Aradhya Srivastava

Aradhya Srivastava is a product and technology thought leader with extensive experience and expertise in leading people/HR technology products from inception to shipping. At Intuit, Aradhya plays a leading role in HR technology programs that focus on total rewards and shared services. Aradhya has worked with global companies such as Levi Strauss Co. and Accenture, where he successfully delivered a portfolio of multi-million-dollar programs for several years. Aradhya has a dual passion for people and technology, and HR technology is a blend of the two. He is passionate about improving the 'technology experience' at large corporations so that all employees have the same flawless experience when interacting with all technology touch points at work as with consumer technology. Aradhya has also published an ebook on Best Product and Delivery practices in HR Technology and has written multiple white papers in the Enterprise HR Technology space.

"I joined the advisory board of HR Geckos to support its mission of automating key HR processes through cutting-edge technology. HR Geckos offers a unique platform to digitize and automate all HR processes and makes employee self-service seamless through their native chatbots. With my passion for technology transformations and enhancing the employee experience, I see this as an exciting opportunity to contribute to the future of work. By sharing my expertise, I aim to help HR Geckos innovate and deliver solutions that empower companies to manage their workforce efficiently and create a delightful employee experience," said Srivastava.

Jessica Miller Merrell

Jess Miller-Merrell, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is the Founder of Workology, a workplace resource for HR, recruiting professionals, and business leaders, and host of the Workology Podcast. The site has been listed twice as a top 75 career resource by Forbes Magazine. Jessica is the president and CEO of Xceptional HR, a human capital strategy and consulting agency, and is listed by Forbes as a top 50 social media power user. Because of her industry expertise and knowledge, Jessica’s opinions and expertise are sought after and sourced by publications and media including The Economist, Forbes, CIO Magazine, CBS, Entrepreneur Magazine, and SHRM’s HR Magazine. Her most recent book, Digitizing Talent: Creative Strategies for the Digital Recruiting Age, was published in 2023 by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

"I chose to join the board of HR Geckos because of their innovative approach to HR technology and commitment to transforming the HR landscape. With a proven track record of delivering cutting-edge solutions that streamline HR processes and enhance employee experiences, HR Geckos aligns with my passion for advancing the HR profession at Workology. The company’s dedication to fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking environment resonates with my values, and I am excited to contribute to their mission of driving excellence and innovation in HR practices," said Miller-Merrell.

John McNamara

John McNamara has 25+ years of experience in operations, management, and consulting, focusing on CRM, marketing, project management, compliance, and customer service. John's mission is to help companies save time and money with automation and efficiency improvements through technology. He has partnered with leading industry associations and agencies and secured multiple contracts with Fortune 500 companies.

"I am passionate about creating innovative solutions that enhance the performance and productivity of every team. Throughout my career, I have worked in corporate, start-up, and the small business space, granting me exposure to the vast number of ways companies try to solve problems. My interest in HR Geckos lies in my core mission of improving productivity through technology and helping companies and their employees be more efficient, more informed, and more focused on their growth," said McNamara.

Albert Loyola

Albert Loyola is a Human Capital Advisor with a combination of global leadership experience in consulting, industry, and research on Human Capital, AI, and international HR people strategy. Albert brings extensive advisory expertise in AI in Human Capital and partners with CHROs and C-Suite executives to harness digital technologies, reinvent HR, transform the workforce, and drive enterprise reinvention.

"HR Geckos has the potential and capabilities to address HR service delivery needs for the mid-enterprise market and streamline HR operations. The platform features user-friendly chatbot functionality to answer FAQs, and its data-driven automation enables HR organizations to meet compliance requirements and manage HR data in a single source of truth. I believe the mid-enterprise market needs a different type of agile HR technology that addresses their talent and business needs, and HR Geckos can lead the way," said Loyola.

Jim Griffin

Jim Griffin has 30+ years of experience in Enterprise Software Sales, Global Alliances, Services, and Executive Leadership.

Jim is bringing his expertise to HR Geckos' global strategic partner implementation program strategy, design, partner selection, enablement, and execution. His background in partner best practice/Partnership KPIs and metrics will accelerate a data-driven approach to HR Geckos' clients and partners.

Jim is well-versed in the full spectrum of Enterprise HCM solutions. His experience includes Accenture’s SAP SuccessFactors Cloud Practice as the Senior Director of Engagement for North America and the Global SVP for Strategic Sales and Alliances at Rizing, one of the largest global HCM partners in the SAP SuccessFactors Global Partner Program. Jim's other prior experience includes leadership positions at Beamery, Eightfold, Plateau, Authoria, ADP, Ceridian, and Pearson Learning.

Neha Goel

Neha Goel is a transformational marketing executive and go-to-market leader with over 15 years of experience building, expanding, and accelerating growth for early-stage startups. Her career is marked by a profound commitment to escalating revenue growth, creating brand value, and enhancing stakeholder engagement through strategic, customer-centric, and data-driven approaches.

Neha serves on multiple advisory boards and committees in the Talent Tech, Procurement Tech, and AI space. She is passionate about creating opportunities for female executive leaders. Neha enjoys working on projects that ignite team enthusiasm and create impactful messaging that elevates company culture while boosting the bottom line. She thrives on helping innovative early-stage B2B tech startups achieve their revenue and business goals.

"I chose to join HR Geckos' Board of Advisors because I strongly believe in their mission to enhance HR processes through innovative automation while maintaining a personal touch. Their AI-powered solutions, thoughtfully designed by HR professionals for HR professionals, effectively address real challenges in the industry. Jay Polaki's vision of improving employee experience and streamlining workflows aligns with my passion for driving meaningful and impactful outcomes. I am excited to contribute my expertise in marketing and HR tech to help HR Geckos lead the way in making HR operations as agile and efficient as a gecko," said Goel.

Jeanette Leeds

Jeanette Leeds is a bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and executive leader with a proven track record of scaling, transforming, and turning around high-growth B2B SaaS businesses. Her 20+ years of experience span HR tech, AI, recruiting automation, and enterprise transformation, with leadership roles across sales, marketing, product, customer success, finance, and strategy.

"HR shouldn’t be buried in tickets, broken systems, and secret Excel files just to get work done. HR Geckos gets it—and finally gives HR teams an AI co-pilot that’s fast, agile, and built by people who’ve actually done the job. Female-founded. Practitioner-built. This is the HR tech we’ve been waiting for, and I’m all in,” said Leeds.

Wesley Eugene

Wesley Eugene is a technology executive with a human-centered, experience-led approach to digital transformation. His expertise spans technology business management (TBM), change management, and enterprise-scale modernization in global enterprises. Wesley is a featured speaker at industry-leading events including Fast Company’s Innovation Festival, Collision, and the TBM Conference.

“I joined the HR Geckos Board of Advisors because I believe human-centered experiences are the most important aspect of any solution. HR Geckos gets this—it shows in their features, their passion, and the vibrant community they’ve built around elevating the employee experience. Their tech isn’t just smart—it’s empathetic, and that’s the future of HR,” said Eugene.

Jay Polaki

Hi, I'm Jay Polaki, Co-Founder and Chief Gecko a.k.a. CEO at HR Geckos. HR Geckos is a co-pilot for HR Operations, bringing the consumer-grade experience and the agility of a gecko to the people function.

As an HR practitioner for over 20 years, I've dealt with fragmented and broken manual paper-driven systems to deliver HR services. I believe HR services should be available at the click of a button, so I built HR Geckos to reduce the time and resources needed to provide them seamlessly and efficiently.

I am excited to be part of a company that is not only at the forefront of HR technology but also deeply committed to making a positive impact on the world of work. At HR Geckos, we are committed to leveraging the latest advancements in technology to create solutions that enhance the employee experience and drive organizational growth. Our platform is designed to streamline HR processes, provide actionable insights, and support strategic decision-making. By doing so, we enable HR teams to focus on what truly matters—nurturing talent and building a workplace where everyone can thrive.

I believe that by empowering HR professionals, we can unlock the full potential of organizations and create a brighter future for all. I invite you to join me and HR Geckos in building better workplaces.

Dr. Sai Annadatha

Hi, I'm Sai Annadatha, Co-Founder and CTO at HR Geckos. I bring twenty years of expertise and leadership in building and scaling software products for Fortune 100 companies and leading global cross-functional teams.

Throughout my career, I've led teams in developing solutions that not only meet the demands of today but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow. This journey has taught me that while technology is a powerful enabler, it is the people behind the technology who truly make the difference.

This belief is precisely why I am so passionate about HR Geckos' mission. In an era where digital transformation is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, the role of human resources has never been more critical. HR Geckos understands that at the heart of every successful organization is a thriving workforce. Our mission is to empower HR professionals with the tools and insights they need to foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and resilience.

At HR Geckos, we bring the human touch to HR workflows with our customer-centric approach to design. I invite you to join me and HR Geckos in building better workplaces.

Duane Bray

Duane Bray is Groopit's Chief Product Officer, based in New York. He is passionate about workplace innovation, helping leaders solve complex challenges in today's environment, and aligning business needs with talent capabilities.

Duane brings a wealth of experience in user experience and leadership strategy. He joined Groopit in January 2023 after a 27-year career at design and innovation firm IDEO, where he was a partner and held roles from Head of Digital Capability to Chief People Officer. His portfolio includes consumer software, mobile and online applications, and organizational strategy.

With a background in communication design and interaction design, Duane has led or contributed to scores of projects, from digital products and services, to organizational strategies. His clients include American Express, BMW, Microsoft and Lincoln Center and United Airlines among many others.

As IDEO's Chief People Officer, Duane's work spanned talent acquisition, creating cultures of learning, and establishing best practices in benefits and policies. He balanced IDEO’s talent strategy with advisory services for clients.

Prior to IDEO, Duane worked at Pentagram Design, where he established an interaction design practice in their San Francisco studio. He holds an MFA from the University of Florida and recently received an Outstanding Achievement Award as a distinguished alumnus.

"We’re at an inflection point in HR: leaders need to focus on strategic challenges and the well-being of their teams. I joined HR Geckos’ Board of Advisors because Jay has built a product that meets these needs, with deep expertise and understanding. I’m honored to support her vision and the impact HR Geckos is making," said Bray.