15 Mar 2026
S11 Ep 05: How to fix people issues brilliantly with Kieran Mander
What does it take to fix the toughest people challenges in an organisation? And how does an interim HR leader step into chaos, overcome resistance, and move a business in flux forward?
In this episode, Helen Beedham is joined by international HR authority Kieran Mander, co-author of the forthcoming HRBP Handbook. Together they share hard-won insights and practical strategies for tackling complex people issues and solving them in ways that stick.
Helen and Kieran explore:
⭐️ The “HR superhero” mindset and why the real magic is in methodical diagnosis, listening, and assembling the bigger picture before acting
⭐️ How to spot whether an organisation has hidden chaos (and what to do when expectations and reality don’t match)
⭐️ The “secret sauce” HR brings, connecting the dots and solving not just surface symptoms, but the systemic issues at play
⭐️ Why clear vision and a sense of purpose are often more powerful retention tools than simply increasing pay
⭐️ How to spot the “sharks in the tank,” manage power brokers, and shift even challenging personalities to be allies for positive change
⭐️ The vital importance of building trust, strong relationships, and leaving a legacy that outlasts your tenure
Whether you’re an HR leader, a manager navigating change, or simply interested in what really makes teams and organisations thrive, this episode offers candid insights, hands-on tactics, and uplifting reminders of HR’s strategic power.
About Kieran Mander:
Kieran Mander is a Fellow of the CIPD and has been an active member since 2017 where he became a volunteer with the Code of Conduct and Ethics committee and then Vice Chair of the South-West London committee.
Kieran has over twenty years of international HR experience working in multiple sectors, including FMCG, Retail, Aviation, Tech, Utilities and from start-up to FTSE 100 multinationals, including spending 10 years living and working in the Middle East.
He is a professional coach and has experience both within permanent and interim environments. Kieran loves turning complex business objectives into engaging strategies, helping businesses lead change programmes, drive employee engagement, delivering fit-for-purpose org design, reward and performance policies or supporting HR systems and landing strategic commercial People Plans.
He is currently co-writing, “The HRBP handbook” and is passionate about sharing best practice people initiatives and hearing from other HR practitioners on new ideas to support the HR journey, to champion better work and working lives!
Kieran on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranmander/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranmander/)
Kieran’s website: https://www.kieranmander.com/ (https://www.kieranmander.com/)
Rate A Recruiter website: https://ratearecruiter.net/ (https://ratearecruiter.net/)
Order Helen’s new business book, the Amazon Bestseller People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free (https://mybook.to/PeopleGlue). Help others to discover it too by leaving a book review and/or rating here (https://mybook.to/PeopleGlue).
Download free retention tools from Helen’s website here (https://www.helenbeedham.com/people-glue), including the Freedom Index and 8 ways to diagnose your retention risks.
Listen to Helen’s special podcast episode (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s11-e1-takeover-with-jen-sundberg-how-to-create-a/id1606205040?i=1000745640572) about People Glue with guest host, CEO and tech entrepreneur Jen Sundberg.
Discover Helen’s award-winning first business book The Future of Time: how ‘re-working’ time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing (http://getbook.at/FutureOfTime). Browse the reviews or rate it/post your own review here (http://getbook.at/FutureOfTime).
Join Helen’s mailing list here (https://www.helenbeedham.com/podcast/s9-collective-wisdom).
Follow Helen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenjbeedham/%20and) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/helenjbeedham/).
(Tip: click the bell icon on the top right of her Linked In profile to automatically see all her posts in your feed.)
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