How HR Leaders Change the World

Cecilia Crossley
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Weekly

Explore how the work of HR Leaders is creating positive social change, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals - goals which the world's companies are increasingly understanding the urgency of achieving, and investing in the action required. If you'd like clear, actionable ideas for how you can use the power of your role to effect change in your company, you're in the right place. I'm the founder of social enterprise Uplifting People, we provide services to HR Leaders, and through this work I realised that HR professionals and social entrepreneurs are working in the same areas, albeit in different ways. So we created this podcast to share knowledge, on steps we can take through the work of HR. In my opinion, if you're an HR professional, you are also a change maker. And this podcast will provide you with examples of how. By sharing the successes of some of the world's most inspiring HR Leaders, you can frame your work in the context of positive change, implement brilliant ideas, and feel absolutely wonderful about doing so!

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 260: Syed Ali Abbas, VP People at HelloFresh on HR's Multiplier Effect

    Recorded live at Unleash in Paris, Syed Ali Abbas believes HR's greatest impact comes from a multiplier effect: enabling others to act on a bigger scale than any one person could. He shares how that thinking has shaped his career, from mobilising HR peers early on, to bringing together governments, education and business.  Discussing AI Transformation at HelloFresh, Abbas explains how colleagues had a full year to build their AI skills at their own pace, starting with a private self-assessment that only they could see. The result was change without the overwhelm, employee communication and success without posters on the wall.  Abbas also shares a family story about the dignity of accepting help, and how it shapes the safe space he creates for colleagues today. His call to action for HR: see employees as individuals, not names on a spreadsheet.  Sorting End-of-year Gifts for Your People? Almost one in two employees say they'd rather some of the Christmas gift budget went to charity (Ipsos for GlobalGiving UK). Our Seasonal Gift Service ensures your gifts do both. Your people receive a thoughtful gift they'll value, customised if you'd like, and with your personalised greeting. And every gift helps a vulnerable child too: together we've donated over $1m so far, supporting 46,000 children. Gifts start from £35.95, and we look after everything for you - from personalisation to delivery - whether it's one address or thousands. Book a quick call and we'll take it from there: https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/happy-holidays-gift-service Order by 4 December to guarantee delivery before Christmas. How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫 Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

  2. Oct 27

    Episode 259: Gina Vargiu, Chief People Officer at SAP on Why HR Must Co-Create the AI Era

    Recorded live at Unleash, Gina shares why she sees AI as a human transformation story, and a huge opportunity for HR to redesign roles, teams and organisations. She explains the new skills HR needs to lead it, from workforce intelligence to business acumen, and why keeping purpose at work matters more than ever.  Gina shares how SAP has shifted from credential-based to skills-based selection and development, giving 112,000 colleagues access to a skills taxonomy that opens up career opportunities. She's open about what was hardest, and explains why global job architecture, an artefact of the industrial age, must be rethought.  Drawing on her family's story, Gina speaks about her commitment to economic inclusion. She describes SAP's support for social enterprises, with more than 4,400 on its business network platform, and its employee network groups, powered by tens of thousands of employees.  Gina's call to action for HR: step up as co-creators of the new AI era.  --- Sorting End-of-year Gifts for Your People?   Almost one in two employees say they'd rather some of the Christmas gift budget went to charity (Ipsos for GlobalGiving UK).   Our Seasonal Gift Service ensures your gifts do both.  Your people receive a thoughtful gift they'll value, customised if you'd like, and with your personalised greeting.   And every gift helps a vulnerable child too: together we've donated over $1m so far, supporting 46,000 children.  Gifts start from £35.95, and we look after everything for you - from personalisation to delivery - whether it's one address or thousands.  Book a quick call and we'll take it from there: Corporate Christmas Gifts 2026 | Seasonal Gift Service – Uplifting People Order by 4 December to guarantee delivery before Christmas. --- How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫 Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

  3. Oct 20

    Episode 258: Coleen Highfield, Chief People Officer at Foxtons on Why HR Must Be Unapologetically Brave

    Coleen Highfield believes commercial success and people thriving at work go hand in hand. She shares how she has brought company cultures together after acquisitions, providing practical examples such as a six-week programme to help new colleagues feel part of the organisation, and pricing benefits harmonisation into the transaction, so everyone is on a level playing field. As a single mum, Coleen speaks personally about talented women forced to pull back on their careers after having children. She introduces her upcoming book, Survive and Thrive for Working Mums, and describes the impact of a workplace children's holiday club that doubled as a talent solution. Coleen's call to action for HR: be unapologetically brave in leading individualised ways of working. --- Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight. On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change. The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours. "The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna. Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫 Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter References ·        Survive and Thrive for Working Mums, Coleen Highfield's website: https://surviveandthriveforworkingmums.co.uk

  4. Oct 13

    Episode 257: Lisa Dodman, Chief People Officer at Optima Health on Thinking Commercially, Beyond the Rule Book

    Lisa Dodman shows how HR adds the most value to the business when it thinks commercially and steps beyond the rule book. Drawing on her time leading the people strategy at a global software business, she reflects on how listening, psychological safety and a clear communication strategy took its Glassdoor rating from 3.4 to 4.1 in a year. Lisa provides examples of how AI can take away HR's administrative work, freeing people teams to focus on workforce planning, commercial results and ensuring social value is not treated as a box-ticking exercise. Her call to action for HR: don't confine yourself within the rules. --- Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight. On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change. The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours. "The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna. Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫 Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

  5. Oct 6

    Episode 256: Ewen MacPherson, Havas UK and Christelle Beneteau, Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Meet CPOs on stage at How HR Leaders Change the World – Live!

    Ewen and Christelle share examples of how their commercial leadership also creates value for society. Both speakers at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! this year, in this special episode we bring together moments from their podcast episodes as we share what to expect on the day. Following the top of the agenda topics, from designing organisations where AI and humans make each other better to what will separate the best employers in 2027, hear examples of Ewen and Christelle's work and come and join them, as well as CPO alumni of this podcast, and 150 of the best HR leaders, for more!  11th November 2026, London. As well as Christelle and Ewen, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change. The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours. "The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna. Tickets are nearly gone...  Take a look at the full agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN Don't miss out!

    Episode 256: Ewen MacPherson, Havas UK and Christelle Beneteau, Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Meet CPOs on stage at How HR Leaders Change the World – Live!

  6. Sep 29

    Gian Power OBE, Founder and CEO of TLC Lions on Why Human Workplaces Outperform

    Gian Power OBE demonstrates how business benefits from being more human, and shares two stories to illustrate. In one, US pharmaceutical leadership become a changed team after an afternoon sharing their stories; in the other, a sceptical CEO watched a L&D strategy grow from a single person sharing a story, to transform customer experience in every store around the world.  Fresh from boardroom conversations in New York, Gian explains what human means now that AI is on every board agenda, and why human workplaces outperform. He sets out the 4Cs framework that TLC Lions sees drive performance, and shares a simple filter for focussing on the most important work in a noisy world: is it structural or cyclical, relevant or just interesting?  Gian also speaks personally about mental health. He talks about the leader at PwC whose small act of support changed everything for him, and explains how leaders' stories create help-seeking behaviours that colleagues can draw on years later.  His wish for HR is bold: challenge at board level more often. "You have to be willing to lose your job to do your job."  --- Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight. On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change. Gian Power OBE, Founder and CEO of TLC Lions, one of this year's Headline Partners, is chairing our Boardroom Conversation, The Human Advantage: designing organisations where people and AI make each other better. The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours. "The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna. Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN --- How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫 Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

  7. Sep 22

    Episode 254: Jennie Barker, Chief People Officer at Rightmove on Why Performance Starts with People, Not Process

    Jennie Barker challenges the idea that better performance comes from better processes. She explains why clarity, accountability, meaningful work and great leadership matter more than forms and rating scales, and how good performance management can also be an equity intervention. Jennie shares how Rightmove is helping people navigate AI, from creating space for honest conversations about anxiety and job security to giving teams the training and freedom to experiment. She explores why psychological safety matters when the future of work feels uncertain, and why people need to feel they can work alongside AI rather than having AI done to them. Jennie also reflects on the issues she cares most about, including gender equity, housing inequality and homelessness. She leaves us with a wish for HR: focus your efforts on the leaders who shape people's everyday experience, and come together as a profession to support each other through a period of extraordinary change. --- Thank you to Staffbase for sponsoring this episode We're delighted that Staffbase is a headline partner this year at our flagship conference, How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!  Staffbase knows HR Leaders are the ones driving transformation at work, and they're here to help.  Their employee communications platform connects companies with their people, whether they're at their desk or out on the front line.  With tools that boost engagement, give employees a voice and align everyone around shared goals, Staffbase helps HR leaders create meaningful change and measure its impact. Want to learn more? Head to Staffbase.com and see what Staffbase could do for your organisation. ---  How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫 Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

  8. Sep 15

    Episode 253: HR's Opportunity to Fix the Meritocracy Myth – Rachel Cox, Global CPO at Maintel

    What happens when we assume the best talent will naturally rise to the top? For Rachel, the idea of meritocracy misses a crucial point: people do not start from the same place. Across 25 years in HR, Rachel has challenged the systems and assumptions that can limit access to opportunity and in this episode explores why access needs to start earlier. Rachel also shares a powerful example of employing someone with a spent conviction. Rachel discusses her views on AI and future talent, the impacts of technology performing some of the tasks that once gave young people their first role, and how to ensure the next generation get early opportunities to learn and progress. Rachel's call to action for HR: be brave. It's a fitting end to a conversation about questioning the way things have always been done. Thank you to Staffbase for sponsoring this episode We're delighted that Staffbase is a headline partner this year at our flagship conference, How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!  Staffbase knows HR Leaders are the ones driving transformation at work, and they're here to help.  Their employee communications platform connects companies with their people, whether they're at their desk or out on the front line.  With tools that boost engagement, give employees a voice and align everyone around shared goals, Staffbase helps HR leaders create meaningful change and measure its impact. Want to learn more? Head to Staffbase.com and see what Staffbase could do for your organisation.

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Explore how the work of HR Leaders is creating positive social change, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals - goals which the world's companies are increasingly understanding the urgency of achieving, and investing in the action required. If you'd like clear, actionable ideas for how you can use the power of your role to effect change in your company, you're in the right place. I'm the founder of social enterprise Uplifting People, we provide services to HR Leaders, and through this work I realised that HR professionals and social entrepreneurs are working in the same areas, albeit in different ways. So we created this podcast to share knowledge, on steps we can take through the work of HR. In my opinion, if you're an HR professional, you are also a change maker. And this podcast will provide you with examples of how. By sharing the successes of some of the world's most inspiring HR Leaders, you can frame your work in the context of positive change, implement brilliant ideas, and feel absolutely wonderful about doing so!

Information

  • Creator
    Cecilia Crossley
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    260
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright From Babies with Love Trading Ltd 2024
  • Show Website
    How HR Leaders Change the World

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