Alexandria, VA — HRCI, the premier credentialing and learning organization for the human resources profession, today announced a new partnership with EmpathifyU to launch EmpathifyU Adaptive Leadership: An immersive learning experience presented by HRCI. The cohort-based program is designed to equip HR professionals with the practical skills, language, and confidence needed to lead effectively in evolving business environments.
As HR leaders are increasingly asked to lead enterprise change while meeting rising expectations from executives, employees, and customers, the demand for adaptive, trust-centered leadership continues to grow. This live, online cohort experience will begin on March 25, 2026, and those who complete it successfully will receive a digital badge, 25.5 HRCI recertification credits, and will be awarded an HRCI-endorsed Adaptive Leader certificate.
The EmpathifyU Adaptive Leadership program blends monthly live workshops, curated workbooks, and a private peer community to support sustained learning and immediate application. Through the cohort format, participants learn directly from expert facilitators while exchanging insights with peers facing similar leadership challenges across industries and geographies.
“HR leaders today are operating in environments defined by constant change and competing priorities,” said Andre Allen, chief business officer at HRCI. “They need learning experiences that are not only relevant, but practical and human. Partnering with EmpathifyU allows us to expand access to live, cohort-based learning that builds adaptive leadership capabilities while strengthening global connection and community. It’s a powerful addition to HRCI’s robust portfolio of offerings.”
Learning outcomes include:
“Amid rapid change and technological disruption, fear, burnout, and isolation have become real undercurrents in the HR profession,” said Ajit Dodani, CEO of EmpathifyU. “But research consistently shows that organizations with strong people strategies win. This experience is designed to help HR leaders clearly connect people, culture, and customers to measurable business outcomes, so they can lead with confidence, articulate their value, and quantify their impact. By partnering with HRCI, we’re scaling a framework that has already delivered results across organizations and making it accessible to HR leaders navigating today’s complexity.”
The cohort-based deployment model enables HRCI to offer multiple program cycles annually, increasing accessibility while fostering sustained engagement and long-term professional community.
For more information about upcoming cohorts of EmpathifyU Adaptive Leadership: An immersive live learning experience presented by HRCI, visit this link.
About HRCI
HRCI is the premier credentialing and learning community for the human resources profession. For more than 50 years, HRCI has set the global standard for HR expertise and excellence through its commitment to developing and advancing those in the people business. HRCI helps HR professionals and organizations build new capabilities that drive results by offering world-class learning experiences and administering eight global individual certifications and three organizational certifications. Today, more than 500,000 HR professionals in over 150 countries have earned HRCI certification as a mark of high professional distinction. Learn more at hrci.org.
About EmpathifyU
EmpathifyU is a Los Angeles-based leadership development firm that helps organizations build high-performing, trust-centered cultures through practical, empathy-driven people strategies. EmpathifyU partners with leaders and teams across industries to navigate complexity, strengthen accountability, and deliver sustainable business and human outcomes. Its services include keynotes, workshops, coaching, and fractional leadership, empowering leaders and organizations worldwide to adapt, lead, and thrive in today’s ever-changing workplaces. Learn more at empathifyu.com.
About Ajit Dodani
Ajit Dodani is an empathy strategist, leadership coach, and former C-suite executive with over 20 years of experience building and scaling robust people strategies across organizations of all sizes. At EmpathifyU, Ajit and his team have supported founders, executives, and teams through customized leadership development programs, personalized one-on-one coaching, and fractional leadership roles, serving organizations ranging from startups to global enterprises. He works across the for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors, with impact in industries including banking, technology, engineering, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, education, and more. Ajit’s work focuses on helping leaders and organizations build trust, adapt to change, and achieve sustainable high performance where individuals thrive professionally and personally.