How HR Leaders Change the World

Cecilia Crossley
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Updated 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. 6d ago

    Episode 245: Culture, Curiosity and Caring for People – Sarnjit Kaur, Chief People Officer, International at Cox Automotive

    Sarnjit believes great organisations are built on cultures that genuinely care. At Cox Automotive, she shares how psychological safety, active listening and continuous feedback create environments where people can thrive. For Sarnjit, HR isn't simply responsible for culture – every interaction is an opportunity to shape it.  As AI changes the way work gets done, Sarnjit sees technology as a tool to enhance, not replace, human judgement. Drawing on examples from Cox Automotive, she explains why HR leaders must stay deeply connected to the business they support, understanding how work really happens so people strategy creates lasting commercial value.  Growing up with immigrant parents, inclusion has always been personal to Sarnjit. She reflects on how her Sikh heritage has shaped her leadership, and shares Cox Automotive's work to embed inclusion across the organisation, for example to increase female representation. Throughout the conversation, one idea comes through consistently: stay curious, keep learning, and never stop looking beyond your own role. How HR Leaders Change the World Live! 11th November 2026 – London Book your Early Bird ticket now! 150 of the best HR leaders in one room! Join the annual gathering of bold, forward-thinking HR leaders who believe people strategy shapes the future of business - and the world beyond. ·      Hear stories from pioneering CHROs, be part of hands-on workshops and work with a community of peers who get it; you'll leave with actions, as well as inspiration.  ·      Expectr real conversations on building cultures that perform under pressure, rethinking productivity in the age of AI, and designing organisations that are genuinely human. ·     This year's sessions include The Agility Lab: Reimagining High-Performance Culture through Experimentation, and speakers include CPOs from easyJet, Edelman, Havas, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Lloyds of London and PepsiCo Europe. Plus, this year's grande finale keyonte is the extraordinary Livia Firth! Her session titled: Stop Eating at Your Desk, and Other Stories to Fall in Love with Change, will bring an inspiring and very human lens to transformation. And who's not talking about transformation right now?! Here's what attendees have said on previous years: ·     "Game changing ideas on how we shape the future of work" Dannii Portsmouth, CPO, PepsiCo Europe ·      "Brim full of ideas and inspiration" Emma Norton, People Policy & Risk, Bupa ·      "Absolutely inspired is how I feel!"  Natalia Wallenberg, CHRO, Ahold Delhaize And as always, every penny of profit empowers vulnerable children to be safe, loved and learning, so your ticket is creating positive change from the go! Places are limited, the early bird closes 17th July It's energising. It's practical. And it's a reminder that HR holds extraordinary influence. If you care about the future of work, and the role you play in shaping it, this is your room. You can book your Early Bird here: https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world-live-2026 See you there!

    28 min

  2. Jun 30

    Episode 244: Mental Health, Belonging and the Role of AI: Carmen Barboza, CHRO at Crowell & Moring

    A certified coach and yoga teacher, Carmen brings a deeply human lens to people leadership at Crowell & Moring, a global law firm. Carmen shares how her work is addressing significant mental health risks in the legal profession, providing examples such as Unplug Time: 40 paid timecoded hours for employees to fully disconnect and reset. Carmen sees AI as something that should amplify humanity, not replace it. Fresh from the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) conference in the US, attended by 26,000 HR professionals, Carmen reflects on three emerging themes: building trust and safety to experiment with AI, ensuring responsible and ethical AI use, and the rise of trust as a measurable business priority.  An immigrant from Venezuela, belonging is a defining thread in Carmen's leadership, expressed through initiatives such as STEP, the Staff Talent Empowerment Programme, which pairs high-potential business professionals with sponsorship and development opportunities to help unlock careers that might otherwise go unseen. For Carmen, the focus is always on preserving the humanity in how people work and lead, making space for vulnerability, empathy, dignity and connection, and allowing people to show up as they are, without masking or armour.  How HR Leaders Change the World Live! 11th November 2026 – London Book your early bird ticket now! Join the annual gathering of bold, forward-thinking HR leaders who believe people strategy can shape the future of business - and the world beyond. Bringing together Chief People Officers and HR decision-makers, the conference features powerful keynote speakers, candid conversations and practical insights from leaders who are proving that commercial performance and positive impact go hand in hand. This isn't theory. It's real-world leadership stories, from organisations embedding sustainability into people strategy to those designing human-centred culture in the age of AI.  Building on the success of the How HR Leaders Change the World podcast, the conference inspires every HR Professional to see themselves as an HR Changemaker, equipped with ideas, confidence and community to lead differently. It's energising. It's practical. And it's a reminder that HR holds extraordinary influence. If you care about the future of work, and the role you play in shaping it, this is your room. Early Bird Ticket: How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! 2026     Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for June is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking, by Matthew Syed. We're all navigating more complexity than ever right now. AI, shifting workplace expectations, doing more with less, and still making work feel human.  Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed provides a resource for how. His argument: the teams who solve the hardest problems aren't the ones full of the best individual thinkers, they're the ones who think differently from each other. A brilliant book on why diversity of thought helps us solve complex problems. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    31 min
  3. Episode 243: The HR conference where nobody is on their phones - because nobody wants to miss a thing... How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! 2026. Get your Early Bird!

    Jun 23

    Episode 243: The HR conference where nobody is on their phones - because nobody wants to miss a thing... How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! 2026. Get your Early Bird!

    No lectures, no powerpoint presentations, at How HR Leaders Change the World – Live! you'll find honest discussion and plenty of participation on the realities facing HR leaders today. On HR's opportunity to drive positive change for business, people and planet.  Tickets have just gone live, and in this special episode to launch our brilliant early bird offer, we're bringing you highlights from 3 of this year's CHRO speakers, all alumni of this show, sharing examples of their leadership: Elly Tomlins, Chief People Officer at easyJet, Nathan Adams, Chief People Officer at Lloyd's of London and Dannii Portsmouth, Chief People Officer at PepsiCo EMEA – a taster for what's to come – your opportunity to be in the room, learning from and with, some of the world's most pioneering CHROs. We also hear from Stacey Kingshott, Global Senior HR Director at World Wide Technology, who's been attending for many years, indeed has already secured her Early Bird ticket, on why this conference is so special and what she takes away to help her in her own work. Plus – introducing our grande finale, this year's keynote is the incredible Livia Firth – a first mover driving sustainability in the fashion industry – you might be recalling photos in the press at glamorous awards, of her creation, The Green Carpet. Her session, Stop Eating at Your Desk, and Other Stories to Fall in Love with Change, will bring an inspiring and very human lens to transformation. This is the conference where nobody is on their phones - because nobody wants to miss a thing. 11th November 2026, London Get your Early Bird Ticket today and save £100; spaces are limited and it's a sellout conference! Click here to secure your place: Early Bird Ticket: How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! 2026 The Early Bird is only open until 17th July – so don't delay! Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for June is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking, by Matthew Syed. We're all navigating more complexity than ever right now. AI, shifting workplace expectations, doing more with less, and still making work feel human.  Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed provides a resource for how. His argument: the teams who solve the hardest problems aren't the ones full of the best individual thinkers, they're the ones who think differently from each other. A brilliant book on why diversity of thought helps us solve complex problems. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    31 min

  4. Jun 16

    Episode 242: Curiosity, Confidence and Learning Through AI – Ashley Bartley, Chief People Officer at Checkatrade

    As AI transforms the workplace, Ashley shares why organisations should focus less on having all the answers and more on creating environments where people feel confident to learn, experiment and adapt. Drawing on her experience in high-growth businesses, Ashley explains why curiosity is one of the most important capabilities for both leaders and employees.  Ashley shares how Checkatrade is using AI to improve customer and employee experiences, while encouraging people to develop new skills through practical experimentation. She discusses the importance of creating safety nets that allow employees to try new approaches and make mistakes.  Ashley makes the case that successful transformation is fundamentally human, and advocates that fostering curiosity, confidence and continuous learning means organisations will be best placed to unlock the opportunities AI creates.  Free online Lunch & Learn with Coca Cola and Kantar: AI in TA & Onboarding Tuesday 23 June 1-2pm BST Digitalising your Talent Attraction and Onboarding processes is one thing. Knowing where AI fits - and where it doesn't - is quite another. Many of your peers are at exactly this crossroads right now. Excited by the possibilities, but conscious of the risks. Keen to move faster, but not at the cost of the human moments that matter most. Join our free online lunch & learn, we'll share the findings from our research in partnership with The Talent Labs, and you'll hear from Heidi Eckersley, Global Talent Acquisition Leader at Kantar and Suzy Jearum, Global Digital Employee Experience Lead at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. From productivity gains to employee experience wins, you'll leave with insights and ideas you can consider for your organisation too. Join us! Book your place here:  AI in Talent Attraction Onboarding webinar   Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for June is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking, by Matthew Syed. We're all navigating more complexity than ever right now. AI, shifting workplace expectations, doing more with less, and still making work feel human.  Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed provides a resource for how. His argument: the teams who solve the hardest problems aren't the ones full of the best individual thinkers, they're the ones who think differently from each other. A brilliant book on why diversity of thought helps us solve complex problems. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    37 min

  5. Jun 9

    Episode 241: Building an AI-Ready Workforce Without Losing the Human Touch - Laura Pocock, Director of People & Culture, BT Business

    As technology reshapes the workplace, Laura shares how BT Business is preparing its people for one of the biggest workforce transformations in decades. Laura explains why creating an AI-ready workforce requires more than new tools - it demands investment in mindset and continuous learning at every level of the organisation.  Laura explores how BT is combining human-centred design with AI adoption, embedding learning into the flow of work and equipping colleagues with the confidence to use AI safely, productively and responsibly. From large-scale AI training programmes to AI apprenticeships, Laura highlights how organisations can empower employees to adapt to changing roles.  Throughout the conversation, Laura emphasises the importance of keeping people at the centre of transformation. Her message is clear: organisations that focus on curiosity, capability and human potential will harness AI while strengthening both employee and customer experience.  Free online Lunch & Learn with Coca Cola and Kantar: AI in TA & Onboarding Tuesday 23 June 1-2pm BST Digitalising your Talent Attraction and Onboarding processes is one thing. Knowing where AI fits - and where it doesn't - is quite another. Many of your peers are at exactly this crossroads right now. Excited by the possibilities, but conscious of the risks. Keen to move faster, but not at the cost of the human moments that matter most. Join our free online lunch & learn, we'll share the findings from our research in partnership with The Talent Labs, and you'll hear from Heidi Eckersley, Global Talent Acquisition Leader at Kantar and Suzy Jearum, Global Digital Employee Experience Lead at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. From productivity gains to employee experience wins, you'll leave with insights and ideas you can consider for your organisation too. Join us! Book your place here:  AI in Talent Attraction Onboarding webinar   Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for June is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking, by Matthew Syed. We're all navigating more complexity than ever right now. AI, shifting workplace expectations, doing more with less, and still making work feel human.  Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed provides a resource for how. His argument: the teams who solve the hardest problems aren't the ones full of the best individual thinkers, they're the ones who think differently from each other. A brilliant book on why diversity of thought helps us solve complex problems. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    29 min

  6. Jun 2

    Episode 240: HR as the Architect of Opportunity - Alana Brandes, Chief People Officer at Guild

    Alana explores how HR can move beyond traditional talent management to become a true architect of opportunity. Alana shares her deeply held belief that every person has untapped potential, and that HR's role is to design the culture and conditions where that potential can be unlocked, at scale. Alana makes the case for building organisations where learning is central to culture - where curiosity, experimentation and even failure are actively encouraged. She shares practical examples of leaders learning new AI capabilities together in real time, and reflects on how organisations can shift from credential-led thinking to skills-based, capability-driven approaches in hiring, development and progression. Alana discusses how HR's influence extends beyond organisational boundaries, calling for a stronger sense of civic connectivity and shared responsibility for creating opportunity. Free online Lunch & Learn with Coca Cola and Kantar: AI in TA & Onboarding Tuesday 23 June 1-2pm BST Digitalising your Talent Attraction and Onboarding processes is one thing. Knowing where AI fits - and where it doesn't - is quite another. Many of your peers are at exactly this crossroads right now. Excited by the possibilities, but conscious of the risks. Keen to move faster, but not at the cost of the human moments that matter most. Join our free online lunch & learn, we'll share the findings from our research in partnership with The Talent Labs, and you'll hear from Heidi Eckersley, Global Talent Acquisition Leader at Kantar and Suzy Jearum, Global Digital Employee Experience Lead at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. From productivity gains to employee experience wins, you'll leave with insights and ideas you can consider for your organisation too. Join us! Book your place here Thank you to Deel for sponsoring this episode. What does HR look like when it's built for global scale? With Deel, HR teams can hire, onboard, and manage talent in 150+ countries without setting up local entities or managing multiple vendors. ·        Generate compliant contracts in minutes. ·        Automate onboarding. ·        Tackle performance reviews. ·        Centralize employee records, time off, and benefits in one place. Deel takes care of compliance and document management, so you can focus on people, not processes. From that first offer letter to ongoing support, Deel makes global HR feel local, fast, and easy.   Visit www.deel.com/uplift today.   Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for June is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking, by Matthew Syed. We're all navigating more complexity than ever right now. AI, shifting workplace expectations, doing more with less, and still making work feel human.  Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed provides a resource for how. His argument: the teams who solve the hardest problems aren't the ones full of the best individual thinkers, they're the ones who think differently from each other. A brilliant book on why diversity of thought helps us solve complex problems. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    32 min

  7. May 26

    Episode 239: Evidence-Based HR: Psychology, AI and Higher-Impact People Systems, Sarah Mason, Chief People Officer at SThree

    With a psychology-informed perspective, Sarah explores how HR can design more effective and fairer people systems by combining commercial thinking with evidence-based practice.  Sarah explains why aligning profit and purpose is essential for HR to create lasting impact, and why inclusion must be embedded into systems rather than left to individual judgement. Providing an example in hiring approaches, Sarah describes how competency-based assessment, psychometrics and scenario testing help reduce bias and improve hiring quality. Sarah also explores the future of HR through an 'augmented' lens, where people, technology and business strategy are designed together. Sarah highlights the growing role of AI in removing administrative work and enabling more human, value-adding capability, alongside a strong call for HR to remain relentlessly evidence-based in everything it does. What do you think? AI vs Human in TA & Onboarding We're not anti-AI. But we do think there are moments in talent attraction and onboarding where human experience is the whole point. But what do you think?... In partnership with The Talent Labs we're running a short survey; the findings will sit alongside behind-the-scenes insights from BT Group, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Deloitte, Kantar and more. Could you help us make this the most useful research it can be? It takes just 3 minutes! Click here: The Human Edge in the Age of AI: Winning Talent Without Losing the Human Touch Survey And to say thank you, you'll enter our Prize Draw to win 5 Uplifting People gift sets for you and your team, worth £449!   Thank you to Deel for sponsoring this episode. What does HR look like when it's built for global scale? With Deel, HR teams can hire, onboard, and manage talent in 150+ countries without setting up local entities or managing multiple vendors. ·        Generate compliant contracts in minutes. ·        Automate onboarding. ·        Tackle performance reviews. ·        Centralize employee records, time off, and benefits in one place. Deel takes care of compliance and document management, so you can focus on people, not processes. From that first offer letter to ongoing support, Deel makes global HR feel local, fast, and easy.   Visit www.deel.com/uplift today.   Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for May is The Working Parent Equation, Balancing small humans with big careers, by Georgie Rudd. Know a working parent? A colleague that has all the plates spinning, and you're not quite sure how they're managing? Or perhaps that's you?!   The Working Parent Equation is an extra special book, packed with practical exercises for anyone to reflect on their own, personal, working parent equation, and wonderfully our very own Cecilia Crossley wrote the foreword.   Here's her summary: It's an incredibly helpful tool for any working parent - one that will help you, your family, your organisation, and society – because each of us intentionally designing our own equations takes us a step closer to gender equality.   Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    32 min

  8. May 19

    Episode 238: The HR Leader's Legacy: Building Performance Through Inclusion and Community, Sue Davies, EVP and CHRO at Markel

    Preparing to retire after 40 years in HR leadership, Sue joins us to reflect on a career defined by commercial understanding, community engagement and a belief that inclusion drives performance.   Sue shares that the heart of Markel's identity is the 'Markel Style', a set of principles connecting how the business operates with how it serves stakeholders and the wider community - and sits at the centre of employee experience.  Sue makes the case that community engagement, through volunteering, board service and pro bono work, is one of HR's most powerful and underused tools for developing leaders, building empathy and sharpening decision-making. Sue leaves us with a clear message: when HR connects business performance and community impact, it creates stronger leaders and better business results.  Thank you to Deel for sponsoring this episode. What does HR look like when it's built for global scale? With Deel, HR teams can hire, onboard, and manage talent in 150+ countries without setting up local entities or managing multiple vendors. ·        Generate compliant contracts in minutes. ·        Automate onboarding. ·        Tackle performance reviews. ·        Centralize employee records, time off, and benefits in one place. Deel takes care of compliance and document management, so you can focus on people, not processes. From that first offer letter to ongoing support, Deel makes global HR feel local, fast, and easy.   Visit www.deel.com/uplift today.   Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?   Our book of the month for May is The Working Parent Equation, Balancing small humans with big careers, by Georgie Rudd. Know a working parent? A colleague that has all the plates spinning, and you're not quite sure how they're managing? Or perhaps that's you?!   The Working Parent Equation is an extra special book, packed with practical exercises for anyone to reflect on their own, personal, working parent equation, and wonderfully our very own Cecilia Crossley wrote the foreword.   Here's her summary: It's an incredibly helpful tool for any working parent - one that will help you, your family, your organisation, and society – because each of us intentionally designing our own equations takes us a step closer to gender equality.   Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

    28 min
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About

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
    245
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright From Babies with Love Trading Ltd 2024
  • Show Website
    How HR Leaders Change the World

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