Heart at Work with Trina Sunday

Feeling the weight of holding it all together in HR? What if your exhaustion isn’t just stress... but accumulated trauma?

HR fatigue is real, and it’s quietly burning out the people at the heart of our workplaces. In this solo episode, I talk about the emotional weight of being the organisational shock absorber, and why traditional HR models are no longer sustainable for many of us.

You’ll hear why exhaustion in HR goes deeper than just being busy, what people fatigue really looks like, and how it connects to imposter syndrome and moral distress. I’ll also share practical tools you can start using this week, like the courageous check-in, boundary setting with bravery, and how to build structural safety around you.

This episode is a reminder that you’re not just the caretaker of culture. You are part of it. And you deserve to feel safe, seen and supported, too.

What’s one thing you can do this week to feel safer in your HR role? Say no? Ask for help? Or maybe take a breath before you break?

Let me know, and if this resonated, share it with another HR peer who might need to hear it too.

Connect with us on LinkedIn here and let’s keep this conversation going:

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/the-hidden-weight-of-hr-what-happens-when-people-who-care-for-everyone-stop-feeling-safe/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

What if your team could build real trust and momentum without the old-school hierarchy?

In this episode, I’m joined by Keith Ferrazzi, renowned coach, author of Never Eat Alone and Never Lead Alone, and leading voice on connection and teamship. We talk about what it takes to build genuine human connections in fractured workplaces, why “serendipity bonding” doesn’t cut it anymore, and how AI is reshaping the way teams are formed.

We cover the power of co-elevation, leading without authority, and why cultural change is simpler than we make it. Keith also shares his personal story, from growing up poor to coaching Fortune 500 execs, and why relationships, not credentials, shaped his path.

If you’ve been feeling the disconnect or you’re tired of old HR playbooks, this episode will spark a rethink on how we build culture, team accountability, and trust in today’s hybrid world.

Do you feel your organisation's culture has stalled? What simple practices could you start today to change it? Let’s keep the conversation going. Connect with us on LinkedIn here. 

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/the-future-of-work-starts-with-connection-with-keith-ferrazzi/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

Are your people spiritually starving at work and is that quietly costing your business?

In this episode, I’m talking about soul food at work. Not catered lunches or coffee tabs, the real stuff. The kind that nourishes your spirit and shifts a workplace from transactional to transformational.

I’ll walk you through what feeding the soul looks like inside an organisation, and why it’s far from fluffy. You’ll hear how practices like gratitude, purpose alignment and emotional awareness are backed by science (not just vibes), and why they directly impact performance, creativity and retention.

I also share my own story: the burnout, the pivot, the four years in Cambodia that changed everything and how those experiences shaped my obsession with helping leaders bring soul food back into their workplaces.

What’s your soul food at work? What nourishes or drains you in your day-to-day? Start small, try one soul food practice with your team this week. And if this resonated, come connect with me on LinkedIn here. We’d love to hear your HR horror stories or the rituals that work for you.

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/soul-food-at-work-feeding-your-people-fuelling-your-culture/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

Are HR leaders really locked out of the CEO seat, or are we holding ourselves back?

In this episode, I talk about the real reasons HR professionals aren’t landing the top job, and why it’s not because we're underqualified.

From imposter syndrome to commercial confidence and the myth of “not being given the chance.” I break down the habits and mindset traps keeping us small and how to break free from them.

You’ll walk away with practical ways to strengthen your CEO readiness: how to build your personal board, sharpen your commercial edge, and say yes before you're 100% ready.

This one’s for the HR leader who’s ready to stop waiting and start leading.

So what’s the next move for you? Is it finally putting your hand up? Getting closer to the numbers? Or just backing yourself the way others already do?

Wherever you’re at, I’d love to hear it. Come say hi over on LinkedIn here.

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/stop-waiting-to-be-chosen-why-hr-must-claim-the-ceo-path/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

What if the skills you’ve honed in HR are exactly what’s needed to be a CEO?

In this episode, I challenge one of the most frustrating myths in the business world. That HR leaders can’t become CEOs. I spotlight some standout CHRO-to-CEO success stories, from Leena Nair’s leap from Unilever to Chanel, to Mary Barra’s transformation of General Motors, to Anne Mulcahy pulling Xerox back from the brink.

These aren't just career highlights; they’re proof that people leadership is business leadership.

You’ll hear how these leaders used empathy, trust, and cultural reset strategies to steer global companies through massive disruption. I talk about what made them the right choice in moments of crisis and why HR is often the proving ground for top leadership.

This is the episode every HR leader needs to hear if they’ve ever felt stuck or underestimated.

Whether you're eyeing the C-suite or cheering others on, you’ll leave with a sharper lens on what it really takes to lead, and why it’s time to rethink where HR fits in the executive hierarchy.

Which HR-to-CEO story inspired you the most? Tag us on LinkedIn here, I’d love to hear your thoughts and celebrate the trailblazers you're watching. And if this episode made you rethink what’s possible, share it with a HR mate who needs the reminder.

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/why-chros-make-the-best-ceos-in-times-of-chaos/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

What happens when a Coldplay kiss cam moment spirals into a corporate crisis, executive resignations, and a global HR debate?

In this episode, I unpack the very public Coldplay kiss cam controversy that led to the sudden exit of Astronomer’s CEO and CPO, and what it reveals about power dynamics, bias, and the hidden cracks in organisational culture. Using this as a case study, I explore how HR should respond when the function itself is caught in the storm.

We’ll talk about why due process matters, even when public opinion is demanding instant action. I share why a romantic relationship between a CEO and their HR leader is the “Mount Everest” of conflicts, and how gender bias in media coverage can quietly shape public perception. I’ll also cover what succession planning, crisis communication, and independent investigation should look like in moments like this.

By the end, you’ll have practical takeaways on handling power and intimacy at work, spotting media bias, and protecting HR’s credibility when trust takes a hit.

If you were in the HR team at Astronomer right now, what would you do first? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Connect with us on LinkedIn and join the conversation.

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/hr-on-the-big-screen-leadership-power-the-coldplay-kiss/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

What if leading with heart was the most strategic move you could make?

In this episode of Reimagining HR, I challenge the old-school discomfort around emotions in the boardroom and unpack why heart-led leadership isn’t fluffy, it’s functional. From the red dust of the Pilbara to the pressure of the C-suite, I share real stories, data and practical tools that prove heart is hardwired for performance.

You’ll hear about the ripple effects of compassion in action, autonomy that works, and connection rituals that don’t feel like corporate karaoke. Plus, we unpack the four micro-moves every CEO can make this week to lead with heart, without losing their edge.

If you’re sick of the “too emotional” label and want your culture to thrive, not just survive, this one’s for you.

Tried any of these heart moves? Copped an epic eye-roll in the process? I'd love to hear what reactions you’re seeing. Connect with us on LinkedIn.

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/put-a-little-heart-into-it-mate-why-soft-hr-is-solid-gold/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

Do you ever wonder if workplace conflict could strengthen relationships, instead of breaking them?

In this episode, we chat with mediator Tania Waters about how conflict shows up in the workplace and what happens behind closed doors in mediation. We break down the myths about conflict resolution, from the “personality clash” label to why grievances often fester instead of getting solved.

You’ll hear how Tania’s lived experience from high-pressure law firms to her work as a conflict specialist has shaped her unique approach to resolving tough workplace issues. She shares the real reasons relationships break down at work, how hybrid working has changed conflict dynamics, and why HR teams need to rethink their fear of grievances.

If you’re an HR leader or business leader who wants practical insights on handling conflict with confidence, this one’s for you. You’ll walk away with fresh thinking on how to move from fear and avoidance to open, honest conversations that build stronger workplaces.

Have you ever seen conflict handled well in your organisation, or watched it blow up? I’d love to hear your story. Connect with us on LinkedIn and let’s keep the conversation going.

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/hrs-secret-weapon-in-conflict-resolution-mediation-and-repair-with-tania-waters/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

What if creativity wasn’t just a nice-to-have at work, but the missing link for real belonging, innovation and impact?

In this episode, I’m joined by Bourby Webster, a creative powerhouse and the founder of the Perth Symphony Orchestra. We talk about the power of creativity in the workplace and beyond. Bourby’s lived experience shows how creative spaces can spark community, drive fresh thinking, and open doors to authentic self-expression, even in the most buttoned-up workplaces.

From challenging Australia’s cultural cringe around art, to rethinking HR’s role in helping people feel seen and heard, Bourby and I talk about why creativity is essential, not just for fun, but for productivity, belonging, and reimagining what’s possible. You’ll hear real stories, some laughter, and lots of practical ideas to put to work.

What’s one way you’re nurturing creativity in your workplace or life? Let’s keep the conversation going, connect with me on LinkedIn and share your thoughts! 

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/the-art-of-business-elevating-performance-through-creativity-with-bourby-webster/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/
  
  

Have you ever wondered if your self-respect is the missing piece to your success?

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Katherine Iscoe about why self-respect matters just as much, if not more, than confidence in your career. We explore the difference between self-respect, confidence and self-esteem, and how understanding these can help HR leaders, and anyone really, to build healthier, more authentic workplaces.

Dr. Katherine shares her insights on what keeps people stuck in people-pleasing and high-achieving patterns and why many HR professionals struggle more than others with owning their worth. I open up about the gaps I see in my own work with HR leaders, and how the struggle for self-respect underpins so many of the challenges we face in the workplace.

This is a conversation about getting honest with yourself, finding your voice, and deciding what’s really important to you. Tune in to find out why self-respect isn’t just about feeling good, it’s about standing tall, even when it’s hard.

So, how does it feel to be you right now? Let’s keep this conversation going. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode or any HR horror stories you’d like me to talk about in the future. Connect with us on LinkedIn, and let’s talk!

SHOW NOTES: https://reimaginehr.com.au/validation-to-value-in-hr-the-self-respect-revolution-with-dr-katherine-iscoe/

Trina Sunday is a human-first leadership strategist, HR advisor and creator of the HEART Work™ model, helping HR leaders and People & Culture professionals build workplaces where people and performance thrive side by side. With more than 25 years of experience across HR, organisational development and leadership advisory in Australia, Asia and global leadership communities, she works with HR leaders and executive teams to strengthen leadership capability, shape workplace culture and drive human-first organisational transformation. Through the Heart at Work with Trina Sunday podcast, leadership programs and advisory work, Trina is passionate about empowering HR professionals to move beyond compliance and lead the future of HR with courage, clarity and influence.

Get Inspired 

• Trina’s Website: https://trinasunday.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trinasundayofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinasundayofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trinasundayofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinasunday/
• Reimagine HR: https://reimaginehr.com.au/