HR Insights

Elliott Scott HR
HR Insights

HR Insights - The Podcast. Topical discussions with and for our global HR community. 

  1. Series 7: The Decline and Resilience of DEI

    EPISODE 1

    Series 7: The Decline and Resilience of DEI

    Send us a text Welcome back to a brand new series of HR Insights: The Podcast hosted by our CEO and Owner, Stuart Elliott.  We are excited to bring you another insightful series with both new and returning guests. We’re kicking off our first episode with audience favourite and long term friend of Elliott Scott HR, Sasha Scott. Sasha has two of the three most downloaded episodes of all time and is back to to talk about DEI in the corporate world, its decline amid cultural and economic challenges, SHRM’s decision to drop the E from DEI, the impact of the new government in the UK as well as reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent individuals.  In today’s episode, Stuart and Sasha kick off the discussion with the decline of DEI within big organisations, whether that be due to budget cuts, impetus or internal initiatives. The pair examine recent headlines that question the future of DEI and whether companies are quietly withdrawing their commitments. Sasha also speaks of the demonisation of the acronym as the world becomes more polarised and the way in which DEI has often become a scapegoat for corporate failure. The discussion then moves on to how evolving government regulations and economic pressures will shape the future of DEI roles and initiatives. The decline of the job market for DEI professionals is highlighted and the increasing need for comprehensive DEI strategies to be implemented within organisations. Amid the SHRM’s decision to drop Equity from its DEI framework, Sasha expresses her frustrations as well as the pressing need to understand equity versus equality.  Finally, Stuart and Sasha look ahead to how the new UK government might influence business accountability and inclusion, the potential for increased regulation and the positive changes expected in the DEI landscape. With a focus on psychological safety, Sasha highlights the importance of including neurodivergent individuals and the broader implications for workplace culture.  Sasha Scott is the CEO and Founder of Inclusive Group and is considered an expert in her field; she has appeared on the BBC and has been published in multiple newspapers. She understands the commercial drivers behind reducing bias within the workplace and the critical need to promote and sustain an inclusive workplace culture. Key Timestamps: 00:30 – A warm welcome back to Season 702:40 – Intro to Sasha Scott 06:50 – The decline of DEI amid cultural and economic challenges11:25 – Laws banning/limiting DEI initiatives 12:40 – Quiet Quitting15:30 – Job cuts in TA17:15 – SHRM’s decision to drop the E from DEI 26:42 – The New government in the UK and its impact 30:16 – Toxicity in the workplace 35:25 - Economic pressures putting strain on DEI37:56 – Neurodiversity and making reasonable adjustments You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    46 min
  2. EPISODE 2

    Series 7: Mindset, Body Language, Speech and Voice

    Send us a text Has your voice ever been front of mind for you? Many people often dismiss how their voice sounds and comes across to people, but it is a huge part of your executive presence. Our guest today, Susan Room is a former C-suite leader and is the creator of business voice coaching. Business voice coaching helps organisations communicate in an open, authentic and inclusive way. Today, our CEO and Host Stuart Elliott speaks to a familiar face of Elliott Scott HR, Susan Room. Susan has previously worked with us on a successful event in the UK and will hopefully be back with a webinar in the coming months for our global audience. In this episode, Stuart and Susan chat about what business voice coaching is and how it differs from other types of coaching, what a typical business voice coaching programme involves, the business case for voice coaching, measuring the success of the programme and tips for working professionals to help with their voice.  Susan’s Make Your Mark framework focuses on developing mindset, body language, speech and voice; enhancing personal success and well-being, organisational culture and performance. Susan holds a master’s degree in Voice Studies with a Distinction from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, a Voice and Speech Trainers Association member, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. If you are interested in working with Susan; you can read her testimonials here.   Key Timestamps: 02:21 – Introduction to Susan Room10:43 – What is business voice coaching?15:20 – Vocal bias18:59 – Vocal Brand 27:27 – The business case for voice coaching 30:31 – Vocal Capital 36:21 – Tone of voice38:16 – What does a business voice coaching programme involve?44:39 – Measuring success 49.50 – Tips for working on your voiceYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    56 min
  3. EPISODE 3

    Series 7: Career Stories: Venturing Beyond Your Comfort Zone

    Send us a text Welcome back to another episode of HR Insights: The Podcast. To kick off the first career stories episode of the series, Stuart Elliott welcomed another friend of Elliott Scott HR, Ria Davey to discuss her career journey spanning multiple global locations, her development along the way amidst organisational changes and transformation, as well as the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone.  In this episode, Stuart and Ria begin by discussing Ria’s expansive experience in the HR world. From an early career working in the Middle East, moving to Hong Kong and then on to New York, Ria explains the challenges she faced when adapting to different cultures and ways of working. The conversation then moves onto Ria’s career milestones as well as some of the obstacles she’s faced both personally and in her work life. She shares her top tips for becoming an effective business partner as well as leader, emphasising the importance of authenticity in leadership, continuous learning, and creating environments where team members feel safe to grow and challenge the status quo. Ria Davey is the Group Director of People for D&A-Engineering at LSEG. With over 20 years of global, strategic HR leadership experience, she is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD), holds an MA and BSc in HRM and Psychology and a certified executive coach. A transformation specialist with a wealth of experience in engineering, fintech and data led multinationals, Ria has lived and worked in the Middle East, Hong Kong, New York, and London.  Key Timestamps:  02:09 - Intro into Ria Davey07:25 - How the move to the Middle East escalated her career 12:55 - Ria’s top three career milestones 14:43 - The similarities and differences between working in the Middle East and Hong Kong17:45 - The challenges of establishing boundaries 21:30 - Career and Personal challenges 27:15 - The proudest moment in Ria’s career 28:20 - The core responsibilities of a People Business Partner 30:50 - Key skills and qualities of a successful Business Partner 34:32 - How to lead successfully 39:33 - Insights on the market, future trends and direction of HR 46:08 - Advice for aspiring Business Partners  You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    49 min
  4. EPISODE 4

    Series 7: Misconceptions of the US Employment Market

    Send us a text We’re back with another episode of HR Insights: The Podcast! Today, Stuart Elliott is joined by Nikki Brigati, SVP of Client Engagement at PGC Group. She joins the podcast to talk about the misconceptions of the employment landscape in the US. When clients hire their first US workers, they often have misconceptions about the employment landscape, such as underestimating the complexity of federal and state regulations or assuming that employment practices are consistent across the country. In this episode, Stuart and Nikki discuss one of the biggest challenges clients face when hiring in the US market; navigating regulatory complexities while also understanding the cultural nuances of the workforce. Talking through what key factors US workers are driven by, for example: competitive compensation, benefits, work-life balance, and opportunities for growth when accepting a role. The use of notice periods is also discussed alongside the terminology used between the UK and US. They also chatted through the main aspects to consider when hiring in a new state as well as key advice for businesses to undertake to mitigate the risk of potential employment claims.  Nikki specialises in the realm of Client Relations, Expansion, and Retention. As the SVP of Client Engagement at PGC Group; she focuses on building scalable client solutions, developing relationships with stakeholders at key client accounts, helping clients mitigate risk, building bespoke client solutions, and resourcing clients on the North American employment landscape to position them for growth. She also manages a team of Business and Relationship Managers across the US and UK.  Due to her depth and breadth of experience in account management and increasing revenue through building strategic relationships with clients, Nikki has cemented herself as the go to expert and the voice of the client in PGC.  If you would like to find out more about the US market and for advice on making your first US hire, please contact Nikki on nicole.brigati@pgcgroup.com Key Timestamps  02:17 – Introduction to PGC04:48 – Introduction to Nikki 09:30 – The biggest misconceptions of hiring your first US employee12:22 – The difference in employment between Democratic led and Republican led states16:06 – Legislations around notice periods in the US17:48 – Biggest challenges when starting out in the US21:27 – 3 most important factors to consider when hiring US based employees 23:08 – Paid time off and hybrid working 28:44 – Factors to consider when hiring across states 31:10 – Temp vs Perm hiring 32:55 – Top tips for hiring in the USYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    38 min
  5. EPISODE 5

    Series 7: Maximising Employee Success with Talent Analytics

    Send us a text We have another exciting episode of HR Insights: The Podcast. This week, Stuart Elliott is joined by HR Consulting Director and Thought Leader at EDLIGO, Reimund Nienaber to discuss his role of leveraging talent analytics to enhance employee satisfaction and business outcomes. He explains how EDLIGO supports companies in their digital transformation journey and the importance of understanding data to personalise career development paths. In this episode, Stuart and Reimund begin the conversation by talking through his career and role at EDLIGO as well as the benefits of talent analytics. He emphasises the importance of starting small with data, and allowing EDLIGO’s AI driven competency frameworks to fill in the gaps, thus enhancing personalised career development paths and creating a positive impact on overall job satisfaction. The conversation then moves on to the role of talent analytics in fostering a more inclusive workplace, free of bias and ensuring equal opportunities for career advancement. Reimund expresses the concerns and scepticisms employees may have regarding the use of talent analytics and how organisations can address these to build transparency and trust. Reimund Nienaber is passionate about Talent Development, Talent Analytics, and Learning Analytics. He is a seasoned HR leader with extensive global experience and a strong track record of driving innovation. With over 20 years of expertise in human resources and 15 years in technical and managerial roles within the telecommunications industry, he excels as a trusted senior management advisor and coach. He holds a Master Professional (CCI) in Business Management (IHK) and is a Certified Business Economist (DeLSt). His focus is on continuously improving people and processes through game-changing strategic initiatives, enabling businesses to thrive in rapidly changing environments. Key Timestamps:  03:02 - Intro into Reimund 04:58 – Reimund's role within EDLIGO08:28 – How talent analytics can be used to personalise career development paths for employees and improve employee satisfaction12:17 - Leveraging AI to create reliable competency frameworks 21:11 – How a manager can use talent analytics to identify skills gaps in their team26:00 - The difference between ‘future skills’ and ‘competency’29:35 – The role of talent analytics in helping us create more inclusive environments38:00 – Changing the sceptics' minds on data-driven research41:04 – How to use data to enhance your own performance and career growth  You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    50 min
  6. EPISODE 6

    Series 7: The Transformative Power of Leadership Conversations

    Send us a text Welcome back to HR Insights: The Podcast Series 7! This week, Stuart Elliott is joined by global business leader and co-founder of Leadrly, Paul Stewart. Paul has spent decades transforming organisational culture and leadership through a multitude of roles and shares his insights on the fast-paced changes shaping our world today. He also offers his perspective on how important conversation is in making real change. In this episode Paul and Stewart discuss Paul’s evolving career from economist to the founding of Leadrly, a cutting-edge leadership and AI-driven platform. He discusses the challenges of creating vs changing culture and the role of AI in today's leadership landscape, particularly how Leadrly integrates with tools to provide on-demand coaching and guidance for leaders. Paul also delves into the nuances of leadership as a conversation, the challenges faced by mid-level managers, the generational divide in communication and the misconceptions around AI in the workplace.  Paul Stewart has a background in social sciences and spent 10 years as a bank economist. He moved into corporate strategy, focusing on strategy implementation, organisational culture, and leadership development. In 2004 he co-authored the bestseller Branded Customer Service and went on to co-found On-Brand Partners two years later. In 2022/23, he launched Leadrly, an AI-powered system that supports leaders.  Read some of Leadrly’s blogs below: History of leadership communication Leading beyond downsizing – conversations matter Embracing change: How to lead your team through transformation  Key Timestamps:  02:50 – Intro to Paul06:55 – The journey into entrepreneurship13:20 – Setting up Leadrly 17:42 – The philosophy behind Leadrly 22:45 – How Leadrly helps mid-level managers 28:10 – The generational divide in technology33:08 – Leadrly’s reception amongst clients 39:20 – Measuring success44:28 – AI’s implications for organisational culture 46:44 – Advice for HR leaders implementing AIYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    52 min
  7. EPISODE 7

    Series 7: The Success of Strategic HR Leadership

    Send us a text Today our Host and CEO, Stuart Elliott, is joined by Ruth Gellert-Neale, who speaks about strategic HR leadership. It is very difficult to execute and be a true strategic HR leader, this episode aims to guide HR leaders to be just that by using Ruth’s myriad of knowledge and expertise.  Throughout the episode, Stuart and Ruth discuss how strategic leadership can contribute to organisational success, strategies to get businesses through times of change or crisis, ensuring the development and succession of leaders, metrics and analytics that strategic HR leadership can use to measure and improve organisational success and the challenges or barriers to effective strategic HR leadership and the routes to overcome them. They also touch on Ruth’s career story, attrition rates and how the perception of DEI has changed over the last year. Ruth is an experienced HR Executive with a diverse portfolio of global expertise; advising C-suite leaders, as well as developing and growing teams to operationalise and deliver strategic HR initiatives. Originally from the UK, Ruth got her master’s degree in human resources from the University of Hertfordshire and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD. Ruth moved to Singapore in 2019 and is now the Chief People Officer for APAC and EMEA for JLL Technologies, where she champions the use of AI within the HR function and has driven a culture of high performance.  Key Timestamps 02:45 – Introduction to Ruth Gellert-Neale13:14 – How strategic HR leadership can contribute to organisational success16:30 – Understanding what strategic HR leadership is20:38 – Effective strategies to manage difficult times 26:56 – How strategic HR can ensure continuous development and succession of leaders32:42 – Metrics for measuring organisational success36:20 – The rise and fall of attrition rates 39:42 – The perception of DEI 42:02 – Challenges and barriers for strategic HR leadership and how we can overcome themYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    49 min
  8. EPISODE 8

    Series 7: Do you Need a Career Coach?

    Send us a text In today’s challenging market, career coaching is a pertinent topic. Today’s resident expert, Programme Director and Career Coach Kate Mansfield, is a familiar face of the show. Kate has previously written content for us and has been a guest on our news episode of HR Insights. Joining Kate is our CEO and Host Stuart Elliott to facilitate the conversation and provide our audience with the starting points they need to have those sometimes feared, career conversations.  Throughout the episode, Stuart and Kate discuss what career coaching is and the power those conversations can carry. They touched on the challenges faced with internal career conversations and the benefits of an external coach, pushbacks from management, organisations that have good strategies in place to have these conversations and the seniority of individuals wanting these conversations. As the conversation moves on Stuart and Kate chat through The Kaleidoscope Career Model and becoming career champions.  Kate is a familiar face to the ESHR family, she takes responsibility for designing and delivering career development programmes for CCS clients across both private and public sector organisations in the UK and internationally. Kate is also a Lead Tutor on our open Accredited Career Coach Training course and continues to coach clients individually, thoroughly enjoying working with those wishing to focus on a wide variety of career related issues from career development to career transition.  Kate brings a particular depth of knowledge of coaching HR professionals as well as those transitioning from corporate life. Kate is also highly experienced and passionate about coaching women to evolve their careers. She is a qualified career coach trained by CCS and supported by her MSc in Organisational Behaviour.  Key Timestamps: 01:46 – Introduction to Kate Mansfield05:52 – Becoming a Career Coach 07:59 – Challenges with internal career conversations 13:13 – Pushbacks from management to have career conversations 17:38 – Organisations that so well in this space23:18 – Do career conversations depend on seniority?28:43 – The Kaleidoscope Career Model 32:00 – Challenges HR face with career conversations 36:16 – Career Champions 40:33 – How Kates’s research helps workplace professionals You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!

    47 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

HR Insights - The Podcast. Topical discussions with and for our global HR community. 

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada