Can mindset truly be the secret weapon for modern HR leaders?

In this episode, I speak with Tom Emery, People Performance Consultant, coach, and bestselling author of People People: Reach Your Full Potential as a CHRO. As the creator of the CHRO Impact Framework and founder of HEX, Tom brings over two decades of executive HR experience across sectors from retail to financial services.

Tom’s leadership journey, from firefighting in chaos to architecting and driving strategic transformation, sparked the development of the CHRO Impact Framework and shaped a coaching philosophy for senior leaders grounded in reflection, emotional intelligence, and commercial acumen. His CHRO Impact Framework supports senior HR professionals in shifting from operational reactivity to purposeful, enterprise-level impact.

From mindset and self-awareness to curiosity and commercial fluency, Tom explores what it truly means to lead HR teams that drive change, influence power structures, and elevate organisational performance.

What You’ll Learn

Mindset mastery: Why purposeful thinking, curiosity, and reflection are the foundation of every great HR leader.

From firefighting to frameworks: How to move from reaction to intention using Tom's CHRO Impact Framework.

Commercial curiosity: How understanding business dynamics transforms HR from a support function to a strategic powerhouse.

Tom reminds us: real transformation does not begin with systems or structures, it begins with people.

Change happens when people change. And as a leader, you're the one who sets that change in motion.

If you’re interested in continuing the conversation with Tom or working with him to increase your impact, feel free to get in touch at [email protected].

Tom reminds us that real transformation doesn't start with systems or structures-it starts with people. Change happens when people change-and you're the person to start that change.

OxTalks is produced by Urban Podcasts.