I've been so lucky over the past three decades as a business journalist and editor to interview some of the most fascinating names in business – from those who may not be best known for their people leadership (!) to the best of role models. Along the way I have found myself, pen in hand, in front of leaders as varied as ex-boxer George Walker, billionaire retailer Phillip Green and former UK prime minister Teresa May to ex Tesco head Terry Leahy, global entrepreneur Richard Branson and the founder of Russian Standard Roustam Tariko. I certainly have some stories to tell!
Through all this I have seen the impact good people practice and continual learning plays in successful and sustainable organisations. And it was this this that prompted me to leave the corporate world back in 2017 to pursue my dream to launch my own business with a brand to help people leaders to thrive in the fast-evolving digital working environment.
The result was The People Space, a digital content creator focused on the changing nature of work, launched with my business and real-life partner Nigel Pritchard. Our purpose is to promote the value created by people in an age when humans increasingly work alongside machines. At The People Space we believe that a positive and productive work culture is beneficial to the individual, organisation, wider economy and society.
In my career I have covered HR, marketing, retail, hospitality and food and drink among other sectors. As a former board director, editor and journalist at some of the UK’s most successful business publications including The Grocer and Retail Week, I've delivered award-winning content, mentored journalists who have gone on to be leading names in their sectors, and created innovative and successful brands including the annual HR Most Influential list, HR in the Boardroom with CEO coach and LinkedIn Influencer Steve Tappin and The Grocer Gold Awards.
More recently I have tied up with award-winning HR director Karen Beaven to shake up the HR talent and recruitment market with the launch of Reignite HR. I am also executive editor of How to Become a World Class Manager by Wayne Clarke, launching in March 2023, and author of several papers on HR including the CIPD's Responsible Investment in Technology guide. I've previously been editor and publisher of HR magazine, a board director at Mark Allen Group and non-executive director at leadership institute Roffey Park.
All of this experience has only reinforced my lifelong belief in the value of peer learning, collaboration and connections. This is why we launched The HR Leaders Club at The People Space and Nigel and I can't wait to see you in the Club.
Work's Not Working. Organisations across the world have invested billions of pounds over the decades in their culture, their diversity and inclusion, their leadership programmes. And yet...
Engagement is still low. Productivity is poor. We are facing a burnout epidemic. It's not working.
In this podcast series I interview some of the best HR and work brains in the world about why they think Work isn't Working and what they think we can do about it.
You can find the podcast on Apple, Spotify and more, or else on its dedicated page here.
Get started on your journey to the future of work - and meet some great people along the way. Join now!
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