Audience Tools

Specializations

  • Future of Work
  • People Analytics
  • Data Science & Society

Research Areas

Biography

Associate teaching professor Heather Whiteman is a people data enthusiast. Heather brings an academic background focused on studying the art, the science, and the impact of measuring people at work. Her master’s degree work in industrial organizational psychology centered on the use of data and statistics to identify and mitigate the harm caused by discrimination in the workplace. Heather’s Ph.D. in the field of Human Capital Management focused on human performance and capability with an emphasis on identifying measurement techniques less susceptible to societal biases. Heather is an experienced educator, having taught statistics, data analysis, and management previously at universities based in the US, UK, and Guatemala. In addition to her role as assistant teaching professor at the University of Washington Information School, Heather will continue to offer a specialized course on People Analytics as an adjunct at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

Heather comes with years of applied, strategic leadership in preparing organizations for the future of work, digital talent transformation, and enabling a new future driven by fair data and people analytics insights. Her practitioner experience has spanned roles such as researcher, consultant, manager and executive and has stretched across areas such as equal employment opportunity, talent management, and strategic organizational planning; all with a focus on applying the power of data and analysis to drive outcomes for businesses as well as for individuals.

Heather serves as a Future Workplace Executive Fellow, a board and tech advisor to organizations focused on people data for good and has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Guatemala for 2022-2023. She also serves as a U.S. representative for the International Organization for Standards (ISO) Technical Advisory Group TC 260 focused on the creation of global standards for human capital measurement, reporting and public disclosure. Most recently having served as a registered expert in the creation of ISO 30415:2021 Diversity and inclusion, which provides the fundamentals for organizations wishing to create an inclusive workplace through actions, principles, measures, and the associated accountabilities and responsibilities.

Education

  • Ph D, Human Capital Management, Bellevue University, 2016
  • MA, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, California State University - Sacramento, 2011
  • BA, Dual Major in Psychology and Communications, University of California, Davis, 2006

Awards

  • Global Innovation Fund (GIF) Teaching & Curriculum Award - Global Affairs Office of the University of Washington, 2024-2025
  • Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award - Guatemala FLEX Scholar Award - Institute of International Education, 2022-2023
  • Global Innovation Fund (GIF) Teaching Award - Global Affairs Office of the University of Washington, 2022-2023
  • White Paper Competition Winner - UPenn Wharton People Analytics Conference (2023), 2023
  • UW Distinguished Teaching Award Nominee - University of Washington, 2022
  • Haas Case Series Top 3 “Best Case Award” - UC Berkeley, 2024

Consulting and Other Projects

  • Future Workplace, Executive Fellow, 2019

Publications and Contributions

  • Magazine/Trade Publication
    AI Can Reinforce Hiring Biases. It Can Also Rout Them Out (2023)
    Strategic CHRO, CEO Magazine Author: Heather J. Whiteman
  • Journal Article, Professional Journal
    The Critical Need for Human Capital Measurement Standards and Transparency in Healthcare (2023)
    Journal of Healthcare Management Standards, 3(1), pp. 8 Authors: Heather J. Whiteman, Solange Charas, Hieu Bui, Lee S. Webster, James Gaskin
  • Conference Paper
    The Future of Org1: In Invitae or Out? (2023)
    Author: Heather J. Whiteman
  • Magazine/Trade Publication
    7 Steps to Fairer Data-Informed Decisions (2020)
    Harvard Business Review Author: Heather J. Whiteman
  • Magazine/Trade Publication
    7 Ways HR Can Build a Fairer, Data-Informed Culture (2020)
    Harvard Business Review Digital Author: Heather J. Whiteman
  • Book, Non-Scholarly-New
    Explore the Power of People Analytics A Guide for Business and HR Leaders (2020)
    Authors: Heather J. Whiteman, N. Garbis
  • Journal Article, Academic Journal
    Dimensions of Response to Novelty are Associated with Aggression and Social Engagement in Adult Male Rhesus Macaques (2008)
    Journal of Comparative Psychology, 122(2), pp. 195-203 Authors: Heather J. Whiteman, E. L. Kinnally, S. P. Mendoza, J. P. Capitano
  • Journal Article, Academic Journal
    Dimensions of Response to Novelty are Associated with Aggression and Social Engagement in Adult Male Rhesus Macaques (2005)
    American Journal of Primatology, 66(Unknown Issue), pp. 73-74 Authors: Heather J. Whiteman, E. L. Kinnally, S. P. Mendoza, G. M. Karare, L. A. Lyons, J. P. Capitano
  • Case Study
    Org1: In Invitae? Or Out?
    The Berkeley-Haas Case Series Author: Heather J. Whiteman

Presentations

  • The Future of Humans & Machines - The Economy, Human Well-Being & The World (2024)
    Ai4 - Las Vegas, NV
  • AI and the Future of Work (2023)
    Congreso Peruano de Gestión de Personas - Lima, Peru
  • How to use data about, on and for people to bring about a more inclusive world of work (2023)
    Berkeley Lab Molecular Foundry - Berkeley, California
  • Human Resources ROI - The Business Value of HR (2023)
    Universidad Francisco Marroquín - Guatemala City, Guatemala
  • IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability) seminar (2023)
    UC Berkeley’s Molecular Foundry Lab - Berkeley, CA
  • Psychometrics and Testing (2023)
    Universidad Francisco Marroquín - Guatemala City, Guatemala
  • Social Network Analytics (2023)
    Northwestern University - Cook County, Illinois
  • The Power of People Analytics (2023)
    Congreso Peruano de Gestión de Personas - Lima, Peru
  • Applying Network Analysis to Rethink How We Work (2022)
    82nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management - Seattle, WA
  • Ethical Use of Technology (2022)
    Berkeley, CA
  • Navigating Ethics and Privacy of People Data (2022)
    Virtual
  • Tech Ethics (2022)
    InfoCamp 2022 - Berkeley, CA
  • The Impact of Human Capital Analytics (2022)
    Virtual
  • The Power of People Analytics (2022)
    St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • The Role of AI/ML in Diversifying Talent (2022)
    Virtual
  • Analytics to Tell a Story and Build a Business Case (2021)
    People and Analytics World - Virtual
  • Build a Fairer, Data-Informed Culture (2021)
    Harvard Business Review - Virtual
  • Data Science Teams (2021)
    Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN
  • Interoperability of Data Systems (2021)
    People Intelligence Alliance - Virtual
  • Lessons in Solving Business Problems Using People Analytics (2021)
    Future Workplace - Virtual
  • Social Significance (2021)
    TEDx - Roseville, CA
  • Using Analytics to Tell a Story and Build a Business Case (2021)
    People Analytics World - Virtual