People Analytics Network Census: Results & Future Plans
On July 15, 2025, the Society for People Analytics (SPA) hosted an engaging session focused on the People Analytics Network Census (PANC)—an ambitious initiative designed to map and strengthen the global people analytics community. This webinar brought together experts across industries to review findings from the census and explore what these insights mean for the evolution of people analytics.
Moderated by Caitlin Gillespie, Director of People Analytics Consulting at Visa, the panel included:
Andrew Pitts, Founder & CEO at Polinode
Matthew Diabes, PhD, Global Clinical Assistant Professor in Human Capital Management at NYU
Richard Rosenow, Vice President of People Analytics Strategy at One Model
Stephanie Murphy, PhD is also a core member of the PANC team but was unable to join this session.
This blog recaps the webinar, sharing an overview of the discussion and key takeaways for the people analytics community.
Full presentation materials can be found here on the Society for People Analytics Resouces Page.
What is the People Analytics Network Census?
The webinar began with panelists explaining what the PANC is and how it came to be. They shared that the idea originated from a conversation between Richard and Andrew at a conference, which ultimately led to the launch of the PANC in December 2024.
The goal of the PANC is to use Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) to map the global people analytics network and analyze it to provide actionable insights for the community. This project was designed not only to offer a clearer picture of the field’s structure but also to strengthen connections across the community—benefiting both organizations and individual practitioners.
“We wanted to provide the community with benchmarks,” said Richard Rosenow, highlighting how these insights can guide decisions on team design, skill development, and long-term strategy.
Survey Overview
The panelists provided an overview of survey administration and participation. The PANC received over 450 responses, with more than 2,500 unique individuals nominated and 5,500 distinct connections mapped. The panelists described this enthusiastic engagement as evidence of the strong appetite within the people analytics field for connection, collaboration, and benchmarking.
Additionally, the team:
Prioritized privacy, security, and ethics throughout the project to ensure responsible data handling.
Took a methodical approach to identifying influencers, incorporating a third category of “other important relationships” to capture broader network dynamics.
Applied a PageRank algorithm to measure influence within the network, with explicit consent from those identified as influencers.
Collected quotes from influencers, sharing their passion for and commitment to the people analytics community.
Highlighted the top 20 overall influencers, who collectively represent 76% of the respondent network and reach 98% when accounting for their extended connections.
Demographic Insights and Community Dynamics
Richard Rosenow presented key demographic insights, and panelists discussed their implications:
U.S. dominance in the survey while also recognizing the global nature of the people analytics community.
Gender balance in the HR field and what it means for the development of people analytics.
The importance of capturing traditional census variables and the need for broader representation in future surveys.
The impact of local meetups and network connections.
Informal Communities and Network Analysis
Andrew Pitts introduced the concept of informal communities using the Louvain community detection algorithm. He and the panelists discussed:
Communities characterized by geographic distribution, top cities, and self-reported connection averages.
Identification of 11 distinct informal communities, with a deeper analysis of Communities 1 and 2.
Use of a collaboration matrix to understand cross-community connections and overall network dynamics.
Psychosocial Well-being and Networking Strategies
Matt Diabes shared preliminary research on the relationship between psychosocial well-being and network influence. He discussed:
Positive associations between psychosocial well-being, outreach behaviors, and general influence within networks.
The concept of being a broker in networks, contrasting Tertius Unions (connecting others) and Tertius Guardians (keeping others apart).
Findings that Tertius Unions are positively related to network growth and influence, while Tertius Guardians may lead to isolation.
Key Takeaways: Insights from the Census Discussion
In conclusion, panelists emphasized several key themes:
The value of mapping the community: The census provides a clearer picture of how people analytics practitioners are connected globally, helping uncover important relationships within the field.
Collaboration and engagement: The strong response—over 450 submissions and more than 2,500 nominations—demonstrated the community’s enthusiasm for connection, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Influence in the network: Using ONA allowed the team to identify key influencers and explore how connections shape the flow of ideas and practices across the field.
Actionable insights for practitioners: The findings help teams understand their position in the network, identify opportunities for collaboration, and benchmark their visibility within the people analytics community.
What You Can Do Next
If you’re a people analytics practitioner or leader, here are a few next steps:
Reach out to local meetup organizers to collaborate on city-specific network studies.
Attend local meetups to expand your connections and share knowledge.
Proactively connect people within your network to foster collaboration.
Review your personal PANC report to understand your network position and opportunities for growth.
Participate in the 2026 People Analytics Network Census to contribute to the ongoing mapping of the community.
Get Involved with SPA
SPA is actively seeking members to contribute to its various initiatives. If you're passionate about people analytics and want to make a difference, visit societyforpeopleanalytics.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
