Is This Room Free?

• Dotty Day - Fractional CPO (saying "yes" for career development, getting burnt-out, and having a squiggly career)

  In this epsiode I'm joined by Dotty Day, a seasoned HR professional with over 26 years of experience, specializing in interim roles and organisational change. Dotty shares her unique career journey, which began unexpectedly when she took a temporary position at Boots Pharmaceuticals, leading her to discover her passion for HR amidst a corporate merger.Throughout the conversation, Dotty reflects on her diverse experiences across various organizations, including Capital One and Eon, where she developed her expertise in HR transformation and organizational design. She emphasizes the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, which allowed her to gain valuable experience and grow her career.Dotty is someone who experienced rapid career progression but she also discusses the challenges of burnout she faced in her early career, which prompted her to reevaluate her work-life balance. This pivotal moment led her to explore freelance work, where she found fulfillment in helping organisations navigate change while maintaining her own flexibility.Having worked in contract roles for many years, Dotty is now looking to help others who want to take the freelancing path through Gighrly, a new community for HR professionals and independent consultants helping them with the tools and support required to navigate this route successfully.Notes🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Background (00:56 - 10:38)Dotty introduces herself as a career interim and HR freelancer with 26 years of experienceDotty specializes in organization design, culture change, and people change🏢 Early Career and Education (10:38 - 21:23)Dotty grew up in a working-class familyShe studied business studies with European business at universityDotty accidentally fell into HR through a temp job at Boots PharmaceuticalsShe progressed quickly in her career, taking on various HR roles💼 Career Progression and Challenges (21:40 - 32:09)Dotty moved through different companies, including Capital One and Northern FoodsShe experienced rapid career growth and significant pay increasesDotty faced burnout in a high-pressure role as head of resourcing🔄 Career Reset and New Directions (32:09 - 40:35)After burnout, Dotty left her high-paying job to reset her careerShe started a small business painting pictures and designing websitesDotty returned to HR through a role at Eon, which offered a better work-life balance🚀 Transition to Interim Work (40:36 - 49:30)Dotty transitioned into interim work, focusing on transformation projectsShe discusses the benefits and challenges of interim workDotty emphasises the importance of networking in finding interim opportunities🌐 Building a Network and Personal Brand (49:34 - 59:57)Dotty highlights the importance of maintaining professional networksShe discusses how her network has led to various job opportunitiesDotty explains the fluid nature of interim worSupport the show

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  1:06:07
• Megan Kelsall - People & Operations Manager (rapid career development, mentoring, and working in B Corps)

  In this episode I speak with Megan Kelsall, People and Operations Manager at Kelpi, a startup focused on sustainability through innovative seaweed-based materials. Megan shares her unique career journey, which began in the performing arts as a dancer before transitioning into the corporate world. She reflects on her ballsiness when working in a small business and convincing the MD that they needed a HR function because that's what she wanted to do.Throughout the conversation, Megan discusses her rapid ascent in HR leadership roles, but how she's had to handle imposter syndrome along the way. She discloses her experiences in both small and larger corporate environments, and receiving different advice about which direction to follow with her career but ultimately taking ownership of what she felt was right for her. Megan has primarily worked in businesses that operate within the sustainability sector and she explains what it is like working for companies that are B Copr certified, something she has helped them achieve within her work too.A significant theme of the episode is the importance of mentorship and coaching in professional development. Megan recounts her experience working with a mentor who provided invaluable support during a challenging period in her career. Their discussions helped Megan build resilience, gain confidence, and develop a more nuanced understanding of workplace dynamics. This conversation serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that mentorship can have on personal and professional growth, encouraging listeners to seek out mentors and embrace opportunities for learning and development.Overall, this is an incredible episode that covers many points of interest so I hope you enjoy it.Notes🎙️ Introduction and Background (00:14 - 04:31)Megan introduced as HR professional from Bristol, originally from Preston🏢 Career Discussion (04:31 - 09:05)Megan's career journey from dancer to HR professionalDiscussion about B Corps and their importance💼 HR Role at Kelpie (09:05 - 13:54)Megan joined Kelpie as People and Operations ManagerKelpie develops seaweed-based material to replace single-use plasticMegan's role includes setting up HR systems and growing the team🚀 Career Progression (13:54 - 25:41)Megan's fast-track career in HR discussedImportance of having HR in startups emphasizedMegan's experience taking companies through B Corp certification process🌱 B Corp Discussion (25:54 - 38:06)Explanation of B Corps and their focus on triple bottom lineMegan's passion for working in purpose-driven organizationsChallenges and benefits of B Corp certification process👔 Job Search and Career Choices (39:41 - 54:38)Megan's experience job searching with specific criteriaDiscussion on different career paths in HRImportance of knowing oneself and pursuing the right career path🏆 Work Experience and Growth (54:38 - 01:07:03)Megan's experience at Bluefield and reasons for leavingDiscussion on outgrowing organizations and career progressionImportance of celebrating employee growth and departures🧠 Mentoring and Coaching (01:07:27 - 01:23:11)Megan's experience with mentoring and its impact on her careerBenefits of having a mentor in HR professionImportance of finding the right mentor and being open to feedbackSupport the show

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  1:06:03
• Ryan Cheyne - Chief People Officer (the importance of creating amazing places to work)

  In this episode I sit down with Ryan Cheyne who has been operating as a HR leader for almost 20 years. Ryan's began his career in retail at Argos, quickly rising through the ranks to become a store manager before transitioning to HR. He talks about a hugely pivotal time at Pets at Home, where he tackled high attrition rates and focused on creating a positive workplace culture. From this we learn about his belief that the most important thing in HR is creating amazing places to work. He emphasises that HR's role is fundamentally about ensuring that employees have a positive and rewarding experience in the workplace. This involves focusing on culture, values, and employee engagement while also ensuring that the basics—such as pay, disciplinary processes, and overall HR functions—are handled effectively. Ryan asserts that when employees feel valued and engaged, they are more likely to deliver excellent service to customers, ultimately leading to the commercial success of the business.The discussion also covers Ryan's experience at rentalcars.com and his subsequent role at Flutter, where he continued to champion the idea that a strong people strategy is essential for business success. Throughout the episode, Ryan highlights the significance of building and maintaining professional relationships, the power of networking, and the impact of having supportive leadership in HR.NotesEdit🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Career Background (01:53 - 08:51)Ryan Cheyne introduced as guest on 'Is This Room Free?' podcastRyan's current role: Managing Director of People and Culture at FlutterRyan has 28 years of experience in HRFlutter owns brands like Paddy Power, Betfair, Tom Bowler, and Sky🏢 Recent Career Changes and Market Conditions (08:51 - 13:29)Ryan recently left Flutter after a short-term contract turned permanentDiscussion on current tough job market conditionsRyan looking for new opportunities since January🌴 Upcoming Holiday and Egypt Discussion (13:29 - 20:25)Ryan going on holiday to Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh)Conversation about Egyptian tourism and visiting the pyramids👔 HR Career Journey and Challenges (21:20 - 29:02)Ryan's transition from retail to HR leadership rolesDiscussion on the importance of company culture and valuesChallenges of balancing basic HR functions with strategic initiatives🛍️ Retail Experience and HR Transition (30:19 - 45:12)Ryan's early career in retail at Argos and TopshopTransition to HR leadership role at Pets at HomeFocus on reducing attrition and improving customer service through employee engagement💼 Career Progression and Creating Great Workplaces (45:12 - 56:17)Move to Rental Cars.com and later integration with Booking.comEmphasis on creating great places to work and its impact on business successImportance of CEO buy-in for HR initiatives🌐 Networking and Career Opportunities (56:42 - 01:14:12)Importance of maintaining professional networksDiscussion on how past connections led to new job opportunitiesRyan's approach to helping others in their careers🎭 Career Start and Fate (01:15:26 - 01:21:59)Story of Ryan's unconventional start at Argos through his mother's interventionReflection on the role of fate and creating one's own luck in career progressionPodcast wrap-up and future plans for the host's businessSupport the show

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  1:00:49
• Lara Holding-Jones - helping HR teams become better with data

  In this episode we delve into the significance of HR data, featuring Lara Holding Jones, who is the Founder of Pink Jelly People Consultancy. The thought of data analysis will make many run for the hills but through this conversation we learn about Lara's mission to make HR data engaging and accessible. It's not about becoming an analytics expert, Lara's focus is on practices such as learning what and how to input data correctly, simply become more comfortable and confident around data, but also being able to read reports more effectively so you understand what the data is showing.Lara didn't set out with specific goal of becoming a data specialist. Like many people's careers, it was something that kind of just happened along the way. We talk through her career and how she got some amazing exposure to strategic HR very early in her career. However, a chance opportunity to lead on an LMS implementation sent her career down a new path.Over time she began to realise the importance of data in making informed decisions, and wanted to empower HR teams to become more comfortable and proficient with data analysis.Her motivation stemmed from her belief that if HR professionals could improve their understanding of data and statistics, they could significantly enhance their effectiveness and contribute more strategically to their organizations. So she created Pink Jelly People Consultancy - aimed to provide training and resources that help HR teams move from basic data handling to more advanced analytics, ultimately enabling them to make better decisions and drive business outcomes.Notes🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Guest Background (00:00 - 14:39)Lara introduced as HR data specialistLara's mission: Make HR data fun and accessibleImportance of data in HR for commercial alignment and decision-makingLara's background: Business degree, HR masters, early interest in HR📊 HR Data Importance and Applications (14:41 - 35:13)Data literacy crucial for HR professionalsBenefits: Better decision-making, business cases, competitive advantageHR data applications: Surveys, system input, reporting, analyticsLara's services: System-agnostic training on data analysis and interpretation👩‍💼 Lara's Career Journey (35:33 - 49:27)Started in reward analyst role at Deutsche BankMoved to HR consultancy, focusing on strategic projectsDeveloped skills in data analysis, project management, and systems implementation🚀 Transition to Self-Employment (49:27 - 01:05:13)Left consultancy to start own businessFirst contract: LMS management for former clientDeveloped HR data specialist role, creating dashboards and improving processes📈 Current Business and Services (01:05:13 - 01:20:01)Pink Jelly People Consulting offers HR data trainingProgram includes statistics, Excel skills, reporting, and data best practicesFocuses on building confidence and competence in HR data analysisSupport the show

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  1:07:16
• Amelia Bradshaw - Head of People (growing as a HR leader in Tech, navigating the job market, and personal branding)

  The guest this episode is Amelia Bradshaw who has been in HR for over 20 years and working as a HR leader for over a decade, primarily working in the Tech sector.Amelia is currently looking for a new role and we discuss the challenges of navigating the job market in the current climate. Amelia's regularly posts some thought-evoking topics on LinkedIn and we delve into how and why she started to focus on her personal brand. We also get onto the role of AI in recruitment, discussing its current limitations, and what the future may look like.Amelia fell into HR through an Office Management route and her career progressed quite rapidly to being part of the Leadership Team and overseeing a large HR function with an international aspect. We discuss how she had to learn, grow, and influence to become successful in a HR leadership role as well as how you need to adapt when becoming exposed to sensitive commercial information.Notes🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Guest Background (00:38 - 03:03)Martin Drake introduces Amelia Bradshaw as the podcast guestAmelia is currently in Stevenage, previously lived in London for 30 yearsAmelia has 23-24 years of experience in HR/people function🔍 Current Job Search and Interview Process (03:16 - 09:35)Amelia had a final interview recently, waiting for resultsThis is Amelia's third final-stage interviewAmelia has other interview processes ongoingMartin emphasizes the importance of staying positive during job search💼 Career Progression and Challenges (10:26 - 16:51)Amelia's most recent role: Head of HR for a software companyAmelia resigned from her role in SeptemberReason for resignation: company shrank, role became standalone with mostly administrative tasksAmelia seeking a role where she can grow and flourish🖥️ LinkedIn Posts and Personal Branding (16:52 - 30:07)Amelia's LinkedIn posts have been noticed for being outspoken and thought-provokingAmelia started posting more to build her network and personal brandDiscussion on the importance of personal branding in modern job search📊 AI in HR and Recruitment (31:16 - 45:45)Discussion on using AI for writing job applications and job descriptionsMartin's perspective: AI not yet advanced enough for personalized, nuanced contentExploration of AI adoption in HR and its current limitations👔 Career Journey in HR (45:50 - 58:45)Amelia's entry into HR: started at a small software gambling companyProgression from office manager to HR advisorSignificant career growth: from HR Manager to HR DirectorGrowing from 30 to 260 people during Amelia's tenure🚀 Strategic HR and Leadership Experience (58:46 - 01:09:13)Amelia's transition to strategic HR roleExperience in mergers and acquisitionsChallenges of being on the leadership team, including dealing with difficult colleaguesHRSupport the show

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  1:04:09

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