HR People Pod

HR functions

Welcome to HR People Pod, the CIPD’s new fortnightly podcast bringing you expert insight and topical stories impacting the world of work.

In our pilot episode, host David D'Souza, CIPD's director of people profession, welcomes Woosh Raza, executive director of people culture and inclusion at NCVO, Katie Obi, chief people officer at One Advanced and Bertie Tonks, chief people officer at Collinson to the panel as we discuss whether Gen Z are ‘lazy’, the unintended consequences of a rising minimum wage, whether more organisations are letting people work from home full-time and take a deeper dive into the growing demands on the profession.

Recorded: 10 May 2024

HR People Pod: Pilot one

Welcome to HR People Pod, the CIPD’s new fortnightly podcast series bringing you expert insight on topical stories impacting the world of work.

In our pilot episode, host David D'Souza, CIPD's director of people profession, recruits Mel Steel, former HR director and interim people & transformation leader, and Alistair Gill, chief alchemist at Alchemy Labs, to the panel as we respond to some of the key stories from the past fortnight, including the decision from John Lewis to share interview questions in advance with potential candidates and the use of AI in the recruitment process.

Recorded: 24 May 2024

HR People Pod: Pilot two

Decisive or divisive, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership message was definitely bold. Join the chat with David D’Souza, the CIPD’s Director of Profession, Katie Obi, Chief People Officer at One Advanced, and Mel Steel, former HR director and interim people & transformation leader, as we unpack the biggest stories of the past fortnight including: is Microsoft Recall a privacy nightmare? Should we be wary of a growing trend of side hustles or second jobs? And do we need ‘right to disconnect’ legislation? Leadership like the Manchester United back-to-work offer.

Recorded: 7 June 2024

HR People Pod – Ep 1: Leadership | Privacy | Second Jobs | Disconnecting

Do romantic relationships at work need to be disclosed? Can you trust a ‘mouse jiggler’? How do you manage time off or flexibility around major sporting events? Join the conversation with David D’Souza, CIPD Director of Profession, Gemma Dale, Senior Lecturer at Liverpool Business School, and David Balls, Chief People Officer at Newcross Healthcare Solutions, as we unpack the topical stories over the past fortnight and look at how HR can consider their impact for their own organisations.

HR People Pod – Ep 2: Relationships at work | Mouse jiggling | Therapy dogs | Summer of sport

The Labour Party will form a new government in the United Kingdom. But what can employers expect from its proposed ‘New Deal for Working People’? CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza hosts former Labour MP Iain Wright, Firstsource Senior VP HR Europe and Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity Jo Carlin, and Mencap Executive Director of People David Blackburn, to explore the implications and impact of potential day-one employment rights, apprenticeship levy reform, and how quickly the plans may come into effect.

Recorded: 05 July 2024

HR People Pod – Ep 3: A new UK Government and a ‘New Deal for Working People’

Could the humble suggestion box make a comeback as the key to acquiring honest, off-the-cuff feedback? What risks do organisations face by ignoring or mismanaging employee voice? Is a gamified approach to performance management the future? And are employees staying faithful or taking part in ‘job polygamy’?

CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Caroline Roberts, HR director at The King’s Fund and associate non-executive director at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, and Sarah Mason, chief people officer at SThree.

Recorded: 2 May 2025

HR People Pod – Ep 23: Suggestion boxes | Managing voice | ‘Gamifying’ performance | ‘Job polygamy’

L&D and OD often operate in silos – one focused on individual learning, the other on strategic and cultural change. But is this separation intentional, and can they truly be effective apart if they share the same goals for organisational growth and adaptation?

Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests—Natal Dank, Author of Agile L&D and Executive Director and Principal Consultant at PXO Culture; Jaimini Lakhani, Director at Lumiere; and Steve George, Head of Learning at CIPD — as we explore how greater alignment between L&D and OD can enhance collaboration and help future-proof workforce capabilities. 


Podcast 218: Bridging learning and organisational development

What’s the state of AI adoption across different regions around the world, and how are people professionals reacting to it? Where does the onus lie when it comes to skills development? How can people professionals support and develop employee resilience? And finally, what should be done about the rising trend of ‘stress bragging’?

CIPD Director of Profession, David D’Souza, is joined by Dr Adrian Waite, Head of Talent, Leadership and Organisation Effectiveness at Boehringer Ingelheim, in Dubai, and Alison Hodgson, Market Director – Ireland at CIPD.

Recorded: 16 May 2025

HR People Pod – Ep 24: International HR Day special

How much should ‘policy compliance’ inform pay and bonuses? Apprenticeships are vital to building talent pipelines, but how welcome are upcoming reforms? Is rule breaking essential to breaking into new levels of performance? And how can you best manage the impact of long-term absences on the rest of your team? 

CIPD Head of Learning, Steve George, is joined by Alix Bolton, Chief People Officer, Europe at Smollan, Kevin Green, Chief People Officer at FirstGroup plc, and Francisca Beloso, Director of Inclusive Diversity at Alvarez & Marsal. 

Recorded: 30 May 2025

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HR People Pod – Ep 25: 'Tinkering with a system that doesn’t work' – Apprenticeships overhaul

A third of organisations are already using some form of AI or machine learning in recruitment and onboarding. As employers increasingly make use of AI to craft job specifications, screen candidates and streamline processes, what about job seekers? Is it unreasonable for job seekers to use the same technology to improve their chances?

Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests—Katie Noble, Talent Strategy Director at Omni RMS; Natalie Sheils, Founder and CEO at Talenaut; and Katie Obi, Chief People Officer at One Advanced — as we explore whether the growing number of organisations banning AI use by candidates are right to do so, or whether there is a more nuanced approach to consider?

Podcast 219: Dealing with AI use in recruitment and job applications

The Get Britain Working white paper outlines a bold vision to tackle economic inactivity and raise the UK employment rate to 80 per cent. But what does this mean for the people profession? In this episode of the HR People Pod, we put key questions from the CIPD Community to Alison McGovern, Minister for Employment. We explore the UK government's plans to transform Jobcentres, support people on long-term sick leave to return to work and deliver on the promise of a new ‘youth guarantee’.

CIPD Director of Profession, David D’Souza, is joined by Alison McGovern, Minister for Employment.

Recorded at CIPD Festival of Work: 12 June 2025

HR People Pod – Ep 26: Getting Britain working - UK Employment Minister Alison McGovern

The CIPD Podcast and episodes of the HR People Pod are now hosted on Acast.

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