How HR Leaders Change the World

Alana explores how HR can move beyond traditional talent management to become a true architect of opportunity. Alana shares her deeply held belief that every person has untapped potential, and that HR's role is to design the culture and conditions where that potential can be unlocked, at scale. Alana makes the case for building organisations where learning is central to culture - where curiosity, experimentation and even failure are actively encouraged. She shares practical examples of leaders learning new AI capabilities together in real time, and reflects on how organisations can shift from credential-led thinking to skills-based, capability-driven approaches in hiring, development and progression. Alana discusses how HR's influence extends beyond organisational boundaries, calling for a stronger sense of civic connectivity and shared responsibility for creating opportunity. Free online Lunch & Learn with Coca Cola and Kantar: AI in TA & Onboarding Tuesday 23 June 1-2pm BST Digitalising your Talent Attraction and Onboarding processes is one thing. Knowing where AI fits - and where it doesn't - is quite another. Many of your peers are at exactly this crossroads right now. Excited by the possibilities, but conscious of the risks. Keen to move faster, but not at the cost of the human moments that matter most. Join our free online lunch & learn, we'll share the findings from our research in partnership with The Talent Labs, and you'll hear from Heidi Eckersley, Global Talent Acquisition Leader at Kantar and Suzy Jearum, Global Digital Employee Experience Lead at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. From productivity gains to employee experience wins, you'll leave with insights and ideas you can consider for your organisation too. Join us! Book your place here Thank you to Deel for sponsoring this episode. What does HR look like when it's built for global scale? With Deel, HR teams can hire, onboard, and manage talent in 150+ countries without setting up local entities or managing multiple vendors. · Generate compliant contracts in minutes. · Automate onboarding. · Tackle performance reviews. · Centralize employee records, time off, and benefits in one place. Deel takes care of compliance and document management, so you can focus on people, not processes. From that first offer letter to ongoing support, Deel makes global HR feel local, fast, and easy. Visit www.deel.com/uplift today. Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for June is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking, by Matthew Syed. We're all navigating more complexity than ever right now. AI, shifting workplace expectations, doing more with less, and still making work feel human. Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed provides a resource for how. His argument: the teams who solve the hardest problems aren't the ones full of the best individual thinkers, they're the ones who think differently from each other. A brilliant book on why diversity of thought helps us solve complex problems. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Preparing to retire after 40 years in HR leadership, Sue joins us to reflect on a career defined by commercial understanding, community engagement and a belief that inclusion drives performance. Sue shares that the heart of Markel's identity is the 'Markel Style', a set of principles connecting how the business operates with how it serves stakeholders and the wider community - and sits at the centre of employee experience. Sue makes the case that community engagement, through volunteering, board service and pro bono work, is one of HR's most powerful and underused tools for developing leaders, building empathy and sharpening decision-making. Sue leaves us with a clear message: when HR connects business performance and community impact, it creates stronger leaders and better business results. Thank you to Deel for sponsoring this episode. What does HR look like when it's built for global scale? With Deel, HR teams can hire, onboard, and manage talent in 150+ countries without setting up local entities or managing multiple vendors. · Generate compliant contracts in minutes. · Automate onboarding. · Tackle performance reviews. · Centralize employee records, time off, and benefits in one place. Deel takes care of compliance and document management, so you can focus on people, not processes. From that first offer letter to ongoing support, Deel makes global HR feel local, fast, and easy. Visit www.deel.com/uplift today. Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for May is The Working Parent Equation, Balancing small humans with big careers, by Georgie Rudd. Know a working parent? A colleague that has all the plates spinning, and you're not quite sure how they're managing? Or perhaps that's you?! The Working Parent Equation is an extra special book, packed with practical exercises for anyone to reflect on their own, personal, working parent equation, and wonderfully our very own Cecilia Crossley wrote the foreword. Here's her summary: It's an incredibly helpful tool for any working parent - one that will help you, your family, your organisation, and society – because each of us intentionally designing our own equations takes us a step closer to gender equality. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Renata brings a commercial lens shaped by 35+ years as a CFO and CEO before moving to HR. Her approach to HR is grounded in business reality: if you want to lead people well, you need to understand how value is actually created. That means learning the business model, shadowing sales and marketing teams, spending time with clients and working with operations to see how the business really runs day to day. Renata sees three priorities for HR. First, staying adaptable and future-focused in a world that keeps shifting. Second, moving towards skills-based organisations, where continuous learning matters more than fixed roles or job titles. And third, building psychological safety. A strong advocate for gender equity and recognising that "talent is universal, but opportunity is not", Renata leads FNZ Group's Inspire and Impact Network. At the heart of her message is courage: speak up, challenge respectfully, question outdated systems and stand for fairness even when it feels uncomfortable. For Renata, real impact comes from small, consistent acts of courage that gradually create change. Timely for Mental Health Awareness Week: 11th – 17th May 2026 Elevate Wellbeing to a Strategic Priority: Thank you to Geoff McDonald for sponsoring this episode. In 2014, he left Unilever to devote his expertise to ending the stigma of depression and anxiety in the workplace - because he knows first-hand that talking about mental health saves lives. As a business transformation consultant and co-founder of charity Minds@Work, Geoff helps organisations define purpose beyond growth and profitability, and develop holistic wellbeing strategies that unlock true performance potential. Learn more: How Geoff can help you elevate wellbeing to a strategic priority: www.geoffmcdonald.co.uk Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for May is The Working Parent Equation, Balancing small humans with big careers, by Georgie Rudd. Know a working parent? A colleague that has all the plates spinning, and you're not quite sure how they're managing? Or perhaps that's you?! The Working Parent Equation is an extra special book, packed with practical exercises for anyone to reflect on their own, personal, working parent equation, and wonderfully our very own Cecilia Crossley wrote the foreword. Here's her summary: It's an incredibly helpful tool for any working parent - one that will help you, your family, your organisation, and society – because each of us intentionally designing our own equations takes us a step closer to gender equality. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Floor joined Trivium Packaging with a mission transform HR from the ground up. After 17 years at Heineken, and the merger of two companies forming Trivium, Floor set out to unify the business through purpose, values and people-centric leadership. Describing the future of HR as high tech and deeply human, Floor discusses rising techno stress, including the fear of not keeping up and the fear of replacement, meaning HR must get closer to finance and IT to preserve the deeply human side of business. Floor shares her passion for pay equity and transparency, drawing on her background as an employment lawyer, and gives an example of a "Beautiful People at Trivium" campaign, real employees' stories, bottom up, within D&I work. Her wish for you: Never stop expanding HR talent and enthusiasm - the business impact speaks for itself. Elevate Wellbeing to a Strategic Priority Thank you to Geoff McDonald for sponsoring this episode. In 2014, he left Unilever to devote his expertise to ending the stigma of depression and anxiety in the workplace - because he knows first-hand that talking about mental health saves lives. As a business transformation consultant and co-founder of charity Minds@Work, Geoff helps organisations define purpose beyond growth and profitability, and develop holistic wellbeing strategies that unlock true performance potential. Learn more: How Geoff can help you elevate wellbeing to a strategic priority: www.geoffmcdonald.co.uk Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for April is Start with Why by Simon Sinek – a powerful exploration of what separates truly inspiring leaders from the rest. Simon challenges the conventional focus on what we do or how we do it, and instead argues that great leaders and organisations start with why – their purpose, cause, or belief. Through his Golden Circle framework, he demonstrates how the most inspiring leaders think, act and communicate from the inside out. Drawing on examples from Apple, Martin Luther King Jr, and the Wright Brothers, Sinek shows that people don't buy what you do – they buy why you do it. When organisations are clear about their purpose, they attract employees and customers who share their beliefs, creating cultures of trust and belonging where people feel valued and motivated to contribute their best work. This isn't just about messaging; it's about building sustainable success through authentic, purpose-driven leadership. Whether you're looking to inspire your team, build deeper trust with clients, or create a culture where innovation thrives, Start with Why offers a compelling framework for leading with intention. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, Geoff McDonald discusses how he helps leadership and HR create workplaces where everyone can ask for help without stigma. Advocating that current wellbeing efforts focus too much on individuals, Geoff notes that burnout levels aren't decreasing despite efforts, and sets out the case for moving to organisation wide wellbeing through culture change. Mental Health Awareness Week commences on 11th May 2026; this year's theme is Action. Geoff's call to action for you: start with your own mental health. Only when you care about yourself can you lead the workplace culture revolution. Elevating wellbeing to a strategic priority: Geoff McDonald's work Thank you to Geoff McDonald for sponsoring this episode. Geoff is a global advocate, campaigner and consultant passionate about addressing the stigma of mental ill health in workplaces. As former Global VP of Human Resources at Unilever, Geoff brings practical experience helping organisations elevate wellbeing to a strategic priority in the C-suite. In 2014, he left Unilever to devote his expertise to ending the stigma of depression and anxiety in the workplace - because he knows first-hand that talking about mental health saves lives. As a business transformation consultant and co-founder of charity Minds@Work, Geoff helps organisations define purpose beyond growth and profitability, and develop holistic wellbeing strategies that unlock true performance potential. Learn more about Geoff McDonald's work: www.geoffmcdonald.co.uk Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for April is Start with Why by Simon Sinek – a powerful exploration of what separates truly inspiring leaders from the rest. Simon challenges the conventional focus on what we do or how we do it, and instead argues that great leaders and organisations start with why – their purpose, cause, or belief. Through his Golden Circle framework, he demonstrates how the most inspiring leaders think, act and communicate from the inside out. Drawing on examples from Apple, Martin Luther King Jr, and the Wright Brothers, Sinek shows that people don't buy what you do – they buy why you do it. When organisations are clear about their purpose, they attract employees and customers who share their beliefs, creating cultures of trust and belonging where people feel valued and motivated to contribute their best work. This isn't just about messaging; it's about building sustainable success through authentic, purpose-driven leadership. Whether you're looking to inspire your team, build deeper trust with clients, or create a culture where innovation thrives, Start with Why offers a compelling framework for leading with intention. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Lucia opens with a powerful reframe: HR sits at a unique intersection, understanding both people and business, translating strategy into everyday behaviour, and discusses how this positioning creates opportunity for both business and social impact. She shares ADP's Ada Lovelace Programme, providing STEM-education and comprehensive training to enter the labour market. With brilliant results such as a 65% workforce participation rate, Lucia is clear this isn't charity - it's smart business building talent pipelines and diverse perspectives. Lucia describes ADP's Break the Ceiling programme, sparked by a photograph of the management team: two women in a sea of male black suits. The programme showed that sponsorship, not just mentorship, drives advancement - Lucia herself benefited from this programme, advancing to her current CHRO role. Her wish for all HR professionals: feel the power to influence. Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo. And in claiming that power, HR leaders really can change the world. What actually drives progress for women in leadership? Encompass Equality's latest research Thank you to Encompass Equality for sponsoring this episode. Encompass is dedicated to creating better workplaces for women and building cultures where everyone benefits. Powered by industry-leading research into women's lived experiences at work, Encompass turns real insight into targeted interventions that improve how people work together. Their latest research, conducted with the FTSE Women Leaders Review and Chartered Management Institute, reveals what actually works and how to make change happen in your organisation. Download your free report from Encompass Equality 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for March is Don't Fix Women by Joy Burnford – a bold call to rethink how we approach gender equality in the workplace. Joy challenges the narrative that women need to adapt or be "fixed" to succeed. Instead, she shines a light on the systemic barriers and cultural norms that need to change. Drawing on extensive research including the landmark Why Women Leave study, she demonstrates that the barriers women face aren't about women at all – they're about how work is structured, managed and experienced. With published Gender Action Plans coming in next year, if you're thinking about root causes, want compelling data points for your business cases, and ideas for practical steps you can take, Don't Fix Women is the book to read. It's a timely read as we approach International Women's Day too. Grab your copy – perhaps an International Women's Day gift for yourself or a colleague. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Melanie explores one of HR's key levers for sustainability and social impact: pensions. Discussing how workplace pensions connect directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, she explains how the decisions organisations make about pension providers and investment strategies influence environmental outcomes as well as long-term financial wellbeing for employees. Reflecting on her own journey, growing up in the North East of England as the first in her family to attend university, Melanie shares why social mobility is central to her leadership. From apprenticeships and returnship programmes to widening access into corporate careers, she highlights how HR can actively contribute to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), helping organisations unlock talent while creating meaningful societal change. Melanie encourages HR leaders to recognise the scale of their influence across business systems. By thinking beyond compliance and embedding sustainability and opportunity into everyday people practices, HR can shape organisations that deliver value for business, for people and for the planet too. References: Career Returners - Consulting | Coaching | Network What actually drives progress for women in leadership? Encompass Equality's latest research Thank you to Encompass Equality for sponsoring this episode. Encompass is dedicated to creating better workplaces for women and building cultures where everyone benefits. Powered by industry-leading research into women's lived experiences at work, Encompass turns real insight into targeted interventions that improve how people work together. Their latest research, conducted with the FTSE Women Leaders Review and Chartered Management Institute, reveals what actually works and how to make change happen in your organisation. Download your free report from Encompass Equality 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Our book of the month for March is Don't Fix Women by Joy Burnford – a bold call to rethink how we approach gender equality in the workplace. Joy challenges the narrative that women need to adapt or be "fixed" to succeed. Instead, she shines a light on the systemic barriers and cultural norms that need to change. Drawing on extensive research including the landmark Why Women Leave study, she demonstrates that the barriers women face aren't about women at all – they're about how work is structured, managed and experienced. With published Gender Action Plans coming in next year, if you're thinking about root causes, want compelling data points for your business cases, and ideas for practical steps you can take, Don't Fix Women is the book to read. It's a timely read as we approach International Women's Day too. Grab your copy – perhaps an International Women's Day gift for yourself or a colleague. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

In 2025 Dentsu UK achieved Family Friendly Workplace accreditation - Nicole and Jody reveal how, alongside building a workplace culture where nearly one in six employees actively engage in their Parents & Carers ERG. Discussing how collaboration between their Parents & Carers ERG, DE&I and HR teams drives change, Nicole and Jody share policy and support examples across fertility support, extended partner leave and visible leadership role modelling. Jody shares her powerful story of experiencing pregnancy loss before Dentsu UK had a policy describing her decision to resign, her experience in returning, and in receiving a promotion. With published Gender Action Plans coming in next year, this episode is packed with ideas for steps you can take to continue building your family friendly workplace. There's more! If you'd like more insights and the opportunity to discuss your work with Nicole and Jody, join us at the launch of From Babies with Love's 2026 Guide: Cutting Edge Family Friendly policy & practice: · 10th March 2026, at Clyde & Co, London · In person: 9:30 -11:30 GMT · Live Stream: 10:00-11:30 GMT email impact@frombabieswithlove.org to request your free place today. What actually drives progress for women in leadership? Encompass Equality's latest research Thank you to Encompass Equality for sponsoring this episode. Encompass is dedicated to creating better workplaces for women and building cultures where everyone benefits. Powered by industry-leading research into women's lived experiences at work, Encompass turns real insight into targeted interventions that improve how people work together. Their latest research, conducted with the FTSE Women Leaders Review and Chartered Management Institute, reveals what actually works and how to make change happen in your organisation. Download your free report from Encompass Equality 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? February's Book of the Month with Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker as our Book of the Month – a fascinating guide to understanding the power of rest and the profound impact sleep has on our health, mood, and performance. Walker draws on decades of research to show why sleep is essential for our body, mind, and wellbeing – a gentle reminder to prioritise rest after a dark and tiring January. It's a perfect read for nurturing yourself and reclaiming energy for both your personal and professional life. Let this month's book inspire you to make self-care a priority, because even small changes to our sleep habits can transform the way we feel, think, and show up each day. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

Nico explores the evolution of HR and the future of work, sharing his vision for moving from a transactional, industrial mindset to a system-shaping function. He discusses his concept of The Great Leap, a framework for the Fusion Age where humans and machines work together, and reflects on the shift from advising on outcomes to owning them, ensuring HR drives real organisational impact. Nico emphasises the importance of naming architectural failures, focusing on next practices rather than best practices, and designing systems that recognise human potential. Nico challenges traditional approaches to productivity and capability, highlighting that legacy systems were built for a linear age and now require fundamental rethinking to make work meaningful, equitable and future-ready. The conversation also explores the ethical and social dimensions of HR, with integrity and responsibility at the centre. Nico introduces the human delta - the gap between current capabilities and future potential - and encourages HR leaders to take ownership. By designing systems that invest in people and make equity inevitable, HR can step onto the field and truly change the world. References: Rewiring the Human Delta by Nico Decock Independent IT Research & AI Insights | Bloor Research UK How is AI really playing out? Slalom's new research Thank you to Slalom for sponsoring this week's podcast episode. If you're an HR leader navigating AI and wondering how to move from ambition to adoption, Slalom's latest research offers practical insights you can use right away. Slalom surveyed more than 2,000 global executives to understand how AI is really playing out, where investment is translating into value, where it isn't and, what that means for leadership, skills and cross functional alignment. Download your free summary here: Get Slalom's latest AI research 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? We're easing into February with Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker as our Book of the Month – a fascinating guide to understanding the power of rest and the profound impact sleep has on our health, mood, and performance. Walker draws on decades of research to show why sleep is essential for our body, mind, and wellbeing – a gentle reminder to prioritise rest after a dark and tiring January. It's a perfect read for nurturing yourself and reclaiming energy for both your personal and professional life. Let this month's book inspire you to make self-care a priority, because even small changes to our sleep habits can transform the way we feel, think, and show up each day. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.

The queen is the most powerful player on a chessboard – a queen can move anywhere - just like HR. Ewen shares why HR practitioners need to stop staying in their square and start thinking like a queen on a chessboard. He explores how meaningful change comes through sustained commitment to human-centred approaches and shares the example of The Havas Platform, demonstrating how HR can create impact both within organisations and society. Ewen champions transparency as foundational to trust and equity and discusses his approach to reward, including opportunities to personalise pay and benefits according to need. Framing reward as an opportunity to target support, he emphasises that social impact isn't only external and reminds us that employees may be experiencing the same issues that we see in society. Encouraging you to "be a queen", Ewen's wish is for everyone in HR to appreciate how powerful your position is, and use that power to drive positive change. How is AI really playing out? Slalom's new research Thank you to Slalom for sponsoring this week's podcast episode. If you're an HR leader navigating AI and wondering how to move from ambition to adoption, Slalom's latest research offers practical insights you can use right away. Slalom surveyed more than 2,000 global executives to understand how AI is really playing out, where investment is translating into value, where it isn't and, what that means for leadership, skills and cross functional alignment. Download your free summary here: Get Slalom's latest AI research 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? We're starting 2026 with Brene Brown's new book, Strong Ground, as our Book of the Month - a thoughtful guide to building resilience, connection, and clarity in a fast-moving world. Brené draws on decades of research into courage and vulnerability to help us navigate uncertainty in both our professional lives and personal lives. Strong Ground is perfect for the start of a new year - a reminder that small shifts in perspective can make a big difference, and it highlights the power of curiosity and intentional action. Let it inspire you to step into the new year ready to create positive impact - because change starts with each of us, one choice at a time. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book!

Samantha cuts through the AI hype to discuss what businesses are really experiencing, including thoughts on why investment in AI is high, yet value remains elusive - highlighting challenges with legacy technology, data, governance and workforce readiness. Emphasising the crucial role of HR in shaping the future of work, working alongside tech and data leaders and the importance of cross-functional collaboration, Samantha highlights a striking insight from Slalom's research: empathy and communication are being deprioritised, even as these human skills become more important for trust, adoption and sustainable change. Introducing the concept of AQ and the SHIFT framework, Samantha shows how organisations can build human and cultural foundations adept at dealing with continuous change, including AI adoption. Her practical call to action for HR leaders: connect with your CTOs and CDOs, learn from each other, and help lead a future of work that balances technology with human needs. How is AI really playing out? Slalom's new research Thank you to Slalom for sponsoring this week's podcast episode. Slalom is a business and technology consulting firm that believes meaningful change starts with people, helping organisations turn change into outcomes that actually last. If you're an HR leader navigating AI and wondering how to move from ambition to adoption, Slalom's latest research offers practical insights you can use right away. Slalom surveyed more than 2,000 global executives to understand how AI is really playing out, where investment is translating into value, where it isn't and, what that means for leadership, skills and cross functional alignment. Download your free summary here: Get Slalom's latest AI research Thanks again to Slalom for supporting the podcast, and thank you for being a brilliant HR Changemaker, we're excited to create more positive change together this year. 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? We're starting 2026 with Brene Brown's new book, Strong Ground, as our Book of the Month - a thoughtful guide to building resilience, connection, and clarity in a fast-moving world. Brené draws on decades of research into courage and vulnerability to help us navigate uncertainty in both our professional lives and personal lives. Strong Ground is perfect for the start of a new year - a reminder that small shifts in perspective can make a big difference, and it highlights the power of curiosity and intentional action. Let it inspire you to step into the new year ready to create positive impact - because change starts with each of us, one choice at a time. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book!

Celebrating an incredible milestone – this network of HR Changemakers has now donated over $1 million to vulnerable children - we bring you a special, live-recorded episode: Sir Bob Geldof, on stage with Cecilia Crossley at How HR Leaders Change the World – Live! for a fireside chat on purpose, people and harnessing your profession to drive change. Discussing how HR can deliver people strategy for commercial businesses, and at the same time have positive impact, he reflects that "work has to be more than the exchange of effort for wages". Sir Bob shares his story and doesn't shy away from the big issues – politics, tech, and the state of the world – but his message is clear: people have the power to drive positive change, and HR can play a pivotal role in making that happen. From Live Aid to today, the scale of opportunity is enormous. Just as Sir Bob created a lobby that mobilised billions through music, HR has lobby of 3.5 billion – the number of employees there are in the world. Tune in for insight, humour, and a call to action for every HR leader ready to harness the power of their profession to drive meaningful, lasting change. References: Early Bird Ticket: How HR Leaders Change the World – Live! 11 November 2026 Thank you to Peak PEO for sponsoring this episode Thank you to Peak PEO, your global employment and remote culture partner, for sponsoring this episode. Peak makes international hiring simple, helping organisations overcome the barriers of entity setup, compliance and admin so global growth becomes an opportunity, not an obstacle. With real human experts - not chatbots - they handle contracts, payroll, tax filings and more, giving you the freedom to focus on growing your business. Beyond compliance, Peak helps companies build remote cultures where global teams genuinely thrive. Their award-winning approach means they don't just advise from theory - they share what truly works in practice, supporting you to create strong connections, effective systems and brilliant employee experiences across borders. If you're ready to hire globally with confidence and build a thriving remote culture, visit www.peakpeo.com 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Each month we recommend a book that challenges, motivates and uplifts, every pick is selected to spark meaningful conversations and personal growth. We're huge fans of social enterprises, which is why we're very happy that, Soup for Good is getting a second turn as our Book of the Month. A heartwarming collection of delicious recipes and inspiring stories from the incredible team at Cook for Good, who combat food insecurity and social isolation. Soup for Good shares the community's favourite recipes and the stories of its much-loved characters - perfect for curling up with on a chilly winter's day. This festive season, it's a feel-good gift for friends, family, clients, or colleagues - and every penny of Cook for Good's profit goes straight back into their community programmes. Take a look at our Soup for Good festive gift bundle and brand-new seasonal hampers, full of treats ideal for Christmas and end of year gifting. Impact-led gifts that truly show you care. We wish we could show you just how beautiful they are! Tick off your shopping list with meaningful gifts by visiting UpliftingPeople.com today.

Elli shares how Vanquis combines purpose with people strategy, supporting customers historically underserved by mainstream banking, while building a culture that empowers colleagues to thrive. Elli reflects on the organisation's focus on financial inclusion, wellbeing and future skills, highlighting opportunities ahead for AI and technology to free colleagues for meaningful work, rather than replace them. Looking ahead, Elli shares her vision for the future of work: workplaces where people feel supported and empowered to grow. She reflects on the ongoing journey of inclusion and the role of leaders in responding to societal challenges, offering practical insights and inspiration for HR leaders to create positive change inside and outside their organisations. References: · Hey Girls – Social Enterprise tackling period poverty and providing sanitary products in workplaces · Women in Finance Charter– promoting gender balance in financial services Thank you to Peak PEO for sponsoring this episode Thank you to Peak PEO, your global employment and remote culture partner, for sponsoring this episode. Peak makes international hiring simple, helping organisations overcome the barriers of entity setup, compliance and admin so global growth becomes an opportunity, not an obstacle. With real human experts - not chatbots - they handle contracts, payroll, tax filings and more, giving you the freedom to focus on growing your business. Beyond compliance, Peak helps companies build remote cultures where global teams genuinely thrive. Their award-winning approach means they don't just advise from theory - they share what truly works in practice, supporting you to create strong connections, effective systems and brilliant employee experiences across borders. If you're ready to hire globally with confidence and build a thriving remote culture, visit www.peakpeo.com 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? Each month we recommend a book that challenges, motivates and uplifts, every pick is selected to spark meaningful conversations and personal growth. Our November Book of the Month is Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. Bregman gently challenges the belief that people are inherently selfish and divisive, showing instead that at our core we are kind, generous, and ready to help one another. For anyone looking for an antidote to today's unsettling headlines, this is a brilliant, feel-good read - full of optimism, hope, and truly soothing for the soul. Head to upliftingpeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book!