The People Podcast

In this episode of The People Podcast, I explore one of the biggest conversations happening in the workplace today: AI and HR.As I prepare to attend AI Experience Live, I share my perspective on how tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are changing the way HR professionals work.Rather than replacing HR, AI has the potential to remove time-consuming administration, streamline processes and allow people professionals to focus on what matters most — people.I also share how we use AI at Ethos of HR to support marketing, content creation, business development and operational efficiency, helping us operate like a much larger organisation while saving both time and money.If you're an HR professional, business leader or simply curious about the future of work, this episode is for you.Key topics discussed:Why AI isn't replacing HRPractical uses of Claude, ChatGPT and CopilotHow AI can reduce administrative burdenReal examples from Ethos of HRThe future of HR and human-centred leadershipWhy people will always remain at the heart of great organisationsRemember:Technology can automate tasks. People still build cultures.

AI is transforming HR faster than ever before.From AI-generated policies and employee support tools to automated HR workflows and platforms introducing dedicated HR capabilities, organisations are increasingly asking the question:Can AI replace HR?In this episode, I explore:✔️ why businesses are rapidly adopting AI in HR✔️ what AI does exceptionally well✔️ the risks of over-relying on automation✔️ why emotional intelligence still matters in workplaces✔️ the human side of HR that technology cannot replicateThis is not an anti-AI conversation.AI is a powerful tool and can absolutely support HR professionals. But HR has always been more than policies, templates and processes.Real HR involves people, trust, judgement, leadership and difficult conversations — and those things cannot simply be automated.Also… with the UK weather suddenly feeling like a Mediterranean holiday nobody asked for, this episode may contain slight signs of heat exhaustion and frustration with office fans.

Most employees do not suddenly disengage or resign overnight.The warning signs usually appear much earlier:less engagementless communicationless emotional connection to the workplaceBut many organisations only recognise the issue when it has already become a retention problem.In this week’s episode, I discuss:✔️ silent disengagement✔️ leadership blind spots✔️ workplace culture✔️ retention challenges✔️ why proactive people strategy matters more than reactive HR#EthosOfHR #HR #EmployeeEngagement #Leadership #PeopleStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #PeopleManagement #SMEs #Podcast

n this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed, founder of Ethos of HR, is joined by Ben Beveridge from hireful to discuss the current state of recruitment in the UK—focusing on SMEs and growing organisations.The conversation explores the key challenges organisations are facing today, from changing candidate expectations to unstructured hiring processes, and what it really takes to build an effective recruitment strategy.The episode also looks at the role of technology in recruitment, and how the right systems can support organisations in creating more consistent, efficient, and scalable hiring processes.Whether you’re a business leader or HR professional, this episode provides practical insights into how to approach recruitment more strategically in a changing market.

In this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed explores the concept of radical candour, developed by Kim Scott, and its role in transforming performance management.With organisations facing ongoing talent shortages and increasing retention challenges, traditional performance appraisals are no longer effective.This episode breaks down how leaders can apply radical candour — balancing direct challenge with genuine care — to create more effective feedback, stronger employee relationships, and improved retention outcomes.A must-listen for HR professionals and leaders looking to modernise their approach to performance and people development.#HR #Leadership #PerformanceManagement #EmployeeEngagement #TalentManagement #PeopleStrategy #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #HRPodcast

HR teams across the UK are navigating one of the busiest periods in recent years.Alongside the everyday challenges of recruitment, employee relations, leadership development and employee engagement, organisations are also preparing for the changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025.With so many priorities competing for attention, many HR leaders are asking an important question:What should organisations actually focus on in their people strategy?In this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed explores how organisations can cut through the noise and focus on the fundamentals that truly drive organisational performance and employee engagement.This episode covers:• Why HR teams are under increasing pressure• The impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025• The foundations of an effective people strategy• Why HR audits and clarity in HR processes are becoming more importantIf you work in HR, leadership or people management, this episode offers practical reflections on where HR should focus its energy in a rapidly evolving workplace.#HRPodcast #PeopleStrategy #HRLeadership #FutureOfWork #EmploymentLaw

At a recent event, I listened to David Ventura share a simple but powerful framework on organisational growth — three aligned levers: Systems, Strategy and Skills.In this episode, I reflect on what that means in practice.Why growth often feels chaotic.Why ambition alone isn’t enough.And why misalignment between infrastructure, workforce capability and leadership skills quietly slows organisations down.I also share practical steps leaders can take to pressure-test their systems, align people strategy to commercial goals and strengthen management capability before growth exposes weaknesses.If you’re scaling, restructuring or preparing for your next phase of growth, this episode is for you.

HR is no longer just about policies, recruitment and compliance.In this episode of The People Podcast, we explore what truly transforms HR into a strategic driver of organisational performance. From workforce alignment and leadership capability to engagement intelligence and digital infrastructure, this conversation unpacks the foundations of a modern, growth-focused people function.If you’re a leader, founder or HR professional questioning whether your function is built for growth or simply maintaining operations, this episode will challenge your perspective.

Leadership behaviour sits at the heart of engagement, culture, and organisational performance.In this episode of The People Podcast, I’m joined by Keather Snyder, President & Chief Operating Officer at Omnia Group, to explore why behavioural insight is critical at recruitment, promotion, succession planning, and leadership development stages.We discuss how structured behavioural assessment strengthens decision-making, reduces leadership risk, and builds more intentional cultures.If engagement is the outcome, behaviour is the lever.#Leadership #BehaviouralAssessment #EmployeeEngagement #PeopleStrategy #SuccessionPlanning

Employee engagement doesn’t begin with surveys. It begins with behaviour.In this episode, I explore why leadership behaviour drives engagement, culture, and long-term performance.From recruitment and promotion to succession planning and leadership development, behavioural insight plays a critical role in reducing risk and strengthening organisational capability.I also introduce the importance of structured behavioural assessment and how organisations can use it strategically.In the next episode, I’ll be joined by Keather Snyder from Omnia Group to continue the conversation.

Employee engagement is still measured once a year in many organisations — but leadership, culture, and employee experience don’t operate on an annual cycle anymore.In this full episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed is joined by Alex Moutal for a thoughtful conversation on what employee engagement really means in today’s workplace.Together, they explore:Why annual engagement surveys are no longer enough on their ownHow engagement acts as a leading indicator of organisational healthThe role leadership behaviour plays in shaping engagementHow organisations can move towards continuous listening and meaningful actionThis episode is for leaders and HR professionals who want to move beyond engagement scores and focus on trust, connection, and sustainable performance.🎧 Follow The People Podcast on Spotify for future episodes.

Employee engagement is often measured once a year — but leadership and culture don’t operate on an annual cycle anymore.In this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed explores:• what employee engagement really means• why annual surveys alone no longer work• how engagement acts as a leading indicator of organisational health• the role leaders play in building trust, connection, and consistency• practical ways to improve engagement continuouslyThis episode is for leaders and HR professionals who want to move beyond scores and start focusing on meaningful engagement that drives performance and retention.

AI is already changing recruitment — from how candidates apply for roles to how employers make hiring decisions.In this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed is joined by Adrian, Co-Founder and Chief Helper at Hireful, to explore what this shift really means for HR teams, in-house recruiters, and jobseekers.Together, they discuss how AI is influencing CVs, applications, and interview preparation, the risks organisations face if they adopt AI reactively, and what “human-led, AI-supported” recruitment looks like in practice.This is a practical, grounded conversation about using AI to improve fairness, consistency, and decision-making — without losing trust or the human side of hiring.

Hiring has changed — but many recruitment approaches haven’t.In this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed explores the realities of talent acquisition across all sectors, from charities and healthcare to hospitality, retail, and professional services.The conversation looks at why vacancies are staying open longer, why good candidates are dropping out of recruitment processes, and why organisations are struggling to attract the right talent — even when applications are coming in.This episode goes beyond surface-level fixes and focuses on what actually works in today’s labour market, including clearer role design, better recruitment processes, stronger employer branding, and more confident hiring decisions.Naseer also shares how Ethos of HR supports organisations to move from reactive hiring to more sustainable, strategic talent acquisition, and why Ethos has partnered with Hireful to support better recruitment processes and candidate experience.The episode closes with a look ahead to a special upcoming episode, where Naseer will be joined by Adrian McDonagh to dive deeper into the future of recruitment and hiring.

HR systems are no longer just back-office tools — they play a critical role in how organisations scale, stay compliant, and support their people.In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, we’re joined by Dylan Smith from Rippling as part of our HR Systems series.Together, we explore:The biggest challenges organisations are facing todayHow HR tech thinking has evolved across EMEAThe impact of unifying systems on day-to-day people operationsHow automation works in practiceSupporting scaling organisations and managing global complianceThis conversation goes beyond features and focuses on outcomes — clarity, efficiency, and building HR systems that genuinely support growth.🎙️ The People Podcast by Ethos of HR

In this special episode of The People Podcast, I was joined by Sian from Breathe to discuss how organisations use HR systems in practice and what to consider when adopting one.The conversation focuses on real-world use rather than features — exploring how HR systems support structure, consistency, and confidence in managing people information, processes, and compliance.

AI in HR is often seen as a threat to people-focused work, but the reality is very different.In this episode of The People Podcast, Naseer Mohammed explores how HR teams can use AI ethically and intelligently across recruitment, HR administration, performance management and HR metrics. Drawing on real-world HR operations experience, this episode looks at how AI can reduce the administrative burden that keeps HR teams tied up with letters, contracts, payroll queries and reporting.The real opportunity is not efficiency alone. It is reinvesting time back into people – supporting employees, developing managers and strengthening workplace culture. This episode is for HR professionals and leaders who want to embrace AI responsibly and keep HR human.

An Employee Value Proposition, or EVP, is often talked about — but rarely done well.In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, host Naseer Mohammed, founder of Ethos of HR, explains what an EVP really is, why it goes beyond pay and benefits, and how organisations can build an EVP that genuinely reflects their culture and values.Drawing on real-world HR and People & Culture experience, the episode explores how a strong EVP supports attraction, retention, engagement, and trust — and why generic or “copied” EVPs often fail.Naseer also shares practical insight into how organisations can define, articulate, and embed their EVP so it aligns with the employee experience, not just employer branding.Ideal listening for HR leaders, founders, and organisations struggling with recruitment, retention, or employee engagement.

Many organisations don’t need a full-time HR team — but they do need consistent, reliable HR support.In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, Naseer Mohammed explains how HR retainer models work, what ongoing HR support should actually look like, and why retainers are often a better fit for organisations that need day-to-day HR advice, compliance support, and reassurance.The episode covers what should be included in a strong HR retainer, how it differs from fractional HR, and how organisations can use retainer support to stay compliant, reduce risk, and make better people decisions over time.A practical listen for SMEs, charities, and growing organisations looking for HR support that is flexible, predictable, and built around their needs.

Fractional HR is becoming increasingly popular — but it’s often misunderstood.In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, host Naseer Mohammed, founder of Ethos of HR, explains what fractional HR really is, how it works in practice, and when it is — and isn’t — the right solution for an organisation.Drawing on real-world HR leadership experience, Naseer explores the types of organisations that benefit most from fractional HR support, how it differs from traditional consultancy models, and the common misconceptions that can lead to poor outcomes.This episode is ideal for founders, CEOs, trustees, and HR leaders who are considering senior-level HR support without the cost of a full-time hire.

In the first episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, host Naseer Mohammed, founder of Ethos of HR, sets the foundation for the series by exploring why HR continues to be misunderstood — and how organisations can get people management right in practice.Drawing on over 16 years of hands-on HR and People & Culture experience, Naseer shares practical insight into what effective HR really looks like, the common mistakes organisations make, and why getting the basics right matters before focusing on systems, policies, or performance.This episode introduces the themes that will run throughout the podcast, including people strategy, leadership, culture, compliance, and the role HR should play as a true business partner.A must-listen for HR professionals, leaders, founders, and organisations that want HR to add real value.

Choosing the right HR system isn’t about picking the most popular platform — it’s about choosing what actually fits your organisation.In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, host Naseer Mohammed draws on over 16 years of hands-on HR experience to explain how organisations should approach HR technology selection and avoid common mistakes.The episode introduces the three HR platforms supported through Ethos of HR — Breathe, Employment Hero, and Rippling — and explains what types of organisations each system is best suited for.This conversation sets the foundation for upcoming episodes where Naseer will be joined by the teams behind each platform to explore real use cases, practical insights, and how to get the most value from HR tech.Ideal listening for HR leaders, People & Culture professionals, founders, and growing organisations reviewing their HR systems.