HR Coffee Time

How do you prove the true value of HR so the business takes you seriously – and appoints you as Chief People Officer?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Leah Carnegie, Chief People Officer at Lottoland. Leah shares her journey from VP of People to CPO, explaining how she made sure HR wasn’t just seen as a support function but as a vital business partner.As part of our special CPO/CHRO series – where each guest answers the same nine listener-chosen questions – Leah becomes the 7th CPO to share her story. Along the way, she offers candid insights into job titles, the mindset shift from “doing” to “thinking,” and the emotional weight of senior HR roles.You’ll hear Leah’s thoughts on:The moment she realised HR had to be at the top table – and how she secured her seatThe difference between VP/Director roles and the remit of a CPOWhy business acumen is non-negotiable for HR leadersHow coaching skills, feedback, and psychological safety underpin her leadership styleThe emotional challenges of the role – and the wellbeing practices that helpPractical advice for aspiring and first-time CPOsWhether you’re aiming for a CPO/CHRO role, or want to build confidence and influence in your current one, there’s plenty of inspiration to take from Leah’s experience.Useful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programmeConnect with Leah Carnegie on LinkedInDisruptive HR resources and HRBP workshopsIDEO podcastHyper IslandOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 78:5 Tips to Get Useful Feedback at Work to Help Your HR/People CareerEpisode 99:How Mediation Skills Can Help You Resolve Conflict at Work (With Pete Colby)Episode 53:Why Coaching Skills Can Help Your HR Career (& How to Develop Them), with Charlie WarshawskiEpisode 130:Build Managers’ Confidence and Skills With ‘The Coaching Two-Step’, with Jude SlaterBooks Mentioned in This Episode(Please note the links shared are affiliate links, so, Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you choose to purchase them)HR Disrupted: It’s time for something different – Lucy AdamsThe HR Change Toolkit: Your complete guide to making it happen – Lucy Adams Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.Inspiring HR

Could an interim Chief People Officer or interim Chief Human Resources Officer role be your perfect career move? In this episode, we explore what the job is really like, the skills that help you succeed, and how to decide if it’s the right path for you.HR Coffee Time Host, Fay Wallis, is joined by Dotty Day, an experienced interim CPO, strategy consultant, and founder of Nu Leaf (supporting ambitious businesses with fractional HR leadership and practical, people-first strategies). She’s also the founder of gighrly, a thriving business club for HR freelancers and consultants.As part of our special CPO/CHRO series – where each guest answers the same nine listener-chosen questions – Dotty becomes the 6th CPO to share her insights. She talks about her unconventional path to the role, the realities of interim work, and valuable advice for all ambitious HR professionals.You’ll hear Dotty’s thoughts on:Why developing your commercial acumen should include learning from marketing as well as financeHow to say “no” without damaging relationships – and why it matters for avoiding burnoutA practical influencing strategy to get buy-in for your ideas before the meeting even startsAvoiding HR jargon and using the language of the businessThe mindset and adaptability needed to thrive in interim workWhether you’re aiming for a CPO/CHRO role, considering interim work, or just want to strengthen your leadership skills, there’s plenty to take away from this conversation.Useful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programmeConnect with Dotty Day on LinkedInVisit Nu Leaf– Dotty’s consultancyVisit gighrly– Dotty’s business community for HR freelancers and consultantsOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 7:What To Do When There Aren’t Enough Hours in the DayEpisode 86:How to Stop Other People Taking Credit for Your Ideas in MeetingsEpisode 103:Career Options in HR – Is Contracting the Perfect Fit for You? (With Eleanor Minshall)Episode 123:Avoid Burnout – How to Spot Signs of Stress & Take Action (With Dr Jo Burrell)Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.Inspiring HR

Victoria Pounder, Chief People Officer at Moore Kingston Smith, shares her remarkable journey from HR Director to pioneering a brand-new CPO role. She discusses the importance of building influence and trust within an evolving organizational culture during growth. Victoria emphasizes the balance between strategic talent management and protecting core values. She highlights the challenges of work-life balance, networking in HR communities, and embracing vulnerability as a leader, providing invaluable insights for aspiring CPOs and current HR professionals.

What makes a job application for the Chief People Officer role stand out, how do you balance being strategic and operational in HR, and why is compassion such an important leadership strength? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Funmi Onamusi, Chief People Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Funmi shares her inspiring and non-traditional journey to becoming a CPO - including the bold, values-led approach she took when applying for the role, and the importance of carving out strategic thinking time once she got there.She also opens up about the pressure that can come with being a Black woman in senior leadership, and how she has channelled that pressure into role modelling compassionate leadership for others.Whether you're aiming for a CPO role, want to be more strategic, or become a more impactful leader, you’ll come away with practical ideas, honest reflections, and real-life insight into what it takes to lead well in HR at the highest level.Chapters From This Episode[00:00] Welcome and introduction to Funmi Onamusi[04:06] Funmi’s route to becoming a CPO[06:50] Funmi’s job application approach[09:03] How she prepared for the interview[13:33] The difference between the HR Director & CPO roles[18:45] Advice on how to move from operational to strategic[23:33] How the role was different to what she had expected[27:55] Maintaining mental wellbeing in such a demanding role[34:12] The skills, habits and practices that have helped her succeed[41:14] The biggest challenges Funmi has experienced as a CPO[49:56] Funmi’s advice for aspiring CPOs[56:52] Courses and qualifications that have been useful for Funmi[01:00:00] Final thoughts Useful LinksEnjoyed 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.Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.Inspiring HR

Which skills really make the difference at the top of the HR profession?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, you'll meet the brilliant Jane Beeston, Chief People Officer at Colart. With nearly 40 years of experience in HR – spanning generalist roles, transformation, and international work – Jane has a huge amount of insight to share.We learn from her about the shift from HR Director to CPO, what the role really involves, and how she’s built strong relationships with her CEO and board. Jane talks openly about the communication skills she’s had to develop, how coaching training changed the way she works, and why staying curious (and occasionally sticking her nose into things!) has helped her make a bigger impact.Whether you’re working towards a CPO role or simply want to grow in confidence and influence, there’s plenty to take away from Jane’s story.Chapters from This Episode[00:00] Welcome & introduction to Jane[02:00] Jane’s path to becoming a CPO[04:00] Why the CEO relationship really matters[07:00] What changes when you move into a CPO role[08:00] What a board does (and how to work with them)[10:30] How Jane improved her communication skills[12:00] Staying connected across a global team[14:00] Getting your message to stick across the business[15:00] Why coaching skills have made such a difference[16:00] How curiosity helps you grow and influence[18:00] Common challenges in the CPO role[19:00] How Jane approaches communication in practice[22:00] Looking after your wellbeing in a demanding role[24:00] You don’t have to do it all alone[25:00] Advice for anyone who wants to be a CPO one day[27:30] Jane’s experience of cross-functional projects[30:00] Prioritising what matters most[32:00] If you’re stepping into a CPO role: own it![34:00] Courses and continuous learning that helped[36:00] Learning to work across different countries[37:30] Final thoughts and thank youUseful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInFay’s websiteFay’s HR leadership programme – Inspiring HR LeadershipConnect with Jane Beeston on LinkedInOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 53: Why Coaching Skills Can Help Your HR Career (and How to Develop Them) with Charlie WarshawskiEpisode 130: Build Managers' Confidence and Skills with the Coaching Two-Step with Jude SlaterEpisode 43: The One Thing That Will Boost Your Resilience Throughout Your HR Career with Tom ClearyEpisode 32: How to Write Work Emails That Get Results with Kim ArnoldEpisode 95: How to Build Trust in a Hybrid World Through Email with Kim ArnoldEnjoyed 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.Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.Inspiring HR

In this enlightening discussion, Kanika Mehra, a Chief People Officer with over 20 years of HR experience, shares her journey from Amazon to the CPO role. She emphasizes the importance of business acumen and data literacy in leadership. Kanika offers valuable insights on making tough decisions, leading through change, and the significance of aligning personal values with organizational goals. Her advice on enhancing LinkedIn profiles and fostering employee experience amidst business priorities is a must-listen for aspiring HR leaders.

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.

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.

This episode is a little different from usual, as I’ll be sharing some exciting updates about the future of the podcast. After three and a half years of releasing episodes every week, I’m taking a short sabbatical to prepare for the next stage ofHR Coffee Time - and I’d love your input to help shape it!In This Episode, You'll Hear About:[00:00] Why I'm taking a short break – Why now feels like the right time to pause and refresh.[02:10] The two key challenges I keep seeing in HR careers – How a lack of confidence, clarity, and role models is holding HR professionals back.[04:49] How conversations helped shape my next steps – The advice and insights that led to the idea of evolving the podcast.[09:05] From book idea to podcast interviews – How an unexpected conversation with a fellow career coach changed my thinking.[10:57] Why HR Coffee Time is evolving instead of stopping – A reassuring conversation that helped me realise I don’t need to start a whole new podcast.[12:39] Batch recording & smarter time management – How I plan to make the podcast more time-efficient while improving the quality of content.[15:02] I’d love your help! – How you can share your thoughts on the interview questions and suggest great Chief People Officers (CPOs) and Chief HR Officers (CHROs) to be guests on the show.Podcasts Mentioned in This EpisodeHR Coffee Time episode 123: Avoid Burnout: How to Spot Signs of Stress and Take Action, with Dr Jo BurrellHR Coffee Time episode 32: Diversity & Inclusion at Work – 7 Mistakes to Avoid (& What to Do Instead), with Dr. Jonathan Ashong-LampteyNicola Semple's podcast: The Career Confidence PodcastDr Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey's podcast: The Element of InclusionVerena Hefti's podcast: Big Careers, Small ChildrenWays to Get InvolvedTake the HR Coffee Time Next Chapter Survey – Help shape the podcast by sharing your thoughts on the questions I should ask my future guests. You can find the survey here: bit.ly/HRCTNEXTCHAPTERRecommend a Guest – Do you know an inspiring Chief People Officer or Chief HR Officer? Or are you one yourself? I’d love to hear from you!Get in Touch –Connect with me on LinkedInEmail me at fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.ukSubscribe to the HR Coffee Time NewsletterIf you’d like to be the first to hear when the new format of HR Coffee Time is live, sign up for the HR Coffee Time newsletter! You’ll also get career and leadership tips straight to your inbox, along with updates on new podcast episodes and helpful resources.Thank You for Your Support!The podcast will be back at the end of April 2025 with a fresh new format. In the meantime, I hope my journey of refining this idea encourages you to explore your own. Sometimes, the best way to gain clarity is to start talking about it.I can’t wait to bring you new conversations, and I look forward to hearing what you think. See you soon!Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.Inspiring HR

Discover four surprising training options to elevate your HR career: mediation, coaching, negotiation, and facilitation. Explore how mediation enhances conflict resolution while fostering communication. Learn about the distinctions and benefits of coaching versus mentoring. Delve into essential negotiation skills that boost business acumen and value. Each training option is backed by insightful experiences and expert advice, offering inspiration for your professional development journey. Perfect for those looking to sharpen their HR skills!