Real World HR

by Louise Kennedy

Real World HR is the podcast putting the human back into HR. Hosted by Louise Kennedy, HR expert, chartered CIPD professional, and founder at leading HR consultancy Oculus HR, this podcast shares the real world stories behind the processes, to humanise HR. The Real World HR podcast focuses on people. And of course, where there’s people involved there’s sometimes problems. With Real World HR, we don’t shy away from that. We t ... 

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 3

  • Louise Brown: Excelling in Employee Engagement

    Louise Brown: Excelling in Employee Engagement

    In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by Louise Brown. Louise Brown is Vice Principal Corporate Services at Wigan and Leigh College, a large General FE College in Greater Manchester, where she has been part of the senior leadership team for over 10 years, a portfolio that includes HR and the People Strategy, Estates, Capital Projects, Safeguarding, Additional Learning Support and charity fundraising. She is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a qualified performance coach with NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming). Her recent work with the HR Team at the College has led to the team being shortlisted for the prestigious Personnel Today Awards in the Health and Wellbeing category. Louise is a key influencer to the work of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, including contributing to research papers, panel discussions, webinars and podcasts as well as supporting new and prospective members. Her activities in this area resulted in her being awarded the prestigious Greater Manchester Charter Leader of the Year Award in 2023. On the podcast, Louise chats to Louise about the employee engagement at the college, what their wellbeing initiatives are, and what it means to be part of the Manchester Good Employment Charter. Ready to step into the Real World of HR? ... Connect with Louise Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-brown-fcipd-1a9140a8/ Wigan and Leigh College: https://www.wigan-leigh.ac.uk/ Manchester Good Employment Charter: https://www.gmgoodemploymentcharter.co.uk/ Find out more about Oculus HR: https://oculus-hr.co.uk/ Connect with Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisekennedyfcipd/ Are you interested in finding out what your HR health score is? Take our FREE healthcheck now to receive your personalised report: https://oculushr-health-check-linkedin.scoreapp.com/

  • Natalie Collins: Empowering Women at Work

    Natalie Collins: Empowering Women at Work

    In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by Natalie Collins. Natalie is an international speaker and trainer on issues of violence against women and wider gender injustice. Having written numerous training programmes and resources for a wide range of audiences, she is regularly requested as an expert in the field of violence against women, focusing on consciousness and awareness raising, providing quality services to those who have experienced abuse and domestic abuse resources for young people. Her theory and practice is founded in direct work with survivors of abuse and was developed through strategic work with the statutory and voluntary sectors and working with perpetrators. On the podcast, Louise and Natalie chat about the amazing work that Natalie does, and how she helps to empower woman from all walks of life. Natalie also shares how she is working with businesses to provide courses for women to partake in, and why she thinks it should be more accessible for women to be able to access this training. Ready to step into the Real World of HR? ... Connect with Natalie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-j-chandler-ctg/ Website: https://www.nataliecollins.info/ Own My Life Course: https://www.ownmylifecourse.org/ Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Control-Couples-Conflict-Capacity/dp/0281078904 Resources: https://www.ownmylifediscovery.org/ Day Programme: https://www.dayprogramme.org/ Find out more about Oculus HR: https://oculus-hr.co.uk/ Connect with Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisekennedyfcipd/ Are you interested in finding out what your HR health score is? Take our FREE healthcheck now to receive your personalised report: https://oculushr-health-check-linkedin.scoreapp.com/ Helplines: Findaway National Abuse Helpline Respect Helpline

  • Emma Chandler: Learning to PIVOT 

    Emma Chandler: Learning to PIVOT 

    In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by Emma Chandler. Emma Chandler is an award-winning leadership coach, inspirational speaker, and author. She is passionate about developing people, changing the face of leadership, and creating inclusive working communities, with a goal of improving wellness, wisdom and winning at work. Emma holds a CIPD accreditation in learning and development and is an accredited resilience coach. In 2018, Emma founded her business, HR and leadership consultancy, Choose to Grow. Choose to Grow are resilience experts providing executive coaching services and learning and development interventions to organisations. Emma created the PIVOT leadership programme, a unique leadership model which gives organisations a proven framework for leading change, so they can pivot as required and instil resilience in their teams. In 2023, Emma was included in the prestigious NatWest 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list. She was also named Best Coach at the 2022 Best Businesswomen Awards. On the podcast, Louise and Emma chat about Emma’s journey into leadership coaching and what she teaches on her PIVOT leadership programme. They also delve into the neuroscience of leadership and explore strategies for empowering leaders to maximise their team’s potential. Ready to step into the Real World of HR? ... Connect with Emma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-j-chandler-ctg/ Website: https://www.choosetogrow.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pivotleadershipwithemma/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-pivot-leadership-podcast/id1750924026 Find out more about Oculus HR: https://oculus-hr.co.uk/ Connect with Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisekennedyfcipd/ Are you interested in finding out what your HR health score is? Take our FREE healthcheck now to receive your personalised report: https://oculushr-health-check-linkedin.scoreapp.com/

  • Fay Wallis: The Power of Coaching in HR

    Fay Wallis: The Power of Coaching in HR

    In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by Fay Wallis. Fay is a career coach and HR Coffee Time podcast host. From her background in HR, she knows what a rewarding, but challenging, career it can be. So, she founded Bright Sky Career Coaching to help ‘People people’ have a happier working life. After founding Bright Sky Career Coaching in 2016 and spending several years helping hundreds of people across many sectors and levels with their careers, she realised that she got the most joy from coaching HR and People professionals. So, in September 2022, she decided to focus all of her efforts on supporting them. On the podcast, Louise and Fay discuss Fay’s professional career from working in HR to becoming a coach. They also discuss the benefits that having a coach can bring, as well as deciphering the difference between coaches and mentors. Fay shares some brilliant tips on how to set goals and how this can hugely benefit not only your professional life, but your personal life too. Ready to step into the Real World of HR? ... Connect with Fay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/ Website: https://brightskycareercoaching.co.uk/ Podcast: https://brightskycareercoaching.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/ Find out more about Oculus HR: https://oculus-hr.co.uk/ Connect with Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisekennedyfcipd/ Are you interested in finding out what your HR health score is? Take our FREE healthcheck now to receive your personalised report: https://oculushr-health-check-linkedin.scoreapp.com/

  • Kimberley Cattin: Creating a Family Culture

    Kimberley Cattin: Creating a Family Culture

    In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by Kimberley Cattin. Kimberley is the co-founder of West Barn Co., the brand that penetrated the beauty industry with the groundbreaking SoapBrows. Kimberley has also recently founded SB1 Group. SB1 Group, under Kimberley's leadership, is dedicated to elevating brands in the dynamic retail space. Kimberley also owns WBCo Clinic, a luxury aesthetics clinic in Durham offering a range of treatments to help clients on their journey with skin and ageing. As an entrepreneur, Kimberley has built strong, dedicated teams which she describes as ‘family’. On the podcast, Louise and Kimberley delve into Kimberley’s entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of her business as needs and demands have changed. They discuss culture and talk about the things that Kimberley thinks are most important to ensure a brilliant team dynamic within her businesses. She also discusses the lessons she’s learnt and shares tips on how to hire well. Ready to step into the Real World of HR? ... Connect with Kim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-cattin-188805a6/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberleyccattin?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== SB1 Group: https://www.sb1group.com/ Find out more about Oculus HR: https://oculus-hr.co.uk/ Connect with Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisekennedyfcipd/ Are you interested in finding out what your HR health score is? Take our FREE healthcheck now to receive your personalised report: https://oculushr-health-check-linkedin.scoreapp.com/