The Hidden Side of HR: Kameka McLean on the Tough Calls No One Talks About

In this episode of Everyday Leadership, Sope Agbelusi speaks with Kameka McLean, Group Head of HR at Walker Crips. Her story starts in Jamaica and stretches across more than forty countries where she has led major transformation projects, built teams, shaped organisational culture, and held firm to her values in rooms where many would stay silent. Kameka talks about the realities of arriving in the UK at sixteen, facing barriers she never expected, and building a career without a roadmap or role models. She opens up about finding her place in HR, managing pressure at senior levels, navigating global change programmes, raising standards inside organisations, and the personal mindsets that helped her grow. This conversation is about leadership identity, integrity, resilience, family motivation, culture, transformation, and the courage to stand firm when it counts. It is direct, honest, and full of insight for anyone who leads or wants to lead. What We Cover • The early experiences in Jamaica that shaped her drive and purpose • Moving to the UK as a teenager and dealing with unexpected barriers • How she built a career in HR without role models or guidance • The moment she had to integrate six thousand employees across twelve locations • How she handles organisational politics and senior pressure • Why integrity guides every decision she makes • The weight of being the only one in the room and how she navigates it • The importance of family, identity, and personal values • What she had to unlearn in order to grow as a leader Key Quotes “I felt out of place, but I never let that stop me.” “I will not do anything that goes against my integrity.” “Sometimes you need to pause before you respond. It saves you trouble.” About Kameka McLean Kameka McLean is the Group Head of HR at Walker Crips. She has led global transformation and integration programmes across multiple regions and sectors. Her work spans people strategy, organisational design, culture, talent, employment law, and senior leadership advisory. She is known for her clarity, honesty, and ability to bring humanity into high pressure environments.