The People Tech Systems Guide
With the HR tech market moving quicker than ever due to AI and stricter budgets, there's no room for bad buying decisions.
With new platforms launching weekly, vendor consolidation, and shifting pricing models, choosing the right people tech stack requires a sharper lens than ever before.
This is exactly why I built the People Tech Systems Guide, drawing on my experience as an operator over the last 20+ years of building and advising people teams.
People leaders are expected to build systems that support growth, lead AI adoption, and deliver clear business impact. We must be smart about building the right people tech stack for each stage of growth.
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The challenge?
It isn’t just choosing the coolest tool. It’s knowing what actually makes sense for your company, your stage, and your priorities.
The good news?
This is a huge, career-changing opportunity for people leaders who lean into driving this mindset and behavioral change within their organizations and communities. And I'm here to support you every step of the way!
Your tech stack is dynamic; it cannot simply be “set it and forget it”.
Use this guide to stay ahead, scale intentionally, and avoid costly mistakes along the way.
What This Guide Will Help You Do
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Build a clear systems roadmap as you scale
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Evaluate tools with more confidence and less noise
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Prioritize what actually matters (and what can wait)
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Avoid common and expensive mistakes
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Get buy-in and implement in a way that sets your team up for success
What You'll Learn
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Where AI is truly driving value across the HR stack
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How recruiting is evolving amid AI, applicant fraud, and hiring volume shifts
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What to buy, when to buy it, and why
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SaaS pricing and negotiation strategies for today’s market
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100+ pre-vetted tools, including featured spotlights on solutions pushing the market forward
What's Included
You’re not just getting a guide; you’re getting a complete toolkit to help you build your roadmap, select the right tools, and implement systems that scale with your company.
People Tech Systems Guide
Tool recommendations and FAQs
Systems Evaluation Template
A structured way to compare and assess vendors
Strategy Executive Summary Template
Easily craft compelling proposals for leadership
Featured Tools
This guide includes some of my favorite tools used across each category.
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What People Are Saying...
In today’s HR tech ocean, where every vendor claims to be AI-powered, this guide brings you back to fundamentals: what you need, how you need and when you need it. Its crystal-clear roadmaps and practical examples make it indispensable for anyone looking to cut through the hype and build or buy systems that actually deliver.”
Sandhiya Thiruvengadam
This guide is chock-full of so much good stuff! It takes you through selection to implementation and offers so much good advice and great suggestions for tools to consider. If you're unsure about where to start with creating or adjusting your HR Stack, this is the best place to start.”
Vicki Yang
This is an absolute TREASURE TROVE of information, tools, and resources. If you are a startup or small business thinking about any aspect of supporting your people that HR Tech can accelerate, this is your go-to guide!”
Stacy Love
In an increasingly loud tech space, this guide will help you evaluate and identify what's right for your use case.”
Tiffany Patel
Shelby has done it again! Shelby keeps on top of the People and Culture tool stack trends, so you don’t have to. It’s great to have perspective across the different tools, integration considerations, and have an unbiased overview to triangulate with sales calls or past experiences when the products were less mature.”
Nicole Hopkins
Shelby's guide is a comprehensive, thoughtfully designed resource that truly covers all the bases—from core principles to implementation roadmaps—making it easy for people leaders to confidently navigate tech selection and rollout. The section on AI is especially timely, offering clarity and reassurance for those overwhelmed by how to approach emerging technologies.”
Stefanie Fackrell
I found this guide to be really helpful for leaders looking to evaluate their HR Tech stack. Having implemented many tools over the years, it was great to get a clear snapshot of the current HR tech landscape. There are many platforms in the market, and it can feel overwhelming to keep up - this guide really helped summarize everything in an easy to read format.”
Deanna Russ
