From Recruitment to Retention: Redefining the People Function with Christine

In this episode, we sit down with Christine, Head of Talent & People at a pioneering quantum computing start up, to explore her unexpected journey from studying psychology during a global recession to leading people strategy in one of tech's most innovative sectors. Christine shares what it means to bridge the gap between talent acquisition and HR, the challenges of scaling a team from 12 to 100, and why retention is just as strategic as hiring.We dive into:Why HR wasn’t the original plan and how Christine found her way back to itThe real differences between recruitment and talent acquisitionHow people teams can (and should) collaborate to improve onboarding and retentionConducting painful but powerful audits to build HR foundationsMental resilience, imposter syndrome, and defining your leadership philosophyThis episode is packed with candid insights for anyone navigating the intersection of recruitment, people ops, and start up growth. Whether you're an aspiring HR leader or just wondering how to grow your career in people roles, Christine’s story will inspire and ground you.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:12 Journey into HR and Talent Acquisition05:16 Understanding the Role of Head of Talent and People08:46 The Shift from Recruitment to Talent Development10:54 Collaboration Between Talent Acquisition and HR13:21 Navigating Imposter Syndrome in HR15:36 Continuous Learning in the People Space17:08 Challenges in Transitioning Roles20:03 Balancing Energy and Empathy in HR22:39 Team Dynamics and People Operations25:35 Conducting Audits for Operational Efficiency28:44 The Importance of Employee Feedback30:19 Advice for Transitioning Between Roles36:41 Final Reflections and Advice for the Future