The Plumm Pod

They’re the most powerful people in your company… and the most overlooked. In this episode, we sit down with Chelsea, Head of People at Tomorrow, whose approach to middle management has transformed team performance and culture. From scaling challenges to personal breakthroughs, Chelsea reveals what most leaders get wrong about middle managers and what to do about it. Here’s what you’ll learn Why middle managers shape your company culture more than your CEO The real reason managers burn out (and how to stop it) How Tomorrow built one of the UK’s top workplaces by focusing on its “squeezed middle” The three powerful qualities Chelsea looks for when identifying future leaders This isn’t theory. It’s a masterclass in the people strategy most companies ignore, until it’s too late. 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations with the people rewriting the rules of work. Chapters 00:00:00 – From Retail Floors to Head of People00:03:16 – Learning Business From the Inside Out00:05:13 – Why Middle Managers Hold the Power00:07:10 – The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Managers00:09:01 – Embedding Culture Through the Squeezed Middle00:10:32 – From High Turnover to Top 10 Workplace00:12:18 – The Mistakes We Made Scaling00:13:51 – The Power of Monthly Reflection00:15:36 – Fixing Feedback and Growth Conversations00:16:55 – Why Radical HR Experiments Sometimes Fail00:18:53 – Becoming a Manager is a Career Change00:20:41 – No Training for Micro-Moments00:22:33 – Avoiding Burnout Through Small Wins00:24:25 – Building Great Leaders from Within00:26:09 – The Three C’s of Great Management00:27:44 – Creating Paths Beyond Management00:29:35 – Essential Skills, Not Soft Skills00:31:00 – Growth Plans That Actually Grow People00:33:03 – Making Purpose Tangible00:34:43 – The Manager’s Impact on Retention00:36:33 – Advice to Her Younger Self

In this episode, we sit down with Christine, Head of Talent & People at a pioneering quantum computing start up, to explore her unexpected journey from studying psychology during a global recession to leading people strategy in one of tech's most innovative sectors. Christine shares what it means to bridge the gap between talent acquisition and HR, the challenges of scaling a team from 12 to 100, and why retention is just as strategic as hiring.We dive into:Why HR wasn’t the original plan and how Christine found her way back to itThe real differences between recruitment and talent acquisitionHow people teams can (and should) collaborate to improve onboarding and retentionConducting painful but powerful audits to build HR foundationsMental resilience, imposter syndrome, and defining your leadership philosophyThis episode is packed with candid insights for anyone navigating the intersection of recruitment, people ops, and start up growth. Whether you're an aspiring HR leader or just wondering how to grow your career in people roles, Christine’s story will inspire and ground you.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:12 Journey into HR and Talent Acquisition05:16 Understanding the Role of Head of Talent and People08:46 The Shift from Recruitment to Talent Development10:54 Collaboration Between Talent Acquisition and HR13:21 Navigating Imposter Syndrome in HR15:36 Continuous Learning in the People Space17:08 Challenges in Transitioning Roles20:03 Balancing Energy and Empathy in HR22:39 Team Dynamics and People Operations25:35 Conducting Audits for Operational Efficiency28:44 The Importance of Employee Feedback30:19 Advice for Transitioning Between Roles36:41 Final Reflections and Advice for the Future

Kayleigh Davies, a senior people leader with a knack for transforming HR in the AI sector, shares her journey from ancient history to people strategy. She discusses the evolution of HR from compliance to outcome-focused experiences. Kayleigh emphasizes the importance of aligning HR with business goals and the need for data-driven insights over traditional perks. She challenges HR leaders to engage with sharper commercial questions and adopt measurable impacts, especially in startups navigating post-COVID realities.

Unlock the secrets of neuroinclusion and build a workplace where every neurodivergent employee can thrive. In this episode of the Plumm Pod, host Georgia Dixon, sits down with Lucy Wilson (Neurodiversity Inclusion Specialist & Founder, Mindshift Empowerment) to explore practical strategies for embedding diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B) across the entire employee life cycle from inclusive recruitment and onboarding to performance feedback, advancement and ERG programmes.Highlights you’ll learn:Why inclusive job descriptions and skills-based hiring widen your talent pool and boost innovationHow transparent, streamlined interview processes reduce anxiety for autistic and ADHD candidatesSimple onboarding tweaks that cut first-week stress and improve employee retentionThe power of structured, bias-free feedback for managers and leadersFunding and supporting employee resource groups (ERGs) to drive real cultural changeWhether you’re an HR leader, people manager, or business owner, this conversation is packed with actionable tips to create a truly neuro-inclusive workplace and strengthen your overall employee experience.

Jag Gill, a People Operations Leader with a unique background in photography, shares transformative insights into the evolving landscape of HR. He distinguishes People Operations from traditional HR, highlighting the importance of agility and transparency. Jag discusses his journey and offers practical advice on embracing a holistic, data-driven approach to enhance employee retention and engagement. He emphasizes the critical role of communication and stakeholder relationships in navigating modern workplace challenges.

When the world went remote, many organisations thrived, yet some are still wrestling with return-to-office mandates. In this episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia, sits down with remote-work specialist Grace Nichols to unpack the myths and mindsets behind location-flexible work.Grace shares her unexpected journey from would-be barrister to HR leader, the burnout that pushed her to redesign her work life, and why autonomy over time is the new currency of success. Together they explore:The real drivers of productivity (hint: it isn’t presenteeism).Remote-first vs remote-friendly, why the difference matters for culture, communication and career growth.Common missteps companies make when demanding a full office return and what HR can do instead.Practical ways to build intentional in-person moments, mentor programmes and environments people want to work in.How trust, transparent “why” messaging and the right workspace can turn hybrid into a competitive advantage.Whether you’re an HR professional rethinking policy, a leader worried about performance, or a team member craving flexibility, this conversation offers fresh insights and actionable advice to help you design work that works for everyone.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Remote Work and HR02:59 The Journey into HR and Remote Work Expertise06:02 Benefits of Remote Work08:48 Challenges and Resistance to Remote Work11:56 The Importance of Communication and Intent in Hybrid Work14:56 Remote-First vs. Remote-Friendly Companies18:02 Creating a Productive Work Environment20:49 Trust and Visibility in Remote Work23:53 Advice for Young Professionals in HR

Explore the five must‑watch HR trends for 2025 in this episode of The Plumm Pod, where host Georgia sits down with Chris Britton, People Experience Director at Reward Gateway. Together they unpack how HR teams can prioritise strategically, cultivate cultures of appreciation, embed genuine belonging, streamline employee experiences, and upskill line managers to thrive amid hybrid work, tighter budgets and shifting UK employment law.Chris shares data‑backed insights, including why organisations that foster employee appreciation report up to a 43 % productivity lift plus practical tips on low‑cost benefits, employee voice, ERGs, storytelling your EVP and preparing “accidental managers”. Whether you’re a Chief People Officer, HR Business Partner, Talent Lead or SME founder, you’ll gain actionable ways to boost engagement, retention and profitability while supporting mental health.Listen now to future‑proof your people strategy and build a workplace where every team member thrives.Chapters 00:00 Intro: Why HR Bears the Brunt of Fast‑Changing Business01:05 Chris Britton’s Journey: From Selling Phones to People Experience Director02:59 Trend 1 – Prioritisation: Doing Less With Less & Making It Count05:43 Creative Low‑Budget People Practices & Leveraging Employee Voice08:10 Riding Out the 2024/25 “Storm” & Preparing for Brighter Times11:11 Trend 2 – Appreciation: Moving Beyond “Thanks” to Human‑Centred Recognition18:00 The 43 % Productivity Boost & Designing Recognition Habits20:44 Trend 3 – Belonging: Tackling Workplace Loneliness & Building ERGs23:08 Remote‑First Belonging Tactics & Data‑Driven Employee Census27:32 Trend 4 – Make It Make Sense: Marketing Your EVP Internally30:12 Brand Consistency From Attraction to Onboarding & Retention35:49 Trend 5 – Leaders & Managers: From Admin Tasks to Human Skills40:51 Overcoming Resistance: Coaching Managers Through Vulnerability & Change43:35 Chris’s Advice to His Younger Self: “You Are Enough”44:56 Wrap‑Up & Next Episode Teaser

In this powerful episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia sits down with global L&D expert Rihanna Lindsay-Smith to explore what it really means to create inclusive, accessible learning environments in the workplace.From personal experience with dyslexia to leading major L&D programmes, Rihanna shares how neurodiversity often goes undeclared in organisations, and what HR and L&D leaders can do even without formal feedback to design learning that truly works for everyone.What you'll learn:Why many team members don’t disclose neurodiversity and how that impacts learningThe difference between training and L&D and why it matters How to start inclusive L&D design with limited dataRihanna’s go-to framework for evaluating learning effectiveness (yes, we’re talking Kirkpatrick!)The real impact of unconscious bias training and why it shouldn’t be a “one and done”How L&D and HR can collaborate to drive cultural changeBuilding a psychologically safe learning culture from the top downPower skills your workforce actually needs in 2025Whether you're in HR, talent, or learning & development, this episode is packed with practical insights, vulnerable stories, and powerful advice to help you rethink how we support every learner.Guest: Rihanna Lindsay-SmithFollow her on TikTok & Instagram: @rihannagallery00:00 Understanding Neurodiversity in the Workplace04:54 The Journey into Learning and Development09:58 Inclusive Learning Strategies14:57 Evaluating Training Effectiveness20:03 Collaboration Between L&D and HR24:45 Building a Learning Culture30:02 Continuous Learning and Professional Development

Megan Trotter, a Senior People Experience Partner with a unique background in architecture and UX design, discusses her transformative journey into creating people-centered workplaces. She highlights the shift from traditional HR to a more human, design-led approach to enhance engagement. The conversation reveals the importance of involving employees in the design process and addressing root causes of workplace issues. Megan also emphasizes the significance of effective communication and feedback in crafting meaningful work experiences.

AI is changing everything but is HR ready for it? In this episode of The Plumm Pod, Georgia sits down with Lorraine Hunt, a 35-year HR veteran turned AI educator, to explore how artificial intelligence can be a game-changing tool for workplace mental health when used right.We dive deep into:How HR can proactively use AI for early mental health interventionThe importance of privacy and data ethics in AI implementationReal examples of how AI is automating referrals, check-ins, and sentiment analysisWhy HR teams must evolve their mindset to lead AI-driven wellbeing strategiesLorraine shares her unconventional journey from legal secretary to tech-forward HR leader, and explains why now not later is the time for HR to get comfortable with AI.00:00 – Intro: AI + Mental Health in HR01:10 – Lorraine Hunt’s HR journey: From legal secretary to AI educator04:45 – Why HR needs to care about AI right now07:20 – First tip: Before anything else, think about data privacy09:15 – What AI can (and can't) do for mental health at work12:08 – Predictive insights: spotting problems before they escalate15:30 – How tools like Plum's Emma change early intervention17:42 – Should AI be analysing Slack or Teams messages?20:01 – The missing piece: AI strategy for mental health24:40 – Creating ethical, proactive wellbeing dashboards28:50 – Why HR pros often get no AI training30:14 – Practical prompts: Using AI to write referrals and scripts33:40 – The role of transparency and consent35:25 – Helping managers get comfortable with mental health conversations37:55 – Training AI to scan for mental health red flags41:10 – Using AI to automate nudges and check-ins43:50 – Will AI ever replace the human element?46:00 – What's next: AI agents, evolving job roles & the future of HR50:40 – Advice to HR pros: “Just try it. What’s the worst that can happen?”52:30 – Final thoughts: Relax, adapt, and grow with it