The People Podcast

Over the last few weeks, I've seen a growing debate on social media. Are HR consultants genuinely helping organisations prepare for the upcoming Employment Rights Act changes, or are they simply scaremongering? In this episode of The People Podcast, I explore why preparation and panic are not the same thing. While many of the Employment Rights Act changes won't come into force until Octobe...

🎙️ New Episode of The People Podcast Yesterday I heard a phrase that really made me stop and think: AI × HI Artificial Intelligence multiplied by Human Intelligence. With so much discussion about AI replacing jobs, are we focusing on the wrong question? Perhaps the future isn't AI versus people at all. Perhaps it's about how AI and Human Intelligence work together to create better workplac...

In this episode of The People Podcast, I explore one of the biggest conversations happening in the workplace today: AI and HR. As I prepare to attend AI Experience Live, I share my perspective on how tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are changing the way HR professionals work. Rather than replacing HR, AI has the potential to remove time-consuming administration, streamline processe...

AI is transforming HR faster than ever before. From AI-generated policies and employee support tools to automated HR workflows and platforms introducing dedicated HR capabilities, organisations are increasingly asking the question: Can AI replace HR? In this episode, I explore: ✔️ why businesses are rapidly adopting AI in HR ✔️ what AI does exceptionally well ✔️ the risks of over-relying on automa...

Most employees do not suddenly disengage or resign overnight. The warning signs usually appear much earlier: less engagement less communication less emotional connection to the workplace But many organisations only recognise the issue when it has already become a retention problem. In this week’s episode, I discuss: ✔️ silent disengagement ✔️ leadership blind spots ✔️ workplace culture ✔️ retentio...

n this episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed, founder of Ethos of HR, is joined by Ben Beveridge from hireful to discuss the current state of recruitment in the UK—focusing on SMEs and growing organisations. The conversation explores the key challenges organisations are facing today, from changing candidate expectations to unstructured hiring processes, and what it really takes to build...

In this episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed explores the concept of radical candour , developed by Kim Scott, and its role in transforming performance management. With organisations facing ongoing talent shortages and increasing retention challenges, traditional performance appraisals are no longer effective. This episode breaks down how leaders can apply radical candour — balancing di...

HR teams across the UK are navigating one of the busiest periods in recent years. Alongside the everyday challenges of recruitment, employee relations, leadership development and employee engagement, organisations are also preparing for the changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 . With so many priorities competing for attention, many HR leaders are asking an important question: What...

At a recent event, I listened to David Ventura share a simple but powerful framework on organisational growth — three aligned levers: Systems, Strategy and Skills. In this episode, I reflect on what that means in practice. Why growth often feels chaotic. Why ambition alone isn’t enough. And why misalignment between infrastructure, workforce capability and leadership skills quietly slows organisati...

HR is no longer just about policies, recruitment and compliance. In this episode of The People Podcast, we explore what truly transforms HR into a strategic driver of organisational performance. From workforce alignment and leadership capability to engagement intelligence and digital infrastructure, this conversation unpacks the foundations of a modern, growth-focused people function. If you’re a...

Leadership behaviour sits at the heart of engagement, culture, and organisational performance. In this episode of The People Podcast , I’m joined by Keather Snyder, President & Chief Operating Officer at Omnia Group, to explore why behavioural insight is critical at recruitment, promotion, succession planning, and leadership development stages. We discuss how structured behavioural assessment...

Employee engagement doesn’t begin with surveys. It begins with behaviour. In this episode, I explore why leadership behaviour drives engagement, culture, and long-term performance. From recruitment and promotion to succession planning and leadership development, behavioural insight plays a critical role in reducing risk and strengthening organisational capability. I also introduce the importance o...

Employee engagement is still measured once a year in many organisations — but leadership, culture, and employee experience don’t operate on an annual cycle anymore. In this full episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed is joined by Alex Moutal for a thoughtful conversation on what employee engagement really means in today’s workplace. Together, they explore: Why annual engagement surveys ar...

Employee engagement is often measured once a year — but leadership and culture don’t operate on an annual cycle anymore. In this episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed explores: • what employee engagement really means • why annual surveys alone no longer work • how engagement acts as a leading indicator of organisational health • the role leaders play in building trust, connection, and co...

AI is already changing recruitment — from how candidates apply for roles to how employers make hiring decisions. In this episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed is joined by Adrian, Co-Founder and Chief Helper at Hireful , to explore what this shift really means for HR teams, in-house recruiters, and jobseekers. Together, they discuss how AI is influencing CVs, applications, and interview...

Hiring has changed — but many recruitment approaches haven’t. In this episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed explores the realities of talent acquisition across all sectors , from charities and healthcare to hospitality, retail, and professional services. The conversation looks at why vacancies are staying open longer, why good candidates are dropping out of recruitment processes, and why...

HR systems are no longer just back-office tools — they play a critical role in how organisations scale, stay compliant, and support their people. In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR, we’re joined by Dylan Smith from Rippling as part of our HR Systems series . Together, we explore: The biggest challenges organisations are facing today How HR tech thinking has evolved across EMEA Th...

In this special episode of The People Podcast , I was joined by Sian from Breathe to discuss how organisations use HR systems in practice and what to consider when adopting one. The conversation focuses on real-world use rather than features — exploring how HR systems support structure, consistency, and confidence in managing people information, processes, and compliance.

AI in HR is often seen as a threat to people-focused work, but the reality is very different. In this episode of The People Podcast , Naseer Mohammed explores how HR teams can use AI ethically and intelligently across recruitment, HR administration, performance management and HR metrics. Drawing on real-world HR operations experience, this episode looks at how AI can reduce the administrative burd...

An Employee Value Proposition, or EVP, is often talked about — but rarely done well. In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR , host Naseer Mohammed , founder of Ethos of HR , explains what an EVP really is, why it goes beyond pay and benefits, and how organisations can build an EVP that genuinely reflects their culture and values. Drawing on real-world HR and People & Culture expe...

Many organisations don’t need a full-time HR team — but they do need consistent, reliable HR support. In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR , Naseer Mohammed explains how HR retainer models work, what ongoing HR support should actually look like, and why retainers are often a better fit for organisations that need day-to-day HR advice, compliance support, and reassurance. The episod...

Fractional HR is becoming increasingly popular — but it’s often misunderstood. In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR , host Naseer Mohammed , founder of Ethos of HR , explains what fractional HR really is, how it works in practice, and when it is — and isn’t — the right solution for an organisation. Drawing on real-world HR leadership experience, Naseer explores the types of organis...

In the first episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR , host Naseer Mohammed , founder of Ethos of HR , sets the foundation for the series by exploring why HR continues to be misunderstood — and how organisations can get people management right in practice. Drawing on over 16 years of hands-on HR and People & Culture experience, Naseer shares practical insight into what effective HR really...

Choosing the right HR system isn’t about picking the most popular platform — it’s about choosing what actually fits your organisation. In this episode of The People Podcast by Ethos of HR , host Naseer Mohammed draws on over 16 years of hands-on HR experience to explain how organisations should approach HR technology selection and avoid common mistakes. The episode introduces the three HR platform...