146 | Lessons in HR Leadership: How to Succeed as a Chief People Officer, with John Scrooby

Jun 6, 2025

John Scrooby, Chief People Officer at Masabi, shares his journey from IT to HR, revealing the complexities of leadership in a tech-driven world. He discusses the importance of vulnerability and peer support in navigating high-pressure roles, emphasizing mental health awareness. John also highlights how embracing one's values can enhance leadership authenticity and impact. His insights on the difference between HR roles and the importance of personalized employee experiences make this an essential listen for aspiring HR leaders.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Tech Career to CPO Anecdote

John Scrooby transitioned from a 15-year tech career to HR after his CEO encouraged him to tackle high turnover.
Initially resistant, he embraced the role as a test and has now thrived for over 10 years at Masabi.

INSIGHT

From Compliance to Strategy Insight

John saw HR as a compliance function protecting leadership from legal mistakes.
He realized HR has evolved and the expectation is now to be a strategic partner in business success.

ADVICE

Ownership Defines Executive Leadership

Stepping from Director to CPO means owning every problem, regardless of who it falls under.
True executive leadership means never passing the buck and always solving challenges collaboratively.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to succeed as a Chief People Officer - or whether stepping into the role might be right for you - this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.

Host Fay Wallis is joined by John Scrooby, Chief People Officer at tech company Masabi. John shares honest and thought-provoking insights about what the role really involves, the challenges it brings, and how to navigate them. From taking ownership beyond your remit, to managing your wellbeing in a high-pressure role, and showing up as a values-driven, emotionally honest leader - this is a must-listen for anyone aiming to grow their HR leadership career.

John also reflects on his journey from his tech career to HR, explains what helped him make the transition, and gives advice for anyone looking to lead with impact.

Chapters from This Episode

[00:00] Introduction

[00:54] Why this series of episodes exists

[03:25] Meet John Scrooby

[03:55] How John got his first CPO role

[08:41] What he thought HR was - vs what he discovered

[10:39] The difference between being a Head of HR or HR Director and a CPO

[14:37] Advice for HR professionals nervous about stepping up

[17:20] Why peer support matters

[18:10] Vulnerability, leadership and mental health

[25:07] How John maintains his mental wellbeing

[29:43] Skills and habits that have helped him succeed

[32:15] John’s advice for anyone who would like to be a CPO one day

[36:21] His biggest challenge as a CPO

[41:24] How to get invited in as an HR leader

[44:51] His top piece of advice for new CPOs

[46:38] Courses or qualifications—are they essential?

[49:08] Conclusion

Useful Links

Book Recommendations from the Episode

(Book links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them).

Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!

Be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released and get access to other free career tips, tools and resources by signing up to receive the free weekly HR Coffee Time email.