HR Coffee Time

🎁 Download your free Mid-Year Reset activity here: https://brightskyhr.kit.com/a2ea9eb841 Have you reached the halfway point of the year wondering where the time has gone? If you'd like to feel more focused, intentional and excited about the months ahead, this episode is for you. In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay shares a simple but powerful Mid-Year Reset exercise that will help you pa...

Registration is now open for my Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint, and I'd love you to join me! If you've ever wished you felt more confident about being strategic in HR, this free sprint is for you. Starting on Monday 13th July 2026 , you'll receive a short daily video (or audio if you prefer to listen), a practical worksheet and an optional AI prompt to help you build your strategic HR skills. Each...

Many organisations want a positive workplace culture, but creating one is easier said than done. How do you know what your culture is really like? What role do leaders play? And why do some organisations create environments where people thrive, while others struggle with engagement, retention, and performance? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by workplace culture and leadership exp...

Laura Maffucci has played a key role in helping her organisation embrace AI. The surprising part? She doesn't actually like AI. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Laura, Head of HR at G-P, shares her honest perspective on AI, how her organisation has approached adoption, and the practical lessons she's learned along the way. We discuss everything from creating AI champions and governance processes...

You can design the best HR strategy, introduce brilliant benefits, or roll out an important change - but if people do not understand it, engage with it, or take action, none of it matters. That is why employee communication sits right at the heart of your impact in HR. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Nik Nawaaz, Head of Employee Communications at Barnett Waddingham (now part of...

Are constant interruptions at work stopping you from getting through your most important tasks? If you work in HR or a People role, you’ll know how quickly your day can be taken over by “have you got a minute?” moments - making it difficult to focus on the work that really matters. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis shares practical ways to protect your time, reduce distractions and cre...

Have you wondered what ‘being strategic’ actually looks like? In this episode, you’ll hear a real, step-by-step example of what being strategic can look like in your day-to-day work. Host, Fay Wallis, is joined by Harriet Mewis, Head of People and Development, who shares how she spotted a small pattern in employee behaviour – and used it to uncover a much bigger issue affecting the business. What...

If you’ve been working hard in your HR career but still feel unsure what will truly help you step up into an HR Director role (or have more impact in the one you’re already in), this episode is for you. You might have your CIPD qualification. You might have years of experience. You’re probably working incredibly hard. But those things alone don’t always lead to the impact, influence, or progressio...

Is there something at work you know you’re capable of… but in the moment, your nerves take over? Whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, handling a difficult conversation, or stepping into a high-pressure situation - that disconnect between what you can do and how you feel can be incredibly frustrating. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, I share a simple but slightly unusual technique that can help...

Could you be making the biggest HR strategy mistake without realising it? Creating an HR or People strategy can feel overwhelming - especially when many HR professionals are expected to do it without ever being shown how. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis is joined by Dean Corbet t , Chief People Officer, psychologist, and coach, to explore one of the most common mistakes HR teams make...

Struggling to feel confident when Finance conversations come up at work? Been told you need to be "more commercial" but not sure what that actually means? In this practical episode, Commercial HR Coach Jo Bailey demystifies what it means to be commercial in HR and shares actionable advice to help you speak the language of business with confidence. You’ll Learn What "being commercial" actually mean...

What does it really mean for an HR team to be “strategic” – and how can you make that shift without adding more to your workload? In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time , Fay explores a practical and accessible way to strengthen your team’s strategic focus: using OKRs – Objectives and Key Results. If you’ve ever felt pulled between operational demands and the bigger picture, this episode will help...

Have you ever been told you’re “not strategic enough” after an HR interview – even though you know you are? In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time , Fay Wallis tackles one of the most frustrating pieces of feedback HR professionals receive when applying for Head of HR, HR Director, Head of People or People Director roles. In this episode, Fay breaks down what 'being strategic' means in a practical...

Do you ever leave a leadership meeting wishing you’d said something – only to replay it later and think, “Why didn’t I speak up?” In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay explores why speaking up in leadership meetings can feel so daunting (even when you know you have something valuable to contribute). She shares practical, realistic ways to build confidence in those moments. This episode is es...

The start of a new year is the perfect moment to pause and think differently about goal setting, especially when you work in HR or a people role where expectations, pressure and emotional load can be high. In this episode, Fay Wallis shares her Triple Win Framework, a practical way to set goals that help HR and people professionals deliver real organisational impact, build career momentum and prot...

Before we all sprint into 2026, I wanted to create this bonus episode to encourage you to pause and reflect on the year that's just passed. In it, I work my way through the 10 'Look Back to Look Forward' questions from the Essential HR Planner and share my own honest answers - including the achievements I'm proud of, the challenges I faced, what I learned, and the moments that shaped my year both...

5 Brilliant HR Books That Deserve a Spot Under Your Christmas Tree! If you work in HR and you’re not sure what to ask for this Christmas – or you’d love to buy a thoughtful, genuinely useful gift for an HR colleague – this episode is for you. Fay Wallis shares five brilliant HR book recommendations she’s read this year. Each one supports HR professionals in a slightly different way – from building...

What’s the best way to land your first Chief People Officer or CHRO role? In this episode, Fay Wallis breaks down the four most common routes that real CPOs have taken to step into the top people leadership job for the very first time. You’ll also hear short clips from several CPO guests who generously shared their stories and insights. You’ll hear about: Four routes into first CPO roles Internal...

If the idea of improving your business acumen feels intimidating, this episode will help make it feel achievable and clear. Host, Fay Wallis, breaks down what business acumen really means for HR and why it has nothing to do with being “naturally commercial” and everything to do with curiosity, awareness and understanding how your organisation works. To make building business acumen feel even more...

If you’ve ever wondered what truly separates an HR Director from a Chief People Officer (CPO) or CHRO, you’re not alone. It’s a common question, and after months of speaking with incredible CPOs for this series, a powerful theme kept coming up again and again. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares the one big difference that defines the step up, a shift that’s far more about mi...

Why do Chief People Officers need strong networks — and how can you build one that truly supports you? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Nebel Crowhurst, who’s featured on the HR Most Influential list several years running and has held senior roles with Virgin, River Island, Roche, and Reward Gateway. Nebel talks about the realities of being a CPO — the highs, the pre...

There’s so much more to becoming a successful Chief People Officer (CPO) or CHRO than experience alone - it’s about building the mindset, skills and plan that help you succeed and make an impact. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Dr Andrew Stephenson, Chief People Officer at Equiniti, who has held CPO roles in three major international businesses. Under his leadership...

What does it take to land your first Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) or Chief People Officer (CPO) role – and succeed once you’re in it? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Nicola Lyons , Group CHRO at Getlink Group. With more than 15 years of international experience leading transformation and culture change, Nicola shares a wide range of valuable insights from he...

What does it really mean to be a fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) – and could it be the right next step in your career? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Lorna Bains, a hugely experienced HR and business transformation leader who has thrived as a fractional CPO for the past seven years. Lorna lifts the lid on what the role...

How do you prove the true value of HR so the business takes you seriously – and appoints you as Chief People Officer? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Leah Carnegie, Chief People Officer at Lottoland. Leah shares her journey from VP of People to CPO, explaining how she made sure HR wasn’t just seen as a support function but as a vital business partner. As part of our...