The HR Tech Awards 2025 have come to the International Festival of HR!

This year’s iteration of the awards program, powered by Lighthouse Research & Advisory in partnership with UNLEASH, announced a cohort of winners in Las Vegas in front of an audience of HR leaders and influencers.

Winners were confirmed across categories including Employee Experience, HR/Workforce Management, and Talent Acquisition & Management.

“More and more I’ve been scrolling down to look at the company behind the technology when I open an entry for judging,” says George Rogers, Chief Strategy Officer at Lighthouse, who hosted the awards ceremony.

“I want to know how these providers are supporting their people and the community in a meaningful way, not just building software for money. Some of these providers are doing a tremendous amount of good in the world.

“I’m celebrating their impact on the workforce, but I’m also celebrating that impact on society as well.”

Speaking of celebrating, check out all of the winners announced today in Las Vegas:

• Core HR/Workforce, Best Advance in Practical AI – One Model
• Core HR/Workforce, Best Comprehensive Solution – Paycor
• Employee Experience, Best Analytics, Measurement, and Business Impact Solution – Culture Amp
• Employee Experience, Best Midsize Business-Focused Solution – HiBob
• Talent Acquisition, Best Advance in Practical AI – SmartRecruiters
• Talent Acquisition, Best Frontline-Focused Solution – Dayforce
• Talent Acquisition, Best Small-Business Focused Solution – JazzHR by Employ
• Talent Analytics, Best Analytics, Measurement, and Business Impact Solution – PeopleInsight by HireRoad,
• Talent Analytics, Best Talent Intelligence Solution – Joveo
• Talent Development, Best Innovative or Emerging Tech Solution – Atana
• Talent Development, Best Talent Intelligence Solution – Cornerstone
• Talent Management, Best Comprehensive Solution – Betterworks,
• Talent Management, Best Talent Intelligence Solution – Phenom
• Total Rewards/Wellbeing, Best Frontline-Focused Solution – Wagestream

Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse, says that in the early days of the awards he  engaged with many of the entries, and even though he judges fewer entries these days, he is “still surprised by the technologies and their degree of innovation.”

It’s remarkable. Think about this: the average person spends a third of their life at work. A third! If we can help elevate the technologies that make it easier for those people to find work, get paid, and grow their skills for a brighter future, then we’re helping to make a positive contribution far beyond other awards programs.”

“Every year we look to case studies as a key element for awards entries. It’s not enough to just list facts. We need to hear the story. We need to see the results and impacts. Every year we turn away entries that aren’t ready to tell a story like that.

“The winners in the 2025 HR Tech Awards are making a real impact on employers and the workforce, and the opportunity to partner with UNLEASH, an organization making that same positive impact around the world, makes this year’s announcement doubly exciting for our team.”

Here’s what the winners announced at UNLEASH America 2025 had to say about their victories.

Ronni Zehavi, CEO and Co-Founder at HiBob:

“We’re truly honored to be recognized as Best in Class for Employee Experience by Lighthouse Research & Advisory. At HiBob, we believe great employee experiences are the foundation of every thriving business.

“This award reflects the hard work, passion, and dedication of our team, and the incredible partnerships we have with our customers. We’re grateful for the recognition and even more excited to keep building solutions that help companies put their people first.”

Doug Dennerline, CEO of Betterworks:

“We’re thrilled that the 2025 HR Tech Awards, in partnership with UNLEASH, are spotlighting the innovation driving the future of talent management. Being named Best in Class for Talent Management is a testament to the industry’s momentum toward continuous, AI-powered performance enablement.

“As organizations adapt to a fast-changing world of work, performance management solutions that align people strategies with real business outcomes are more essential than ever. We’re energized by this recognition and excited to keep pushing the boundaries at Betterworks of what performance management can achieve.”

Steve Cox, CEO of Employ Inc.:

“Talent acquisition is at a crossroads – it’s our responsibility as a solution provider to make recruiters lives easier through the technology they use. JazzHR has long been a staple for SMBs needing easy to implement and affordable hiring solutions that still have the features required to compete in today’s uncertain hiring environment.

“We’re honored to be recognized as a leading TA solution provider, solving for the unique hiring needs of SMBs. Our intuitive AI-powered design and budget-friendly pricing are ideal for organizations that don’t require the complexity of enterprise systems.”

John Hansen, CEO of Atana:

“The link between learning investments and learning outcomes hasn’t always been straightforward, which historically has created frustration across the enterprise. Atana has changed that, able to turn awareness into action by combining coursework with advanced analytics.

“The HR Tech Awards recognized the impact that approach has on everything from workforce dynamics and employee engagement to culture and compliance. At Atana, we often talk about delivering measurable and meaningful change to our customers, and receiving this HR Tech Award reinforces the value and importance of our mission.”

John Deal, Sr. Director, Product Marketing at Phenom:

“While Phenom has long been recognized for excellence in talent acquisition, this award validates our significant impact in talent management—an area where organizations desperately need innovation.

“Our skills-centered Workforce Intelligence solution transforms outdated career architecture into immediate opportunity, empowering companies to build robust ontologies, deliver personalized upskilling at scale, and drive smarter workforce planning. We’re proving that when intelligence meets automation, both businesses and their people thrive.”

Rebecca Carr, CEO at SmartRecruiters:

“We’re proud to receive this award, which reflects the real impact our customers are having by adopting our solutions. Recruiters today face growing pressure to hire faster and fairer, often with limited time and resources.

“Our goal is to make their jobs easier and more strategic. With innovations like Winston, our platform’s AI-powered hiring companion, we’re helping teams use technology in a way that truly works. This recognition reinforces our role as the AI recruiting company setting the standard for smarter, more inclusive hiring across the industry.”

Erik Zimmer, EVP Corporate Development and Strategic Ventures at Dayforce:

“It is an honor to be recognized by UNLEASH and Lighthouse Research & Advisory for Dayforce Flex Work, our on-demand marketplace for the frontline workforce. Dayforce Flex Work changes how organizations and the workforce connect by instantly matching openings with vetted flexible workers.

“This recognition underscores our commitment to delivering best-in-class HR technology that meets the ever-evolving needs of the workforce. The rigorous evaluation that goes into the HR Tech Awards signifies that the solutions included are exceptional, and we take pride in being a part of that distinguished group.”

Mike Bollinger, Global VP of Strategic Initiatives at Cornerstone:

“It’s always an honor for Cornerstone and Cornerstone Galaxy to be recognized. We’re relentlessly leveraging our industry history and AI innovations to empower people to reach their potential. Today, the pressures organization’s face requires a new level of support in navigating change, organizations are forced to transform or fall behind. 

“We’re proud to meet customers where they are and shape their future of work together. Our unparalleled dataset of billions of talent interactions, and unique labor market intelligence gives us unique insights that drive actionable strategies no other provider can match.”

Prelini Udayan-Chiechi, CMO of Wagestream:

“This recognition is a signal that real progress has been made – that financial wellbeing is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s essential. More than three million people are already feeling the benefits of Wagestream – having flexibility with their pay, saving more, and being in control of their finances.

“This wouldn’t be possible without our 2000+ amazing brands who have chosen to put financial wellbeing at the heart of their strategy. Our focus remains on expanding access to fair financial solutions for every employee globally, as we invite more employers to join us on this movement to elevate the financial wellbeing and resilience of their people.” 

Didier Elzinga, CEO and co-founder, Culture Amp:

“We’re honored to be recognized as Best in Class for Employee Experience in the HR Tech Awards. Culture Amp supports over 6,500 companies across 79 countries to create a better world of work through understanding their employee experience, fostering engagement, and enhancing performance.

“This recognition affirms our commitment to help our customers transform employee insights into actions to positively impact employee experience and build cultures where people and performance thrive together.”