1. I say if you have to ask the question, there is probably no rock star. Who is the best known HR professional? Influence is great but only if your boss (and their boss) recognizes the person too.

2. I think there are several people out there doing cool and radical things at very large companies that have a low profile right now. For the good of HR and the business world, these people need to be out on the speaking circuit not just focusing on HR but all aspects of business.

3. I don’t think the work lends itself well to rock stars. Marketing and sales? Even brilliance in the area of TQM and decision sciences (think Deming) gets better status than the HR crowd. These all add value to organizations while HR is still perceived as soft. What HR can build is important and isn’t soft but very few people are willing to take on the issue head on and spread the message beyond HR.

1. Has the HR Rock Star already emerged? Once could make an argument that there are already several HR Rock Stars that have gained traction in the blogging field that are influencing others.

2. If you don’t buy that, where will he or she come from? Is there nascent HR leaders doing quiet work in their own organization who have yet to put on a more public face?

3. What is/are the barrier(s) that have prevented an HR rock star from emerging, that has/have been or will be removed to allow this star to shine?