Category: Blog

HR Technology Conference: 5 Reasons We are Excited to Attend
It is hard to believe that the HR Technology Conference is just one week away. This will be my 10th year attending the event and
The Future of Work: A Wish List
At the start of Labor Day weekend, it seems appropriate to reflect on the realities and possibilities of work. According to the Department of Labor:

Top 7 Findings on Talent Acquisition in the SMB Market
Today is the end of SMB Week at Aptitude Research Partners. Small to mid-sized companies face a unique set of challenges with talent and workforce

Don’t Call It a Comeback: Salary.com is Packing a Punch in Compensation
It is easy for traditional HCM solution providers to get stuck in a rut. Too often, they have a myopic view of the market and

Randstad Acquires Monster: The End of the Glory Days
Ten years ago, I was the Research Director at ERE Media. It was the heyday of recruitment and right before everything in our industry changed

Dog Days of Summer: What’s Keeping Us Busy
It has been an exciting summer for us at Aptitude. After several months of hectic travel schedules, Mollie and I have decided to stay local in

Employee Communication: Lessons from The State of Colorado
Most companies understand the importance of employee communication but fail to have an effective strategy. Companies need to continuously practice and improve the way they

New Research on the Talent Acquisition Market: The Aptitude Index Report
If you read Mollie’s blog post on Monday, you can probably sense that we are very excited to announce the launch of the Aptitude Index

Don’t Go Changing…The Dangers of Category Creation
The HCM technology market is competitive and crowded. Providers are trying to gain market share and expand into new territory. Especially, when customers are increasing

The Power of Recruitment Marketing
When we asked organizations to identify their priorities for talent acquisition investment, recruitment marketing was top of the list. Companies want solutions that can handle

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!).