The Plumm Pod

We say we want “nice” cultures, then wonder why people burn out.Tiger de Souza, People leader at Samaritans, reveals how charities and mission-driven teams can balance purpose, limited resources, and real human support without losing clarity or standards.What you’ll learn:Why “nice” cultures exhaust people and why kind cultures performThe 4 leadership principles Samaritans use (accountability, empowerment, inclusion, connection)How to equip managers for monthly, meaningful performance conversationsHybrid/volunteer culture at scale: 20,000 volunteers, new norms, real psychological safetyWhere AI helps ops, but can’t replace human connection in crisisIf you lead people (in charities or beyond), this conversation will reset how you think about culture, performance, and wellbeing.👉 If this helped, subscribe and share with a leader who needs it.

What happens when you climb to the top of your career… but lose yourself along the way?In this powerful conversation, Matt shares how he accidentally fell into HR, rose through global roles at UBS, and then faced the devastating reality of burnout that cost him his health, career, and identity.We uncover:How recruitment turned into a global HR careerThe hidden drivers behind burnout and why so many ignore the signsWhy HR professionals are at the highest risk of emotional exhaustionThe three “buckets of burnout” and how to protect yourself from themPractical tools to set boundaries and recover before it’s too lateThis is not just an HR story, it’s a human story. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, detached, or on the edge of burnout, this episode might just change the way you approach your work and your life.Chapters00:00 – Falling into HR by accident01:00 – Recruitment, sales pressure & global moves02:40 – UBS opportunity & career breakthrough04:30 – Burnout disguised as success06:20 – The toxic drive of “not good enough”08:00 – What burnout really feels like09:45 – Therapy, coaching & rebuilding identity11:30 – Discovering the power of coaching13:10 – Why HR faces higher burnout risks15:20 – The breaking point moment16:40 – Catching stress before it becomes burnout18:20 – Signs of exhaustion & irritability20:00 – Detachment, cynicism & losing purpose23:20 – The tension at the heart of HR25:10 – The three buckets of burnout explained28:40 – Purpose, values & dangerous overcommitment32:00 – Overwhelm vs. burnout – the difference34:10 – Weekly check-ins to stay vigilant35:40 – Boundaries, respect & saying no37:20 – Peak performance through rest39:20 – Advice to my younger self: “Look at the evidence”

What if the key to retention, engagement, and authentic leadership isn’t perks or pay but community?In today’s episode, I sit down with David Hughes, Global Head of Talent at Costa Coffee, whose journey took him from competing for Great Britain in athletics to leading people, purpose, and community in one of the world’s most recognisable brands.We explore:How sport shaped his leadership philosophy and resilience.Why community is the most overlooked driver of engagement and retention.The rising influence of Gen Z and their demand for authenticity.How brands can avoid “whitewashing” and build trust through meaningful action.This is a masterclass in understanding why authenticity, purpose, and connection will decide the future of work.👉 If you found this conversation valuable, subscribe for more episodes and share this with someone who needs to hear it.Chapters00:00:29 – HR: Planned or by chance?00:01:27 – From GB athlete to HR leader00:02:19 – How sport shaped leadership00:04:04 – Leaving athletics & finding purpose00:05:51 – From recruitment to Boots & HR00:07:03 – What community really means00:09:55 – The data: community reduces turnover by 50%00:11:23 – Why Gen Z changed everything00:12:45 – Community, charity & the HR function00:14:42 – Building local impact: the SEN school project00:16:24 – Skills vs. qualifications: the future of work00:18:38 – The four pillars of talent at Costa00:20:11 – What EVP really means (and why most get it wrong)00:23:09 – Authenticity vs. whitewashing in employer branding00:24:59 – Gen Z: why they can’t be fooled00:27:03 – The real cost of ignoring community00:29:47 – A life-changing trip to Colombia00:31:54 – How to convince senior stakeholders00:33:02 – Advice to my younger self: mistakes & fourth gear00:34:55 – Why slowing down creates better work00:36:10 – Closing reflections on purpose and belonging

What if your financial health is the key to improving your work performance?In this powerful episode of The Plum Pod, Georgia is joined by Andrew Mulder, People Director at Nudge, as they explore the often-overlooked connection between financial well-being and employee productivity. From the impact of financial stress on mental health to why businesses should prioritise financial education, Andrew reveals why this topic is essential for a thriving workforce.Key Learnings:Financial Well-being Defined: What it truly means and why it's crucial for employees at all income levels.The Business Case for Financial Education: How it drives retention, reduces absenteeism, and boosts productivity.Practical Advice for Employers: How to implement financial education programmes on a budget and with global scalability.Don’t miss out on this insightful conversation ,subscribe to The Plum Pod for more episodes on HR and mental health!Chapters00:00:00 – The Surprising Link Between Money and Mental Health00:03:15 – How Andrew Ended Up in HR by Chance00:08:45 – Breaking Down Financial Well-being: What It Really Means00:12:30 – Financial Education: The Missing Piece in Corporate Wellness00:17:00 – The Problem with 'More Money' as a Solution00:22:15 – Nudge’s Approach to Financial Well-being Education00:26:40 – Making Financial Education Accessible Without the Jargon00:30:10 – Building Leadership Buy-In: The Key to Implementation00:34:05 – How to Start a Financial Well-being Programme on a Budget00:38:30 – A Powerful Lesson for Your Future Self

In this episode, Alan, a seasoned HR leader, shares his insights on the emotional journey of navigating change in the workplace. He highlights the difference between change and transition, the importance of acceptance, and why transparency is essential in leadership. Alan also explores how self-awareness and personal growth can transform your leadership style.If you're an HR professional or leader dealing with change, this episode offers practical advice and deep insights. Subscribe and share this episode with your network!Chapters:00:00:00 - Alan's Unexpected HR Journey00:04:12 - Change vs. Transition: What's the Difference?00:07:38 - The Power of Acceptance in Leadership00:13:24 - The Middle: Finding Clarity in Uncertainty00:16:58 - Trust, Transparency & the Leadership Dilemma00:21:42 - Personal Growth Through Struggles00:26:03 - Forgiveness: The Secret to Lasting Change00:31:08 - The Role of Breath and Self-Care in Leadership00:35:20 - Giving Yourself Permission to Be Human

HR isn’t protecting people. It’s protecting companies. But what if that’s the problem?In this raw and eye-opening conversation, Georgia from Access HR sits down with Shane Mays, startup veteran and ER (employee relations) specialist for a brutally honest deep-dive into the real purpose of HR, why it’s broken, and how we can rebuild it from the inside out.From his beginnings as a software engineer to leading people teams at fast-scaling startups, Shane brings a human-first perspective to the most misunderstood function in business today.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why HR still feels like the company’s bodyguard and how to change itThe hidden cost of treating ER as a legal processHow to scale employee relations without burning outThe power of playbooks, trust, and co-creation in leadershipIf you’ve ever felt stuck between doing what’s “compliant” and doing what’s right, this episode will shift your thinking, for good.👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this.Chapters 00:00:00 – HR Is Not Here to Protect You00:01:16 – Meet Shane: From Engineering to HR00:03:04 – Why He Stayed in People Ops00:04:36 – What Employee Relations Really Means00:07:13 – Social Media, Fear & Legal Influence00:09:17 – Why ER Needs a Human-First Lens00:11:39 – A Manager’s Mistake: Process Before People00:16:03 – Building a Legal Wall vs. Human Bridge00:19:12 – Why Leaders Need a Compass, Not a Policy00:22:18 – Make Playbooks Public. Remove the Ambush.00:23:35 – How ER Changes as You Scale00:25:06 – Teach People How to Eat00:27:09 – Co-Create Your ER Strategy00:28:59 – Flexing Your ER Muscle Without the Cases00:30:34 – You Don’t Need a Pocket Lawyer00:33:16 – You’ll Never Have All the Answers—And That’s Okay00:34:26 – The One Thing Shane Would Tell His Younger Self

What does it really take to lead a successful HR team in today’s fast-changing world?In this episode of The Plumm Pod, Georgia sits down with Lauren McDonagh, Head of People at Soho House, to reveal the realities of building high-performing HR teams. From creating psychological safety to managing burnout and leading with authenticity, Lauren shares practical insights and personal lessons every HR professional needs to hear.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why HR leaders must lead by example (and why most don’t)How to create a culture of trust and psychological safety within your teamThe power of diversity of thought in driving real innovationWhy personal development and getting uncomfortable are non-negotiable for growthIf you want to be a better leader or build a team that thrives, this conversation is a must-watch.👉 Subscribe for more conversations on HR, leadership, and mental health.Chapters00:00:00 – Welcome to The Plumm Pod00:02:26 – Was HR Always the Plan?00:04:55 – The Reality of HR Careers00:07:01 – How Hospitality Changed My Leadership Style00:08:45 – Inside Soho House’s People Team00:09:56 – Leading by Example as an HR Leader00:11:32 – How We Invest in Our HR Team00:14:37 – What I Look for When Hiring HR Talent00:17:53 – Why Discomfort Is the Key to Growth00:19:56 – Managing Change & Building Trust00:21:27 – The Biggest Shift in My Leadership Style00:23:06 – Creating Psychological Safety for Teams00:24:53 – Balancing Business Goals & People Needs00:28:30 – Protecting HR Teams from Burnout00:32:44 – The Truth About Being ‘Busy’ vs ‘Productive’00:36:18 – Managing Different Personalities Effectively00:38:55 – The Untold Emotional Load of HR00:41:14 – Advice to My Younger Self

Every failed strategy starts with one blind spot: the lack of curiosity.In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the power of curiosity as the foundation of successful people strategy. This isn’t just about business, it’s about the decisions that define us as leaders.Our guest Kenny Temowo shares a piercing insight: if you’re not asking why, you’re already behind. Through a candid conversation, we unravel why making hard choices in leadership starts with understanding what makes your organisation different and why most get it wrong.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why curiosity is the non-negotiable starting point of all great strategyHow leaders should approach hard decisions through contextual insightThe overlooked “Z” that makes or breaks your business directionWhy saying no is more important than saying yes in strategyIf you’ve ever questioned your strategic decisions or want to lead with greater intention, this is the episode to start with.Subscribe for more episodes that challenge the way you think.🔔 Don’t forget to share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.Chapters:00:00:00 – The Hidden Power of CuriosityWhy every strategy starts with asking the right questions00:01:02 – Strategy Is About Saying NoUnderstanding the difficult trade-offs behind every big decision00:02:10 – What’s Your ‘Z’?The one overlooked factor that defines your entire approach00:03:20 – Getting Strategy Right Starts HereHow self-awareness and context build winning strategies

She didn’t fit the mould, so she became the blueprint.Keeran Gunnoo is a powerhouse in personal and corporate employer branding, shaping narratives for some of the world’s most recognisable companies, including LinkedIn, Unilever and Flow. In this raw and empowering conversation, she shares how she built a career that broke every rule and why it worked.From being headhunted by LinkedIn before people knew what LinkedIn was, to being complimented by Barack Obama on her Louboutins, Keeran’s story is as inspiring as it is unconventional.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why squiggly careers aren’t chaotic, they’re strategicHow your reputation is your brand (especially when you're not in the room)The uncomfortable truths about diversity, employer branding and internal commsHow to build a career and life that align with your values, not societal norms✨ Subscribe to The Plumm Pod for more honest conversations about HR, wellbeing and careers that don’t follow the script.⏱️ Chapters 00:00:00 – Intro: She Became the Blueprint00:01:04 – HR was never the plan00:02:10 – From cold calls to leadership: the Essex charisma advantage00:03:27 – Getting headhunted by LinkedIn before it was big00:04:58 – Meeting Obama & the power of great shoes00:06:04 – Unilever hired her without an interview00:07:19 – Becoming a Strategic Career Architect00:08:31 – Reporting to Chanel’s future CEO00:10:33 – The importance of working for brands you believe in00:11:51 – Flow, reproductive health, and brand affinity00:13:00 – What a squiggly career really means00:14:44 – Breaking ceilings: race, gender & neurodiversity00:17:20 – Ditching the fairytale career path00:20:20 – Culture add, not culture fit00:21:51 – Why Gen Z are changing career norms00:23:01 – Internal bias, ATSs, and being mistaken for a man00:24:58 – Writing job ads that actually speak to humans00:26:17 – Helping companies overcome DEI friction00:27:59 – The truth behind Glassdoor reviews00:29:49 – Who owns comms: HR vs. Marketing00:33:42 – Creating Unilever’s first editorial team00:35:11 – Data, communication, and internal trust00:37:47 – Taking Unilever from #24 to #7 on Glassdoor00:39:07 – EVP: What’s in it for me?00:40:35 – Stuck? Give yourself a performance review00:41:39 – Self-belief and your personal brand00:42:50 – Audit your energy—don’t stay where you can’t shine00:43:59 – Final message: If they’re not advocating for you, go

What if HR wasn’t just support... but your biggest brand asset?In today’s episode, we sit down with Jessie, People Director at one of the UK’s most innovative creative agencies, to uncover how HR can redefine brand strategy from the inside out.Jessie shares her journey from hairdressing to HR leadership, and how she’s tearing up the traditional rulebook to build a people-first workplace rooted in trust, creativity, and culture.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why onboarding is your most powerful brand momentHow to turn your team into your greatest advocatesThe secret to getting buy-in from senior leadershipWhy Gen Z are changing everything about workplace cultureThis isn’t compliance. This is creativity. This is culture.And it’s time HR took its seat at the table.👉 If this inspired you, share it with someone who needs to hear it and don’t forget to subscribe.Chapters 00:00:00 – The Hairdresser Who Became HR00:01:45 – Learning the Hard Way in the NHS00:04:10 – HR IS Brand Strategy00:05:00 – Bringing Company Values to Life00:07:35 – Listening: The Most Underrated Strategy00:09:05 – Building a Culture That Retains00:11:20 – Why Only 31% Align With Company Values00:13:00 – Recognition That Actually Works00:14:45 – From Team Members to Brand Ambassadors00:16:10 – Designing Culture for Gen Z00:18:40 – Human-First HR Strategy00:20:40 – How to Start Thinking Creatively00:22:00 – The Power of Diverse Teams00:24:00 – Why Candidates Choose You00:26:40 – What Gen Z Really Want at Work00:28:30 – Managers Are the Secret Weapon00:30:00 – Getting Senior Leadership Buy-In00:32:40 – What I’d Tell My Younger Self