HR Most Influential Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Once, HR professionals could walk around the office or factory floor and see employees' mood for themselves.

Now, the workforce is more separated than ever. So how can HR rebuild connections within its organisation, whether for hybrid office workers, or far-off franchisees?

The task that now faces HR is to rebuild its ability to 'take the pulse' of its organisation. It is a task that Samaritans executive director of people and culture, and two-time HR Most Influential practitioner, Tiger de Souza, is busy tackling.

In episode 6 of series 3, Tiger sat down with HR magazine editor Charissa King at Samaritans' HQ, to discuss how HR leaders can intentionally rebuild their connections with employees and C-suite staff alike.

No matter where you are in your career, it's important to get on with your boss.

But for an HR leader, it's vital – and not just for selfish reasons.

In episode 5 of series 3, we dive into why CPOs and HRDs are uniquely positioned to support their chief executive, and how a healthy partnership between the two delivers long-term success for both parties' objectives.

To explore how these two strategic leaders can work together to transform their organisations' fortunes, Kerry Smith, chief people officer of the British Heart Foundation – and five time HR Most Influential practitioner – joined HR magazine editor Charissa King in the studio. 

When so many companies accept ESG as a fact of life – why do so few commit to the 'S', societal good?

HR director of FTSE-100 water company Severn Trent, and two-time HR Most Influential listee Neil Morrison is a passionate proponent of organisations' need to serve the communities they draw on.

HR magazine Jo Gallacher sat down with Neil to discuss how companies can build a 'circular economy' for people by working with their communities.

HR Most Influential Thinker Gemma Dale has literally written the book on hybrid and flexible working –  twice over.

A lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, author, consultant, and previous HR Director, Dale uses her practical experience and vast knowledge of work to investigate why flexible working is getting results for some, and not for others.

HR magazine editor Jo Gallacher speaks to Dale to find out the lessons learned after three years after the pandemic put hybrid work in the spotlight.

HR Most Influential Thinker Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic has dedicated much of his life to studying human intelligence.

Now, he turns his attention to Artificial Intelligence (AI) — and the effect it is having on the humans that use it.

In episode four of season two, Tomas reveals:

• Why we need to humanise work
• How algorithms are making us narcissistic
• Which jobs are safe from automation

Listen now and learn from the best.

HR Most Influential Hall of Fame inductee John Amaechi is no stranger to breaking moulds.

NBA star turned business leader, Amaechi is a highly successful organisational psychologist, consultant and New York Times best-selling author.

In episode three of season two, John reveals:

• Why 'playing it safe' is dangerous 
• Why leadership must evolve 
• What you should do in the cost of living crisis 
• How to shatter your assumptions about talent

Listen now and learn from the best.

How should HR engage with activist employees?

Why are many leaders in an 'optimism bubble'?

Megan Reitz talks to Jo about leadership, dialogue, and change. Tune in for a masterclass on how to work sensitively and productively with your organisation's activists.

Encouraging staff to 'do more with less' may well be an appealing concept, but is it ethical?

Jo meets Hayley Lewis to discuss whether HR is facilitating this and enabling organisations to cut costs but not cut the work – and what ‘quiet quitting’ really means.

Philippa Bonay, the  HR director for the Government Analysis Function and director of people and business services for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) discusses the creation of an outcomes-based culture within the civil service.

Data and its value in HR is a persistent theme - in conversation with HR magazine editor Jo Gallacher, the HR Most Influential 2021 #26 practitioner shares tips for how data can be used to empower staff and drive towards outcomes on an individual and a large scale.

She also gives her advice for a successful career in the people profession.

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Jo speaks to Shereen Daniels, anti-racism advocate, founder of HR Rewired, and HMRI 2021's #1 Thinker about what it means for business to be responsible.

Ethics, employee activism and a certain amount of Gen Z myth-busting all come under the spotlight.

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