Oakleaf Partnership: Recent Episodes
Oakleaf Partnership
When it comes to HR recruitment, you’re in safe hands with Oakleaf Partnership. Since 2005, we have been successfully placing people into jobs across every HR discipline, in every sector imaginable. Yet we’re still as approachable as ever. For clients and candidates alike, we’re more than just experts. We’re trusted advisors.
In our Podcast, we will cover a wide variation of topics for both people in the profession and people in the search of their dream job.
In this episode, Amy Morris has the pleasure of speaking with Yvonne, an early high achiever who shares her journey through various roles and experiences. Starting in a role that seemed to fit her profile, Yvonne faced challenges with office politics and her first encounter with imposter syndrome. This led her to seek a more purpose-driven path, which brought her to the higher education space and eventually, coaching.
In her leadership roles, Yvonne's imposter syndrome resurfaced, compounded by her cultural background that emphasized respect for elders. Overthinking and holding back became obstacles she had to overcome, learning to differentiate between her personal identity and the responsibilities of her role.
Emphasising the importance of self-investment, Yvonne advocates for mentorship, seeking support, and maintaining open communication with others. She also practices positive intelligence to navigate her personal and professional challenges.
Join us as Yvonne shares her invaluable insights and lessons learned, encouraging others to follow the "breadcrumbs" and embrace personal growth opportunities.
Visit Yvonne's website cornerstonecoaching.co.uk
In this episode, Alex speaks with Anwen Bottois, a Leadership Development Coach who transitioned from a generalist career—where she reached the level of Associate HR Director— to focusing on enhancing both established and aspiring leaders.Passionate and engaging, Anwen provides insights into why she made the move, and what good leadership looks and feels like.
Enjoy this episode
Reach out to Alex Wright here
You have the power to decide how people see you.
In this episode, you'll hear from your host Holly, and guest Leslie Rogers on how to be strategic when it comes to your personal brand.
You will learn how to identify your unique brand and become your own brand manager.
Follow Leslie on LinkedIn
Follow Holly on LinkedIn
For more information, visit https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/the-op-academy/
The Young Professional: Episode 2 – Giving & Receiving Feedback
Why do we worry so much about feedback?
In this episode Holly, and Dr Alex Morris look a little deeper at our discomfort with both giving and receiving feedback to shift our mindset and embrace this as a crucial ingredient for our personal and professional growth.
Brought to you by the Oakleaf Academy, The Young Professional series is designed to unlock your full potential and elevate your career.
Hosted by HR professional Holly Hesketh, each episode features expert guests to explore various aspects of career development, success, and beyond.
Join us for relaxed yet insightful discussions that bring fresh perspectives and actionable insights to help you thrive in your profession.
Visit oakleafpartnership.com/academy to find out more.
Follow Dr Alex Morris on LinkedIn
Follow Holly on LinkedIn
In this episode of the Women of Impact podcast, host Amy Morris, MD – Europe and UK for Oakleaf Partnership engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Melanie Oakley, a distinguished leader with an impressive background in HR and culture development.
Melanie's unique journey began when she opted for a less conventional path, joining a startup instead of pursuing a traditional career. Driven by her keen interest in corporate culture, she found inspiration in Jim Collins' "Built to Last," which led her back to university to obtain her master's degree.
Throughout her career, Melanie has demonstrated adaptability and resilience, navigating significant industry changes and balancing personal responsibilities. She successfully co-founded an HR services company, proving her ability to learn and grow from challenges.
Melanie shares valuable insights on effective leadership, emphasising the importance of a clear vision, strong communication, and teamwork. She highlights key aspects such as decision-making, acknowledging mistakes, and celebrating wins while prioritising self-compassion.
Melanie highlights the significance of resilience and clear goals, drawing from her personal experiences, such as adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She supports maternity coaching and fostering inclusivity to help individuals thrive. Inspired by "The Wizard of Wallaby Wallow," Melanie encourages gratitude, self-acceptance, and living authentically. Tune in for valuable insights on leadership and overcoming obstacles in the workplace.
Neurodiversity is all around us—in our classrooms, homes, and workplaces. In this episode Holly explores the nature of neurodiversity with guest Tania Martin on why it is so important we understand neurodiversity, what some of the challenges are around this topic and what practical steps we can put in place both at a personal and organisational level to ensure everyone can thrive.
Brought to you by the Oakleaf Academy, The Young Professional series is designed to unlock your full potential and elevate your career.
Hosted by HR professional Holly Hesketh, each episode features expert guests to explore various aspects of career development, success, and beyond.
Join us for relaxed yet insightful discussions that bring fresh perspectives and actionable insights to help you thrive in your profession.
Visit oakleafpartnership.com/academy to find out more
Follow Tania on LinkedIn
Follow Holly on LinkedIn
In a captivating podcast episode Amy Morris UK & Europe Managing Director, speaks with Rachel Blackmore corporate communicator and Author. In the episode we delve into a range of thought-provoking topics surrounding personal growth, career development, and the modern workplace. Rachel shares her insights on the mental load many individuals experience and the importance of self-reflection in acknowledging personal evolution.
Rachel discusses her journey, which includes balancing a corporate career, family life, and her pursuit of creative fulfilment. She reflects on overcoming the shame and trauma associated with redundancy, embracing now-or-never moments, and the importance of being a role model for her children.
In light of International Women's Day, Rachel addresses the lack of support women face at critical junctures in their careers. She discusses the benefits and challenges of remote work and the significance of authentic leadership communication.
Drawing from her personal experiences, Rachel emphasises the value of resilience and adaptability in the face of life's inevitable ups and downs. Listeners interested in hearing more and of course reading what sounds like a brilliant book can pre-order her forthcoming book (links below), which promises to delve deeper into these topics through her main character Costanza.
Pre-order Rachel's book Constanza here
Introducing our latest podcast featuring an inspirational conversation with Paralympian Liz Johnson! Born with cerebral palsy, Liz defied expectations and carved a path of success in the world of swimming, winning medals in three Paralympic Games. Liz's journey is a testament to her resilience, determination, and the unconditional support of her late mother, who instilled in her the belief that anything is possible.
In this episode, Liz discusses her experiences growing up with a disability, her rise to Paralympic glory, and her transition into sports broadcasting. She emphasises the importance of equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, drawing from her own story of overcoming obstacles and becoming one of the fortunate few to achieve success in her chosen field.
Learn more about Liz's perspective on language as a barrier and the crucial role of motivation in everyday life. Liz shares her personal definition of success – happiness – and the value of finding joy in each day, even amidst challenges. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with a true trailblazer and champion for inclusivity in sports and beyond.
In this episode, Alex Wright is delighted to welcome Liz Partington, a distinguished figure in Human Resources. Liz holds an impressive portfolio as a People Director, Human Resources Director, Head of People & Culture, Chief People Officer, HR Consultant, and People Leader.
This episode promises to delve into pressing issues and insightful discussions in the realm of HR and workplace culture.
We are delighted to share our next conversation on the Women in Leadership podcast where Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, speaks with Elsie Akinsanya, People Director for Lloyds Banking Group. Elsie Akinsanya shares her journey, highlighting the importance of differentiating oneself in the HR industry. She recounts her first week's failure and the lessons learned from not receiving an expected promotion, emphasising the significance of clear intentional communication, and understanding the 'give and get' in a workplace. Elsie discusses the value of having advocates and being prepared for discussions, while encouraging listeners to step out of their comfort zones and embrace challenges.
As a leader, she takes pride in providing clear feedback on performance and thoughtfully pushing her team to grow. She also emphasises the importance of staying focused on a few key areas to maximise returns and continuously learning by adapting to one's learning style while embracing discomfort.
Elsie urges listeners to learn when to pause and resume and acknowledge that while it's possible to have it all, it may not happen simultaneously. She discusses finding her voice in various settings, transitioning her courage from personal to professional contexts, and the importance of keeping things simple while paying attention to details.
The episode concludes with an empowering message, reminding listeners that they are enough, just as they are.
In this episode of Oakleaf's Women in Leadership podcast, host Amy Morris speaks with Anna Lempriere, founder of speak you the conscious coach. Anna shares her inspiring journey from being a child actor to becoming a successful business owner, driven by her passion for helping individuals find their voice.
Anna opens up about her personal experience with the menopause and what she refers to as the "dark night of the soul." She courageously shares her journey of self-discovery and growth, highlighting the lessons she learned along the way. Anna's story is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of women, and how we can use our experiences to empower and inspire others.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in personal growth, overcoming challenges, and the journey of female entrepreneurship. Tune in to hear Anna's story and gain valuable insights into finding your voice and achieving your goals.
We are delighted to share our next conversation on the Women in Leadership Podcast where Amy Morris , UK Managing Director, speaks with Dr. Marcelle Moncrieffe FCIPD, Group Chief People Culture and Communications Officer at Commercial Services Group. We hear Marcelle’s belief that a thriving organisational culture requires more than just setting goals; it's about cultivating a positive environment where each individual feels valued and respected, especially during times of change.
Personal growth is equally important. Training your ‘head voice’ to overcome negativity, much like the inspiring examples of Mary Seacole and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, is crucial. Understanding people's motivations, offering flexibility, and showcasing your true potential are key components in Marcelle’s success stories.
Marcelle left us on the concept of ensuring people see your true potential, overcoming bias, take time to understand people’s motivations and the regret of not investing in Apple stock.
As promised here is the latest of our Women in Leadership episode. Today Amy Morris speaks to Nicola Grant founder of she2leadership.
Her story begins humbly, yet through unwavering persistence and ambition, she rises to tackle bigger challenges, all while juggling a growing family and launching a cake business. But it was during this entrepreneurial pursuit that a striking epiphany dawned on her - mid-career women frequently encounter obstacles in reconciling personal and professional obligations, as well as navigating the transition to leadership roles. Determined not to be deterred, she battled imposter syndrome, investment barriers and honed the art of knowing when to gracefully bow out. Following a cake hiatus, she reemerged with a revitalised outlook and determination, a role model for anyone seeking to forge their own path and achieve their aspirations.
Wonder Women Book: Available Now at she2leadership.com
In this episode, Lauren Hewlett and Alex Wright sit down with Kevin Green, Chief People Officer (CPO) of First Bus. Kevin has also held positions as Human Resources Director (HRD) for Royal Mail and Managing Director of REC, and is a published author.
Kevin discusses what First Bus is doing to engage its managers as they drive cultural change across its highly unionised environment. He also shares insights on how First Bus addresses the challenges posed by labour and skills shortages, and what he believes People functions need to do to challenge the norm and move forward.
In this month's episode, Amy Morris - Managing Director, sits down with Ize Idemudia, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, to explore her extraordinary journey to success.
Ize's career began with a different path. Her leap into banking opened doors to a diverse, global environment that broadened her perspective.
Growing up, Ize was instilled with the belief that unwavering hard work could lead to boundless achievements. Yet, she soon discovered that dedication alone wasn't sufficient. She underscores the importance of intentional career choices and the need to periodically revisit personal principles. One of the vital lessons from Ize's journey is the emphasis on valuing experiences over promotions. She encourages fellow professionals not only to aim for climbing the corporate ladder but to embrace the rich experiences offered throughout their careers.
For Ize, the pivotal moment arrived with motherhood. It reinforced the significance of embracing one's own voice and contributing her unique perspective to the workplace.
The HR Pulse Podcast is hosted by Lauren Hewlett - Senior Manager (North), and Alex Wright - Manager (North), who leads our senior permanent hiring.
In this episode, we speak to Louise McCarthy-Teague, Head of Talent & Wellbeing at Thomsons Solicitors. Louise's HR career began at 17 years old in the public sector before securing a significant role in retail. Her career has taken her far and wide including the Middle East. She delves into her experiences and thoughts in the constantly changing landscape of HR. Louise emphasises the importance of having the creative freedom to truly be oneself.
Louise also speaks passionately about her robust strategy in the workplace for mental well-being, supporting staff and families, and recognising that one size does not fit all.
We are delighted to share our newest conversation with Kellie Nedelcoux, founder of Career and Parenthood. Kellie's journey from HR to coaching, driven by her newfound passion for parenting, offers valuable insights. In this discussion, she shares her experiences as a working mother, emphasizing how coaching can help parents maintain fulfilling careers.
In the latest episode of Oakleaf's Women in Leadership podcast, we are thrilled to present Amy Morris, the UK Managing Director, in a conversation with Kellie Nedelcoux, the visionary founder of Career and Parenthood. Kellie began her professional journey in Human Resources, but it was after the birth of her child that she discovered her true calling: coaching, with a particular emphasis on supporting parents.
Our conversation with Kellie adeptly navigates through her life experiences, bridging the worlds of a working mother and a dedicated coach. Throughout our discussion, Kellie delves into key themes that are crucial to help individuals successfully balance their careers and parenthood.
We discuss the importance of recognising your priorities while still maintaining long-term ambitions, and we highlight the significance of organisation and incorporating flexibility into tight schedules. Tune in for an insightful discussion on achieving a harmonious and fulfilling life as a working parent.
In this episode of Oakleaf's Women in Leadership podcast, Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, engages in an honest conversation with Rachel Wellen, Head of EMEA Employee Relations, at J.P. Morgan.
Rachel's career has been shaped by her work ethic and willingness to explore new opportunities, embracing her role as a generalist. However, she faced one of her earliest challenges during her university years, learning the lesson of avoiding complacency. Motherhood brought its own set of complexities, navigating maternity leave and learning where her boundaries lay. Rachel successfully rebuilt her confidence during a team transition, drawing support from her network and recognising the value of connections.
Leadership is in Rachel’s veins, gaining inspiration from her grandmother. Her natural inclination to improve things and take on new projects has earned her recognition and fresh opportunities. Authenticity plays a pivotal role in Rachel's success, and she actively seeks feedback to maintain confidence in her true self. She gratefully acknowledges the significant sponsorship and support she has received from her leaders at work and her family throughout her professional journey.
Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, recently spoke with Rhonda Martin, Client Engagement Director, about her remarkable career journey and insights. Rhonda's approach focuses on broad skills rather than a traditional path. She discussed the evolving challenges faced by women, being different from when she began. Rhonda's unwavering ambition drives her to work with the best in her field. Overcoming initial barriers as a PA, her experience navigating politics and building relationships with seniors proved invaluable. Rhonda's effectiveness as a number two and her reflections on changing definitions of success were notable.
Balancing work and life, she prioritised friendships, hobbies, and finding her voice amidst adversity. Rhonda embraced rejection as an opportunity, reframed her skills for problem-solving, and admired leaders like Jacinda Ardern, emphasising compassion, self-awareness, and courage. She also stressed the importance of appreciating the journey, acknowledging no one has all the answers.
The conversation between Amy and Rhonda showcased Rhonda's incredible career trajectory and the valuable lessons she learned along the way. Her story serves as an inspiration to others, highlighting the importance of embracing challenges, finding one's voice, and continuously evolving in the ever-changing professional landscape.
In this episode of Oakleaf’s Women in Leadership podcast, Amy Morris - UK Managing Director, speaks to Megan Phelps who herself states that she has had a different journey! Megan, EMEA Director of Talent at Edelman, shares her powerful story of self-discovery showing true vulnerability when explaining how a diagnosis given when she was 15 has allowed her to connect more in the workplace. Her career demonstrates that it isn’t about where you have worked but who you have worked with and the need to look in the mirror every day.
Similarly to Uma Cresswell, she believes in the power of storytelling and challenges us to speak not only ours but share the stories of others. Whilst cycling is clearly a passion connecting Megan to her father, she also uses writing to create her own space and flow with her fantastic blog 2022 Letters.
This episode is so much about connecting, not only with your colleagues but more importantly with yourself. Listen in to hear about Megan’s inspirational story.
Here you can find the links to Megan's blog posts:
- My Grandfather post - Medium
- Mental health post - Medium
- On storytelling - Medium
- Brene Brown link on storytelling - Storytelling Archives - Brené Brown (brenebrown.com)
- Brene Brown on vulnerability – Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability | TED Talk
‘As a young girl, I always had the aspiration of being the lead role on stage – I got the lead roles…they were male roles that I had to play as a woman.’
After meeting Jess at a networking event last year - Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, is delighted to share Jess Suffolk’s story. Jessica-Leigh Suffolk is the founder of Alula Coaching, a career development and mentoring consultancy, with a particular focus on women.
In this conversation, we uncover Jess’s passion for creativity and making things fun. She tells us about how she has been intentional with her career and life decisions meaning she has managed to weave in everything that she loves and that she believes in. We talk about using energy in the right way, not ignoring the power of silence and space, and her excitement and inspiration for the next generation.
Whilst she might not have that Oscar that she once dreamt of, her story will no doubt inspire many to take risks, be more present, and visible and live to their own personal values and hopefully that is award enough.
On Women’s International Day Amy Morris, UK Managing Director spoke to Meena Anand, CEO and Founder of The Careers Company. After a successful global career in the Financial Services sector, Meena made the conscious decision to move out of the corporate world and set up her own business, The Career Company. Meena shares where her journey started and the three areas of challenge that she has experienced: Identity, Education and Social Mobility. We hear how her confidence originates from connecting with others and making the most of opportunities that are presented - 'Planned Happenstance’.
It's refreshing to hear of her phenomenal bosses who supported her through her fertility journey and gave her a platform to flourish. It can’t be a coincidence that Meena now focuses on challenging Directors to ensure that career conversations always happen through her organisation The Career Company. To hear more about Meena’s journey please listen in.
The Careers Company
www.thecareerscompany.com
To celebrate International Women’s Day, here are my ‘best bits’ from the Women in Leadership podcast that I started this year. It’s been an incredible experience, both overcoming my initial insecurities, but also to hear amazing and inspiring stories from my guests. Whilst it was really hard to pick, the themes that have made the most impact on me have been when we have discussed - Using Your Authentic Voice, Allyship and The Reality of Overcoming Hurdles.
Thank you to everyone who has listened so far, it is always great to see and hear your comments, and an even bigger thank you to Katherine Sherwood, Zoe Walters, Nicky Acuna Ocana, Uma Cresswell and Helen Hodgkinson for sharing your stories.
Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, talks to Emma-Jayne Broadway, founder of Talent Partnership Consulting. Emma has grown her career in businesses such as EY, Microsoft and Coca-Cola finding her passion for creating inclusive cultures through all elements of talent, from attraction and engagement through to development and retention.
We hear Emma talk about how recruitment is too often just a transactional process where the value to individualism can get lost. In Emma’s opinion businesses need to start waking up to this to be able to create truly inclusive environments allowing people to thrive. Emma also talks of some hugely inspiring women who she has been fortunate to work with and how they have created their own paths in seemingly male dominated environments.
To hear more please listen to Emma’s story.
We kick off 2023 with Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, talking to Helen Hodgkinson, Chief People and Places Officer at TLT. Helen has achieved some fantastic results across her career particularly supporting women in the workplace. Starting her career in L&D Helen has purposefully developed a board toolkit, she shares her ambition to do the right thing and of her inner desire to find solutions to problems.
Throughout the conversation we talk about how hurdles are everyday events and need to be treated as such, the importance of data and targets, being a sandwich leader and giving herself the space to overcome challenges through working out the plan. It was inspiring to hear how Helen has created barriers to protect the balance of all areas of her life – including her regular disconnected time.
Helen discussed what she wants to be famous for…personally I think people will remember her for being authentic and creating an environment for others to do the same. Please listen in to hear Helen’s story.
'We’re wired for story … we do this because we feel the most alive when we're connecting with others and being brave with our stories - it's in our biology.' Brené Brown.
This week Amy Morris - UK Managing Director, has the pleasure of speaking to and sharing Uma Creswell’s story. As above, Uma believes in the power of sharing people’s experiences, allowing you to build strong and long-lasting relationships.
Uma is of Indian heritage, born in Uganda and found herself navigating her career in the then male dominated environment of financial services. Within this podcast, we hear of the sacrifices and compromises Uma has made in order to have a career and the honesty of some of her regrets within it.
I have many take aways from our conversation but to share a few: don’t underestimate the power of being kind, building allies, the importance of lateral moves and most importantly, don’t forget to ask! Please listen in to hear more about Uma’s inspiring journey to date.
Today, Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, speaks to Nicky Acuna Ocana who is the UK, Europe and USA Managing Director of Ambition. Having recently been recognised as one of the Staffing Industry Analysts’ (SIA) most influential women in recruitment for 2022 it was a joy to be able to hear and share her story.
Starting life in Blackpool as a daughter of business owners Nicky always knew she wanted to be a ‘Leader’. The chat takes us through her first few weeks/months in London working in the iconic Harrods store, to her making the move into recruitment, navigating all of life’s ‘bumps’ in the road of which in her words ‘there has been some big ones’!
It's inspiring to hear not only of Nicky’s resilience, but her passion and desire to continue to share her story to make it easier for others – in her words ‘giving people space to be themselves’. To hear more about Nicky’s story please have a listen….
Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, speaks to Zoe Walters who lets us into her world, sharing her experiences of being a senior female in the workplace. Having started life on cruise ships travelling the world, she quickly found that HR was a professional home for her working for brands such as Conde Nast, Adidas and Diesel. She now is a published author, coach, student, CPO and business owner whilst enjoying life between the UK and Miami.
Tune in to hear Amy and Zoe talk through topics such as acting like a man, redefining who she is, feeling the need to hide illness, imposter syndrome and her desire to ‘be somebody’. In Zoe’s words ‘life is like a lilo’… it's all about balance.
For National Payroll Week, Sam Field welcomes to the podcast Vickie Graham - Business Development Director at The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP). Vickie discusses all things payroll with the main focus on national payroll week, how the CIPP has been celebrating with the payroll community and what they do for their members.
This week we welcome Tim Henry, Partner at Peoplecorp in Sydney, Australia. Tim made the move himself from the UK to Australia back in 2007 and now continues to help other Brits do the same. During this episode, we explore the ins and outs of how Brits can make the move across the pond with a HR role secured for them in Australia. We also cover information about the Working Holiday Visa, what to expect while living in Australia along with helpful websites and groups that you can join.
Amy Morris, UK Managing Director, speaks to Katharine Sherwood who shares her story and experiences of being a woman at leadership level. Katharine has had an impressive career working internationally across a number of well-known brands in both generalist and more specialist roles. She holds a huge passion for promoting the female agenda within the workplace which only grew in her previous role at BT as Diversity and Inclusion Programme Director.
In this podcast we hear Amy and Katharine talk about the importance of giving women access to broader networks, providing sponsors, exploring your authentic voice, balancing work and home life and taking risks. Katharine shares some of the positive experiences she has had where she has felt backed and supported to create her own pathway and explains that she has learnt from the more challenging ones!
For the first payroll podcast, we welcome Maria Mason - National Payroll Partner at BDO. Maria is a forward-thinking payroll professional who has developed and grown payroll functions from the ground up. She has done this by hiring at the junior level giving them the tools to develop and grow successfully in a time scale that works. By using this model all of her senior management team have come through this pathway and are living proof of the process.
This week we discuss how to develop & train payroll functions internally and discuss what has made this work for Maria and her team.