A Human Perspective

The Problem with HR (with Careen Redman)

In this episode of A Human Perspective podcast, host Lola Oguntokun welcomes Careen Redman, Co-founder & CEO of humaneer. Careen shares her extensive experience in HR, from starting as a recruiter to founding humaneer. Lola and Careen discuss the evolving role of HR, the difference between HR and People Ops, the purpose of HR, the challenges HR professionals face, and the importance of being strategic and proactive in HR. They also delve into why HR often gets a bad reputation and how HR can work more effectively within organisations, emphasising the need for support, transparency, and good tech tools. The episode concludes with an introduction to humaneer, an app designed to support HR professionals. 00:00 Introduction to A Human Perspective Podcast 00:47 Meet Careen Redman: Co-founder of Humaneer 02:56 The Role and Perception of HR 06:39 HR as an Enabling Function 14:42 Strategic HR and Organisational Effectiveness 17:59 Transparency and Hiring Practices 22:50 HR's Role in Business Success 28:18 Improving HR-Business Collaboration 30:14 Understanding Business Departments 30:58 The Importance of Boldness in HR 34:02 Creating Safe Environments for Conversations 35:02 Effective Interview Strategies 38:53 Business Strategies for Supporting HR 43:23 The Role of Technology in HR 46:15 The Exciting Future of HR 52:36 Introducing humaneer: HR for HR 56:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Other F Word: Feedback (with Lauren Humphrey)

In this episode of A Human Perspective podcast, host Lola Oguntokun converses with Lauren Humphrey, co-founder and CEO of Tandem, about the critical role of feedback in the workplace. Discover Lauren's journey in the tech industry, the inspiration behind Tandem, and practical advice for giving and receiving constructive feedback. The discussion covers psychological aspects, challenges managers face, effective frameworks, and strategies for one-on-one sessions and peer reviews. Additionally, explore how remote work, cultural nuances, and AI are reshaping feedback dynamics. Whether a manager or an employee, gain valuable insights into fostering a feedback-centric culture for enhanced communication and performance. 00:00 Welcome to A Human Perspective Podcast 00:47 Introducing Today's Guest: Lauren Humphrey 01:43 Lauren's Journey and Experience 03:43 Understanding Feedback: The Other F Word 05:21 The Importance of Feedback in Relationships 08:02 Effective Feedback Strategies 10:12 Feedback Frequency and Managerial Practices 14:35 Peer-to-Peer Feedback: The Holy Grail 16:40 Proactive and Preemptive Feedback 19:23 Building a Feedback Routine 20:43 Handling Reluctant Managers 21:54 Receiving Feedback Constructively 24:25 Personal Anecdotes on Feedback 26:28 Cultural Differences in Feedback 28:54 Impact of Remote Work on Feedback 31:06 Inspiration Behind Tandem 32:19 Creating a Feedback Culture 34:59 Future of Feedback 36:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

What is Product? (with Martin Pannier)

In this episode of A Human Perspective podcast, host Lola Oguntokun converses with Martin Pannier, Founder of Primo, about the evolving role of Product Management. They discuss Martin's journey from consulting to product roles at startups like Gusto and iziwork, and his current venture, Primo. The conversation delves into the significance of Product in startups, the challenges faced in product strategy, and best practices for hiring and building a Product team. They also explore how a strong customer-centric Product culture can drive business success. Tune in for insightful nuggets on effectively managing Product in modern companies. 00:00 Welcome to A Human Perspective Podcast 00:47 Introducing Martin Pannier and Primo 01:36 Martin's Journey into Product Management 03:16 Understanding the Concept of Product 07:45 The Role of Product in Different Companies 11:36 Challenges in Product Management 18:27 Advice for Aspiring Product Managers 34:43 Building a Product Culture at Primo 40:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Deconstructing Imposter Syndrome: An Open & Honest Conversation with My Friends

On this episode, I'm joined by a couple of close and long-time friends, Mala and Kemi. We chop it up as we normally would whenever we meet up... but maybe a little calmer! We discuss our thoughts on Imposter Syndrome. What it means to us. How it shows up in our professional lives. How we manage the related feelings. The factors that may create the feeling in the first place, and so on. This is an open and honest conversation between three professional women and dear friends.

Transitioning from Consultancy to Startup (with Richard Rosser)

This week, I speak to ⁠Richard Rosser⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richrosser/], Co-Founder of ⁠Movemeon⁠ [https://www.movemeon.com/], a platform that helps consultants navigate their career within and beyond consulting firms. Rich and his Co-Founder met each other while at McKinsey and decided to take a leap into the world of HR Tech after an exhausting experience during their own job search when they had made the decision to leave consultancy. Rich and I discuss the allure of leaving consultancy for startups and the many nuances of this of this experience. Having worked as a Strategy Consultant, himself, setting up several start-ups and working with many more, Richard was the perfect person to have this conversation with. Though this conversation is focussed on those considering leaving consultancy or have left, much of what we discuss and share can be helpful for most listeners considering a new opportunity or working for a startup.