HR Coffee Time 145 | HR career ambitions: Is the Chief People Officer (CPO) role right for you? (With David D’Souza, CIPD)
May 23, 2025
David D’Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD, discusses the intriguing evolution of the Chief People Officer (CPO) role. He clarifies what sets CPOs apart from traditional HR positions and highlights the significance of their strategic responsibilities in aligning workforce management with organizational goals. Listeners gain insights on overcoming self-doubt in leadership, the importance of mentorship and community, and how CIPD resources can enhance career growth. This offers a roadmap for those aspiring to reach the pinnacle of HR.
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Defining the CPO Role
- The Chief People Officer (CPO) role is a senior strategic position focusing on the people agenda at the heart of an organization.
- Titles like CHRO or Head of HR can overlap, but CPO signals people strategy as central to business success.
Rise of CPO Roles
- CPO roles have risen by 6% in one year in the UK, reflecting growing recognition of the HR function's complexity.
- The title growth shows organizations valuing people strategy as integral to longevity and success.
Expanding CPO Responsibilities
- The CPO role has expanded to include critical areas like wellbeing and diversity & inclusion which were once optional.
- This growing remit demands a more complex, multifaceted leadership to integrate these priorities strategically.