In this epsiode I'm joined by Dotty Day, a seasoned HR professional with over 26 years of experience, specializing in interim roles and organisational change. Dotty shares her unique career journey, which began unexpectedly when she took a temporary position at Boots Pharmaceuticals, leading her to discover her passion for HR amidst a corporate merger.

Throughout the conversation, Dotty reflects on her diverse experiences across various organizations, including Capital One and Eon, where she developed her expertise in HR transformation and organizational design. She emphasizes the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, which allowed her to gain valuable experience and grow her career.

Dotty is someone who experienced rapid career progression but she also discusses the challenges of burnout she faced in her early career, which prompted her to reevaluate her work-life balance. This pivotal moment led her to explore freelance work, where she found fulfillment in helping organisations navigate change while maintaining her own flexibility.

Having worked in contract roles for many years, Dotty is now looking to help others who want to take the freelancing path through Gighrly, a new community for HR professionals and independent consultants helping them with the tools and support required to navigate this route successfully.

Notes

🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Background (00:56 - 10:38)

• Dotty introduces herself as a career interim and HR freelancer with 26 years of experience
• Dotty specializes in organization design, culture change, and people change

🏢 Early Career and Education (10:38 - 21:23)

• Dotty grew up in a working-class family
• She studied business studies with European business at university
• Dotty accidentally fell into HR through a temp job at Boots Pharmaceuticals
• She progressed quickly in her career, taking on various HR roles

💼 Career Progression and Challenges (21:40 - 32:09)

• Dotty moved through different companies, including Capital One and Northern Foods
• She experienced rapid career growth and significant pay increases
• Dotty faced burnout in a high-pressure role as head of resourcing

🔄 Career Reset and New Directions (32:09 - 40:35)

• After burnout, Dotty left her high-paying job to reset her career
• She started a small business painting pictures and designing websites
• Dotty returned to HR through a role at Eon, which offered a better work-life balance

🚀 Transition to Interim Work (40:36 - 49:30)

• Dotty transitioned into interim work, focusing on transformation projects
• She discusses the benefits and challenges of interim work
• Dotty emphasises the importance of networking in finding interim opportunities

🌐 Building a Network and Personal Brand (49:34 - 59:57)

• Dotty highlights the importance of maintaining professional networks
• She discusses how her network has led to various job opportunities
• Dotty explains the fluid nature of interim wor

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In this episode I speak with Megan Kelsall, People and Operations Manager at Kelpi, a startup focused on sustainability through innovative seaweed-based materials.

Megan shares her unique career journey, which began in the performing arts as a dancer before transitioning into the corporate world. She reflects on her ballsiness when working in a small business and convincing the MD that they needed a HR function because that's what she wanted to do.

Throughout the conversation, Megan discusses her rapid ascent in HR leadership roles, but how she's had to handle imposter syndrome along the way. She discloses her experiences in both small and larger corporate environments, and receiving different advice about which direction to follow with her career but ultimately taking ownership of what she felt was right for her.

Megan has primarily worked in businesses that operate within the sustainability sector and she explains what it is like working for companies that are B Copr certified, something she has helped them achieve within her work too.

A significant theme of the episode is the importance of mentorship and coaching in professional development. Megan recounts her experience working with a mentor who provided invaluable support during a challenging period in her career. Their discussions helped Megan build resilience, gain confidence, and develop a more nuanced understanding of workplace dynamics. This conversation serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that mentorship can have on personal and professional growth, encouraging listeners to seek out mentors and embrace opportunities for learning and development.

Overall, this is an incredible episode that covers many points of interest so I hope you enjoy it.

Notes

🎙️ Introduction and Background (00:14 - 04:31)

• Megan introduced as HR professional from Bristol, originally from Preston

🏢 Career Discussion (04:31 - 09:05)

• Megan's career journey from dancer to HR professional
• Discussion about B Corps and their importance

💼 HR Role at Kelpie (09:05 - 13:54)

• Megan joined Kelpie as People and Operations Manager
• Kelpie develops seaweed-based material to replace single-use plastic
• Megan's role includes setting up HR systems and growing the team

🚀 Career Progression (13:54 - 25:41)

• Megan's fast-track career in HR discussed
• Importance of having HR in startups emphasized
• Megan's experience taking companies through B Corp certification process

🌱 B Corp Discussion (25:54 - 38:06)

• Explanation of B Corps and their focus on triple bottom line
• Megan's passion for working in purpose-driven organizations
• Challenges and benefits of B Corp certification process

👔 Job Search and Career Choices (39:41 - 54:38)

• Megan's experience job searching with specific criteria
• Discussion on different career paths in HR
• Importance of knowing oneself and pursuing the right career path

🏆 Work Experience and Growth (54:38 - 01:07:03)

• Megan's experience at Bluefield and reasons for leaving
• Discussion on outgrowing organizations and career progression
• Importance of celebrating employee growth and departures

🧠 Mentoring and Coaching (01:07:27 - 01:23:11)

• Megan's experience with mentoring and its impact on her career
• Benefits of having a mentor in HR profession
• Importance of finding the right mentor and being open to feedback

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In this episode I sit down with Ryan Cheyne who has been operating as a HR leader for almost 20 years.

Ryan's began his career in retail at Argos, quickly rising through the ranks to become a store manager before transitioning to HR. He talks about a hugely pivotal time at Pets at Home, where he tackled high attrition rates and focused on creating a positive workplace culture.

From this we learn about his belief that the most important thing in HR is creating amazing places to work. He emphasises that HR's role is fundamentally about ensuring that employees have a positive and rewarding experience in the workplace. This involves focusing on culture, values, and employee engagement while also ensuring that the basics—such as pay, disciplinary processes, and overall HR functions—are handled effectively. Ryan asserts that when employees feel valued and engaged, they are more likely to deliver excellent service to customers, ultimately leading to the commercial success of the business.

The discussion also covers Ryan's experience at rentalcars.com and his subsequent role at Flutter, where he continued to champion the idea that a strong people strategy is essential for business success. Throughout the episode, Ryan highlights the significance of building and maintaining professional relationships, the power of networking, and the impact of having supportive leadership in HR.

Notes

Edit

🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Career Background (01:53 - 08:51)

• Ryan Cheyne introduced as guest on 'Is This Room Free?' podcast
• Ryan's current role: Managing Director of People and Culture at Flutter
• Ryan has 28 years of experience in HR
• Flutter owns brands like Paddy Power, Betfair, Tom Bowler, and Sky

🏢 Recent Career Changes and Market Conditions (08:51 - 13:29)

• Ryan recently left Flutter after a short-term contract turned permanent
• Discussion on current tough job market conditions
• Ryan looking for new opportunities since January

🌴 Upcoming Holiday and Egypt Discussion (13:29 - 20:25)

• Ryan going on holiday to Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh)
• Conversation about Egyptian tourism and visiting the pyramids

👔 HR Career Journey and Challenges (21:20 - 29:02)

• Ryan's transition from retail to HR leadership roles
• Discussion on the importance of company culture and values
• Challenges of balancing basic HR functions with strategic initiatives

🛍️ Retail Experience and HR Transition (30:19 - 45:12)

• Ryan's early career in retail at Argos and Topshop
• Transition to HR leadership role at Pets at Home
• Focus on reducing attrition and improving customer service through employee engagement

💼 Career Progression and Creating Great Workplaces (45:12 - 56:17)

• Move to Rental Cars.com and later integration with Booking.com
• Emphasis on creating great places to work and its impact on business success
• Importance of CEO buy-in for HR initiatives

🌐 Networking and Career Opportunities (56:42 - 01:14:12)

• Importance of maintaining professional networks
• Discussion on how past connections led to new job opportunities
• Ryan's approach to helping others in their careers

🎭 Career Start and Fate (01:15:26 - 01:21:59)

• Story of Ryan's unconventional start at Argos through his mother's intervention
• Reflection on the role of fate and creating one's own luck in career progression
• Podcast wrap-up and future plans for the host's business

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