Oakleaf Partnership

Sarah Alexander and James Gordonifar discuss the evolving landscape of early careers, challenges of integrating five generations in the workforce, and how HR leaders can prepare both their teams and their organisations for the oncoming skills shift.   James advocates for skills-based hiring and organisations, emphasising the importance of job analysis, inclusive communication, and intentionality. 

In this episode of the Oakleaf Women in Leadership Podcast, Amy Morris is joined by Carolyn Cresswell from Hussle House, a people development consultancy focused on leadership coaching and culture. Carolyn shares her personal journey through the highs and lows of corporate life, including the impact of burnout and the decision to do things differently. From founding her own business to finding her...

In this episode, I’m joined by Sharon, founder of Best Self Coach, whose story is powerful, personal, and packed with insight. From being one of the only families of colour in her school to finding true inclusion at London Business School, Sharon shares her journey to discovering emotional intelligence as her superpower — and how that shaped her path into coaching and leadership. We explore why EQ...

In the next episode, Amy Morris , UK and European MD at Oakleaf Partnership , is joined by Karen Richardson—former HR leader turned Executive Coach and Psychotherapist. Together, they explore the challenges of leadership, setting boundaries, building authentic confidence, and navigating career pivots with purpose. Karen shares candid reflections on burnout in HR, the power of coaching, and why pla...

In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Kangis, founder of EKCoaching, to talk all things communication, confidence and leadership.   From navigating your inner critic to owning your voice with clarity and conviction, we explore why strong relationships, adaptive leadership and self-awareness are key to stepping fully into your role. We also touch on social media, feedback, and why empathy still beats...

Amy Morris is joined by Emma Serlin —founder of London Speech Workshop , communication expert, and passionate advocate for authentic leadership . In this deeply reflective conversation, Emma shares the pivotal moment she realised she only had one life —a shift that sparked bold personal growth and a fresh approach to leadership . From surviving a viper bite in India to embracing imperfection , Emm...

Sam is a Leadership Energy Coach who primarily coaches people helping professionals to make the most of their energy.  She uses her unique coaching model The Change Flywheel,' to support them to be the leaders that they want to be. Sam is a coach mentor and trainer and is committed to helping coaches to hone their skills to be fully present with their clients.  Sam has a wealth of experience w...

HR Pulse Podcast: Pay Transparency & the EU Pay Directive In this episode of the HR Pulse Podcast, Alex Wright, Senior Manager at Oakleaf Europe, speaks with Joel Thompson, Global Head of Reward – Financial Services, about the evolving landscape of pay transparency following the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive in June 2023. Together, they explore the directive’s implication...

For the first time on  Women of Impact , I’m joined by a  male ally ,  Will Peachey , who has spent his career actively supporting women in leadership. His journey began at  Capgemini , where he saw talented individuals being overlooked due to rigid processes. This sparked a deep commitment to creating more inclusive workplaces—where diverse talent isn’t just acknowledged but actively progressed....

In this episode, I'm joined by Suzie Ruffley, Global Head of People & Sustainable Culture at Foresight Group. Having dedicated over 20 years to the field of Human Resources, Suzie has spent the last 8 years playing an integral part at Foresight Group contributing to the company's remarkable growth, people strategy and development. Suzie has dual MSc's in Occupational Psychology and Coaching Ps...

In this episode of Oakleaf’s Women in Leadership podcast, Sue Conder shares her inspiring career journey. Starting in Grantham Library, her interest in psychology sparked a passion for leadership and human behaviour. Sue’s career spans management consultancy, consumer goods, finance, and coaching. As one of 7% of female partners at Arthur Andersen, she navigated a male-dominated culture with resil...

In this episode, Holly Hesketh speaks to Kellie Nedelcoux, Founder of Career & Parenthood, an organisation dedicated to tackling systemic challenges and bias in the workplace surrounding parental returners. Career & Parenthood is committed to empowering women returning from maternity leave to re-engage with their careers and thrive, while also supporting all parents to feel valued, include...

In this episode of HR Pulse , Nina Parson, Director of Psychology at PAM Group, provides her insight into how organisations can support neurodivergent colleagues and break down barriers to create an inclusive environment. Nina, a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Fellow of the British Psychological Society, has extensive experience working across various industries with individuals from entr...

In this episode Holly is joined by Sally Spicer, Co-Founder of Talent Included. Sally has over 20 years of experience in placing senior finance and accounting executives and led large-scale business and culture transformation programs, all while witnessing the critical impact of gender inequality in the workplace. As the former Global Head of D&I for an international recruitment firm, Sally no...

In this latest episode, Amy Morris had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Rajkumar, Board Member and Global CHRO, who shared her journey from psychology graduate to global HR leader. Amanda reflects on building resilience, gaining impactful skills, and learning to balance her ambitious drive with adaptability. She offers insights into navigating diverse work environments, fostering trust and fle...

In the latest episode of her podcast, Amy Morris, UK and European Managing Director at Oakleaf Partnership, sat down with Suzie Ruffley, Global Head of People & Sustainable Culture and Managing Director at Foresight Group LLP.  Suzie shared how her psychology background has shaped her leadership approach, emphasising the importance of balancing being a people person with setting boundaries. Th...

In this episode, Amy Morris has the pleasure of speaking with Yvonne, an early high achiever who shares her journey through various roles and experiences. Starting in a role that seemed to fit her profile, Yvonne faced challenges with office politics and her first encounter with imposter syndrome. This led her to seek a more purpose-driven path, which brought her to the higher education space and...

In this episode, Alex speaks with Anwen Bottois, a Leadership Development Coach who transitioned from a generalist career—where she reached the level of Associate HR Director— to focusing on enhancing both established and aspiring leaders. Passionate and engaging, Anwen provides insights into why she made the move, and what good leadership looks and feels like. Enjoy this episode Reach out to Alex...

You have the power to decide how people see you. In this episode, you'll hear from your host Holly, and guest Leslie Rogers on how to be strategic when it comes to your personal brand. You will learn how to identify your unique brand and become your own brand manager. Follow Leslie on LinkedIn Follow Holly on LinkedIn For more information, visit https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/the-op-academ...

The Young Professional: Episode 2 – Giving & Receiving Feedback Why do we worry so much about feedback?  In this episode Holly, and Dr Alex Morris look a little deeper at our discomfort with both giving and receiving feedback to shift our mindset and embrace this as a crucial ingredient for our personal and professional growth. Brought to you by the Oakleaf Academy, The Young Professional seri...

In this episode of the Women of Impact podcast, host Amy Morris, MD – Europe and UK for Oakleaf Partnership engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Melanie Oakley, a distinguished leader with an impressive background in HR and culture development. Melanie's unique journey began when she opted for a less conventional path, joining a startup instead of pursuing a traditional career. Dri...

Neurodiversity is all around us—in our classrooms, homes, and workplaces. In this episode Holly explores the nature of neurodiversity with guest Tania Martin on why it is so important we understand neurodiversity, what some of the challenges are around this topic and what practical steps we can put in place both at a personal and organisational level to ensure everyone can thrive. Brought to you b...

In a captivating podcast episode Amy Morris UK & Europe Managing Director, speaks with Rachel Blackmore corporate communicator and Author. In the episode we delve into a range of thought-provoking topics surrounding personal growth, career development, and the modern workplace. Rachel shares her insights on the mental load many individuals experience and the importance of self-reflection in ac...

Introducing our latest podcast featuring an inspirational conversation with Paralympian Liz Johnson! Born with cerebral palsy, Liz defied expectations and carved a path of success in the world of swimming, winning medals in three Paralympic Games. Liz's journey is a testament to her resilience, determination, and the unconditional support of her late mother, who instilled in her the belief tha...

In this episode,  Alex Wright  is delighted to welcome  Liz Partington , a distinguished figure in Human Resources. Liz holds an impressive portfolio as a People Director, Human Resources Director, Head of People & Culture, Chief People Officer, HR Consultant, and People Leader. This episode promises to delve into pressing issues and insightful discussions in the realm of HR and workplace cult...