Workplace Confidence Podcast

Gender pay gap action plans, what does meaningful action look like?

Workplace Confidence Podcast - Gender pay gap action plans, what does meaningful action look like? [https://bitfamous.co.uk/gender-pay-gap-action-plans-what-does-meaningful-action-look-like/]  In this episode, I chat with Gillie Fairbrother, Global Responsible Business Officer at Davies, about what a gender pay gap action plan actually looks like in practice — and why employers really do need to get on with it. Employers with 250 or more staff are being encouraged to explain what they are actually doing to close their gender pay gap and support employees experiencing menopause. We discuss what meaningful action looks like in practice — and how organisations can finally move beyond just publishing the numbers. For Gillie, the timing really matters. She told me it is about asking harder questions and getting much more specific about what will actually change things. As she put it in our chat, “People will no longer be able to get away with saying things like, ‘we will consider’ and ‘we aim to’. It’s now about: how are you going to do it, and how is that going to impact?” Listen to all episodes of the Workplace Confidence Podcast [https://bitfamous.co.uk/workplace-confidence-podcast/]

Belonging, burnout and building culture from scratch - Sisa Sibanda

Workplace Confidence Podcast - Belonging, burnout and building culture from scratch with Sisa Sibanda. [https://bitfamous.co.uk/belonging-burnout-and-building-culture-from-scratch-sisa-sibanda/] In this episode, I talk to Sisa Sibanda, Head of People, Culture and Wellbeing at Climate Asset Management (CAM). We explore how HR leaders can create belonging, support wellbeing, and shape culture in fast-moving, purpose-driven businesses. Sisa joined CAM when the organisation was just three years old, with 30 employees scattered across the world. At the time of recording, the team had grown to 50 and while that’s still small, it’s global, diverse and ambitious. From day one, she saw the opportunity to shape the culture from the ground up. “I wanted to find a home where I could really make an impact,” she explains. “This is a people business, and culture has to be intentional from the start.” Listen to all episodes of the Workplace Confidence Podcast [https://bitfamous.co.uk/workplace-confidence-podcast/]

Leading HR with people, not policy – Maria Hawley

Workplace Confidence Podcast - Leading HR with people, not policy with Maria Hawley. Maria Hawley didn’t plan to stay at Fisher German for long. But more than a decade later, she’s still there - now Director of People - having helped lead the business through major growth and cultural change. In this episode, Maria talks about what it takes to build a people function from scratch and support more than 850 employees across a growing UK-wide property consultancy.  When she joined, there was no HR team in place. She set it up from the ground up, guiding the business as it expanded from 220 employees to over 850, and from a handful of rural offices to major cities including London and Manchester. Now sitting on the leadership team and operations board, Maria helps shape the business’s five-year strategy and ensures people remain central to decision-making.  Her role spans core HR operations, learning and development, talent acquisition and people experience.  She’s also taken on additional responsibilities in risk and compliance, health and safety and facilities - evidence of her hands-on approach and strategic reach. Maria’s people-first leadership extends beyond the boardroom. She’s known for her honest and engaging LinkedIn posts, which blend professional insight with personal reflection. Maria uses social media not just to promote her employer brand, but to show who she is beyond the job title. Connection, she says, is central to how she leads.  This episode is packed with insight for HR leaders ready to grow their influence, shape strategy and show up with authenticity. Maria’s story is a reminder that people's leadership is more than policies - it’s about purpose, visibility, and building something that lasts. Listen to all episodes of the Workplace Confidence Podcast [https://bitfamous.co.uk/workplace-confidence-podcast/]

How HR can gain influence at board level - Carolyn Cole

Workplace Confidence Podcast - How HR can gain influence at board level with Carolyn Cole. In this episode of the Workplace Confidence Podcast, Penny Haslam talks to Carolyn Cole about how HR leaders can secure a seat at the boardroom table and influence top-level decisions. Carolyn, a seasoned Chief People Officer with private equity experience, explains why HR is often an afterthought in growing businesses and why it shouldn’t be.  She shares practical tips on stepping up to board level, including why financial acumen matters, how speaking the CEO’s language builds confidence and why understanding budgets and EBITDA earns trust. We also hear how HR plays a crucial role in mergers and acquisitions, where people strategy can make or break a deal. Her approach? Real conversations instead of endless surveys, ensuring employees feel supported during rapid change.  Carolyn also stresses that mental health support must go beyond training, managers need the confidence to have open conversations. In this episode, you'll hear a powerful case for HR as a business driver. How knowing the numbers, building CEO relationships and championing people’s impact on performance can elevate your role, and your organisation. Essential listening for HR professionals who want a bigger voice at the top. Listen to all episodes of the Workplace Confidence Podcast [https://bitfamous.co.uk/workplace-confidence-podcast/]

Inclusive recruitment, why two unconscious biases are better than one at BPP - Jen Hulme

Workplace Confidence Podcast - Inclusive recruitment, why two unconscious biases are better than one at BPP with Jen Hulme.  In this episode, Penny Haslam talks with Jen Hulme, a passionate talent acquisition leader at BPP, a leading UK provider of professional education in law, business, finance and healthcare.  Jen shares her fresh approach to recruitment, focusing on the art of recruiting rather than specialising in a single industry. She believes that by mastering recruitment skills, you can succeed across various sectors, making the process more dynamic and insightful. Jen explains how BPP attracts top talent, especially from diverse backgrounds and emphasises the importance of aligning candidates with the company’s core values, such as being student-centric and embracing change. She also discusses the challenges of maintaining a personal touch in an increasingly automated recruitment world. A key highlight is Jen’s approach to tackling unconscious bias in hiring. She champions the idea that "two unconscious biases are better than one," advocating for diverse interview panels to balance out individual biases and ensure fairer hiring decisions. This episode is packed with practical advice and fresh insights on how Jen is not just filling roles but transforming BPP’s approach to talent acquisition, making it more inclusive and aligned with the organisation’s mission.  Listen to all episodes of the Workplace Confidence Podcast [https://bitfamous.co.uk/workplace-confidence-podcast/]