
The ATS Isn’t What It Used to Be. And That’s the Point.
I love the ATS market. I always have and I always will. I have talked about it so much over the past 20 years that
Crosschq’s Acquisition of Traitify: This is Not About Assessments
Today, Crosschq announced its acquisition of Traitify. There is a tendency in this market to immediately categorize acquisitions. A company acquires an assessment provider and
Notes from UNLEASH: AI, Trust, and the Blur of Differentiation
There was no shortage of energy around AI. Every conversation, every booth, every session seemed to focus on AI and the future of AI. But
The Frontline Hiring Reckoning: A New Conversation
Frontline hiring is at a breaking point. Across industries, more than 60 percent of companies that have increased frontline hiring in the past year. Nearly
What to Expect in HR Tech This Year from Adoption to Accountability
For the last several years, HR technology has been defined by expansion. More vendors, more features, more promises. This year feels different. The conversation is
Madeline Laurano
Madeline Laurano is the founder and chief analyst of Aptitude Research. For over 18 years, Madeline’s primary focus has been on the HCM market, specializing in talent acquisition and employee experience. Her work helps companies both validate and re-evaluate their strategies and understand the role technology can play in driving business outcomes. She has watched HCM transform from a back-office function to a strategic company initiative with a focus on partnerships, experience and efficiency.
Before founding Aptitude Research, Madeline held research roles at Aberdeen, Bersin by Deloitte, ERE Media and Brandon Hall Group. She is the co-author of Best Practices in Leading a Global Workforce and is often quoted in leading business publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Yahoo News, The New York Times and The Financial Times. She is a frequent presenter at industry conferences including the HR Technology Conference and Exposition, SHRM, IHRIM, HCI’s Strategic Talent Acquisition conference, Unleash, GDS International’s HCM Summit, and HRO Today.
In her spare time, she is a runner, an avid sports fan and juggles a house full of boys (where a spontaneous indoor hockey game is not unheard of!).