HR Leader Podcast Network

Belinda Leon shared with The HR Leader her experience being diagnosed as an adult with ADHD, her tips for employers on supporting a neurodivergent workforce, and DEI at Bendigo Bank. Ms Leon looks after employer branding at Bendigo Bank. She spoke with The HR Leader about her career trajectory, how it's helped to have a variety of experiences, and what being diagnosed with ADHD has meant for her in terms of her work. Talking about how Bendigo Bank has supported her, Ms Leon also related how the bank's EVP captures their commitment to DEI. Understanding neurodiversity is an important element of DEI, and Ms Leon provided some tips for how organisations can best help those who are neurodivergent. Ms Leon stated to HR Leader (for those who are curious if they have undiagnosed ADHD): "I recommend reading (reputable) articles, speaking to their doctor and asking for a referral to a psychiatrist to be assessed. That can take a while – I had a five-month wait and I think the times have only gotten longer since then." Ms Leon has kindly provided the below links in relation to this podcast episode: https://www.additudemag.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/howtoadhd Information about ADHD symptoms in adults: https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-symptoms-test-adults/ Note from the editor: If you're currently experiencing any of the issues we've discussed above and would like to reach out for help, you may wish to contact Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au

Anu Villarosa, the HR Director at Pitcher Partners and parent of four, shared how she balances work and her personal life without sacrificing career goals or time with family. Ms Villarosa spoke about her path to the role of HR Director and how she unapologetically moved forward in her career while also building her family. She shared tips for women to achieve equality in the workplace, looking at behaviours like over-apologising and over-explaining, and suggesting alternative ways to communicate that are more gender neutral. The conversation also included insights into different learning paths for women at work, as well as who Ms Villarosa herself looks to for inspiration now that she's in a senior HR role. In the discussion, Ms Villarosa referenced Justine Figo's networking group of senior HR practitioners who have been supporting each other through the challenges of COVID-19, and Ms Figo's new book: On the same page.

Sally McKibbin from Indeed sat down with The HR Leader to talk about recruitment in relation to automation, inclusion and hiring graduates. The conversation explored the impact of automation on recruitment. Ms McKibbin also talked about what can be done to make recruitment a more inclusive process, including understanding the impact of job ad language and placement. Rounding out the episode, Ms McKibbin spoke about why organisations should pay attention to graduate hiring, and provided some insights for any graduates listening who would like to purse a role in the HR or recruitment industry.

Jo Mason, the co-founder and CEO of WorkHaven, spoke with The HR Leader about the work her organisation is doing to support those affected by domestic and family violence (DFV). Please note that this episode may be triggering for some listeners. Ms Mason talked about how organisations can support employees affected by DFV, highlighting the importance of understanding the stages people go through from when they first identify that they're experiencing DFV to being a survivor of DFV. If you're currently experiencing any of the issues related to this podcast episode and would like to reach out for help, you may wish to contact Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ or 1800RESPECT: https://www.1800respect.org.au/. If you would like to learn more about addressing domestic and family violence in your workplace, please visit www.workhaven.com.au or email [email protected] Note from the editor: We have endeavoured to provide reference links to all statistics mentioned in this episode, you will find them at this link: https://www.hrleader.com.au/tech/23331-trigger-warning-how-organisations-can-support-those-affected-by-domestic-and-family-violence or email the editor at [email protected]

Sapia.ai's CEO and founder, Barb Hyman, spoke with The HR Leader about business transformation, data and tech in HR, why Saipa.ai is part of The Circle Back Initiative, and much more. Ms Hyman shared how Sapia.ai is changing how feedback is given to candidates, using tech to provide a level of feedback that would have been hard to match in the past. The conversation also delved into why having the right sort of leaders behind business transformation is imperative, and Ms Hyman's views on HR policymaking.

Mercer Career Australia country managing director, Cynthia Cottrell, spoke with The HR Leader for a special 2-part podcast on AI and automation in HR, work design and how data complements redesigns. The conversation examined how employers can use automation to facilitate 'sustainable and enjoyable' work for all employees. And Ms Cottrell talked about what AI really means as it's a concept that's often misunderstood in the HR world. Ms Cottrell discussed flexible working in the context of work design and why it's important to consider them hand in hand. The podcast also touched on how data can be used to facilitate work redesigns. Listen to part one of this two-part special below.

Nicole Mason heads up change management at Blackmores Group. She joined The HR Leader to share her journey getting into change management, the challenges of the discipline, and how change management and HR teams can work well together. Ms Mason explained some of the change management work involved in implementing a new HRIS, as well as imparting three tips for those looking after change management projects. For people new to the working world, she also shared why change management is an exciting career to consider. One of the themes of the discussion was to be aware of context when implementing change: look around the business to see what other projects are impacting people, and look outside the organisation to understand external influences that might impact a change project's success. For more, listen to the full podcast below. You can find out more about the Prosci Methodology for Change Management here.

Lance Scoular, fondly known online as 'The Savvy Navigator', spoke with The HR Leader about how he developed his social media marketing acumen and in turn becamea mentor to others looking to build their social media presence and following. Mr Scoular shared what he finds most rewarding about mentoring and the creative ways he's mentored people via social media. He provided insights into working with a mentor outside your immediate industry, including mentoring HR Leader's editor, Shandel McAuliffe, when she was in a previous role.

Andrea Kirby, Talent Table's founder and director, spoke with The HR Leader about all things related to talent acquisition (TA). The discussion looked at both internal and external TA, the skills difference between the two disciplines, and the hurdles professionals need to overcome when moving from agency to internal recruitment. Ms Kirby also spoke with our editor, Shandel McAuliffe, about what talent professionals can do to better support returning Australian expats or migrants, to overcome the stigma of not having recent (or any) 'local experience'. Ms Kirby highlighted that the Australian market can benefit from those who've lived abroad as they bring new and innovative ideas to their Australian workplaces. Ms Kirby has kindly provided the below link for Talent Table's upcoming event: #tru, 14 September https://talent-table.swoogo.com/truaustralia

CEO of Hoban Recruitment, Alison Watts, spoke with The HR Leader about the insights the company discovered via its recent Workforce Trends Survey, 2022–23. Ms Watts shared why the report is valuable for the market and some of the top findings. The podcast discussion also included what roles are particularly difficult to recruit for at the moment, and three tips for mitigating those challenges. Hoban Recruitment has a strong interest in innovation and DEI. Ms Watts concluded the conversation with The HR Leader by explaining Hoban's work in these focus areas.

Productivity coach and author of the 'It's about time' series, Donna McGeorge, shared her insights on time management for leaders with The HR Leader. Delving into concepts like 'surge capacity' and 'adaptive capacity', as well as the '15 per cent rule', Ms McGeorge shared tips to help leaders and people managers make the most of their time. The conversation also covered how managers can help their staff to better organise their time, as well as what leaders often forget to make time for! Listen to the podcast with Ms McGeorge below to make better use of your time. Ms McGeorge has kindly shared the below reference that relates to the podcast discussion: https://www.lifeblood.com.au/ A note from the editor: This podcast was recorded on 11 August 2022

Mercer Careers Australia country managing director,Cynthia Cottrell, spoke with The HR Leader for a special two-part podcast on AI and automation in HR, work design and how data complements redesigns. The conversation examined how employers can use automation to facilitate 'sustainable and enjoyable' work for all employees. And Ms Cottrell talked about what AI really means as it's a concept that's often misunderstood in the HR world. Ms Cottrell discussed flexible working in the context of work design and why it's important to consider them hand in hand. The podcast also touched on how data can be used to facilitate work redesigns. Listen to part one of this two-part special below.

Michelle Novotny, managing director at Discovering People, joined The HR Leader to talk about her experiences as a business owner, parent, and mentor in the recruitment industry. Ms Novotny discusses how she achieves work-life balance as a busy parent and managing director. She delves into why she believes it's important to give people professional opportunities, and why this has been rewarding for her, too. Given the current talent shortages in the marketplace, Ms Novotny also shares her tips for success in such a market based on her years of experience in recruitment.

Lesley Horsburgh, managing director at the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) shared with The HR Leader her journey to her current role, the evolution of APSCo to what it is today, and the market challenges that they're learning about via their members. Ms Horsburgh discussed talent shortages both within and outside of the recruitment industry — not only is the industry under pressure to help clients find talent, it's hard to find recruitment talent too. The podcast conversation also delved into the challenges associated with Australian legislation trying to accommodate both 'white' and 'blue' collar work with the same rules, where a more nuanced approach may be beneficial.

Joe Hart, principal psychologist and director at True Perspective sat down with The HR Leader to talk about leadership, culture, and performance management. Mr Hart related why he feels that perspective is so important as a leadership quality, explaining that to be an effective leader, one needs to be empathetic to their employees' perspectives. Mr Hart also explained where he feels the line is between quantitative and qualitative data-backed decision-making. The podcast conversation was rounded out with a discussion on why culture change needs to start with the leaders in an organisation, with the view that 'you can't beat Mother Nature!'

Deepak Singh, partner at Think & Grow, joined The HR Leader to discuss the Retrain program the firm has created to help people find 'meaningful work'. Retrain was born out of the challenges people experienced finding work during the global financial crisis (GFC). When COVID-19 started, Think & Grow recognised parallels with the GFC in that it was creating similar hurdles for people looking to secure good work. Identifying particular groups of people that might find it hard to get work, and with an interest in the tech industry, Deepak explained how they help people find the right positions for them. One element of the Retrain program is to teach people how to tell their story in a way that commercially resonates with potential employers.

MacMORGAN Next Practice Growth's principal and co-founder, Rowena Millward, shared her thoughts on growth and learning with The HR Leader. Ms Millward explained why she uses the term 'uncomfortable growth', relating that change and growth can be uncomfortable but that difficulties can often yield positive results. The discussion also included the balance of responsibility between individuals and employers when it comes to driving progress. Listen to the podcast below for more on Ms Millward's insights into growth, including what the future holds for learning in a world where both tech and people skills will be required.

Nyrissa Filetti is the head of people and culture at MLC School. She shared with The HR Leader why she chooses to work in the L&D world, what she feels helps to make learning a success, and her thoughts on the future of L&D. Ms Filetti talked about the importance of being flexible as an L&D practitioner, as well as touching on gamification, badging, and using virtual reality to achieve learning outcomes. The 'Round Square' concept was also discussed, alongside the importance employees are placing on having purpose and global connections. Highlighting the benefit of working in learning in a school, Ms Filetti said: "If I thought that there was a lot of opportunity in other organisations, it's just incomparable when I can see the opportunities in education." She added: "I'm really excited … Bringing human-centred design and Agile practices to an environment like this and everybody's just lapping it up and getting on this 'excitement bus' that I like creating at the same time!" Find out more by listening to the podcast below.

ELMO Software's chief commercial officer, Darryl Garber, spoke with The HR Leader about how HR technology is solving some of the most pressing issues in people management including wellbeing, hybrid working, talent shortages, and working from home. Mr Garber discussed ELMO's latest HR software modules for hybrid working and wellbeing. He also shared insights from ELMO's recent Employee Sentiment Index. The HR and people leadership arena continues to grapple with changes that impact how people work and their wellbeing. Listen to the podcast to find out how technology can help with the challenges arising from these changes.

Total Image Group's CEO, Pamela Jabbour, talked to The HR Leader about workwear in the modern office. Ms Jabbour discussed what's appropriate to wear to work in 2022, how things have changed, and how to accommodate individual preferences alongside a dress code or uniform. The podcast also addressed what employers might consider doing when a staff member won't adhere to appropriate work attire, and the impact employees can have on employer branding through their workwear choices.

Gilbert + Tobin's head of capability development and change, Andrea Tham, shared her passion for learning and development (L&D) with The HR Leader. Ms Tham explained why she loves working in L&D and gave us some insights into her current role at G+T. The discussion looked at the future of the profession, and what Ms Tham would like her role in that to be. Ms Tham also related the parallels she sees between herself as a food lover (an 'eater') and customer-focused learning programs. She outlined four stages that culminate in the final stage, which is 'FOMO'!

Learning and leadership specialist, Tracey Ezard, shared her insights on growth with The HR Leader. Ms Ezard commented on neuroscience in the context of professional growth, why she favours the term 'growth culture' over 'feedback culture', and her 'collaboration continuum'. Ms Ezard also explained what a 'collective growth mindset' is, and what environments that foster challenge in a psychologically safe way look like. Ms Ezard has kindly provided the following references in relation to this episode: Amy Edmondson TED Talk: Building Psychologically Safe Workplaces Timothy R Clark, The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety Judith E. Glaser, Conversational Intelligence Tracey Ezard, Ferocious Warmth and Glue

Legal director at Sydney Legal Consulting, Trish Ryan, sat down with The HR Leader to talk about discrimination, harassment, and bullying in the workplace. Ms Ryan spoke about how recent world events such as #MeToo have impacted workplaces and why this trio of issues may be more subtle at work now than in the past. The podcast discussion also covered areas of reputational risk for organisations, with Ms Ryan's thoughts on how businesses might consider navigating such scenarios. Ms Ryan also shared her insights on the recent Fair Work Amendment in regard to the Paid Family Domestic Violence Leave Bill, discussing the benefit this could have for people leaving family domestic violence. Note from editor: this podcast was recorded on 1 August 2022

When you consider the talent you need for your business, do you think about skill sets that might be relevant from other roles and industries? Helena Turpin (co-founder of Flow of Work Co) and Adam McKinnon (people data and analytics lead at Reece Group) spoke with The HR Leader about being open minded and creative in how you recognise talent. The discussion included why now is a good time to challenge how 'talent' is perceived, as well as providing tips for listeners on future skills building. This episode of The HR Leader also examines how technology and data are used to manage and nurture talent.

HiBob's country manager for Australia and New Zealand, Damien Andreasen, joined The HR Leader to discuss technology in HR and people management. Mr Andreasen shared insights into how tech is helping with new ways of working, why organisations implement HR technology solutions, and how tech can help with working across borders. The podcast discussion also delved into some of the ideas and challenges arising in HR, and how tech can help achieve business goals. Mr Andreasen concluded by commenting on what a potential recession might mean for candidates in light of the 'great resignation'. For further reading on the issues discussed in this podcast, please see below: https://hbr.org/2022/03/research-how-employee-experience-impacts-your-bottom-line https://hbr.org/2022/04/onboarding-can-make-or-break-a-new-hires-experience https://www.hrcloud.com/blog/8-employee-engagement-statistics-you-need-to-know-in-2021

The Circle Back Initiative's founder, Steve Gard, and Canva's talent attraction lead, Charlotte Anderson, spoke to The HR Leader about why they're on a mission to make sure candidates are treated well. Mr Gard explained why he began The Circle Back Initiative, and Ms Anderson commented on why Canva has embraced the ethos behind the initiative. The discussion delved into why the promise to treat candidates well is a win for both job seekers and employers in terms of branding and EVP. For candidates who have experienced 'ghosting' and poor treatment during the job application process, job hunting with organisations who have signed up to The Circle Back Initiative will be a welcome change.

Head of people and culture at DiviPay, Olga Klimentieva, shared with The HR Leader insights into her work at a growing tech firm that specialises in corporate cards and expense management. Ms Klimentieva spoke about why she thinks of her role as an "enabler" at DiviPay, the new training programme she's launched, and why working in HR in a start-up/scale-up is so rewarding. She also shared her views on talent acquisition and why they've focused on this area.

Upward bullying — when managers are bullied by their subordinates — is a very real concern that organisations need to be aware of. Maureen Kyne shared with The HR Leader what upward bullying is, signs to look out for, and what businesses should be doing to support employees that experience upward bullying. Ms Kyne explains in this episode why defining upward bullying is so important and why it needs to be handled in the right way.

Mid-tier law firm, Macpherson Kelley, shared insights into its DEI policy and working group with HR Leader. Olivia Holmes, Macpherson Kelley's national HR manager, and Emma Berry, a commercial associate with the firm (and member of the DEI working group), shared the pillars of their DEI policy, what they're hoping to achieve with it and its supporting working group, and where they'd like to see things go in five years' time. Ms Berry also explained why she is volunteering to be part of the group, what she's passionate about in the DEI space, and the positive impact this work is having on her engagement with Macpherson Kelley.

Coaching is a term often heard in the workplace, but frequently misunderstood. Coaching isn't mentoring, and it's not 'covert' performance management. Coaching, when used properly, is a powerful tool for helping employees realise their full potential. Lisa Croxford spoke with The HR Leader about her experience as a coach, explaining how coaching can be used to help employees and leaders grow. In this episode, Ms Croxford references the below: The Coaching Habit - Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever, Michael Bungay Stanier Organisational Coaching Essentials (Level 1), IECL coaching course, https://www.iecl.com/

Sue Sumskis shared with The HR Leader why organisational trauma needs more than an EAP, as well as discussing her work with the Australian Compassion Council. Ms Sumskis is the director of professional education programs and the head of mental health at the Nan Tien Institute. Listen to the podcast for her insights on organisational trauma to understand the effects of a trauma on an overall business, as well as a discussion on leadership and compassion, and why people should be 'in the moment'. Ms Sumskis shared the below references for listeners who would like to do further reading on this topic: Brown, EH 1997, 'Improving organisational health by addressing organisational trauma', Journal of Organisation Change Management, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 175-178. Hormann, S 2007, 'Organizational Trauma: A phenomenological study of leaders in traumatised organisations', Dissertations & Theses. http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/184 Hormann, S & Vivian, P 2005, 'Toward an understanding of traumatised organisations and how to intervene in them,' Traumatology, vol. 11, no. 3, pp.159-169. Long, S 2012, 'Trauma as cause and effect of perverse organisational process', in E Hopper, Ed., Trauma and organisations, New International Library of Group Analysis, Karnac, London, UK Ryan, KD & Oestreich, DK 1998. Driving fear out of the workplace: Creating the high-trust, high-performance organisation, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, USA.

Women and leadership - most would agree there's still plenty of work to be done in this area. Kim Wiegand, the founder of Julip, helps women in professional services find pathways to leadership roles. Ms Wiegand shared her insights with The HR Leader about what's holding women back from leadership positions, how learning and development can help, and other issues related to leadership progression for women. Ms Wiegand has shared the below resources for listeners of this podcast: Build confidence through curiosity The hidden load: How 'thinking of everything' holds mums back (research article on the mental load, referencing research by Allison Daminger, a doctoral candidate in sociology and social policy at Harvard University, 2019.) Diversity of the judiciary: 2021 statistics (Research in the UK states that female lawyers leave private practice en masse at 19-20 years in. Female participation goes from 56 per cent at 19 years to 38 per cent at 20 years. Women leave just as they hit leadership capability and opportunity.) Julip research will be released later this year

Culture and values, they're terms that HR knows well, but are they going to the heart of what people really mean by them? Lyndal Hughes joined The HR Leader to share her insights, including why she asks organisations what they "prize" rather than what they value. She also spoke about how culture is intertwined with leadership and organisational health, and how to influence culture in a business.

As Australia emerges from COVID-19 lockdowns, some organisations might be regrouping and considering redundancies. Michael Byrnes, partner at Swaab, spoke with The HR Leader about redundancies, some of the areas to watch out for in terms of potential discrimination, and why it's helpful to to have legal professionals work alongside HR on redundancies. Mr Byrnes reminded listeners that, "businesses need to remember … redundancy is about the position, not the person." Note from the editor This podcast was recorded in June 2022.

How workspaces impact employee psychology, dealing with corporate psychopaths, and moving people on from a business – The HR Leader discussed all of these issues with workplace relations specialist, Paul O'Halloran. Mr O'Halloran is a partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers. He kindly shared insights with The HR Leader to help listeners think wisely about how they manage their physical workspaces, what they might want to do if they find themselves working with a corporate psychopath, and some considerations when exiting people from a business. During the discussion, Mr O'Halloran referenced the below: Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work, Dr Paul Babiak and Dr. Robert D. Hare

What's the difference between leadership and management? How can Buddhist principles apply to leadership? What can the 12-step principles teach leaders? The HR Leader explored these questions with talent and capability development expert, Meredith Collins. Ms Collins is passionate about "human" skills, and she shared her understanding of Buddhist principles and the 12 steps as they relate to leadership skills. Delving into ideas like delusion and greed, and why leaders need to be aware of these issues in the workplace, Ms Collins brings an interesting lens to leadership, challenging what being a leader means and the hurdles leaders face.

Organisations need to be smarter than ever about how they attract and consider talent. The candidate market might be tight, but there are solutions for businesses who are willing to think deeper and work harder. Stuart Freeman, head recruitment coach, and Jessica Currey, executive search consultant at the Kennedy Reid Group, were guests on HR Leader to share their insights about what they're seeing in the recruitment market right now. Mr Freeman and Ms Currey explained why employers need to think beyond just considering a skills' fit for new employees, as well as discussing what candidates are looking for. This episode is a must-listen for those looking to recruit in the current market.

HR has a lot on their agenda following the COVID-19 lockdowns. From working from home and four-day work weeks to building resilience, the issues that HR needs to be on top of are plenty and varied. Just Global HR Services' managing director, Jayne Morgan, shared her thoughts on current HR topics, including considerations that need to be kept in mind when staff are working from home, the value of outsourced HR, and tips on building resilience. As Ms Morgan concluded: "We're always learning. We just put that learning into perspective and in place and we'll all be good." Just Global HR Services is based in the UK but is open to working with customers in Australia.

Creating meaningful change when it comes to diversity and inclusion requires a multi-faceted approach. Training, using data insights and facilitating employee participation can all help to shift the dial in a positive direction. Herbert Smith Freehills' (HSF) global director of culture and inclusion, Danielle Kelly, had a conversation with HR Leader about the D&I initiatives in place at HSF, including the creation of a "people forum". Providing insights to help others who aspire to a D&I program like HSF's, Ms Kelly said: "When clients come to me and say, 'We want to start on our D&I journey, can you help us?' My first question is: what does your data look like?" Learn more by listening to the podcast below.