In 2009 Netflix caused a huge stir in the HR and tech worlds with their 125 page slide deck that set out a new way of leading people. Whilst many companies have now adopted their concepts such as ‘freedom with accountability’, the rejection of the idea that businesses are a family, and the so-called Keeper Test, Netflix were the first major corporation to introduce them. In this episode, Kenny Temowo, a senior member of the Leadership Culture & Talent Development team at Netflix, describes the on-going impact of these pioneering principles. 

Kenny describes the role of creativity within organizational culture and the importance of an environment that encourages risk-taking and playfulness. We look at how to combine alignment with company-wide approaches with meeting the needs of local teams. And we explore Netflix's distinctive leadership seminars, which foster leadership excellence through engaging stories, poetry, and articles. This approach encourages leaders to navigate real-world challenges without traditional learning objectives, creating an immersive experience that empowers leaders to find solutions collectively. 

As an added bonus, we discuss our shared love for British Blue Shorthair cats! Whether you're an HR enthusiast, a leader, or a cat lover, this episode has something for everyone!

Chapters

(00:03) - Innovative HR Strategies at Netflix

(13:50) - Fostering Creativity in Organizational Culture

(26:55) - Leadership Seminars and Peer Learning

(39:03) - Feline Friends

Kenny Temowo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennytemowo/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

As it's our last podcast of 2024, we thought it was a good idea to have a look at the key trends for HR for the coming year. There are lots of areas where HR is progressing and what works for you will depend on the nature of your business, the maturity of your leaders, and your HR function. But in this episode we're going to look at the key trends that might shape your plans.

Join Disruptive HR’s Lucy Adams and Karen Moran as they explore the transformative trends set to reshape the workplace by 2025. From AI's evolution beyond basic tasks to becoming an essential tool for recruitment marketing and employee retention, hear how industry leaders like Unilever and IBM are pioneering this change. With AI's predictive capabilities, HR teams can make informed decisions and timely interventions, ensuring they stay ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape. For those yet to embrace AI, this is an invitation to start experimenting and harness the potential of this powerful technology.

They also discuss the movement towards a personalized, human-centric workforce, where employees have the power to tailor their work experiences to fit their unique needs. AI-powered talent marketplaces are empowering employees to take control of their own careers enabling greater employee autonomy and aligning personal development with career goals. Additionally, the shift towards agile HR practices is breaking down traditional silos and fostering a culture of experimentation and learning, as exemplified by companies like ING and Spotify.

(00:03) HR Trends for 2025

(08:21) Unlocking Human-Centric Workforce Potential

(15:53) Empowering Agile HR Practices for Growth

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

In this episode we explore the crucial and often overlooked issue of supporting family caregivers in the workplace. Stephanie Leung, CEO and founder of Karehero, who shares her personal journey from a high-flying career at Goldman Sachs to becoming an advocate for caregivers. Stephanie opens up about her experiences as a family caregiver from a young age and the challenges she faced balancing work and caregiving duties. With over 7 million people in the UK alone juggling these roles, it's time we address the pressures they face and how employers can step up to support them. 

Stephanie's story highlights the pressing need for better support systems for working caregivers. Her experience underscores the often-unrecognized burden many employees carry, dedicating over 33 hours a week to unpaid care on top of their regular jobs. Stephanie emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt to the realities of an aging population and a shrinking birth rate. The importance of understanding individual needs within the workforce is paramount to retaining talent and preventing burnout. We explore how employers can create supportive environments for caregivers, ensuring that employees don't have to choose between their careers and their loved ones. 

Chapters

(00:03) - Supporting Family Caregivers in the Workplace

(14:01) - Business Solution for Family Caregiving

(25:14) - Supporting Working Family Caregivers

(33:53) - Future Workforce Care Challenges

Karehero https://www.karehero.com/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

Discover the transformative journey of HR at NatWest through the innovative insights of Katherine O’Callaghan, Head of People Transformation. Katharine shares her experience of reshaping the HR landscape by drawing inspiration from customer experience strategies. We discuss how NatWest has innovatively adopted a "colleague goal and journey model" to enhance the employee experience. 

Listen in as we explore the cultural shift in performance management and how HR teams are adapting to new, employee-centered methodologies. Agile practices and design thinking are at the forefront of this transformation, helping align HR strategies with real employee and manager insights. Katharine highlights the importance of leveraging data sources, such as pulse surveys and feedback mechanisms, to effectively capture the employee experience. This transformation reflects a significant shift towards a customer-focused approach, emphasizing experimentation and learning from pilot initiatives as key components of this ongoing cultural evolution.

Discover how technology and simplification are enhancing HR processes and empowering managers at NatWest. We discuss the role of AI tools like Ask Archie, a chatbot that integrates support across HR and IT domains and the removal of unnecessary approval layers so that managers are now empowered to make team changes autonomously. 

Chapters

(00:03) Transforming HR With Colleague Goals

(11:17) Cultural Shift in Performance Management

(17:53) Shifting to Agile Performance Management

(22:31) Enhancing HR With Technology and Simplification

Katharine O’Callaghan https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharineocallaghan/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

This week, the co-founders of Disruptive HR (and ex-CPOs themselves), Lucy Adams and Karen Moran, tackle the unique challenges faced by Chief People Officers (CPOs). They explore the scepticism often directed at CPOs and the pressure to conform to a metrics-heavy approach. They talk about the benefits of embracing a human-centric design for HR strategies and how shifting from rigid, traditional processes to adaptable, employee-centred practices, can enhance the CPO’s impact and credibility.

They discuss the challenges for CPOs of balancing operational tasks with strategic thinking amidst constant meetings and compliance demands. They share strategies to alleviate these pressures, such as empowering managers with self-management tools and adopting a product management approach for HR teams. Above all, the episode aims to equip CPOs with practical solutions to streamline their focus and enhance their influence within their organizations.

Chapters

(00:03) - Challenges and Solutions for HR Leaders

(14:01) - The Loneliness of HR Leaders

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

What unique challenges do HR professionals face in the legal sector, and how can innovative approaches transform traditional practices? Join us as we chat with Emma Stevenson, Director of Partner Relations at Clyde & Co, who takes us through her fascinating 22-year journey in HR, navigating the intricacies of managing partner relations in a global law firm. Learn how she innovated a dedicated HR function for partners within a global law firm, addressing the unique challenges of managing individuals who are both owners and leaders.

Discover how Emma's tailored coaching and pioneering initiatives like "Five Minute Mondays" and the "Retire Right" podcast have created a supportive, engaging environment for legal partners. We explore the importance of using ‘human’ language for better engagement and how innovative strategies have been positively received by partners. Don't miss this insightful conversation on driving change and empowering professionals within the legal industry.

(00:03) Innovative HR Strategies for Law Firms

(11:15) Enhancing HR Support for Law Partners

(22:20) Engaging HR Strategies in Law

Emma Stephenson https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-stephenson-942b3448/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

Join us on this episode of HR Disrupted as we explore the innovative creation of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales, with our special guests James Owen, Chief Operating Officer, and Fran Hill, Director of People and Culture. Our conversation covers the birth of this innovative public body, its ambitious goals for enhancing the learner experience, and its commitment to fostering collaboration among educational institutions in Wales.

Listen in as we discuss how the new organisation built its approach to people by using the unique values described in the Welsh language and how these values have been used to shape innovative approaches to HR such as human-centred recruitment and personalised onboarding experiences. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on creating a forward-thinking HR approach from the ground up.

Chapters

(00:03) - Designing a New Organisation's HR Approach

(12:55) - Living the Organisational Values Through Recruitment

(18:11) - Revolutionising Recruitment and Onboarding Processes

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

What if your HR department could transform into a beacon of sustainability? Join us for an insightful conversation with HR Director Scott Sullivan as he shares his story on becoming a key player in making Bates Wells the first major law firm to achieve B Corp certification. Scott’s diverse experience across various industries and his roles as a magistrate and charity trustee provide a unique perspective on the importance of external opportunities for HR growth. We also explore Bates Wells' hybrid work model and the innovative strategies they’ve employed to keep their dispersed workforce connected and engaged.

Discover how Bates Wells fosters a culture of sustainability through employee-driven initiatives. From vegetarian-only catering to incentivizing green energy adoption, Scott reveals how these grassroots efforts have sparked significant cultural shifts within the firm. These initiatives underscore Bates Wells’ commitment to embedding sustainability into their DNA, illustrating how employee-led actions can lead to profound engagement and a stronger organisational culture.

We dive into the practicalities of integrating sustainability into HR processes, tackling challenges like pension reform and performance management. Scott offers actionable advice on incorporating sustainability into onboarding, procurement, and recognition schemes. Whether you're an HR professional or simply passionate about sustainability, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical guidance for creating a better tomorrow.

Chapters

(00:03) HR and Sustainability

(07:46) Employee-Led Sustainability Initiatives

(16:09) Sustainable Pension Fund Implementation

(21:48) Employee Engagement in Sustainability Initiatives

(27:09) Building a Culture of Education

Scott Sullivan https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjacksullivan/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: [email protected]

What happens when an interviewer falls asleep mid-interview or a receptionist actively discourages a candidate from joining? Join Lucy and Karen, co-founders of Disruptive HR, as they recount some shocking personal stories and explore the critical importance of enhancing candidate experiences during the recruitment process. 

In this episode we dissect the pitfalls of traditional interview methods and unveil innovative strategies to assess candidates effectively. Forget about the same old competency-based questions and assessment centres - how about sharing interview questions in advance or even conducting interviews in cars?! Discover how industry leaders like Microsoft and McKinsey are revolutionising their hiring processes by making candidates feel more at ease and better showcasing their real-world skills. 

Tune in to learn actionable tips on improving your candidate experience, to enable your organisation to hire the best talent - and retain a positive employer brand even amongst the candidates you reject.

Chapters

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/disruptivehr/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disruptive_hr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrdisruptive/

Email: [email protected]

Join us for an insightful conversation with Michael Kienle, the Global VP of Talent Acquisition at L'Oreal, as he shares his unique journey to leading global recruitment for one of the world's most iconic consumer brands. Michael discusses his transition from marketing to HR, driven by his passion for understanding and working with people. 

In this episode, we also explore the challenges and strategies in global talent acquisition at L'Oreal, especially in managing the vast number of applications received annually. Discover how L'Oreal measures and improves candidate experience through initiatives like the "License to Hire" training program and the "Candidate Experience Manifesto." Furthermore, we delve into L'Oreal's commitment to diversity and youth employability with innovative programs such as L'Oreal for Youth and L'Oreal Boost, which provide professional opportunities and educational resources for young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Don't miss this engaging discussion on maintaining a people-centric approach in HR and making big brands accessible to diverse talent pools.

Find out more about innovative HR practices at www.disruptivehr.com

Michael Kienle on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kienlemichael/