Zarina Ward: The Reality of the Relationship Between People and Profit

This was one of those conversations that really gets to the heart of what drives sustainable success in private equity-backed businesses.In this episode of Private Equity Perspectives, I sit down with Zarina Ward, a global Chief People Officer with a track record across Kantar Public, MindGym, Oliver Wyman, EY and more. We explore the reality of the relationship between people and profit and how a strong people strategy becomes a genuine value creation lever rather than just a support function.What You’ll Discover- How People Strategy Directly Drives EBITDA: The two key levers CPOs can pull - optimising the bottom line through better org design and accelerating top-line growth through talent, technology and velocity.- Building Trust and Credibility Fast in a PE Environment: Why quick wins, transparent communication and walking the talk are essential when building relationships with investors and boards.- The Talent Engine That Actually Delivers for Exit: What really matters in hiring, retention, reward, succession planning and creating psychological safety - especially through economic cycles and across generations.In a world of pressure for speed and results, the best people strategies aren’t soft - they’re about creating trust, empowerment, and smart trade-offs that build both performance today and longevity for exit. The conversation also highlights the ongoing tensions around hybrid working, performance conversations, and balancing short-term delivery with long-term cultural health.Whether you’re a CEO, CPO, investor or operator in the PE space, this episode offers practical insight into how to make people strategy one of your sharpest competitive advantages.Episode ResourcesZarina Ward - LinkedInThe Right MindsetPrivate Equity Perspectives is brought to you by James Boot, Managing Director of Marble Hill Partners, a talent and executive search partner to private equity backed businesses in the UK and is produced by Urban Podcasts.