We Need to Talk About...

Kameka McLean, Group Head of HR at Walker Crips Investment Management, joins Felix to talk about why HR professionals are burning out in silence - and what needs to change. With burnout among HR professionals reportedly hitting 82% in 2024, Kameka shares her own experience of pushing through when she should have stepped back, the moment she finally prioritised her own wellbeing, and why HR leaders need to stop shrinking themselves to fit into how others see the function. A raw and honest conversation about integrity, resilience, and the strategic power of HR.

Joanna Holmes, HR Director at Wilsons Solicitors, joins Louise to talk about what it's really like to move from big corporate HR into an SME. After 25 years in the profession - including stints at KPMG and B&Q - Joanna shares what she gained from large organisations, why she ultimately craved something different, and the lessons she's learned about getting stuck in, protecting your thinking time, and resisting the urge to change everything on day one.

Sami Aintaoui, CEO of MBA Group, joins Felix to talk about what it actually looks like when a mid-sized business gets AI adoption right. From running an AI amnesty poll to uncover what tools people were already using, to building AI into their product set and pursuing ISO 42001 accreditation, Sami shares a refreshingly practical take on transformation. They also get into why the org chart is changing shape, how to interview for AI competency, and why 350 brains are always better than one.

Isabel Berwick, the Financial Times' Working It editor and author of The Future Proof Career, joins Felix to unpack why workforce happiness has taken such a nosedive. From job hugging and the disengagement crisis to the retreat from 'bring your whole self to work', Isabel shares her take on what's driving the malaise - and what leaders can actually do about it. They also get into the middle management problem, why Gen Z need mentoring more than ever, and whether the office might just be the answer to some of this.

Jasper Joyce, COO of Blenheim Chalcot, joins Felix to discuss what you learn building dozens of companies instead of just one. Jasper shares how they create learning feedback loops across their portfolio, why disciplined operating cadences drive pace, and where defensible moats still exist when AI can replicate software overnight. A masterclass in pattern recognition from seed stage to scale, and why the marginal cost of cognitive skills is now negligible.

Jig Ramji, HR Director at Informa, joins Felix to discuss whether the employee-centric shift from Covid is here to stay or regressing. Jig shares why work-life integration matters more than balance, how to actually create psychological safety (not just talk about it), and why leadership outcomes matter more than competencies. A thoughtful conversation about flexible working, consistent leadership, and meeting people where they are on AI adoption.

John Faulkner-Willcocks, co-founder of Open Org, joins Louise Fraser to discuss how HR leaders can lead AI transformation without prior experience. John explains why top-down AI mandates fail, the hackathon approach that works, and why the best thing you can do is build something yourself and show your team. A practical conversation about creating urgency for change, crowdsourcing solutions, and why community is the first place to go when you're scared.

Rob Quinn, Global Head of Talent and Workforce Planning at Boku, joins Felix to discuss the inflection point when scrappy growth starts breaking things. Rob shares why fast-growing businesses need people who can show humility and vulnerability, how to challenge hiring briefs before they become problems, and why the best leaders make themselves redundant by growing everyone around them. A refreshingly honest conversation about transitioning from chaos to scalable processes.

Jon Busby, Director of Product and Technology at Pretzl, joins Felix to discuss why most AI transformations fail before they start. Leading both a four-brand merger and AI implementation simultaneously, Jon explains why boards focusing on "what AI should we use" miss the point entirely, how his team turned a six-week process into six hours, and why successful businesses using AI won't need fewer people - they'll need more skilled people.

Jennifer Mounce, Chief People Officer at Gentrack Ltd. trained executive coach, joins Felix to explore whether AI can replicate the deeply human practice of coaching. Jennifer explains why coaching helps people find their own answers rather than providing them, where AI augmentation works versus replacement, and the crucial question of keeping coaching safe and ethical when technology enters the picture. A thoughtful conversation about the limits and possibilities of AI in professional development.

Martin Sandhu, co-founder of Nuom & Mindora, joins Felix to discuss what early career professionals should do when traditional entry-level roles are disappearing. Martin shares why the career ladder is dead, how to build a portfolio career instead, and why doing the hard things nobody else wants to do is the secret to standing out. A refreshingly practical conversation about entrepreneurship, learning AI tools whilst job hunting, and why boring businesses might be the best training ground.

Vivek Mehrotra, author of a new book on AI orchestration, joins Felix to explore what happens when intelligence becomes abundant and cheap. Moving beyond the "AI will save us" vs "AI will destroy us" debate, Vivek shares why consciousness - not intelligence - is what remains uniquely human, and introduces orchestration patterns (fugue, canon, symphony) for working effectively with multiple AI tools whilst maintaining human judgment at every step.

Goula Charalambous, a veteran HR leader, joins Felix to tackle a question we're not asking enough - how do we build career pathways when AI is automating away traditional junior roles? Goula shares why gut instinct still matters in hiring, the importance of personal brand for both new joiners and managers, and why mental health support is becoming crucial for early-career professionals navigating an increasingly uncertain employment landscape.

William Ullstein, UK CEO at YouGov, joins Felix to explore the gap between business enthusiasm for AI and consumer scepticism - only 13% of Brits are excited about AI. Will shares how YouGov uses consumer insights to inform their internal rollout, lessons from getting sales tool implementation wrong, and why synthetic audiences might miss the mark when it comes to understanding human behaviour.

Charlie Collard, Chief People Officer at Trinity Bridge, joins Felix to discuss navigating multiple transformations simultaneously - from new ownership and CEO changes to maternity leave and private equity expectations. Charlie shares honest insights on maintaining culture during intense change, the superpower of perspective gained through life transitions, and why discomfort is often a sign you're moving fast enough.

Emma Cooper, Chief People Officer at System 1 Group, joins Felix to explore what it takes to lead AI adoption across a workforce. From pilot programmes to governance frameworks, Emma shares how System One is empowering teams to experiment with AI tools whilst maintaining security and building genuine excitement for change. A refreshingly honest conversation about bridging product innovation and people transformation.

Kelly Tucker, founder of HR Star, joins Louise to explore treating people strategy like a product. Drawing from 25 years in HR, Kelly explains why employee engagement works like a subscription model - people subscribe to your organisation and stay when they continuously get value. She discusses avoiding the feedback trap of trying to make everyone happy, supporting multi-generational workforces, and why work-life blend has replaced work-life balance. Plus, her take on why hybrid working debates will continue and what HR needs to be seen as business essential, not optional.

Alysha Adams, people and culture leader and keynote speaker, joins Louise to explore what AI augmentation really means for humans in the workplace. From why curiosity and creativity are your competitive edge to how organizations can develop meta skills at scale, Alysha shares insights from working on AI-native projects in fintech. She discusses why one tech company scrapped graduate programs to build their own, how the education system isn't serving the workplace, and why investing in human skills now is critical for success in two to three years.

Claire Smith, People and Culture Lead at Gunnercooke, joins Felix to explore what it really takes to build culture beyond mission statements and values posters. From her journey as a lawyer to BD to HR leadership, Claire shares practical insights on embedding values into every stage of the employee lifecycle, why she measures kindness through peer recognition, and how to convince sceptical CEOs that culture work matters. Plus, why handwritten cards still work and what "design your life" means for hybrid working.

Riikka Kallio, founder of SpinOps HR Consultancy, joins Felix and Louise to discuss her leap from permanent employment to fractional HR leadership. From the practical realities of cash flow timing to finding your niche in a generalist profession, Riikka shares honest insights on building a consultancy specialising in HR operations, systems, and analytics. She discusses why early-stage startups are embracing fractional models, the importance of network building, and why she needs post-it notes reminding her to take breaks.

Linda Low, Head of People and Culture at ESG, joins Felix and Louise to challenge how we think about hiring. From her unconventional journey from finance to HR, Linda shares why she asks candidates what they do for fun, how an ultimate frisbee charity helped land someone a job, and why hiring managers need to build teams of cultural adds rather than stormtroopers. Practical insights on assessing potential, building trust with hiring managers, and why the best candidates often don't fit the traditional mould.

James Edgar, Chief People Officer at Signature Discovery, joins Felix to discuss his unique dual remit leading both people and IT functions. From navigating cyber security threats to deploying AI in drug discovery, James shares candid insights on breaking down traditional silos, managing change fatigue in high-growth environments, and why the convergence of people strategy and technology infrastructure might just be the future of organisational leadership.

Felix and Louise host a special roundtable with five CIPD HR Essentials Explained authors: Rebecca Lee (Talent Acquisition), Kinsey Li (People Analytics), Prianka Jaidka (HR Essentials), Gemma Dale (Employee Relations and Wellbeing), and Shakil Butt (EDI). They explore the gap between HR qualifications and real-world practice, discuss why continuous learning matters more than ever, and share practical insights on everything from learning to say no to understanding AI without the overwhelm.Links to the book series on Amazon:People Analytics Explained - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/139862442X?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc Employee Engagement and Wellbeing Explained - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1398624500?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Explained - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1398624543?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atcHR Essentials Explained - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1398624349?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_92Z2AAGXXV7NBYVRV0J6&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_92Z2AAGXXV7NBYVRV0J6&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_92Z2AAGXXV7NBYVRV0J6&bestFormat=true Talent Acquisition and Attraction Explained - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1398624373?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc

Alistair Fenn, Global Chief of Staff at Tide, joins Felix to explore how he went from a People Manager to a Chief of Staff working alongside the C-suite in just five years - without following a traditional career path. From matrix organisations to letting work speak for itself, Alistair shares why the prescribed career ladder is evolving and what's replacing it: opportunity-driven progression, multiple managers for different reasons, and the power of being pragmatic about your own growth.

Paula Brockwell, occupational psychologist and founder of the Employee Experience Project, joins Felix and co-host Louise Fraser to tackle why culture change programmes so often fall flat. From avoiding the 'sunshine and pool tables' trap to understanding when your organisation actually has the conditions for meaningful transformation, Paula shares practical frameworks for driving culture change that sticks - without burning out your HR team in the process.

Natalie Sheils, founder and CEO of Talenaut, joins Felix to explore why recruitment is the hardest (not easiest) place to apply AI and what that means for the future of HR. From AI agents sitting in org charts to why every HR professional needs prompt engineering skills, Natalie shares a vision of the function in five years - and warns what happens if HR doesn't move fast enough.

Ruth Jackson, Chief People Officer at The Gym Group, joins Felix to explore why female-specific health programmes are transforming workplaces. From training 200+ staff on women's health issues to creating confidence in intimidating gym environments, Ruth shares how addressing barriers like time constraints and hormonal changes isn't just good for employees - it's smart business. Plus: why only 4% of medical research focuses on women and what that means for workplace wellbeing.

Jonathan Stanford, Head of Talent at Levy UK, joins Felix to challenge everything we think we know about workplace coaching. From 15-minute "micro coaching" sessions that happen in the moment to why the best conversations never happen over Teams, Jonathan shares how to build a coaching culture that actually drives performance. Plus: the tennis ball analogy that explains the difference between mentoring and coaching, and why AI coaching tools might be the future.

Chris Eastwood, CEO of Penfold, joins Felix to tackle the UK's pension crisis - where 91% of people aren't saving enough for a comfortable retirement. From why salary sacrifice could save your business thousands in National Insurance to making pensions actually engaging for your team, Chris reveals how smart employers are turning compliance boxes into competitive advantages and why your pension might be more important than you think.

Laura Kane, seasoned Chief HR Officer with over 25 years of experience, joins Felix to explore one of the trickiest decisions in today's job market - knowing when it's time to move on. From recognising when roles evolve beyond your fit to managing the fear of leaving something safe behind, Laura shares insights on preserving relationships, having honest conversations with your manager, and why "quitting and staying" is terrible for everyone involved.

Chris Lovett, leadership coach and author, joins Felix to challenge the toxic culture of busyness that's plaguing modern workplaces. From why a third of all meetings are useless to the science behind strategic napping, Chris shares practical ways to reclaim your time and boost performance through what he calls 'corporate minimalism' - proving that doing less might actually make you more successful.

Will Fraser, founder of 100 & First and former Saracens rugby player, joins Felix to explore why high-performing teams aren't built on talent alone. From the myths that kill performance to the power of shared understanding, Will shares insights from elite sport on creating systems that turn average players into champions - and why most organisations get it completely wrong.

Sharon Tattan, Head of Talent Learning & Development at Forsters, joins Felix to explore why coaching isn't a luxury for high performers - it's essential. From recognising confidence loss in your team to managing career transitions and the art of 10-minute coaching conversations, Sharon shares practical insights on creating space for people to think differently in our increasingly chaotic work environment.

Lucinda Chaplin, Legal Director at Shakespeare Martineau, joins Felix to break down the UK government's biggest shake-up of workers' rights in a generation. From day-one unfair dismissal rights to fire and rehire restrictions, Lucinda explains what's changing, when it's happening, and what businesses can do today to prepare for the Employment Rights Bill.DISCLAIMER: This video reflects the legal position and information available at the time of recording. Since then, there may have been updates or developments. Please refer to the latest government or legal sources for the most current information.

Luke Bullen, VP UK at Wellhub, joins Felix to explore why traditional workplace wellbeing initiatives fall short and how to create sustainable programmes that actually change behaviour. From the ROI of wellness (136% for effective programmes) to why giving employees £50 a month doesn't work, Luke shares insights on building a culture of wellbeing that drives real business results.

James Hutt, founder of Paradigm Junction, joins Felix to explore how leaders can navigate the AI revolution without falling into common traps. From encouraging grassroots experimentation to developing the right mindset for constant change, James shares insights on moving from optimisation to transformation and why showing humanity as a leader has never been more important.

Heath Buck, Chief People Officer at Atmos Wealth, joins Felix to lift the hood on building HR tech stacks that genuinely transform how teams operate. From starting with recruitment automation to upskilling entire organisations on AI, Heath shares practical insights on choosing the right tools, avoiding admin overload, and preparing your workforce for an AI-enabled future.

Angela Wilkins-Green, founder of Green Path Coaching, joins Felix to tackle a topic that affects half the workforce yet remains taboo in most workplaces - menopause and perimenopause. From understanding the difference between the two to supporting women through career-defining symptoms, Angela shares practical insights for managers and teams navigating this crucial conversation.

A special live episode recorded at LinkedIn HQ to celebrate our 100th episode milestone. Felix is joined by an expert panel including Claire Williams (COO, Cipher), Tom Hollis (CPO, Zappi), Rachel Cox (CPO, LCCC), and Jess Morgan (CTO, Instant Impact) to explore the future shape of business in an AI-enabled world. From building AI culture to overcoming resistance, this conversation tackles the biggest questions facing people leaders today.

Bianca Errigo, founder and CEO of HumanOS, joins Felix to explore why workplace wellbeing initiatives fail and how to create sustainable high performance. From her personal journey through burnout to developing technology-enabled coaching for everyone, Bianca shares insights on proactive vs reactive strategies, the role of leadership in wellbeing, and why only 2% of top performers repeat their success year-on-year.

Sam Dhesi, CEO of Popp, joins Felix to discuss the ethical implementation of AI in recruitment. From navigating the EU AI Act to avoiding bias in hiring algorithms, Sam shares insights on building responsible AI tools and what HR teams should look for when procuring AI solutions. A must-listen for anyone considering AI in their talent acquisition process.

Former CEO Jo Matkin joins Felix for a raw conversation about the hidden psychological toll of leading through change. From managing sleepless nights and anxiety to finding your 'tribe' for support, Jo shares hard-won insights on maintaining authenticity whilst carrying the burden of leadership. Essential listening for anyone in a leadership role navigating transformation.

Chief People Officer Nicki Auret joins Felix to discuss how HR leaders can navigate unprecedented workplace transformation while keeping people at the centre. From the three C's of HR (clarity, conscience, and change agency) to building resilient teams through continuous change, Nicki shares insights on balancing digital revolution with fundamental human needs. A must-listen for anyone leading through uncertainty.

Felix Mitchell sits down with Marie Krebs, founder of People Stories and one of the UK's leading HR voices, to explore how People Functions can move beyond administration to genuinely drive product development and revenue growth. Marie shares hard-won lessons about setting boundaries, thinking like a product manager, and why the best HR professionals borrow methodologies from their colleagues in engineering, marketing, and sales. From parental leave policies that nearly bankrupted a startup to 8-bit gaming launches that actually worked, this is a masterclass in strategic people leadership.

Join Felix Mitchell as he speaks with Mehdi Kordi, the most successful track cycling coach in history, who's guided athletes to 9 Olympic medals and 15+ world championship titles. Discover why technical skills matter less than you think, how to focus on 'major gains' over marginal ones, and why treating everyone fairly doesn't mean treating them the same. From startup mentality to sustained high performance, Mehdi reveals the leadership lessons that work whether you're coaching Olympic champions or building winning teams in business.

Sarah Franklin, CEO of Lattice, joins Felix Mitchell to explore how AI is reshaping the workplace. From digital workers to human creativity, this episode dives deep into what it means to lead, adapt, and stay grounded in a world that’s shifting beneath our feet.

What makes a truly great leader, and what’s HR’s role in getting them there? Felix Mitchell chats with Lewis Morgan, SVP at Atrium Underwriting and shadow board member at City HR, about developing leadership talent, building a people-first culture, and why coaching is more than just a buzzword.

In today’s episode, Felix Mitchell chats with Richard Album, Director of Development and Culture at Watson Farley & Williams. They explore why culture is much more than ping-pong tables, how L&D and culture intersect, and why businesses that truly listen to their people will win the long game.

In this episode, Felix Mitchell chats with Pete Cooper – author of Better Human Blueprint and finalist at the Business Book Awards 2025 – about why traditional hiring is broken, how cognitive diversity beats cultural fit, and what truly fair recruitment looks like.

In this episode, we’re joined by Derrick Perkins, HR Manager at Harvest Sherwood and former leader at Amazon and Delta, to explore the bright side of working in HR. From the power of empathy to lessons in leadership and the importance of humanity in tough decisions, we dive into the real heart of the people profession.