Samantha Gadd

Chief People Officer, Founder of Humankind and EX Design School, Employee Experience Design Pioneer.

Samantha Gadd is a globally recognised thought leader in Employee Experience Design and an advocate for human-centred workplaces. For more than 20 years, her work has focused on helping organisations achieve performance through people, always with the belief that employees are key stakeholders in the success of any business.

In 2012, Samantha founded Humankind, now New Zealand’s leading HR consultancy, which has partnered with more than 1,300 organisations over the past 13 years. In 2020 she created EX Design School, a global certification that equips leaders and practitioners with the skills and tools to design high-performing workplaces people love.

In 2022, Samantha led the EX Manifesto Project, bringing together leaders and practitioners from more than 30 countries to define and advance the field of EX. This manifesto has since become a guiding reference point for organisations and leaders worldwide.

Her work has always been deeply collaborative—shaped with colleagues, clients, and a growing global community of EX designers. Based in New Zealand, Samantha is also the proud mum of three sons, who keep her grounded and remind her daily of the future we’re all designing for.