HR Coffee Time

• 151 | Could an Interim CPO/CHRO Role Be Your Perfect Career Option? (With Dotty Day)

  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:Why developing your commercial acumen should include learning from marketing as well as financeHow to say “no” without damaging relationships – and why it matters for avoiding burnoutA practical influencing strategy to get buy-in for your ideas before the meeting even startsAvoiding HR jargon and using the language of the businessThe mindset and adaptability needed to thrive in interim workWhether 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.Useful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programmeConnect with Dotty Day on LinkedInVisit Nu Leaf– Dotty’s consultancyVisit gighrly– Dotty’s business community for HR freelancers and consultantsOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 7:What To Do When There Aren’t Enough Hours in the DayEpisode 86:How to Stop Other People Taking Credit for Your Ideas in MeetingsEpisode 103:Career Options in HR – Is Contracting the Perfect Fit for You? (With Eleanor Minshall)Episode 123:Avoid Burnout – How to Spot Signs of Stress & Take Action (With Dr Jo Burrell)Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!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.Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to

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• 150 | How She Went From HRD to the Firm’s First Chief People Officer (With Victoria Pounder)

  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.Chapters From This Episode[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 Useful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR leadership development programmeConnect with Victoria Pounder on LinkedInEvolving HR – ‘Getting the Board on Board’ webinarThe HR Ninjas on LinkedInThe HR Ninjas Facebook Group Book Recommendation From This EpisodeHR 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)Other Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 18: Future-Proofing Your Career, with Karen MoranEpisode 136: How to Shape a Winning Workplace Culture When You Work in HR, with Annabelle Lawson & Paula BrockwellBuild Your Confidence Playlist: A collection of HR Coffee Time podcast episodes to help you overcome self-doubt and...

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• 149 | The CPO Job Application That Worked, Strategic vs Operational HR, and Why Compassion Matters, with Funmi Onamusi

  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.Chapters From This Episode[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 Useful LinksEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!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.Mentioned in this episode:Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.Inspiring HR

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• 148 | Skills That Shape a Great CPO: Communication, Coaching & Curiosity, with Jane Beeston

  Which skills really make the difference at the top of the HR profession?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, you'll meet the brilliant Jane Beeston, Chief People Officer at Colart. With nearly 40 years of experience in HR – spanning generalist roles, transformation, and international work – Jane has a huge amount of insight to share.We learn from her about the shift from HR Director to CPO, what the role really involves, and how she’s built strong relationships with her CEO and board. Jane talks openly about the communication skills she’s had to develop, how coaching training changed the way she works, and why staying curious (and occasionally sticking her nose into things!) has helped her make a bigger impact.Whether you’re working towards a CPO role or simply want to grow in confidence and influence, there’s plenty to take away from Jane’s story.Chapters from This Episode[00:00] Welcome & introduction to Jane[02:00] Jane’s path to becoming a CPO[04:00] Why the CEO relationship really matters[07:00] What changes when you move into a CPO role[08:00] What a board does (and how to work with them)[10:30] How Jane improved her communication skills[12:00] Staying connected across a global team[14:00] Getting your message to stick across the business[15:00] Why coaching skills have made such a difference[16:00] How curiosity helps you grow and influence[18:00] Common challenges in the CPO role[19:00] How Jane approaches communication in practice[22:00] Looking after your wellbeing in a demanding role[24:00] You don’t have to do it all alone[25:00] Advice for anyone who wants to be a CPO one day[27:30] Jane’s experience of cross-functional projects[30:00] Prioritising what matters most[32:00] If you’re stepping into a CPO role: own it![34:00] Courses and continuous learning that helped[36:00] Learning to work across different countries[37:30] Final thoughts and thank youUseful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInFay’s websiteFay’s HR leadership programme – Inspiring HR LeadershipConnect with Jane Beeston on LinkedInOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 53: Why Coaching Skills Can Help Your HR Career (and How to Develop Them) with Charlie WarshawskiEpisode 130: Build Managers' Confidence and Skills with the Coaching Two-Step with Jude SlaterEpisode 43: The One Thing That Will Boost Your Resilience Throughout Your HR Career with Tom ClearyEpisode 32: How to Write Work Emails That Get Results with Kim ArnoldEpisode 95: How to Build Trust in a Hybrid World Through Email with Kim ArnoldEnjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!Be notified each time...

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• 147 | How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights, with Kanika Mehra

  What does it really take to become a successful Chief People Officer – and how can you prepare for the step up?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis is joined by Kanika Mehra, an inspiring CPO with over 20 years of global HR experience. Having worked in fast-paced environments ranging from global giants like Amazon to scaling organisations going through rapid transformation, Kanika shares what helped her make the move into a CPO role – and what it’s really like once you get there.From building commercial acumen and using data to tell compelling stories, to managing pressure, leading through change and staying true to your values – this conversation is packed with practical insights to support you on your own HR leadership journey.Chapters from This Episode[00:00] Introduction[02:12] Meet Kanika Mehra[02:25] How she got her first CPO role[03:23] The role LinkedIn played – and how to improve your profile[07:00] The differences between being a Head of People or HR Director vs a CPO[09:27] Making big decisions[14:02] Learning to lead without having all the answers[17:50] Developing confidence and decisiveness[22:51] Why business acumen is essential – and how to build it[27:45] Becoming confident with data and storytelling[33:12] Her biggest challenge as a CPO[34:03] Balancing employee experience with business priorities[37:59] Maintaining mental wellbeing in a high-pressure role[40:08] The importance of values alignment[42:38] Advice for anyone who’d like to be a CPO[45:41] Advice for first-time CPOs[49:57] Courses and books that have helped Kanika succeed[52:36] Wrap-up and other HR Coffee Time podcast episode recommendationsUseful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInFay’s websiteConnect with Kanika Mehra on LinkedInBook Recommendations from the Episode(Book links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them.)My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future – Indra NooyiData-Driven HR: How to Use Analytics and Metrics to Drive Performance – Bernard MarrWorking Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon – Colin Bryar and Bill CarrExcellence in People Analytics – Jonathan Ferrar and David GreenOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEpisode 22: How to handle conflict at workEpisode 31: 3 little-known LinkedIn features which will help you get your next jobEpisode 35: Helping teams thrive with personal user manualsEpisode 47: Discovering your values to help your HR careerEpisode 106:

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