HR People Pod – Ep 51: Agentic AI | Entry-Level Careers | Defining Moments in HR
The HR People Pod episode 51 explores how mentorship, career pivots, and emerging AI technologies shape the HR profession and entry‑level talent pipelines. Host David DeSouza interviews senior practitioners Joe Colin and Andy Stevenson, who recount pivotal moments that moved them from tactical HR and sales roles into strategic, people‑focused careers. Key insights include the transformative power of a single mentor—Linda Williams at Honeywell—and the value of reverse mentoring across generations. Both guests stress that early‑career experiences, such as Andy’s ad‑hoc sales training, ignite lasting passion for simplifying work. They also warn that AI is compressing or eliminating the traditional first rung of employment, threatening the development of interpersonal skills essential for future roles. Notable examples illustrate these points: the industry‑wide "Drive My Career" website, built to attract talent to automotive service jobs, and Marks & Spencer’s new paid training scheme targeting youth NEETs. Andy highlights how senior leaders must actively share confidence and time, while Joe emphasizes collaborative solutions to preserve talent pipelines. The discussion underscores a pressing imperative for HR leaders: redesign roles to integrate technology without discarding entry‑level opportunities, champion mentorship, and influence policy to sustain a robust, future‑ready workforce.
The CIPD in Ireland Annual Conference 2026 Highlights
The CIPD Ireland Annual Conference 2026 brought together more than 600 HR practitioners, senior leaders, and vendors under one roof in Dublin, positioning the event as the premier gathering for Ireland’s people‑management community. Organisers emphasized the day’s purpose – to...
HR People Pod – Ep 47: Disability Disclosure | CEO Avatars | Engagement | Productivity Myths
The HR People Pod episode tackles two hot topics: the hidden barriers disabled professionals face when disclosing their conditions, and Meta’s controversial rollout of an AI‑driven Mark Zuckerberg avatar. Host David Duza frames the discussion with a listener’s experience of...
CIPD Trust - Inclusive Workplaces Webinar
The CIPD Trust hosted an Inclusive Workplaces webinar aimed at helping HR professionals dismantle language barriers that prevent refugees from entering the UK labour market. Presenter Zoe framed the session as a “quick‑win” series, offering practical steps that can...
Neurodiversity in the Workplace Course
Professor Kathy Daniels, a CIPD employment‑law specialist, announces a new CIPD‑hosted course focused on neurodiversity in the workplace. The program responds to frequent HR queries about whether neurodiversity qualifies as a disability, what reasonable adjustments are required, and how to...
Employment Rights Act 2025 - How These Changes Affect Your Organisation
The video outlines the Employment Rights Act 2025, a sweeping reform of UK workers’ rights that applies to organisations of every size. It highlights the removal of the lower earnings threshold and waiting period for statutory sick pay, the introduction...
Recruitment, Selection and Onboarding Masterclass
The video introduces a one‑day masterclass on recruitment, selection and onboarding, led by former HR director Julia Rosen. It targets people professionals and hiring managers struggling with talent shortages, rising recruitment expenses, and evolving candidate expectations. Rosen emphasizes that organizations must...
HR People Pod – Ep 45: The Problem with Pay Secrecy | Pressure-Proof Managers | Are PIPs Broken?
The HR People Pod episode tackles three intertwined HR challenges: lingering pay secrecy despite rising demand for salary transparency, the growing pressure on managers to lead effectively, and the declining credibility of performance improvement plans (PIPs) as tools for development....
Performance Management Masterclass
The video introduces a one‑day Performance Management Masterclass led by L&D veteran Chris Schiller, targeting people managers and HR professionals. Rather than a slide‑heavy lecture, the session promises interactive, hands‑on learning that tackles the real challenges of performance systems. Key topics...
Absence and Wellbeing Masterclass
The CIPD Absence and Wellbeing Masterclass equips managers with evidence‑based tools to tackle employee absence and promote wellbeing. Hosted by Chartered FCIPD Gary Cookson, the program shifts focus from reactive case‑by‑case handling to a consistent, performance‑driven approach. Participants learn practical...
HR People Pod – Ep 44: Crisis Leadership | Impact of Employee Benefits | Friction-Maxxing at Work
The HR People Pod episode tackles two intertwined challenges facing modern workplaces: leading through crises and extracting real value from employee benefits. Host David Duza and guests Sassy Venibals and Rob Warl explore how unprecedented external shocks—conflict, pandemic fallout, cyber‑attacks,...
HR People Pod – Ep 43: Inside Davos – AI, Work and the Future of Identity - with Allyn Bailey
In the Davos 2026 session hosted by the World Economic Forum, HR leaders examined how artificial intelligence is transitioning from a tool to core infrastructure that reshapes work. Allyn Bailey of SmartRecruiters argued that organizations must move beyond merely layering...
HR People Pod – Episode 42: Career Moments | Organisational Change Readiness | ‘Peanut Butter’ Pay
The HR People Pod episode 42 brings together CIPD director David Deuza, Smalen’s chief people officer Alex Bolton, and Ireland’s CIPD country director Allison Hodson to explore three intertwined themes: pivotal career moments, organisational change readiness, and the emerging notion...