HR on the Offensive

This latest podcast features Nancy Allen from the People and Workforce Analytics team here at LACE, discussing her recent attendance at the HR Analytics Summit. The conference gathered heads of people analytics and their teams, offering a platform for HR professionals to connect, share insights, and discuss common challenges. Listen now for a discussion showcasing the dynamic nature of HR analytics and the constant need for HR professionals to adapt and innovate in response to changing workforce trends and technologies.

Chris invites on guest Katie Jacobs to shares her insights on a recent CIPD report called “The value of people expertise on corporate boards” exploring the evolving role of HR professionals in corporate leadership. Listen now for the latest insights into the increasing significance of HR expertise in corporate leadership, driven by evolving corporate governance and investor expectations. Discover how HR professionals can take on strategic roles at the highest levels of organizations and uncover the challenges and misconceptions associated with the HR profession.

What challenges arise when manging change within organisations? This podcast features insights and perspectives from LACErs Cathy Acratopulo and Liz Bailey, who join Chris to explore various facets of change management, particularly in the context of HR transformation, and offer valuable takeaways. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration between HR and business leaders, customisation to local contexts, managing HRBP transitions, setting realistic expectations, and staying committed to the change vision. Listen now for key takeaways that can serve as valuable guidance for organisations navigating change successfully.

We welcome on Gary Stringer Content Marketing Manager at learning platform HowNow, once again to discuss two article that they have produced which analysed successful L&D strategies and their outcomes. Throughout the discussion, the importance of context emerged as a recurring theme. Gary encouraged listeners to always consider the context of the learner, industry, and problem being addressed. This approach ensures that learning solutions resonate and provide practical value within specific situations. Listen now for valuable insights into effective L&D practices.

In this podcast Chris invited Aisling Teillard, Chief Custom Officer at beqom, to discuss a recent report they wrote called “Levelling the Paying Field”. The report highlights the evolving nature of workplace dynamics, influenced by factors like the pandemic and rising living cost. Listen now to learn how you can begin to address your organisation’s gender pay gap.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris and fellow LACErs Ed Sparkes, Romy Hobson, and Liz Bailey delve into a discussion about the relationship between corporate culture and organisational performance. Overall, the podcast episode provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between corporate culture and business performance. Listen now for perspectives on culture's evolution, recruitment practices, and the impacts of happy employees on overall productivity.

This podcast episode features guest Cemal Ezel, founder of Change Please, a non-profit which focuses on creating meaningful and sustainable solutions to address homelessness and unemployment. Cemal tells Chris and David Pacifico about his journey and the ethos of Change Please. Change Please is one of LACE’s charities of the year. So today we’re sharing more information to spread the word about the great work they’re doing. Change Please has gained recognition for its innovative approach to addressing homelessness and its positive impact on the lives of the people it supports. Listen now to hear Cemal’s story and if you would like to donate to help their cause or just to read further into their organisation, click the link

Recently we held the latest in a series of CPO forum events in which we discussed the topic of HR benchmarking and its relevance in the current business landscape. The host, Chris, was joined by Cathy Acratopulo, Aaron Alburey, and Debbie Mitchell, to reflect on our key takeaways form our CPOs. The discussion revolved around the reasons for using benchmarking, the challenges it presents, and the 10 traits of high-performing people functions. Listen now for a robust and passionate discussion, demonstrating the relevance and significance of benchmarking in shaping HR strategies and driving organisational success.

The latest HR on the Offensive podcast focuses on talent acquisition and the candidate experience. Host Chris, alongside fellow LACEr David Pacifico, introduce guest speaker, Maggie Spong, the former Global Head of Talent Acquisition at AstraZeneca and Roche. Listen now for valuable insights into the world of talent acquisition and the evolving landscape of candidate experiences.

Our latest podcast focuses on productivity and performance with a specific link to well-being. Joining Chris is fellow LACEr and published author Tim Ringo. The conversation revolves around Tim's book, "Solving the Productivity Puzzle," which explores the impact of wellbeing on productivity. Tim’s book links perfectly links to a campaign we’re having around “Redefining workforce productivity” which challenges businesses to look at what they mean when they talk about productivity. This podcast discussed a variety of topics including the interplay between wellbeing and productivity, exploring individual and organisational dimensions and the importance of aligning purpose, leadership actions and work conditions with employee motivations. Listen now for an insightful discussion on how happy employees make the best workforce.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, hosted by Chris, the focus is on change management and change analytics. Joining Chris are two LACE change experts Ed Sparks and Liz Bailey, as well as a special guest, Colin Sloman, the Chief Strategy Officer at Cognician. Cognician is an activation platform that focuses on mindset, behaviour change, and skills development, with a strong emphasis on measuring and analysing outcomes. This podcast explores the significance of change analytics in driving successful organisational change and emphasises the importance of data-driven decision-making in HR. Listen now for valuable insights and practical approaches for change managers and HR professionals.

Our host Chris and in-house skills expert David Pacifico speak to two expert guests, Annee Bayeux, Chief Learning Strategist at education technology company Degreed and Dr. Tiffany Tesfamichael Head of Learning Strategy, at drone experience business Lens.Vegas about what benefits a skills-focused organisation can bring, including creating more opportunities for mobility and inclusivity. A skills-based talent strategy focuses on an employee's skillset rather than their role or position at a company. As such, it creates room for sideways and diagonal moves within an organisation regardless of any preconception of what competencies are associated with an existing role.

In the latest episode of our HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris introduces the topic of tokenism and welcomes fellow LACEr, Bosede Adekola and guests from the Clear Company, Corinne Crosbourne and Maria Baggio, to discuss this important issue. Bosede shares her background and why she thought tokenism was worth discussing. She explains that her interest in the topic stemmed from her previous experience in an organisation where impostor syndrome was common among minority employees. She believes it is crucial to address these concerns and support organisations facing similar challenges. Two significant impacts of tokenism are reduced morale and a negative perception of DE&I efforts. Listen now to learn how you can address tokenism and how to avoid its detrimental effects on individuals and organisations.

In this week's podcast we speak to LACE Senior Manager and payroll expert Adam Morris alongside Ana Laiu, the Head of Payroll at the PPHE Hotel Group. They discuss what challenges have emerged for payroll in the last few years and ways those in the profession can tackle them head on.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and fellow LACErs Cathy Acratopulo, and Evan Wynne discuss the highly topical issue of the enforced return to the office. They delve into the current debate surrounding businesses mandating their employees to come back to the office and explore both the advantages and pitfalls of this approach. This podcast highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for organisations to navigate between the push to return to the office and the pull of accommodating employees' preferences. Listen now to find the right balance and make informed decisions by understanding the business impact and consulting employees.

Adrian Thomas, a talent acquisition (TA) thought leader and non-executive director of the RL 100, joins the podcast to discuss various aspects of talent management with our host Chris and Executive Director, David Pacifico. RL100 is a peer network for senior in-house resourcing leaders. Adrian has worked for large companies in HR and recruitment roles, both in the private and public sectors. More recently, Adrian has been advising companies on optimising their recruitment processes and helping suppliers in the industry engage better with in-house recruiters. Listen now to learn how to enhance the value of your talent acquisition.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, hosts Chris and Chris Horton welcome Aaisha Knights, Chief People Officer of LMAX Group, to discuss how HR leaders can support and develop their teams during uncertain times. Aaisha shares her experience in the HR space, emphasising the increasing demand for support and guidance from line managers who are navigating the changing trends and expectations in the field. Listen now for practical insights on how to encourage a continuous learning mindset that can help your employees boost productivity and navigate the evolving landscape of HR.

In this episode of the HR on the offensive podcast, Host Chris and Chris Horton welcome Donald H Taylor, Network Chair at Emerge Education, as a guest. As a part of the podcast, we discuss his Learning and Development Global Sentiment Survey and what it reveals. It has been running for more than ten years now, and the survey has gradually expanded in terms of the number of respondents with 3,396 participants from 100 countries. It consists of three core questions: What will be hot in workplace learning and development in the coming year? What is the greatest challenge for the respondents in the upcoming year? And where do they work? Listen now for an insightful discussion on the Learning and Development Global Sentiment Survey, highlighting the importance of staying informed about emerging technologies like AI in the L&D field.

Can we redefine the word “productivity”? Chris is joined by fellow LACErs, Tim Ringo and Chris Horton. We recently hosted an event, which was based on Tim's book called "The Productivity Puzzle". Is there a potential impact on productivity from a four-day workweek? Could it be implemented into industries we thought were unsuitable? Listen to this podcast to get an insight into how you can redefine workforce productivity in your organisations and find innovative approaches to adapt to the changing world of work.

Is HR going to be affected by the rise of AI as other industries have been? The latest episode of our podcast discusses the increasing role of AI in the world of work and the future of learning in this context. Our host Chris and LACE Executive Director, David Pacifico speak to Brian Murphy, Senior Director Employee Skilling at Microsoft and Charles Jennings, Managing Director at Duntroon Consultants. Listen now to learn how your organisations can embrace this technology while being mindful of its potential risks and impact on the workforce.