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HR Hacks & Halos

HR Hacks & Halos

By: Jivan Dempsey
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 We're changing company culture - one episode at a time! With an alarming £23.6 billion lost each year in productivity through high absenteeism, low morale, stress and mental health issues, a revolving door of high turnover and potential brand damage, its time to change workplace toxicity, call out bad behaviours and let's make our workplaces happier and more productive places to be! Featuring a mix of solo content and guest interviews with workplace experts why not grab a coffee and join our host, Jivan Dempsey, and prepare for thought-provoking conversations and revealing stories from the Boardroom to the Shopfloor. We'll offer some practical HR hacks to address workplace toxicity, elevate morale, improve mental health and productivity, and polish a few HR halos as we empower and celebrate our listeners driving positive change. This podcast is an essential resource for anyone interested in workplace culture and wellness. So put your headphones on and help us change company culture—one episode at a time!2025 Jivan Dempsey Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Kindness in Leadership is NOT a Weakness but a Game Changer

    Why Kindness in Leadership is NOT a Weakness but a Game Changer
    Jul 6 2025
    Today, Jivan sits down with Ameesha Green, founder and CEO of Bookshelf Limited, who shares her journey of leading with kindness in the workplace. Ameesha discusses her upbringing in a single-parent household and how her mother's resilience shaped her values-driven leadership style. They delve into the transformative power of empathy, clear boundaries, and a people-first culture, highlighting how kindness can significantly impact recruitment, retention, and overall workplace morale. KEY TAKEAWAYS Leading with kindness is not just a soft approach; it can be a game-changer in business. It fosters a people-first culture that enhances recruitment, retention, and overall workplace morale. Engaging with team members to understand their definitions of kindness and what they need from a leader is crucial. This personalised approach helps create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. While kindness is important, leaders must also focus on business sustainability. Open communication about company challenges and decisions can help maintain trust and transparency with the team. Establishing and adhering to core values from the outset can guide business decisions and foster a culture that attracts like-minded individuals, both employees and clients. Gradually introducing responsibilities and encouraging team members to step out of their comfort zones can build confidence and lead to better performance, demonstrating that kindness can coexist with accountability and growth. BEST MOMENTS "I think for me, it's kind of having that people focus first. Beginning with thinking about other people rather than thinking about the business or profit." "Leading with kindness isn't just a nice-to-have in business, it's a game-changer." "I think it is a really challenging time. But I would hope that, you know, people still continue to display kindness in leadership." "I really do believe that everyone has some wisdom that they can share with people, their individual life story and something in that will inspire others." "It's actually a strategy that really transforms teams and can drive results and create workplaces where your team thrives." Connect with Ameesha https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameesha-green/ HOST BIO Jivan Dempsey has first hand experience of workplace toxicity and bad boss behaviour. Triggered by the #MeToo movement she was compelled to talk about her experiences in her early career, groomed and assaulted by a boss at work, his subsequent aggression and bullying behaviour which impacted her work performance, mental health and eventually cost her a job she'd loved. Listeners are drawn to her raw honesty and insightful reflections on change and resilience. Her book, "The HR Change Manager's Handbook" and collaboration on "Can't Break Me," attest to her change and transformation expertise and dedication to empowering others - from someone who's been in the trenches and emerged stronger. As a seasoned HR professional, consultant, psychologist and speaker, she offers bespoke consultancy and programmes to help companies navigate HR transformation that delivers a better employee experience and cultural shifts to create healthier, happier, and more inclusive workplaces for all. Please connect with Jivan: (16) Jivan Dempsey FCIPD GMBPsS | LinkedIn Or email: jivan@fiverivers-consulting.com www.fiverivers-consulting.com HR Change Manager’s Handbook: The 3 Step Guide To Managing HR Transformation: https://amzn.eu/d/drvToPv Are you working in a toxic environment? Take our free quiz to find out https://bit.ly/3BPZXSR This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    49 mins
  • When Titans Clash: How The Showdown of Trump vs Musk Exposed Toxic Masculinity In Leadership Roles

    When Titans Clash: How The Showdown of Trump vs Musk Exposed Toxic Masculinity In Leadership Roles
    Jun 29 2025
    Today, Jivan is analysing the very public feud between President Trump and Elon Musk as a case study in toxic masculinity and leadership. She explores how their performative conflict and lack of accountability negatively impact workplace culture, employee morale, and brand reputation. Jivan calls on leaders to reflect on the behaviours they reward and to foster healthier, more ethical workplace cultures. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Trump-Musk feud is a prime example of toxic masculinity and performative leadership, where public posturing and personal attacks overshadow professionalism and accountability. Toxic behaviours at the top, such as ego-driven conflicts and lack of vulnerability, don’t just stay with leaders—they cascade down, damaging company culture, morale, and even brand equity. Research shows that toxicity in leadership is a major predictor of employee attrition and lower shareholder returns, with toxic bosses making employees 54% more likely to quit and ego-driven companies seeing a 24% lower return over five years. The public fallout between high-profile leaders can have real business consequences, as seen when $150 billion was wiped off Tesla’s market cap in a single day due to the Twitter spat. True leadership is rooted in vulnerability, emotional honesty, collaboration, and accountability—not dominance or bravado. BEST MOMENTS "In my view, the Trump-Musk bromance and bust-up is a really good case study in toxic masculinity and toxic leadership." "We want our employees, our customers, and our future leaders to feel that our businesses are places where they can actually thrive." "I've got to say that the whole Elon Musk-Trump saga has been a gift for the rest of the world, because we know we can do better and we must do better." "I think it's actually a wake-up call for boards, investors, employees, and especially for us in HR, to ask the kind of questions: What kind of leadership are we actually rewarding? What kind of culture are we actually creating and fostering? Maybe even protecting?" "I think the world has had enough toxic bravado." HOST BIO Jivan Dempsey has first hand experience of workplace toxicity and bad boss behaviour. Triggered by the #MeToo movement she was compelled to talk about her experiences in her early career, groomed and assaulted by a boss at work, his subsequent aggression and bullying behaviour which impacted her work performance, mental health and eventually cost her a job she'd loved. Listeners are drawn to her raw honesty and insightful reflections on change and resilience. Her book, "The HR Change Manager's Handbook" and collaboration on "Can't Break Me," attest to her change and transformation expertise and dedication to empowering others - from someone who's been in the trenches and emerged stronger. As a seasoned HR professional, consultant, psychologist and speaker, she offers bespoke consultancy and programmes to help companies navigate HR transformation that delivers a better employee experience and cultural shifts to create healthier, happier, and more inclusive workplaces for all. Please connect with Jivan on Linked In: here Jivan Dempsey FCIPD GMBPsS | LinkedIn Or send her an email at: jivan@fiverivers-consulting.com www.fiverivers-consulting.com HR Change Manager’s Handbook: The 3 Step Guide To Managing HR Transformation: https://amzn.eu/d/drvToPv Are you working in a toxic environment? Take our free quiz to find out https://bit.ly/3BPZXSR This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    9 mins
  • Shaking Up the Status Quo: How HR Can Drive Business Value with Diana Croitoru

    Shaking Up the Status Quo: How HR Can Drive Business Value with Diana Croitoru
    Jun 15 2025
    In this episode, Jivan is joined by HR consultant and transformation leader Diana Croitoru to discuss the critical shift from reactive to proactive HR practices. With nearly 30 years of experience, Diana shares her insights on how HR professionals can elevate their roles to become strategic business partners. She highlights the need for HR teams to align with business goals, streamline processes, and embrace a culture of transparency to drive meaningful change within organisations. KEY TAKEAWAYS HR functions should transition from being bogged down by administrative tasks to taking a proactive, strategic role that drives business value. This involves establishing solid HR foundations and focusing on strategic initiatives rather than just daily operations. HR professionals need to adopt a mindset that embraces strategic opportunities rather than waiting for them to be presented. Taking initiative and demonstrating confidence in their capabilities is crucial for HR to be recognised as a valuable business partner. Key skills for HR professionals include coaching, client management, and project management. These skills should be woven together in an agile manner to effectively address business needs and foster strategic conversations. HR professionals must develop financial literacy to engage meaningfully with business leaders. Understanding how the organisation makes money and being able to articulate the ROI of HR initiatives is essential for gaining credibility and support. Effective HR leadership requires a clear vision and consistency in approach. Leaders should strive to maintain a strategic focus and avoid shifting priorities that can undermine the HR function's credibility and effectiveness. BEST MOMENTS "I think it's really important to mention Procter & Gamble and then also the next company that I worked for, which was General Electric." "What I noticed is, you know, there was a lot of push from the business, which I think is a reality of all our work." "We need to shift from making those daily kind of reactive interactions our work plan of the year to what are we going to build?" "There's no more signed HR." "We need to learn how to talk about how stock price works, because I'm in HR and even I understood it." GUEST BIO With experience initially built at P&G and GE, Diana was most recently the Chief HR Officer of Life Styles Healthcare and VP Reward at RWS. Her key strengths are in the areas of global transformation programs as well as building highly engaged HR teams, achieving scores in the high 80s for her Global teams . She has worked and and led international teams in US, Asian, and European companies. Diana jokes that, as a Chief HR Officer, an interesting compliment she was paid by her CEO was that "this is the first company I've ever worked where people never complain about HR" Connect with Diana on LinkedIn here (19) Diana Croitoru | LinkedIn HOST BIO Jivan Dempsey has first hand experience of workplace toxicity and bad boss behaviour. Triggered by the #MeToo movement she was compelled to talk about her experiences in her early career, groomed and assaulted by a boss at work, his subsequent aggression and bullying behaviour which impacted her work performance, mental health and eventually cost her a job she'd loved. Listeners are drawn to her raw honesty and insightful reflections on change and resilience. Her book, "The HR Change Manager's Handbook" and collaboration on "Can't Break Me," attest to her change and transformation expertise and dedication to empowering others - from someone who's been in the trenches and emerged stronger. As a seasoned HR professional, consultant, psychologist and speaker, she offers bespoke consultancy and programmes to help companies navigate HR transformation that delivers a better employee experience and cultural shifts to create healthier, happier, and more inclusive workplaces for all. Please connect with Jivan on Linked In: here Jivan Dempsey FCIPD GMBPsS | LinkedIn Or send her an email at: jivan@fiverivers-consulting.com www.fiverivers-consulting.com HR Change Manager’s Handbook: The 3 Step Guide To Managing HR Transformation: https://amzn.eu/d/drvToPv Are you working in a toxic environment? Take our free quiz to find out https://bit.ly/3BPZXSR This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins

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