Welcome to People Powered Strategy — the podcast where we sit down with the minds shaping the future of work. Every week we bring you candid conversations with Chief People Officers and HR leaders who are driving business outcomes by putting people first.
Why "HR isn't your friend" misses the point, with Wendy Redshaw
"HR isn't your friend." It's a phrase we hear all the time online, and it usually comes loaded with resentment. But is it even the right question to be asking?
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sit down with Wendy Redshaw, a veteran people leader whose career spans Disney, healthcare, and now the beauty industry.
Wendy explains why the "friend or foe" framing gets HR wrong from the start, and why the real overlap between what people want (purpose, dignity, fair treatment) and what businesses want (performance, retention, results) is far bigger than most people assume.
22 Jul 2026
The simple AI habit for every scared employee with Lisa Sherwell
If you're worried AI is coming for your job, Lisa Sherwell has one piece of advice: stop trying to figure out what you should or shouldn't use AI for and just start using it for everything.
Lisa is Chief People Officer at SUSE, and in this episode she breaks down the exact habit she recommends to employees who feel stuck or nervous about AI. Pick one day. Use AI for every single task. Let it tell you how it can help before you decide whether it should.
7 Jul 2026
Stop cutting heads, start expanding what's possible, with Lydia Coffey
What does it actually look like when four generations share a workplace? And what happens when the youngest employees are the most anxious about AI?
We sat down with Lydia Coffey, Senior People Business Partner at TaxBit, to dig into the generational dynamics reshaping how we work, hire, and build culture.
7 Jul 2026
AI, authenticity, and the future of hiring with Eloy Leibas
We sit down with Eloy, People and Culture Business Partner at the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, for a candid conversation about how AI is reshaping the world of talent acquisition and what both candidates and hiring managers risk getting wrong.
8 May 2026
What companies get wrong about workforce reduction, With Jon-Paul Ales-Barnicoat
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we spoke with Jon-Paul Ales-Barnicoat, CHRO at AliveCor, about the evolving role of HR leadership in a rapidly changing business landscape.
12 Mar 2026
Why HR is becoming “people and culture” leadership, with Robert Fenech
In this conversation, Robert Fenech, Chief People and Culture Officer at KM Malta Airlines, discusses how the role of HR has evolved from a largely administrative function into a strategic partner within organizations.
5 Mar 2026
The ONE truth people and HR leaders miss, with Lucian Ivan
In the newest episode of People Powered Strategy, Lucian Ivan (Global Head of People, Revolut) explains why successful automation starts with process redesign — and why great People Ops should feel almost invisible when it’s working well.
12 Feb 2026
Is AI “cheating” in recruitment… or resourcefulness? A People Director’s take
In this conversation, we’re joined by Chris Lincoln, People Director at Vagabond Wines, to talk about the biggest challenges facing People Operations right now and where HR is heading next.
2 Feb 2026
"Work doesn't have to suck" with Nick Holmes
Is there actually hard proof that culture drives growth?
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, Nick Holmes, VP of Learning & Culture at Avala Health and a PhD researcher in HR and organizational behavior, digs into one of the most overused ideas in business: culture.
Nick shares what surprised him most in his research, why so much “culture talk” fails in the real world, and what leaders can do that’s measurable, practical, and grounded in human behavior.
15 Jan 2026
Why change management fails in the workplace, with Lisa Sherwell
In this special episode of People Powered Strategy, Lisa Sherwell, Chief People Officer at SUSE, chats with us about the common mistakes that people leaders make when implementing change management.
Additionally, we spoke about the most exciting changes coming to HR and People Leadership in the near future.
20 Nov 2025
Why empathy is your best business strategy, with Connie White
How do you build a world-class organization dedicated to solving some of science's biggest challenges? You start by putting people first.
Join us as we speak with Connie White, CPO of Altos Labs, about how she built her people function to not just support the business, but to propel it forward. Connie breaks down her strategy for transforming HR from a bureaucratic function into an innovation driver.
6 Oct 2025
What every people leader needs to know about AI, with Simina Simion
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sit down with Simina Simion, Chief HR Officer at Uptempo, to explore how AI is reshaping the world of HR and people leadership.
Simina shares how AI is freeing HR teams from repetitive admin tasks and creating more space for strategy, empathy, and human connection. We talk about the shift from fear to excitement around AI, how to build trust during times of change, and why the HR leaders of the future will also need to become tech stewards.
13 Aug 2025
How to hire the right people, with Matthew Pepe
What makes someone the right hire? Spoiler: it’s not just what’s on their resume.
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, Matthew Pepe, VP of People at Ferrer, shares why qualities like curiosity, grit, and an ownership mindset can matter more than technical skills—and why hiring carefully is especially critical when your team is small.
21 Jul 2025
Your secret weapon for great hiring, with Mawulom Nenonene
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sat down with Mawulom Nenonene, Head of Talent Acquisition at Point, for a powerful conversation about building scalable, inclusive, and high-performance hiring systems.
Mawulom shares his inspiring personal journey—from biomedical engineering to tech talent leadership—and the lessons he’s learned about trust, fairness, and culture in the workplace.
2 Jul 2025
Emotional intelligence: The key to executive success, with Daniel Dickson-Hope
In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sit down with Daniel Dickson-Hope, seasoned Chief People Officer and HR Director in the health and social care sector.
Daniel shares a candid, thoughtful conversation about how the role of HR is transforming—from traditional personnel functions to strategic leadership at the heart of the business.
17 Jun 2025
The strategic future of people leadership with Matt Rieck
In our first episode, we sit down with Matt Rieck, Chief Human Resources Officer at Inszone Insurance Services and author of The Employee Retention Bible.
We dive into the evolving role of the Chief People Officer — from building scalable people systems and navigating remote culture, to developing managers and embracing AI as an HR tool. Matt also shares sharp, practical insights on employee retention, learning agility, and how the "uncool" industries may actually offer the most rewarding careers.
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