In this episode, Alice Stone shares her journey from HR apprentice and young mum to People Director and why a truly human-centred approach beats rigid rules. We unpack the real difference between legal flexible working and lived flexibility, how to kill presenteeism, and the systems that create safety, trust and performance.You’ll learn:Legal vs lived flexibility and what high-trust cultures actually doHow to measure impact (pulse checks, outcomes over hours, retention signals)The manager shift: from micromanaging time to coaching for resultsPractical playbook: job-sharing, hybrid done well, “Level 10” meetings, employee voiceIf this gave you something useful, subscribe and share it with a leader who needs to hear it.Chapters:00:00:00 — Plan or Chance? Alice’s Start00:00:20 — From Midwife Dreams to HR00:02:21 — Apprenticeships, Not One Path00:03:18 — Becoming a Mum Changed HR00:04:19 — Kind vs Nice at Work00:05:12 — Flexibility: Law vs Reality00:06:20 — Job-Sharing, Hybrid, Wellness Days00:07:58 — What Flexible Cultures Feel Like00:09:57 — Trust Adults, Measure Outcomes00:11:45 — Productivity Gains, Not Presenteeism00:13:52 — Winning Stakeholders: Speak Their Language00:15:54 — Presenteeism & Sick-While-Working Trap00:17:11 — Outcomes Over Hours, Anywhere Work00:18:52 — Safety First: “If You’re Ill, Rest”00:20:58 — Spot Burnout: Pulse & Training00:22:44 — Define Flex Here: What We Celebrate00:23:54 — Employer Brand: Compete on People00:25:34 — Retention Proof & Real Support00:27:28 — Building Safety: Ways-of-Working Labs00:30:11 — What Is a Level 10 Meeting?00:31:30 — From ‘How Do We…?’ to ‘We Will’00:33:42 — Advice to My Younger Self
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35:10
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35:10
Why Working Parents Are Leaving — And How to Fix It
Working parents aren’t the exception, they’re half your workforce.In this episode, Becki Nazareth (L&D leader, turned working parent & carer specialist) shares what really breaks and fixes the experience for parents at work, from policy basics to culture, flexibility and line manager reality.You’ll learn:Why policy is just the foundation and what proactive support really looks likeHow to educate “accidental managers” and build inclusive, flexible teams that performThe return to work gap: identity shifts, re-induction, and using the SCARF model for certaintyWhat data leaders need (and how to get it) to win the case for flexibilityIf this helped you, subscribe and share it with a leader who needs to hear it.Chapters (Timestamps)00:00:00 — People Work: Plan or Chance?00:00:36 — From Teaching to L&D to HR00:02:23 — Why Becki Backed Working Parents00:04:10 — Who Counts: Parents and Carers00:05:36 — Policy Shifts & Systemic Gaps00:07:20 — Start With Policy, Don’t Stop There00:09:03 — The Manager Mindset Shift00:11:12 — Beyond One-Off Workshops00:12:40 — Spaces That Actually Help (ERGs, Talks)00:14:05 — What “Doing It Well” Looks Like00:16:00 — The Identity Shock of Return00:17:35 — SCARF & Creating Certainty00:19:42 — Reactive vs Proactive HR00:21:10 — Re-Induction: Onboarding… Again00:23:22 — Hybrid, Mandates & Real Flexibility00:25:24 — Win Leaders With Data00:27:28 — Measure What Happens After Return00:29:28 — New Stages: School & Holidays00:30:51 — One Piece of Career Advice00:31:37 — Know Your Values, Decide Faster00:32:20 — Closing Thanks
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33:47
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33:47
From Barista to Head of People Ops: The Skills That Transformed My Career
A career in HR isn’t about formal training, it’s about skills you already have.In today’s episode, Rosalinda Buttice shares her remarkable journey from barista to Head of People Operations at Pension B. She talks about how the skills she developed in hospitality have shaped her approach to leadership and people management in the world of HR.Key Takeaways:The power of interpersonal skills in leadership, from hospitality to HRHow leadership is the most transferable skill for success, and why it’s key to building trust within teamsWhy adaptability is crucial in the fast-paced world of HR, and how you can start practicing it todayThe importance of prioritisation in both hospitality and HR to stay ahead in a constantly changing environmentIf you’re ready to take your career to the next level, subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear Rosalinda’s inspiring journey!Chapters:00:00:00 From Barista to HR00:01:59 The Importance of Mentorship00:04:03 What are Transferable Skills?00:06:22 Top Skills from Hospitality to HR00:08:07 Building Human Connections in HR00:09:33 The Power of Leadership00:11:43 Creating a Circle of Safety00:13:33 Leadership Skills Beyond the Workplace00:16:59 Skills Needed for the Future of HR00:18:12 How to Be More Adaptable in HR00:19:12 The Art of Prioritization00:23:20 Building Bridges Between Teams00:25:01 How to Influence Senior Stakeholders00:26:33 The Importance of Being Yourself00:29:01 The One Skill to Focus On Today00:30:50 Advice to My Younger Self00:32:05 Closing ThoughtsSubscribe, share and stay tuned for more insights.
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33:20
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33:20
The Hidden Truth About Candidate Experience
We say we’re “people first”, but candidates can tell when we’re not. This conversation is a reality check for how hiring actually feels in 2025.In this episode, Marie Chaproniere reveals how she fell into HR from performing arts and why great Talent Acquisition is far more than filling roles. We unpack what a real candidate experience looks like today, the mess, the honesty, and why transparency beats polish every time.You’ll learn:The difference between recruitment and true TA and why strategy wins over speedWhat “good” candidate experience looks like now (and the red flags to kill immediately)How to stay human with ATS and AI, you can’t automate empathyPractical inclusion: accommodations, the “cafeteria” model, and why truth-telling attracts the right peopleIf this helped you hire better or get hired better subscribe and share this with someone who needs it.Chapters00:00:00 — From Dance Studio to HR00:00:29 — Falling Into TA by Accident00:02:57 — TA vs Recruitment: The Real Difference00:04:11 — What “Good” Candidate Experience Means in 202500:05:39 — Tech’s Limits: You Can’t Automate Empathy00:07:16 — Public Call-Outs & Why Brand Behaviour Matters00:08:34 — Small Wins in Hypergrowth Hiring00:09:56 — Radical Transparency in Job Ads00:11:43 — Attracting for Fit, Not Volume00:13:28 — Truth-Telling Cultures Beat Perfect Stories00:14:43 — Inclusion by Default: Real Accommodations00:16:41 — The “Cafeteria” Model for Interviews00:19:30 — Where to Communicate Adjustments (Beyond JDs)00:21:33 — What Great Looks Like: Real Examples00:24:33 — Start With an Audit: Language, Process, Data00:26:38 — Map the Bad to Design the Good00:27:17 — Sharing Interview Questions Ahead of Time00:28:44 — Safe to Fail: Culture That Grows People00:30:36 — Using AI Well (Without Losing Yourself)00:31:15 — Metaview, Notes & Better Feedback Loops00:32:39 — Advice to My Younger Self00:33:58 — Choosing Authenticity (Even When Scary)
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34:31
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34:31
What If It All Works Out? | HR Secrets for Scaling & Success
What if it all works out?In this episode, we chat with Abigail Cooper, People Partner, who shares invaluable insights on scaling teams and HR strategy. Abigail Cooper's journey from admin roles to shaping internal communication and succession planning provides a powerful blueprint for businesses navigating the future of work.You’ll learn:The core principles of internal comms that will keep your team engaged and aligned.Why managers are key to successful HR communication (and how to train them).How to create clarity and reduce overwhelm with a simple, scalable communication framework.The key to creating psychological safety and a resilient leadership culture.If you’re ready to rethink your internal comms and team strategies, subscribe for more impactful HR insights.Chapters:00:00:00 — From Admin to HR Strategy00:02:30 — Confidence in the Chaos00:04:02 — Internal Comms: A New Era00:06:56 — The HR Role Shift00:09:55 — Internal Comms Framework00:12:25 — Connecting with Managers00:14:18 — Overcoming the Overwhelm00:16:58 — Communication Cadence00:18:53 — The One Source of Truth00:21:40 — Understanding Your Team’s Needs00:23:10 — Planning for Success00:25:40 — Storytelling for HR00:27:39 — Scaling for the Future00:29:12 — What’s Missing in Your Strategy?00:31:10 — Overcoming Imposter Syndrome00:34:18 — What If It All Works Out?
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