How HR Leaders Change the World

Recorded live at Unleash, Gina shares why she sees AI as a human transformation story, and a huge opportunity for HR to redesign roles, teams and organisations. She explains the new skills HR needs to lead it, from workforce intelligence to business acumen, and why keeping purpose at work matters more than ever.

Gina shares how SAP has shifted from credential-based to skills-based selection and development, giving 112,000 colleagues access to a skills taxonomy that opens up career opportunities. She's open about what was hardest, and explains why global job architecture, an artefact of the industrial age, must be rethought.

Drawing on her family's story, Gina speaks about her commitment to economic inclusion. She describes SAP's support for social enterprises, with more than 4,400 on its business network platform, and its employee network groups, powered by tens of thousands of employees.

Gina's call to action for HR: step up as co-creators of the new AI era.

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How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People

At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫

Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

Coleen Highfield believes commercial success and people thriving at work go hand in hand. She shares how she has brought company cultures together after acquisitions, providing practical examples such as a six-week programme to help new colleagues feel part of the organisation, and pricing benefits harmonisation into the transaction, so everyone is on a level playing field.

As a single mum, Coleen speaks personally about talented women forced to pull back on their careers after having children. She introduces her upcoming book, Survive and Thrive for Working Mums, and describes the impact of a workplace children's holiday club that doubled as a talent solution.

Coleen's call to action for HR: be unapologetically brave in leading individualised ways of working.

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Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight.

On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change.

The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours.

"The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna.

Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN

How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People

At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫

Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

References

· Survive and Thrive for Working Mums, Coleen Highfield's website: https://surviveandthriveforworkingmums.co.uk

Lisa Dodman shows how HR adds the most value to the business when it thinks commercially and steps beyond the rule book.

Drawing on her time leading the people strategy at a global software business, she reflects on how listening, psychological safety and a clear communication strategy took its Glassdoor rating from 3.4 to 4.1 in a year.

Lisa provides examples of how AI can take away HR's administrative work, freeing people teams to focus on workforce planning, commercial results and ensuring social value is not treated as a box-ticking exercise.

Her call to action for HR: don't confine yourself within the rules.

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Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight.

On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change.

The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours.

"The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna.

Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN

How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People

At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫

Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

Ewen and Christelle share examples of how their commercial leadership also creates value for society. Both speakers at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! this year, in this special episode we bring together moments from their podcast episodes as we share what to expect on the day.

Following the top of the agenda topics, from designing organisations where AI and humans make each other better to what will separate the best employers in 2027, hear examples of Ewen and Christelle's work and come and join them, as well as CPO alumni of this podcast, and 150 of the best HR leaders, for more!

11th November 2026, London.

As well as Christelle and Ewen, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change.

The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours.

"The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna.

Tickets are nearly gone... Take a look at the full agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN

Don't miss out!

Gian Power OBE demonstrates how business benefits from being more human, and shares two stories to illustrate. In one, US pharmaceutical leadership become a changed team after an afternoon sharing their stories; in the other, a sceptical CEO watched a L&D strategy grow from a single person sharing a story, to transform customer experience in every store around the world.

Fresh from boardroom conversations in New York, Gian explains what human means now that AI is on every board agenda, and why human workplaces outperform. He sets out the 4Cs framework that TLC Lions sees drive performance, and shares a simple filter for focussing on the most important work in a noisy world: is it structural or cyclical, relevant or just interesting?

Gian also speaks personally about mental health. He talks about the leader at PwC whose small act of support changed everything for him, and explains how leaders' stories create help-seeking behaviours that colleagues can draw on years later.

His wish for HR is bold: challenge at board level more often. "You have to be willing to lose your job to do your job."

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Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight.

On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change.

Gian Power OBE, Founder and CEO of TLC Lions, one of this year's Headline Partners, is chairing our Boardroom Conversation, The Human Advantage: designing organisations where people and AI make each other better.

The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours.

"The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna.

Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN

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How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People

At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫

Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

Jennie Barker challenges the idea that better performance comes from better processes. She explains why clarity, accountability, meaningful work and great leadership matter more than forms and rating scales, and how good performance management can also be an equity intervention.

Jennie shares how Rightmove is helping people navigate AI, from creating space for honest conversations about anxiety and job security to giving teams the training and freedom to experiment. She explores why psychological safety matters when the future of work feels uncertain, and why people need to feel they can work alongside AI rather than having AI done to them.

Jennie also reflects on the issues she cares most about, including gender equity, housing inequality and homelessness. She leaves us with a wish for HR: focus your efforts on the leaders who shape people's everyday experience, and come together as a profession to support each other through a period of extraordinary change.

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Thank you to Staffbase for sponsoring this episode

We're delighted that Staffbase is a headline partner this year at our flagship conference, How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Staffbase knows HR Leaders are the ones driving transformation at work, and they're here to help.

Their employee communications platform connects companies with their people, whether they're at their desk or out on the front line.

With tools that boost engagement, give employees a voice and align everyone around shared goals, Staffbase helps HR leaders create meaningful change and measure its impact.

Want to learn more? Head to Staffbase.com and see what Staffbase could do for your organisation.

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How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People

At Uplifting People we help organisations show their people they matter, at the moments that quietly decide whether someone stays. We donate 100% of our profit to vulnerable children, so they can be safe, loved and learning. One gift does both 💫

Find more at https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/moments-that-matter

What happens when we assume the best talent will naturally rise to the top? For Rachel, the idea of meritocracy misses a crucial point: people do not start from the same place.

Across 25 years in HR, Rachel has challenged the systems and assumptions that can limit access to opportunity and in this episode explores why access needs to start earlier. Rachel also shares a powerful example of employing someone with a spent conviction.

Rachel discusses her views on AI and future talent, the impacts of technology performing some of the tasks that once gave young people their first role, and how to ensure the next generation get early opportunities to learn and progress.

Rachel's call to action for HR: be brave. It's a fitting end to a conversation about questioning the way things have always been done.

Thank you to Staffbase for sponsoring this episode

We're delighted that Staffbase is a headline partner this year at our flagship conference, How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Staffbase knows HR Leaders are the ones driving transformation at work, and they're here to help.

Their employee communications platform connects companies with their people, whether they're at their desk or out on the front line.

With tools that boost engagement, give employees a voice and align everyone around shared goals, Staffbase helps HR leaders create meaningful change and measure its impact.

Want to learn more? Head to Staffbase.com and see what Staffbase could do for your organisation.

Episode 252: Talent Is Everywhere, Opportunity Isn't – Neil Morrison, Group HR and Communications Director at Severn Trent PLC

Neil believes that doing right by your business and by your community are not competing priorities. At Severn Trent, he's spent almost a decade putting social mobility at the heart of the organisation, and explains how the commercial case for this work is just as strong as the social one.

Neil challenges assumptions surrounding AI and the future of work. He questions who will benefit as technology changes the jobs market, and discusses whether businesses are being honest about the social cost of AI-driven efficiency.

Drawing on evidence across his career, Neil makes the case for looking beyond traditional measures of talent. If business wants high performing workforces, he argues, HR needs to get closer to the people experiencing inequality and listen to what they actually need from work.

Thank you to Staffbase for sponsoring this episode

We're delighted that Staffbase is a headline partner this year at our flagship conference, How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Staffbase knows HR Leaders are the ones driving transformation at work, and they're here to help.

Their employee communications platform connects companies with their people, whether they're at their desk or out on the front line.

With tools that boost engagement, give employees a voice and align everyone around shared goals, Staffbase helps HR leaders create meaningful change and measure its impact.

Want to learn more? Head to Staffbase.com and see what Staffbase could do for your organisation.

As organisations grapple with AI, Frank explains why the difference between a story and a narrative matters, and why HR leaders need to understand the beliefs and assumptions people bring with them before expecting new technology to change how they work.

Frank also explores the gap between individual and organisational AI adoption. While many of us are already using AI in our day-to-day work, building systems that employees can genuinely trust is a far bigger challenge. He shares why the role of HR and communications is shifting, creating more space for people to focus on context, judgement and the human moments that technology cannot replace.

Frank makes a compelling case for ensuring frontline workers are not left behind. As AI reshapes the workplace, he describes how technology works best when it starts with the reality of people's working lives.

Thank you to Staffbase for sponsoring this episode.

We're delighted that Staffbase is a headline partner this year at our flagship conference, How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!

Staffbase knows HR Leaders are the ones driving transformation at work, and they're here to help.

Their employee communications platform connects companies with their people, whether they're at their desk or out on the front line.

With tools that boost engagement, give employees a voice and align everyone around shared goals, Staffbase helps HR leaders create meaningful change and measure its impact.

Want to learn more? Head to Staffbase.com and see what Staffbase could do for your organisation.

References:

• The Narrative Age: How leaders can inspire change in a polarized world by Frank Wolf

• Durable writing blog article and prompt - Staffbase

Sharon Doherty doesn't think HR's job ends at the office door. Across a career spanning Heathrow Terminal 5, Vodafone and now Lloyds Banking Group, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what people strategy can do - for business and for society.

For our milestone 250th episode, Sharon makes a compelling case that this is the defining opportunity of the HR profession.

She shares how she has improved safety at scale, shaped industry-leading family policy, and helped organisations become forces for good in society. At Lloyds, that includes tackling social mobility head on: opening doors for young people through employment, work experience and practical support, and showing why small acts of support can change the course of someone's future.

She also shares her belief that HR's greatest responsibility right now is helping people navigate the age of AI with confidence and agency - not as a threat to manage, but as a moment for the profession to lead.

If you've ever wondered how much influence an HR leader can really have, this episode is your answer.

Thank you to Unleash for sponsoring this episode

Unleash World returns to Paris from 20th – 22nd October 2026, bringing together the global HR community to explore what's next for the future of work.

With more than 8,500 attendees, 300 speakers and representatives from 140 countries, it's one of the world's leading gatherings for HR leaders shaping workforce strategy, AI and organisational transformation.

Alongside Sharon Doherty, you'll hear from many familiar voices from the How HR Leaders Change the World podcast, including Natalia Wallenberg, CHRO at Ahold Delhaize, Katarina Berg, CHRO at On, and Stephen Childs, CHRO at Panasonic Automotive. Other speakers include Louis Theroux, Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO at L'Oréal, and Eddie Wilson, CEO at Ryanair.

If you'd like to join us in Paris, Unleash has kindly offered our community an exclusive 15% discount on attendee passes.

Register here:https://events.unleash.ai/e/unleash-world-2026/content/registration-general-attendee-pass/?discount=upliftingpeople-15att-sh-ps

We hope to see you there!