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.

[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 you

1. Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
2. Fay’s website
3. Fay’s HR leadership programme – Inspiring HR Leadership
4. Connect with Jane Beeston on LinkedIn



1. Episode 53: Why Coaching Skills Can Help Your HR Career (and How to Develop Them) with Charlie Warshawski
2. Episode 130: Build Managers' Confidence and Skills with the Coaching Two-Step with Jude Slater
3. Episode 43: The One Thing That Will Boost Your Resilience Throughout Your HR Career with Tom Cleary
4. Episode 32:

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.

[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 recommendations

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website
• Connect with Kanika Mehra on LinkedIn

(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 Nooyi
• Data-Driven HR: How to Use Analytics and Metrics to Drive Performance – Bernard Marr
• Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon – Colin Bryar and Bill Carr
• Excellence in People Analytics – Jonathan Ferrar and David Green

• Episode 22: How to handle conflict at work
• Episode 31: 3 little-known LinkedIn features which will help you get your next job
• Episode 35: Helping teams thrive with personal user manuals
• Episode 47: Discovering your values to help your HR career
• Episode 106:

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to succeed as a Chief People Officer - or whether stepping into the role might be right for you - this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.

Host Fay Wallis is joined by John Scrooby, Chief People Officer at tech company Masabi. John shares honest and thought-provoking insights about what the role really involves, the challenges it brings, and how to navigate them. From taking ownership beyond your remit, to managing your wellbeing in a high-pressure role, and showing up as a values-driven, emotionally honest leader - this is a must-listen for anyone aiming to grow their HR leadership career.

John also reflects on his journey from his tech career to HR, explains what helped him make the transition, and gives advice for anyone looking to lead with impact.

[00:00] Introduction

[00:54] Why this series of episodes exists

[03:25] Meet John Scrooby

[03:55] How John got his first CPO role

[08:41] What he thought HR was - vs what he discovered

[10:39] The difference between being a Head of HR or HR Director and a CPO

[14:37] Advice for HR professionals nervous about stepping up

[17:20] Why peer support matters

[18:10] Vulnerability, leadership and mental health

[25:07] How John maintains his mental wellbeing

[29:43] Skills and habits that have helped him succeed

[32:15] John’s advice for anyone who would like to be a CPO one day

[36:21] His biggest challenge as a CPO

[41:24] How to get invited in as an HR leader

[44:51] His top piece of advice for new CPOs

[46:38] Courses or qualifications—are they essential?

[49:08] Conclusion

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with John Scrooby on LinkedIn
• People Before Strategy: A New Role for the CHRO (HBR article)
• University of Cambridge Judge Business School – CHRO Programme

(Book links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them).

• HR Coffee Time’s top book recommendations to thrive in your HR/People career
• Work Rules! by Laszlo Bock
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

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.

Are you aiming for the top HR role - but not sure what being a Chief People Officer (CPO) actually involves, or how to get there?

In this special launch episode of the new series of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by David D’Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD. Together, they demystify the CPO / CHRO role - exploring what it is, how it differs from other senior-level HR roles (like ‘Head of People’ and ‘HR Director’), and why it’s becoming more common across UK organisations.

David shares insight into:

Whether you’re already in a senior HR role or are simply curious about what it takes to reach the top, this episode is packed with practical insights and career guidance.

[00:00] Introduction to the new series

[01:47] Meet David D’Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD

[04:03] What is the Chief People Officer (CPO) role?

[05:54] Why CPO roles are becoming more common

[07:21] How the role of the CPO is evolving

[10:04] Challenges and responsibilities of CPOs

[13:13] Work-life balance and C-suite expectations

[18:15] Skills for success as a CPO

[20:56] Understanding governance

[24:00] How to build knowledge and confidence for the role

[23:56] CIPD resources and support

[33:38] Wrap-up and useful episode links

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with David D’Souza on LinkedIn
• CIPD Membership
• CIPD Experience Assessment
• CIPD Learning Hub
• CIPD Local Branches
• CIPD Online Community
• CIPD Aspiring HRD Programme
• CIPD Mentoring Scheme

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.

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.

This episode is a little different from usual, as I’ll be sharing some exciting updates about the future of the podcast. After three and a half years of releasing episodes every week, I’m taking a short sabbatical to prepare for the next stage of

HR Coffee Time - and I’d love your input to help shape it!

[00:00] Why I'm taking a short break – Why now feels like the right time to pause and refresh.

[02:10] The two key challenges I keep seeing in HR careers – How a lack of confidence, clarity, and role models is holding HR professionals back.

[04:49] How conversations helped shape my next steps – The advice and insights that led to the idea of evolving the podcast.

[09:05] From book idea to podcast interviews – How an unexpected conversation with a fellow career coach changed my thinking.

[10:57] Why HR Coffee Time is evolving instead of stopping – A reassuring conversation that helped me realise I don’t need to start a whole new podcast.

[12:39] Batch recording & smarter time management – How I plan to make the podcast more time-efficient while improving the quality of content.

[15:02] I’d love your help! – How you can share your thoughts on the interview questions and suggest great Chief People Officers (CPOs) and Chief HR Officers (CHROs) to be guests on the show.

• HR Coffee Time episode 123: Avoid Burnout: How to Spot Signs of Stress and Take Action, with Dr Jo Burrell
• HR Coffee Time episode 32: Diversity & Inclusion at Work – 7 Mistakes to Avoid (& What to Do Instead), with Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey
• Nicola Semple's podcast: The Career Confidence Podcast
• Dr Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey's podcast: The Element of Inclusion
• Verena Hefti's podcast: Big Careers, Small Children

• Take the HR Coffee Time Next Chapter Survey – Help shape the podcast by sharing your thoughts on the questions I should ask my future guests. You can find the survey here: bit.ly/HRCTNEXTCHAPTER
• Recommend a Guest – Do you know an inspiring Chief People Officer or Chief HR Officer? Or are you one yourself? I’d love to hear from you!
• Get in Touch –
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Email me at fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk

If you’d like to be the first to hear when the new format of HR Coffee Time is live, sign up for the HR Coffee Time newsletter! You’ll also get career and leadership tips straight to your inbox, along with updates on new podcast episodes and helpful resources.

After completing your CIPD qualification, it can be hard to decide what training to invest in next. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares four valuable and perhaps surprising training options to help you develop skills that will elevate your HR career: mediation, coaching, negotiation, and facilitation.

You’ll hear extracts from earlier episodes featuring expert guests who explain each skill and its benefits. Fay has personally attended training with all the featured experts, so she can confidently recommend their insights and advice.

Whether you’re considering what to focus on for your professional development this year or just want to understand how these skills can help you, this episode is packed with ideas and inspiration to guide your next steps.

[00:00] Introduction and overview

[03:38] Mediation skills with Pete Colby (Episode 99)

[08:07] Coaching skills with Charlie Warshawski (Episode 53)

[13:59] Negotiation skills with Simon Duncan (Episode 115)

[21:23] Facilitation skills with Kirsty Lewis (Episode 110)

[26:43] Closing thoughts

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• The Essential HR Planner
• Inspiring HR Leadership Programme

• Connect with Pete Colby on LinkedIn
• Connect with Charlie Warshawski on LinkedIn
• Connect with Simon Duncan on LinkedIn
• Connect with Kirsty Lewis on LinkedIn
• Mediation skills - Pete Colby’s website: Pragmatism
• Coaching skills - Charlie Warshawski’s website: Love Your Coaching
• Facilitation skills – Kirsty Lewis’ website: School of Facilitation
• Gartner’s Model of a World-Class CHRO
• The CIPD’s Profession Map

• HR Coffee Time’s ‘Build Your Professional Skills’ Podcast Playlist
• Episode 99: How mediation skills can help you resolve conflict at work, with Pete Colby
• Episode 53:

Do you want to set yourself up for success for the year ahead? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Dr Ben Levy, creator of the ABCME® framework, to explore the five key factors that can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your goals.

Dr Ben shares practical insights into how clarity, belief, motivation, and other essential elements influence success, helping you avoid common goal-setting pitfalls. Together, Fay and Ben discuss strategies for creating a clear vision, building motivation, and staying on track - even when the going gets tough.

Whether you're aiming to advance your career, tackle a challenging project, or introduce new initiatives in your organisation, this episode is packed with advice to help you achieve your goals with confidence and clarity.

[00:00] Introduction

[03:22] What is the ABCME® framework?

[07:03] The importance of clarity in goal-setting

[09:41] Practical tips for getting more clarity

[12:08] How to stay motivated with your goals

[20:13] Celebrating successes and why it matters

[28:43] Confidence-building tip: What would a role model do?

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
• Ben’s website: Make It Happen
• Ben’s free quiz to help you achieve your career goals
• Stickk.com website (mentioned in the episode to make a commitment to a goal)
• The Essential HR Planner

• Episode 141: Look back to look forward – how to reflect on 2024 to set goals for 2025
• Episode 39: Lost your direction & motivation at work? This one thing might help
• Episode 89: How to reach your HR career goals by understanding your ‘tendency’

(Disclosure: book links are affiliate links which means Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

• Tiny Habits: Why Starting Small Makes Lasting Change Easy, by BJ Fogg
• Think Big: Take Small Steps and Build the Career You Want, by Dr Grace Lordan

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very

As the year comes to a close, taking time to reflect on 2024 can be a wonderful way to celebrate your successes and uncover inspiration for your goals in 2025.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what didn’t go to plan or overlooking achievements, thanks to the negativity bias we all experience. Add to that the recency bias—where only the most recent events stick in our minds—and it’s no wonder we often lose sight of the bigger picture.

In this episode, I’ll guide you through 10 powerful reflection questions from The Essential HR Planner to help you push past these biases, recognise all you’ve accomplished this year, and approach 2025 with confidence and clarity. And to show that I’m right there with you, I’ll share my own answers to the questions too.

Whether you’re using The Essential HR Planner or simply jotting down notes as you listen, this episode of HR Coffee Time is your chance to pause, reflect, and start shaping the year ahead with purpose and positivity.

[00:00] Introduction

[03:10] Question 1: What did you achieve? - Small wins are just as noteworthy as big ones

[09:06] Question 2: What did you do to help others?

[11:35] Question 3: What are you proudest of from 2024?

[13:02] Question 4: What did you do for your wellbeing during the past year?

[15:50] Question 5: What did you learn during 2024?

[21:35] Question 6: Which relationships did you develop and build?

[23:22] Question 7: What are you grateful for?

[24:22] Question 8: What did you find challenging this year?

[27:10] Question 9: What insights do you have from reading through your answers to questions 1-8?

[29:32] Question 10: How can these insights influence your goals for 2025?

[32:51] Conclusion

• The Essential HR Planner website
• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Fay's blog post: Reflecting on 2024 - looking back to look forward
• Fay's YouTube channel

(Disclosure: book links are affiliate links which means Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

• Neuroscience for Learning and Development: How to Apply Neuroscience and Psychology for Improved Learning and Training, by Stella Collins
• Think Like a Coach: Empower Your Team Through Everyday Conversations, by Jude Sclater
• Chatter: The Voice in Our Head and How to Harness It, by Ethan Kross

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: