Episode 255: Gian Power OBE, Founder and CEO of TLC Lions on Why Human Workplaces Outperform
How HR Leaders Change the World
Release Date: 09/29/2026
Episode 256: Ewen MacPherson, Havas UK and Christelle Beneteau, Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Meet CPOs on stage at How HR Leaders Change the World – Live!
How HR Leaders Change the World
Ewen and Christelle share examples of how their commercial leadership also creates value for society. Both speakers at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live! this year, in this special episode we bring together moments from their podcast episodes as we share what to expect on the day. Following the top of the agenda topics, from designing organisations where AI and humans make each other better to what will separate the best employers in 2027, hear examples of Ewen and Christelle’s work and come and join them, as well as CPO alumni of this podcast, and 150 of the best HR leaders, for...
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Episode 255: Gian Power OBE, Founder and CEO of TLC Lions on Why Human Workplaces Outperform
How HR Leaders Change the World
Gian Power OBE demonstrates how business benefits from being more human, and shares two stories to illustrate. In one, US pharmaceutical leadership become a changed team after an afternoon sharing their stories; in the other, a sceptical CEO watched a L&D strategy grow from a single person sharing a story, to transform customer experience in every store around the world. Fresh from boardroom conversations in New York, Gian explains what human means now that AI is on...
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Episode 254: Jennie Barker, Chief People Officer at Rightmove on Why Performance Starts with People, Not Process
How HR Leaders Change the World
Jennie Barker challenges the idea that better performance comes from better processes. She explains why clarity, accountability, meaningful work and great leadership matter more than forms and rating scales, and how good performance management can also be an equity intervention. Jennie shares how Rightmove is helping people navigate AI, from creating space for honest conversations about anxiety and job security to giving teams the training and freedom to experiment. She explores why psychological safety matters when the future of work feels uncertain, and why people need to feel they can...
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Episode 253: HR's Opportunity to Fix the Meritocracy Myth – Rachel Cox, Global CPO at Maintel
How HR Leaders Change the World
What happens when we assume the best talent will naturally rise to the top? For Rachel, the idea of meritocracy misses a crucial point: people do not start from the same place. Across 25 years in HR, Rachel has challenged the systems and assumptions that can limit access to opportunity and in this episode explores why access needs to start earlier. Rachel also shares a powerful example of employing someone with a spent conviction. Rachel discusses her views on AI and future talent, the impacts of technology performing some of the tasks that once gave young people their first role, and how...
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Episode 252: Talent Is Everywhere, Opportunity Isn’t – Neil Morrison, Group HR and Communications Director at Severn Trent PLC
How HR Leaders Change the World
Episode 252: Talent Is Everywhere, Opportunity Isn’t – Neil Morrison, Group HR and Communications Director at Severn Trent PLC Neil believes that doing right by your business and by your community are not competing priorities. At Severn Trent, he’s spent almost a decade putting social mobility at the heart of the organisation, and explains how the commercial case for this work is just as strong as the social one. Neil challenges assumptions surrounding AI and the future of work. He questions...
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Episode 251: AI and the Future of Employee Communication – Frank Wolf, CEO & Co-Founder, Staffbase
How HR Leaders Change the World
As organisations grapple with AI, Frank explains why the difference between a story and a narrative matters, and why HR leaders need to understand the beliefs and assumptions people bring with them before expecting new technology to change how they work. Frank also explores the gap between individual and organisational AI adoption. While many of us are already using AI in our day-to-day work, building systems that employees can genuinely trust is a far bigger challenge. He shares why the role of HR and communications is shifting, creating more space for people...
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Episode 250: Uncovering the Full Ambition of HR - Sharon Doherty, Chief People and Places Officer, Lloyds Banking Group
How HR Leaders Change the World
Sharon Doherty doesn't think HR's job ends at the office door. Across a career spanning Heathrow Terminal 5, Vodafone and now Lloyds Banking Group, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what people strategy can do - for business and for society. For our milestone 250th episode, Sharon makes a compelling case that this is the defining opportunity of the HR profession. She shares how she has improved safety at scale, shaped industry-leading family policy, and helped organisations become forces for good in society. At Lloyds, that includes tackling social mobility head on: opening...
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Episode 249: When HR Looks Outward: Social Mobility, Disability Inclusion and Better Business – Arlene Stokes, Chief People Officer at Aegon UK
How HR Leaders Change the World
Arlene believes HR has a responsibility to look beyond the organisation and help tackle the barriers that prevent people reaching their potential. At Aegon UK, she shares how listening to colleagues and stakeholders shaped an inclusion strategy centred on social mobility, with practical work supporting young people into employment and tackling in-work poverty. Disability inclusion is a deeply personal passion for Arlene. She reflects on why disability is often misunderstood, why reasonable adjustments should be viewed as just the starting point, and how Aegon has redesigned its...
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Episode 248: Be More You: Business Transformation and Authenticity – Tiffany Chown, CHRO at DHCare
How HR Leaders Change the World
Following the merger of Invacare and Direct Healthcare Group to form DHCare, Tiffany has been helping shape a new organisation across Europe and APAC. She reflects on the realities of leading transformation, acknowledging that while change can involve difficult decisions, creating a sustainable business is what ultimately protects opportunities for people to develop and build long-term careers. Discussing HR in the age of AI, Tiffany advocates that HR’s role is to ask better questions and never lose sight of human judgement, and that continuous improvement matters far more than chasing...
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Episode 247: Unlocking Human Potential: Net Zero, Inclusion and High Performance - Adam Crossley, Chief People Officer at Skanska
How HR Leaders Change the World
From Army officer to sustainability leader to Chief People Officer, unlocking human potential has been the thread running through Adam’s career. Adam shares the lessons from Skanska's pioneering journey to net zero, becoming the first tier-one contractor to commit to a target. He explains why lasting change starts by understanding the audience you’re trying to reach, rather than expecting people to share your passion from day one. Now leading people and culture, Adam discusses why inclusion and high performance go hand in hand, and...
info_outlineGian Power OBE demonstrates how business benefits from being more human, and shares two stories to illustrate. In one, US pharmaceutical leadership become a changed team after an afternoon sharing their stories; in the other, a sceptical CEO watched a L&D strategy grow from a single person sharing a story, to transform customer experience in every store around the world.
Fresh from boardroom conversations in New York, Gian explains what human means now that AI is on every board agenda, and why human workplaces outperform. He sets out the 4Cs framework that TLC Lions sees drive performance, and shares a simple filter for focussing on the most important work in a noisy world: is it structural or cyclical, relevant or just interesting?
Gian also speaks personally about mental health. He talks about the leader at PwC whose small act of support changed everything for him, and explains how leaders' stories create help-seeking behaviours that colleagues can draw on years later.
His wish for HR is bold: challenge at board level more often. "You have to be willing to lose your job to do your job."
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Join us at How HR Leaders Change the World - Live!
Pioneering CHROs. A day of bold conversations and practical insight.
On 11 November at One Moorgate Place, London, you'll hear from CHROs at easyJet, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Havas, Lloyd's of London, PepsiCo and Warburtons. There are two hands-on workshops on culture and difficult conversations, and a closing keynote from Livia Firth on falling in love with change.
Gian Power OBE, Founder and CEO of TLC Lions, one of this year's Headline Partners, is chairing our Boardroom Conversation, The Human Advantage: designing organisations where people and AI make each other better.
The day is CPD accredited, worth 5 hours.
"The agenda is magnificent." Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer at TSB Bank and podcast alumna.
Come and join Ariam and 150 of the best HR leaders. Tickets are nearly gone, so see the agenda and book your place here: https://lnkd.in/epzk-RUN
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