Explore every episode of the podcast The HR Big Meet

In this episode, leadership development specialist Katy Walton joins Emma for a conversation about confidence, influence, career identity and what happens when work becomes nothing more than “commute, work, sleep, repeat.”

Together they explore:

• feeling stuck in your HR career

• confidence and personal influence

• fear and career change

• emotional intelligence in leadership

• overthinking and self-doubt

• reconnecting with what you actually want

• and the power of asking yourself “What if?”

This episode is for anyone who has become so busy surviving work that they’ve stopped asking themselves whether the life they’re building is actually the one they want.

Expect warmth, honesty, laughter and practical coaching insights to help you reconnect with yourself beneath the pressure to constantly perform.

In this episode, Emma is joined by Dr Adele Currie — HR Director, coach and researcher — for a brutally honest conversation about toxic workplaces, burnout, ethical leadership and the emotional toll of working in HR.

Together they explore:

• workplace toxicity and mental health

• why HR professionals feel responsible for “fixing” everything

• burnout and breakdowns

• difficult conversations and people pleasing

• psychological safety at work

• toxic leadership cultures

• confidence and self-trust

• why so many women in HR struggle to ask for help

• and the uncomfortable parallels between toxic workplaces and coercive relationships

This is a conversation about what happens when capable, caring people stay too long in environments that slowly convince them they’re the problem.

Expect honesty, humour, swearing and powerful reminders that no job is worth abandoning yourself for.

After nearly 20 years in HR, Emma Djemil shares the real story behind burnout, bullying, career crossroads, IVF, toxic workplace dynamics and eventually walking away from the version of success she thought she was supposed to want.

This episode explores why so many women in HR feel exhausted, stuck, undervalued and disconnected from themselves — despite being brilliant at what they do.

We talk about:

• HR burnout and emotional exhaustion

• toxic workplace cultures

• people pleasing and over-functioning

• confidence and self-worth in leadership

• workplace bullying

• leaving jobs without another role lined up

• redefining success

• why HR professionals constantly feel pressure to prove themselves

• and how to create impact without sacrificing yourself in the process

Expect honesty, sarcasm, strong opinions about the word “fluffy” and a reminder that you are not failing because broken systems are hard to survive in.

If you’ve ever wondered “Is it just me?” while working in HR — this conversation is for you.