HR Coffee Time

If the idea of improving your business acumen feels intimidating, this episode will help make it feel achievable and clear. Host, Fay Wallis, breaks down what business acumen really means for HR and why it has nothing to do with being “naturally commercial” and everything to do with curiosity, awareness and understanding how your organisation works.

To make building business acumen feel even more practical, Fay brings in insights from three recent Chief People Officer guests: Kanika Mehra, Jane Beeston and Dotty Day. Although each appeared on the show to share their experiences of becoming a CPO, their advice applies to every stage of an HR career.

By the end, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable steps you can start using straight away. And one of the three tips might surprise you.

Ready to make business acumen feel less daunting? It’s simpler than you think.

You’ll hear about:

• What business acumen really means
• Why curiosity beats expertise
• Understanding customers and service users
• Getting involved outside HR
• Learning from Finance colleagues
• Questions to ask your finance team
• Ways to grow confidence with numbers

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programme
• Learn more aboutThe Essential HR Planner

• Ep 147 with Kanika Mehra:How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights(Audio version)
• Ep 147 with Kanika Mehra:How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights(Video version)
• Ep 148 with Jane Beeston:Skills That Shape a Great CPO: Communication, Coaching & Curiosity(Audio version)
• Ep 148 with Jane Beeston:Skills That Shape a Great CPO: Communication, Coaching & Curiosity(Video version)
• Ep 151 with Dotty Day:Could an Interim CPO/CHRO Role Be Your Perfect Career Option?(Audio version)
• Ep 151 with Dotty Day:Could an Interim CPO/CHRO Role Be Your Perfect Career Option?(Video version)

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

If you’ve ever wondered what truly separates an HR Director from a Chief People Officer (CPO) or CHRO, you’re not alone. It’s a common question, and after months of speaking with incredible CPOs for this series, a powerful theme kept coming up again and again.

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares the one big difference that defines the step up, a shift that’s far more about mindset and perspective than job title. You’ll hear clips from Chief People Officers including John Scrooby, Dotty Day, Lorna Bains, Dr Andy Stephenson, and Nebel Crowhurst as they describe what changed for them when they made the move.

Fay also shares a monster truck analogy that brings this transformation to life, from leading your HR function to steering the entire business. Whether you’re already operating at that level or preparing for the next step, this episode will help you see what it really means to become a business leader, not just a people leader.

Join us for reassurance and advice on making that leap.

You’ll Hear about:

• The defining difference between HR Director and CPO roles
• Why the CPO role is about leading the business
• A monster truck analogy that brings the concept to life
• Insights from five experienced Chief People Officers
• How to start developing business acumen for your next step

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR leadership development programme

• Episode 146 with John Scrooby - Lessons in HR Leadership: How to Succeed as a Chief People Officer
• Episode 151 with Dotty Day – Could an Interim CPO/CHRO Role Be Your Perfect Career Option?
• Episode 153 with Lorna Bains – Inside the Fractional CPO/CHRO Role – What It Involves & How to Succeed
• Episode 155 with Dr Andrew Stephenson – The Mindset, Skills & Plan to Become a Successful Chief People Officer
• Episode 156 with Nebel Crowhurst – Why Chief People Officers Need Strong Networks (And How to Build Yours)

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

Why do Chief People Officers need strong networks — and how can you build one that truly supports you?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Nebel Crowhurst, who’s featured on the HR Most Influential list several years running and has held senior roles with Virgin, River Island, Roche, and Reward Gateway.

Nebel talks about the realities of being a CPO — the highs, the pressures, and how she protects her wellbeing — along with brilliant advice on building your own community of support (even if you find networking uncomfortable).

• The key differences between being an HR Director and a Chief People Officer.
• How to protect your boundaries and wellbeing in a demanding role.
• What it means to be a business leader, not just a functional one.
• How to reframe networking into “building your community.”
• Practical tips for creating and nurturing a supportive network.

Nebel also explains her move into fractional CPO work, what it involves, and why this model is becoming increasingly popular in growing organisations.

• Ep 11: Networking – the three most important networks for your career
• Ep 16: How to become more confident about networking
• Ep 90: How a Personal Board can help solve your challenges at work
• Ep 153: Inside the Fractional CPO/CHRO Role – what it involves and how to succeed

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Connect with Nebel on LinkedIn
• Fay's website
• Nebel’s website
• Nebel’s LinkedIn article:The Rise of The Fractional CPO
• Emotional Intelligence qualification mentioned: EQ-i 2.0 (via MHS Assessments)
• HR Leaders Unconference

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

There’s so much more to becoming a successful Chief People Officer (CPO) or CHRO than experience alone - it’s about building the mindset, skills and plan that help you succeed and make an impact.

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Dr Andrew Stephenson, Chief People Officer at Equiniti, who has held CPO roles in three major international businesses. Under his leadership, Equiniti has become a Top Employer in the UK, US and India, winning multiple CIPD and HR Excellence Awards, and Andy himself has been named one of the CIPD’s HR 30 under 30 leaders.

• How he created his first Chief People Officer role and convinced the board he was the right person for it
• Turning strategy into a simple, one-page plan (and why clarity matters more than volume)
• The difference between HR Director and CPO roles – and what it means to work on the business, not in it
• Habits and diary practices that help him (and his team) perform at their best
• Practical ways to protect mental health and prevent burnout in a senior role
• The importance of lifelong learning – and how his curiosity led to “accidentally” earning a doctorate
• His advice for aspiring CPOs on building commercial awareness, gaining breadth, and backing yourself

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programme
• Connect with Dr Andrew Stephenson on LinkedIn

• Episode 1:How to Feel More Confident at Work
• Episode 43:The One Thing That Will Boost Your Resilience Throughout Your HR Career (With Tom Cleary)
• Episode 123:Avoid Burnout – How to Spot Signs of Stress and Take Action (With Dr Jo Burrell)
• Episode 108:HR Leadership – How to Create a Simple but Powerful One-Page Strategy (With Dr Max McKeown)

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

What does it take to land your first Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) or Chief People Officer (CPO) role – and succeed once you’re in it?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Nicola Lyons, Group CHRO at Getlink Group. With more than 15 years of international experience leading transformation and culture change, Nicola shares a wide range of valuable insights from her career. One of the highlights of this conversation is her clear, step-by-step advice on how to secure a CHRO/CPO role and succeed once you’re in it.

From career planning and building visibility, to working with headhunters and handling the step up, Nicola’s guidance is packed with practical tips you can put into action straight away.

You’ll hear Nicola’s thoughts on:

• What makes her role as Group CHRO unique
• How her network opened the door to her first CHRO opportunity
• Smart ways to build visibility with headhunters and recruiters
• The value of career planning and feedback in preparing for the step up
• The biggest shift when moving into a CHRO role
• Practical habits that support success and wellbeing

Whether you’re aiming for a CPO/CHRO position or want to strengthen your career in HR, you’ll come away with a wealth of actionable insights from Nicola’s experience.

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR leadership development programme
• Buy a copy of The Essential HR Planner
• Connect with Nicola Lyons on LinkedIn

Please note - book links are Amazon affiliate links. This means Fay may earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them.

• Your First 100 Days– Niamh O’Keeffe
• The Strategy Book– Dr Max McKeown
• Head and Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership– Kirstin Ferguson

• Episode 31: Three Little-Known LinkedIn Features to Help You Get Your Next Job
• Episode 106: Seven Types of Posts to Share on LinkedIn That Will Help Your HR Career
• Episode 78: 5 Tips to Get Useful Feedback at Work to Help Your HR/People Career
• Episode 37: The First 100 Days Plan to Succeed in Your New HR Leadership Role (With Niamh O’Keeffe)
• Episode 108: HR Leadership: How to Create a Simple but Powerful One-Page Strategy (With Dr Max McKeown)

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified when new episodes are released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

What does it really mean to be a fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) – and could it be the right next step in your career?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Lorna Bains, a hugely experienced HR and business transformation leader who has thrived as a fractional CPO for the past seven years. Lorna lifts the lid on what the role involves, why more organisations are choosing fractional HR leadership, and the habits and practices that help her succeed.

As part of the special CPO/CHRO series – where each guest answers the same nine listener-chosen questions – Lorna becomes the 8th CPO to share her story. She also offers down-to-earth advice on handling imposter feelings, building your network, and remembering that you don’t need all the answers to succeed.

You’ll hear Lorna’s thoughts on:

• What makes the fractional CPO role different
• The team structures and “scaffolding” that allow fractional leadership to work
• Why building strong networks and communities is crucial
• The skills, habits, and practices that have most helped her succeed
• How to stay future-focused and “look around the corner” as a strategic HR leader
• Handling the biggest challenges of the role

Whether you’re curious about the growing trend of fractional HR leadership, considering the CPO/CHRO path, or simply looking to strengthen your own impact as an HR professional, you’ll find plenty of insights and encouragement in this conversation.

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programme
• Lorna’s website:Vilo Consulting
• The Personal Boardroom framework (by Zella King)

Networking:

• Episode 11:Networking – The Three Most Important Networks for Your Career
• Episode 15:How Networking Can Help Your Career
• Episode 16:How to Become More Confident About Networking
• Episode 101:How to Build Confidence With Networking for HR Career Success (With Yvonne Walsh)

Personal Board:

• Episode 21:The 8 People Who Will Set You Up for Career Success (With Sharon Peake)
• Episode 90:How a Personal Board Can Help Solve Your Challenges at Work

Imposter Syndrome:

• Episode 36:Four Simple but Powerful Techniques to Banish Imposter Syndrome (With Joanna Lott)
• Episode 107:The Impact of Imposter Syndrome at Work & How to Tackle It Head-On (With Aoife O’Brien)

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

How do you prove the true value of HR so the business takes you seriously – and appoints you as Chief People Officer?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Leah Carnegie, Chief People Officer at Lottoland. Leah shares her journey from VP of People to CPO, explaining how she made sure HR wasn’t just seen as a support function but as a vital business partner.

As part of our special CPO/CHRO series – where each guest answers the same nine listener-chosen questions – Leah becomes the 7th CPO to share her story. Along the way, she offers candid insights into job titles, the mindset shift from “doing” to “thinking,” and the emotional weight of senior HR roles.

You’ll hear Leah’s thoughts on:

• The moment she realised HR had to be at the top table – and how she secured her seat
• The difference between VP/Director roles and the remit of a CPO
• Why business acumen is non-negotiable for HR leaders
• How coaching skills, feedback, and psychological safety underpin her leadership style
• The emotional challenges of the role – and the wellbeing practices that help
• Practical advice for aspiring and first-time CPOs

Whether you’re aiming for a CPO/CHRO role, or want to build confidence and influence in your current one, there’s plenty of inspiration to take from Leah’s experience.

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programme
• Connect with Leah Carnegie on LinkedIn
• Disruptive HR resources and HRBP workshops
• IDEO podcast
• Hyper Island

• Episode 78:5 Tips to Get Useful Feedback at Work to Help Your HR/People Career
• Episode 99:How Mediation Skills Can Help You Resolve Conflict at Work (With Pete Colby)
• Episode 53:Why Coaching Skills Can Help Your HR Career (& How to Develop Them), with Charlie Warshawski
• Episode 130:Build Managers’ Confidence and Skills With ‘The Coaching Two-Step’, with Jude Slater

(Please note the links shared are affiliate links, so, Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you choose to purchase them)

• HR Disrupted: It’s time for something different – Lucy Adams
• The HR Change Toolkit: Your complete guide to making it happen – Lucy Adams

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

Could an interim Chief People Officer or interim Chief Human Resources Officer role be your perfect career move? In this episode, we explore what the job is really like, the skills that help you succeed, and how to decide if it’s the right path for you.

HR Coffee Time Host, Fay Wallis, is joined by Dotty Day, an experienced interim CPO, strategy consultant, and founder of Nu Leaf (supporting ambitious businesses with fractional HR leadership and practical, people-first strategies). She’s also the founder of gighrly, a thriving business club for HR freelancers and consultants.

As part of our special CPO/CHRO series – where each guest answers the same nine listener-chosen questions – Dotty becomes the 6th CPO to share her insights. She talks about her unconventional path to the role, the realities of interim work, and valuable advice for all ambitious HR professionals.

You’ll hear Dotty’s thoughts on:

1. Why developing your commercial acumen should include learning from marketing as well as finance
2. How to say “no” without damaging relationships – and why it matters for avoiding burnout
3. A practical influencing strategy to get buy-in for your ideas before the meeting even starts
4. Avoiding HR jargon and using the language of the business
5. The mindset and adaptability needed to thrive in interim work

Whether you’re aiming for a CPO/CHRO role, considering interim work, or just want to strengthen your leadership skills, there’s plenty to take away from this conversation.

1. Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
2. Visit Fay’s website
3. Learn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programme
4. Connect with Dotty Day on LinkedIn
5. Visit Nu Leaf– Dotty’s consultancy
6. Visit gighrly– Dotty’s business community for HR freelancers and consultants

1. Episode 7:What To Do When There Aren’t Enough Hours in the Day
2. Episode 86:How to Stop Other People Taking Credit for Your Ideas in Meetings
3. Episode 103:Career Options in HR – Is Contracting the Perfect Fit for You? (With Eleanor Minshall)
4. Episode 123:Avoid Burnout – How to Spot Signs of Stress & Take Action (With Dr Jo Burrell)

Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

What if there’s no Chief People Officer role in your organisation - but you know it needs one, and you think you’re the right person for it?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Victoria Pounder, Chief People Officer at Moore Kingston Smith - a multi-disciplinary firm providing audit, accountancy, advisory and tax services to a diverse range of clients. Victoria shares her inspiring journey of growing with the firm over 14 years - from being the first Head of HR to HR Director, and eventually making the case for a brand-new Chief People Officer role that she then stepped into.

She talks openly about what the step up has been like so far, how she’s built influence and trust over time, and how she’s stayed focused on culture during rapid growth and change. There’s plenty to take away - especially if you’re aiming for a CPO role yourself, or want to lead with more impact and confidence in your current one.

[00:00] Welcome and introduction to Victoria Pounder

[01:00] Creating a CPO role from scratch

[03:20] Building the business case and going through the panel interview process

[04:03] The differences between being an HRD and a CPO

[06:40] The importance of influence in the CPO role

[08:51] How trust helped her lead behind the scenes

[12:32] Key skills and habits that have helped her succeed

[14:45] How a non-HR project changed her perspective

[18:17] Culture, growth and protecting values under pressure

[23:06] Balancing career, family and mental wellbeing

[25:19] The role of HR communities

[27:08] Advice for aspiring CPOs

[28:22] Final advice for new CPOs

[37:16] Book recommendation and conclusion

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR leadership development programme
• Connect with Victoria Pounder on LinkedIn
• Evolving HR – ‘Getting the Board on Board’ webinar
• The HR Ninjas on LinkedIn
• The HR Ninjas Facebook Group

HR Disrupted by Lucy Adams (Amazon affiliate link – Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you choose to purchase the book via this link)

• Episode 18: Future-Proofing Your Career, with Karen Moran
• Episode 136: How to Shape a Winning Workplace Culture When You Work in HR, with Annabelle Lawson & Paula Brockwell
• Build Your Confidence Playlist: A collection of HR Coffee Time podcast episodes to help you overcome self-doubt and build your confidence

Be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released and get access to other free career tips, tools and resources by signing up to receive the free weekly HR Coffee Time email.

What makes a job application for the Chief People Officer role stand out, how do you balance being strategic and operational in HR, and why is compassion such an important leadership strength?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Funmi Onamusi, Chief People Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Funmi shares her inspiring and non-traditional journey to becoming a CPO - including the bold, values-led approach she took when applying for the role, and the importance of carving out strategic thinking time once she got there.

She also opens up about the pressure that can come with being a Black woman in senior leadership, and how she has channelled that pressure into role modelling compassionate leadership for others.

Whether you're aiming for a CPO role, want to be more strategic, or become a more impactful leader, you’ll come away with practical ideas, honest reflections, and real-life insight into what it takes to lead well in HR at the highest level.

[00:00] Welcome and introduction to Funmi Onamusi

[04:06] Funmi’s route to becoming a CPO

[06:50] Funmi’s job application approach

[09:03] How she prepared for the interview

[13:33] The difference between the HR Director & CPO roles

[18:45] Advice on how to move from operational to strategic

[23:33] How the role was different to what she had expected

[27:55] Maintaining mental wellbeing in such a demanding role

[34:12] The skills, habits and practices that have helped her succeed

[41:14] The biggest challenges Funmi has experienced as a CPO

[49:56] Funmi’s advice for aspiring CPOs

[56:52] Courses and qualifications that have been useful for Funmi

[01:00:00] Final thoughts

• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• Visit Fay’s website
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR leadership development programme
• Connect with Funmi Onamusi on LinkedIn
• Visit Funmi’s website
• Funmi’s ’10 Power Moves’
• Learn about Funmi’s CIC: The Breaking Hundred Circle

Be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released and get access to other free career tips, tools, and resources by signing up to receive the free weekly HR Coffee Time email.