Explore every episode of the podcast The HR Big Meet Podcast

How can you dress like yourself when you've spent years trying to be someone else?

For many women, getting dressed for work has never been just about clothes. It's about looking professional, being taken seriously, fitting in and meeting expectations about what a successful woman should look like.

But what happens when those expectations leave you feeling disconnected from who you really are?

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma is joined by Siân Fisher, former HR professional, Style Confidence Coach and founder of Confident Style Academy, for a conversation about confidence, courage, body image and the stories we tell ourselves about who we're allowed to be.

Siân shares her experience of growing up feeling uncomfortable in her body, navigating the expectations of corporate HR, and discovering that her confidence wasn't dependent on losing weight, but on learning to express who she really was.

Together, Emma and Siân explore why so many women spend years hiding behind their clothes, how our beliefs about ourselves can limit what we think is possible, and why what we wear can influence how we feel, behave and show up in the world.

They also discuss the difference between confidence and courage, the impact of other people's expectations, and why being good at something doesn't necessarily mean it's what you should spend your life doing.

This isn't an episode about fashion rules, finding the perfect outfit or dressing for success according to somebody else's standards. It's about reconnecting with yourself, questioning the rules you've been living by and recognising that you don't have to become someone different to deserve to be seen.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

What if the things you've spent years trying to change about yourself are actually your greatest strengths?

After more than 20 years in HR, Angela Williamson had built a successful career, but the corporate world had taken its toll. Her empathy, sensitivity and compassion - the very qualities that made her care so deeply about people - had often left her questioning whether she was simply too soft for the world she worked in.

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma is joined by Angela, former HR professional, founder of Harlow HR and trainee ADHD coach, to explore what happens when the environment you're working in makes you feel that who you naturally are isn't quite right.

They discuss Angela's experience of burnout, discovering her neurodivergence, finding the confidence to work on her own terms and the unexpected dream that emerged when she finally gave herself permission to think about what she really wanted.

Emma also reflects on her own relationship with humour, and how something she'd always considered part of her personality has become one of her greatest professional strengths.

Together, they explore why so many women spend years suppressing their natural qualities to fit into workplace expectations, the importance of finding people who value you for who you are, and why being good at something doesn't mean you have to keep doing it forever.

It's a conversation about reclaiming the parts of ourselves we've been taught to tone down, creating space to rediscover what brings us joy, and recognising that sometimes it's not us who need to change.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

Can we fight for better workplaces for women while also supporting the men who need to help create them?

In this episode, Emma is joined by former HR Director, leadership expert, speaker and author of All the Twats I’ve Met Along the Way, Carolyn Hobdey, for a conversation that challenges some assumptions on both sides.

Carolyn argues that if we want to create meaningful change for women at work, we can’t simply shout at men from the other side, we need to bring them with us.

But where does that leave women who are already exhausted from making themselves palatable, managing other people’s reactions and trying not to be labelled difficult or emotional?

Emma and Carolyn explore women’s anger, why so many people still don’t feel safe speaking up, the difference between expressing your voice and influencing change, and the outdated leadership blueprint Carolyn calls the “TWAT Template”.

They also discuss why men may need their own version of deprogramming, what it takes to create workplaces where everyone can show up differently, and why supporting women and supporting men don’t have to be opposing causes.

Nuanced and deliberately not wrapped up in a neat little bow, this is a conversation about what changing the world of work might actually require from all of us.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

What happens when you finally get the job you thought would mean you’d made it…and realise it doesn’t actually feel like success?

In this episode, Emma is joined by Aime Rushton, who has over 20 years’ experience in HR and people development, helping organisations strengthen leadership, improve team effectiveness and create environments where people can do their best work.

Aime shares her own journey through HR from being labelled “disruptive” for asking the questions other people wanted to leave alone, to climbing towards a version of career success she eventually realised wasn’t really hers.

They talk about the pressure to keep progressing, why we minimise ourselves to protect what we’ve worked so hard to achieve, finding the people who help us think differently, and what it really means to back yourself even when that doesn’t involve blowing your entire life up.

Because changing direction doesn’t have to be a 24-hour makeover.

You’re allowed to take your time. You’re allowed to change your mind. And you’re allowed to redefine success as many times as you need to.

This is a conversation about playing the long game, trusting yourself and building a career around what matters to you now rather than what you thought you were supposed to want.

Oh, and obviously, the Shiny Knob makes a comeback.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

Why do so many brilliant women know exactly what they want to say… and then decide they can’t possibly say it?

In this episode, Emma is joined by organisational psychologist, coach and author of Good Girl Deprogramming, Michelle Minnikin, for a brilliant conversation about the conditioning that teaches women to be nice, agreeable, useful, easy to work with - and definitely not difficult.

They explore why speaking up can feel genuinely unsafe, why women are so often encouraged to “fix” themselves rather than question the systems around them, and what anger, people-pleasing, perfectionism and our desperate need to be liked might actually be telling us.

Michelle and Emma also get into self-love as an act of rebellion, the fear of being judged, why we keep waiting for more evidence that we’re capable, and the question that brings the whole conversation home:

If you really loved yourself, how would you treat yourself?

Funny, provocative and occasionally rage-inducing, this is an episode for any woman who is ready to stop making herself the problem - and start becoming a little more unfuckwithable.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

What if the career you think is keeping you safe isn’t actually that safe?

Amanda Henderson is the founder and Managing Director of Thread HR, a business providing fractional People Partners to founder-led businesses, and proudly run entirely by kick-ass working mums.

But Amanda never imagined herself running a business. In fact, she says she probably wouldn’t have walked away from the security of a salary to start one at all.

In this episode, we talk about the squiggly career that led her there, why we put so much weight on financial security when deciding what feels “safe”, and what becomes possible when you stop assuming there’s only one way to build a successful career.

We also get into confidence, networking without the ick, finding the thing that makes you different when everyone else seems to be doing the same thing, defining success on your own terms, and building work around your life rather than continually squeezing your life around your work.

Whether you’re thinking about self-employment, questioning what you want from your career, or simply wondering whether the version of “safe” you’ve been clinging to is still working for you, this one will give you plenty to think about.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

What happens when your answer to having too much to do is always...work harder?

In this episode, Emma Djemil is joined by Fay Wallis, executive and career coach for HR and People professionals, host of the award-winning HR Coffee Time podcast and creator of The Essential HR Planner.

Fay shares the deeply personal story of a time in her HR career when she became fixated on progressing, proving herself and reaching the next level while simultaneously juggling a Master’s degree, two young children and an ever-growing workload. When the warning signs started appearing, Fay did what so many of us do: pushed them down and kept going, until anxiety eventually forced her to stop.

Together, Emma and Fay talk about the pressure we put on ourselves to succeed, why our instinct is so often to absorb more and work harder, the complicated relationship between emotion and ‘professionalism’, and what can happen when we finally stop to question whether everything we’re carrying is actually sustainable.

They also explore the practical side of managing overwhelming workloads, the importance of making space to think and plan, and why self-compassion rather than relentlessly giving yourself a kicking, might be one of the most important tools you can develop in your career.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just get through this deadline/project/week and then things will calm down”, this episode might feel VERY familiar.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

What if the thing holding you back isn’t that you need more experience, another qualification or even more confidence - you just need to decide you’re ready?

In this episode, Emma Djemil speaks with Lisa Young, founder of HRHQ, about what it really takes to stop hiding behind your expertise and start owning the impact you’re capable of making.

Lisa went from being too terrified to put her own face on LinkedIn to building an audience of nearly 80,000 people and creating the HR community she wished she’d had herself. And yet, despite all of that, she still sometimes wonders who the hell she is to be doing any of it.

We talk about imposter syndrome, people pleasing, visibility, boundaries and why so many brilliant HR professionals confuse being endlessly available and supportive with actually adding value.

Lisa also shares the brilliantly simple tool she uses when fear is getting in the way, why she believes in taking “messy action”, and the mindset that has helped her build something she once had absolutely no idea how to create.

Because confidence isn’t necessarily feeling ready before you do the scary thing. Sometimes you decide you’re ready – and then do it anyway.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

What happens when you know your stuff, you’ve done the preparation, you have something important to say…and then you get into the room and start second-guessing yourself?

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil is joined by communications coach, keynote speaker and comedian Louise Stevenson to talk about finding your voice, backing yourself and communicating with confidence when it actually matters.

Louise is CEO of Speakeasy Coaching and has more than 25 years’ experience in stand-up comedy - including teaching Emma how to get on stage and attempt to make strangers laugh. So naturally, we explore what comedy can teach us about confidence, dealing with challenge and being OK with the fact that not everyone is going to like you.

We talk about:

• Why so many capable women wait until they feel completely ready before speaking up
• What actually makes someone persuasive
• How to handle difficult questions without panicking or pretending you know everything
• Why bringing your personality and humour into work doesn’t make you less credible. Quite the opposite.

We also get into the self-belief underneath all of this: how you stop relying on other people to validate your expertise and start recognising the evidence that you’re actually pretty bloody good at what you do.

If you’ve ever stayed quiet in a meeting, over-prepared because you were terrified of being challenged, or waited for permission to say what you already knew needed saying, this one’s for you.

Louise works with organisations, leadership teams and individuals through in-house workshops, group coaching programmes and 1:1 coaching through Speakeasy Coaching. She also runs public masterclasses, including Find Your Voice, throughout the year.

Her next masterclass on 25 September 2026 covers being heard, influencing senior stakeholders, communicating with confidence and getting buy-in - and if you message Louise over on LinkedIn and mention this podcast to sign up by 14th September 2026, she is offering you £25 off!

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

This isn't just the end of a podcast season. It's a reminder of what's possible when you stop waiting for confidence to arrive and start trusting yourself instead.

Across this first season of The HR Big Meet Podcast, you've heard women in HR share honest stories of burnout, redundancy, self-doubt, career change, finding their voice and redefining success on their own terms. In this season finale, Emma reflects on the common threads running through every conversation and the lessons we can all take from them.

If you've ever questioned your value, wondered whether it's too late to make a change, or felt like there must be more than simply surviving your career, this episode is for you.

Because lasting change doesn't happen overnight. It starts with one decision, one brave step, and the willingness to believe there's another way.

Now, let's make this mean something.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here, or come along to Emma's free webinar on 6 August 2026 12 - 1pm BST on how to fall in love with HR again (without changing your career). Register for that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil is joined by LaShawn Davis for a conversation that proves the challenges facing women in HR don't stop at borders.

LaShawn is a faith and work strategist, founder of The HR Plug and creator of The UNPLUG Experience. With a background in labour relations and workplace strategy, she helps organisations transform their cultures while supporting individuals to reconnect with who they are, so they can stop striving and start leading from a place of alignment.

Together, Emma and LaShawn explore:

• Why so many HR professionals feel like they're constantly fighting to prove their worth
• What it means when work starts to feel like a battlefield
• How our identity can become tangled up in our careers
• The power of discovering your "organic brilliance"
• Why burnout isn't inevitable when you're working in alignment with your strengths
• Building confidence from self-awareness rather than external validation
• Creating influence without compromising who you are

This is an energising, thought-provoking conversation about identity, purpose and remembering that your greatest contribution doesn't come from trying to be someone else. It comes from fully understanding who you already are.

Whether you're questioning your place in HR, feeling exhausted by constantly trying to prove yourself, or wondering how to create a career that feels more aligned, this episode will leave you thinking differently about success, influence and the value you already bring.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HRLeadership #WomenInHR #HumanResources #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #Purpose #HumansResourced

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, which was recorded at our live event in May 2026, Emma Djemil sits down with Laura Morton to explore what happens when your life looks successful on paper, but something inside you knows that something needs to change.

Laura was a trusted and highly regarded Head of People, working in a role she loved, with people she respected and a business she believed in. Yet despite all of that, she found herself feeling increasingly disconnected from herself, her energy and what she wanted from life.

So she did something many people only ever dream about - she left. No job lined up. No guaranteed next step. No master plan. Just a decision to trust herself and create the space to figure out what came next.

Together, Emma and Laura explore:

• What it feels like to leave a successful career without another job to go to
• The relationship between identity and work
• Why so many HR professionals ignore the signals telling them something isn't right
• Intuition, self-trust and listening to your body
• Burnout, energy and being "well resourced"
• The pressure to keep going when you know you need a break
• Why rest isn't failure
• Creating a life that works for you, not just one that looks good on paper

This is an honest, thoughtful and deeply relatable conversation about courage, self-awareness and having the confidence to choose something different when your head is telling you one thing and your heart is telling you another.

Whether you're considering a career change, feeling stuck in a role you once loved, or simply wondering what it might look like to prioritise yourself for a change, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is pause and listen.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HRLeadership #WomenInHR #HumanResources #CareerDevelopment #Confidence #Leadership #SelfTrust #BurnoutPrevention #HumansResourced

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil sits down with Gemma Bryan to talk about confidence, self-worth and what happens when one person's opinion makes you question everything you thought you knew about yourself.

After spending nearly two years building an HR function, securing Great Place to Work accreditation and being publicly recognised for her contribution, Gemma found herself unexpectedly out of a job. What followed was a journey through self-doubt, rebuilding confidence and ultimately finding a role where she could thrive, be valued and rediscover her belief in herself.

Together, Emma and Gemma explore:

• Losing your job unexpectedly and the impact it can have on your confidence
• Why so many of us tie our identity and self-worth to our work
• Trusting your intuition when something doesn't feel right
• The difference between being the wrong person and being in the wrong environment
• The importance of support, community and asking for help
• Rebuilding confidence after rejection
• Authenticity, self-trust and being comfortable in your own skin
• Remembering your value when others fail to see it

This is an honest, hopeful and relatable conversation for anyone who has ever had their confidence knocked by a workplace experience, questioned whether they're good enough, or found themselves wondering if they're the problem.

You'll hear reflections on leadership, identity, resilience and why one person's opinion should never be allowed to define your worth.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HRLeadership #WomenInHR #HumanResources #CareerDevelopment #Confidence #Leadership #SelfTrust #HRCommunity #HumansResourced

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil sits down with Kirsty Baggs-Morgan to talk about confidence, identity, authenticity and what happens when the career you've built your life around suddenly disappears.

After more than a decade with the same organisation, Kirsty was unexpectedly let go from her role as Head of HR. What followed was a period of self-doubt, rebuilding and ultimately redefining who she was beyond her job title.

Together, Emma and Kirsty explore:

• Losing your job and rebuilding your confidence
• Why so many HR professionals tie their identity to their work
• Authenticity, values and understanding what really matters to you
• Setting boundaries and refusing to tolerate poor behaviour
• The pressure to fit in within corporate environments
• Confidence, resilience and career reinvention
• Why HR professionals need support too
• Creating a career that aligns with who you are, not who others expect you to be

This is an honest, funny and thought-provoking conversation about self-worth, authenticity and finding your way back to yourself when the thing you thought defined you is taken away.

Expect stories of unexpected redundancy, Australian flights booked after too much wine, terrible management decisions, metal music, and plenty of moments that will have you questioning how much of your identity is wrapped up in your work.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HRLeadership #WomenInHR #HumanResources #CareerDevelopment #Confidence #Leadership #Authenticity #SelfTrust #HRCommunity #HumansResourced

What happens when you spend years helping everyone else find their voice, while slowly losing touch with your own?

In this episode, listen to Emma Djemil speak with Kate Jenkinson, former HR Director, executive coach, performance poet and founder of the Association of Business Poets, to explore creativity, self-expression and why so many people in HR end up disconnected from who they really are.

Kate shares her unconventional journey from research scientist to HR leader, through burnout, coaching and ultimately building a business centred around poetry and human connection. We talk about the role creativity plays in wellbeing, why words have more power than we realise, and how organisations often ask people to belong while quietly expecting them to leave parts of themselves at the door.

This conversation is a reminder that confidence isn't about becoming someone else. It's about reconnecting with who you already are.

In this episode we explore:

• Why self-expression matters more than we think
• The link between creativity, wellbeing and leadership
• What burnout can teach us about losing ourselves
• The power of words to heal, connect and create meaning
• Why HR professionals often put everyone else's needs ahead of their own
• How giving yourself permission can change the direction of your life

Expect poetry, laughter, thoughtful challenge and a conversation that might just inspire you to stop waiting for permission - Because the world of work doesn't need more polished versions of people, it needs more humans being themselves.

Find out more about Kate's work here.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HRLeadership #WomenInHR #ConfidenceAtWork #BurnoutRecovery #LeadershipDevelopment #NeurodiversityAtWork #AuthenticLeadership #CareerDevelopment

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil is joined by psychologist, culture strategist and professional disruptor Paula Brockwell for a conversation about confidence, credibility, influence and the stories that keep us stuck.

Paula shares why she believes HR professionals have accepted far too many limitations about what they can contribute, why waiting for a seat at the table is the wrong strategy, and how changing the way we see our own value can transform the way others see it too.

Together, Emma and Paula explore:

• Why so many HR professionals feel like they are "just HR"
• The hidden stories and labels that undermine confidence
• Building credibility without changing who you are
• Why culture should never be treated as a fluffy add-on
• The link between people experience and business performance
• How women can navigate environments where they are underestimated
• What it really takes to influence senior leaders
• Knowing when it's time to stop fighting and leave

This is a conversation about rebellion in the best possible sense. Not rebellion for the sake of it, but the courage to stop accepting the limits other people place on you and start showing up differently.

Expect strong opinions, practical wisdom, a few swear words, and plenty of moments that will make you rethink the stories you've been telling yourself about your value.

Find out more about Paula's work here.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HRLeadership #WomenInHR #Leadership #Influence #WorkplaceCulture #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil sits down with Michelle Hartley to talk about burnout, identity, leadership and what happens when you slowly disconnect from yourself in the pursuit of credibility at work.

Michelle shares her experience of “beiging herself out of existence” in corporate HR, navigating burnout after the sudden illness and death of a CEO she worked closely with, and the pressure many women feel to tone themselves down in order to fit into leadership environments.

Together, Emma and Michelle explore:

• burnout and emotional exhaustion in HR
• hustle culture and over-functioning
• losing confidence and sense of self at work
• women in leadership and “fitting in”
• rebuilding confidence through small acts of rebellion
• why HR professionals struggle to prioritise themselves
• sustainable leadership and self-trust

This is an honest, funny and deeply relatable conversation for anyone who has ever felt disconnected from themselves at work.

Expect colourful outfits, occasional (?!) swearing, and plenty of moments where you’ll realise you’re definitely not the only one feeling this way.

Find out more about Michelle's 'Find Your Awesome' programme for HRBP's here, and if in person events are your thing, check out her 'The Great Geek Together' here.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, burnout, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #Burnout #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #CareerDevelopment #Confidence #HRLeadership

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil sits down with leadership development specialist, coach and facilitator Katy Walton to talk about courage, confidence and what happens when you stop living on autopilot.

Together, they explore the French phrase "Métro, Boulot, Dodo" - commute, work, sleep, repeat - and how easy it is to become so caught up in the mechanics of life that you lose sight of what you actually want for yourself.

Katy shares the story of walking away from secure employment to build a business, why she believes two small words can change the course of your life, and how confidence is built through action rather than waiting until you feel ready.

Together, Emma and Katy explore:

• why so many of us end up living by default rather than design
• how curiosity can open up new possibilities for your career and life
• the power of asking "what if?"
• confidence, self-belief and taking action before you feel ready
• overcoming fear, self-doubt and limiting beliefs
  trusting yourself when others don't understand your choices
• creating a life that's bigger than your job
• knowing when it's time to walk away from something that no longer fits

This is a thoughtful and energising conversation for anyone who feels stuck, disconnected from themselves, or caught in the cycle of work becoming their entire identity.

Expect reflections on confidence, intuition, influence, career decisions and why the smallest action can sometimes create the biggest change.

If you've ever found yourself wondering, "Is this really it?" then this episode is for you.

Katy is a specialist in Leadership development. A post-graduate certified coach, consultant and creative facilitator.
She helps organisations close the gap between the leaders they have now and the leaders they need to deliver results.
Her specific expertise lies in developing emotional intelligence, collaboration and impactful communication so that leaders build confidence, have influence and create high performing teams.

Katy also supports in-house HR / L&D – for FREE – to Set their Leaders Up for Success with her epic ‘Success Jams’ programme. Find out more about her work here.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #Confidence #CareerDevelopment #SelfTrust #Influence #HumansResourced

In this episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil sits down with Dr Adele Currie to talk about toxic workplaces, mental health, leadership and one of the hardest lessons many HR professionals ever have to learn:

You cannot fix everything.

Adele shares the story behind the breakdown she spoke about at the very first HR Big Meet, what recovery looked like afterwards, and why so many HR professionals carry impossible levels of responsibility for problems they didn't create and can't solve alone.

Together, Emma and Adele explore:

• toxic workplace cultures and the impact they have on our mental health
• why HR professionals often feel responsible for fixing everything
• the danger of staying too long in environments that are harming us
• the surprising similarities between toxic workplaces and toxic relationships
• confidence, self-worth and knowing when enough is enough
• ethical leadership and doing the right thing, even when it's uncomfortable
• why "being nice" isn't always the kindest thing to do
• the importance of community, support and reaching out when you're struggling
• creating an escape fund and giving yourself more choice and freedom at work

This is an honest, wise and occasionally hilarious conversation about burnout, boundaries, courage and what happens when we stop carrying responsibility for things that were never ours to hold in the first place.

Expect stories about breakdowns, leadership, suffragettes, skirts tucked into knickers, the importance of finding your "Norah Balls", and plenty of moments that will leave you feeling a little less alone.

If you've ever felt trapped in a role, responsible for fixing a broken system, or worried that you're somehow failing because you can't change everything around you, this episode is for you.

If this episode resonated, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a lot of time talking about confidence, leadership, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Find out more about that here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #MentalHealth #Burnout #HRLeadership #Confidence #SelfTrust #HumansResourced

In the very first episode of The HR Big Meet Podcast, Emma Djemil shares her own story and the experiences that shaped the work she does today.

From wanting to work in HR as a teenager, to being bullied in a senior leadership role, navigating IVF, leaving jobs without another role to go to, and eventually walking away from a corporate career during a global pandemic to start her own business, this is a conversation about trusting yourself when the path in front of you no longer feels right.

Along the way, Emma explores why so many women in HR feel unheard, unsupported and disconnected from themselves at work, and why she believes the profession has the potential to change the world of work if it can first stop abandoning itself in the process.

In this episode, Emma shares:

• why she always knew she wanted to work in HR
• the leadership experiences that transformed her career
• bullying, burnout and feeling let down by the profession she loved
• IVF, motherhood and redefining success
• why she left corporate HR to become a coach
• the hidden cost of constantly proving your worth
• why HR professionals often feel isolated and misunderstood
• the philosophy behind Humans Resourced
• what sustainable impact without compromise really means

This is an honest and deeply personal conversation about career decisions, identity, self-trust, leadership and doing things differently when the "normal" path no longer fits.

If you've ever questioned whether you're the problem, wondered if there's a different way of working, or felt like you've lost yourself somewhere along the way, this episode is for you.

If this episode resonated with you, firstly, welcome. You are very much amongst your people here.

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn, where she spends a whole heap of time talking about confidence, leadership, burnout, visibility, self-trust and the realities of working in HR.

If you're at a point in your career where you're questioning things, feeling stuck, disconnected from yourself or wanting greater impact without sacrificing your entire nervous system in the process, Emma also works with women in HR through 1:1 coaching. Check that out here.

If you enjoyed this episode, do all the lovely podcast-y things: subscribe, leave a review, share it with your HR bestie, or stick it on LinkedIn so more women realise they're not the only ones feeling this stuff.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about confidence, leadership, burnout, vulnerability and sustainable impact in HR.

#HR #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #HumanResources #CareerDevelopment #Confidence #HRLeadership #SelfTrust #CareerChange #HumansResourced