HR Strategy in the Hot Seat
Anwen Bottois (Purple Sky Consulting) 9 episodes Oct 30, 2026
A podcast for HR Leaders exploring all themes of HR Strategy, including what's new, reliable, and effective. Host Anwen Bottois from Purple Sky Consulting talks to specialists and practitioners to provide diverse perspectives and insights. Each episode offers actionable ideas to help HR teams have deliberate impact and be recognized as internal consultants for business strategy.
Episodes
Seeing the Opportunity in the ERA 2025 with Natalie Saunders
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is coming. And most HR teams are looking at it and seeing a to-do list: Natalie Saunders thinks that's exactly the wrong place to start.Natalie, a self-described recovering employment lawyer and founder of Morpho Advisory, joins Anwen Bottois, founder of Purple Sky Consulting, to make the case for why the wave of incoming legislative change is less a legal headache a
The Squeezed Middle with Gary Cookson
Gary Cookson, director of EPIC HR and author of The Squeezed Middle, joins host Anwen Bottois, founder of Purple Sky Consulting, in this compelling episode. Gary brings a quarter of a century’s experience in HR and L&D to a critical discussion about the "hidden heart" of our organisations: middle management. This conversation reveals how leaders can move beyond functional task lists to support
Is Training the Right Solution with Anne-Marie Burbidge
When performance dips, the instinct is almost always the same: get some training in. Joining Anwen on the podcast for this episode is Anne-Marie Burbidge, who has spent over 20 years watching that instinct lead organisations in exactly the wrong direction.Anne-Marie is the founder of The Spark, a learning and development consultancy working with businesses on the people performance challenges that
Employee Listening Strategy with Maureen Brown
This episode is a conversation between Anwen Bottoi, host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting, and Maureen Brown, focusing on HR strategies and the importance of intentional listening within organisations. Mo, as she is known, is the CEO of Mi-Say and Managing Director of Sullivan Brown (HR Recruitment). Mo shares her journey from HR recruitment to developing a business centred on amplifying empl
Transforming the Experience of HR Functions with Emma Djemil
In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Emma Djemil, founder of Be Unstoppable, Speaker, Facilitator and Coach. Emma works with women in HR to build the clarity, courage and confidence to have real impact in their careers and beyond.Emma explains how too many HR professionals are going home from work worse than when they arrived and that it's ti
Coaching Skills for Human Leaders with Donna Ward-Higgs
In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Donna Ward-Higgs, founder of Learning Partner Solutions, where the belief is simple: people drive performance. Donna brings a refreshingly human perspective to coaching skills in the workplace and makes a compelling case for why coaching shouldn't be a bolt-on certification programme, but a built-in way of
Multi-Generational Workforces with Liz Atkin
In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Liz Atkin, consultant, facilitator and founder of Refreshing Comms. Liz brings a wealth of experience in workplace communication and intergenerational strategy, and in this conversation she makes the case for why HR leaders need to treat generational differences not as a problem to fix, but as a strategic
Performance Enhancement Systems with Roxy Allen
In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Roxy Allen, a workforce transformation specialist working in the gas industry, with a background spanning Agile HR, design thinking, systems thinking and socio-technical systems. Roxy shares how she has applied systems thinking to reshape how managers approach performance conversations and why starting wit
Successful Engagement of External Experts with Jessica Lorimer
In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host) is joined by Jessica Lorimer. Jess is an expert sales training consultant with her business Selling to Corporates and is the founder of the Expert Services Directory and during this episode Jess shares advice for HR leaders on sourcing and managing external suppliers, making strategic decisions, and fostering productive partnerships that drive organisatio
Team Climate with Sean Spurgin
In this brilliant interview, Sean Spurgin, Learning Director at Elev-8 Performance joins Anwen Bottois, to share his journey into leadership development, the importance of team climate, and practical strategies for HR leaders to enhance organisational culture and performance.The conversation highlights the distinction between culture (the personality of an organisation) and team climate (the day-t
Hope is a Strategy with Ian B Pettigrew
Most leaders underestimate how a simple shift in mindset can transform teams and organisations. Ian B Pettigrew’s powerful concept: hope isn’t wishful thinking, it’s a strategy that drives real change. If you’re tired of feeling stuck amid uncertainty, this episode reveals how leaders and HR professionals can harness hope to inspire resilience, foster trust, and create thriving cultures.Ian B Pett
Low-Level Conflict in Organisations with Fiona Kearns
Most organisational conflicts are invisible, and costly. Fiona Kearns joins Anwen Bottois (your host) to reveal how small, overlooked 'politeness' issues can escalate into toxic environments, affecting productivity and morale in ways leaders often miss. All impacting individual and organisational performance, critical for the HR Strategy.If you've ever wondered how minor disagreements snowball or
What is HR Strategy? Part 2: Operating Strategically in HR
What does it really mean to operate strategically as an HR leader?If you’ve ever felt stuck refining your impact, this episode unlocks six core behaviours and approaches that transform your role from tactical to strategic.Anwen Bottois, from Purple Sky Consulting, dives deep into the essential mindsets, relationships, and communication strategies that elevate HR from a support function to a key st
What is HR Strategy? Part 1: Strategy Execution
HR Strategy Insights: Executing and Operating StrategicallyIn this episode, Anwen Bottois shares her perspective on HR strategy, focusing on how HR functions can effectively execute strategy and what it truly means to operate as a strategic HR professional.Whether you're an HR leader or a professional looking to elevate your strategic impact, this discussion offers practical insights and framework
Leading without Leaders with Danny Wareham
Unlock the secret to truly impactful leadership: when the leader isn't in the room, culture takes over. Discover how aligning behaviour with your organisation's North Star can transform your company from the inside out. If you're tired of reactive decision-making, misaligned teams, and superficial values, this episode will nudge you towards creating a culture that drives real results even in compl
Culture for High Performance with Paula Brockwell
In this episode of the HR Strategy in the Hot Seat, Anwen Bottois (your host) is joined by Paula Brockwell (the Employee Experience Project).Join us in unlocking the secret to transforming your company’s performance by redefining what culture (and culture work) truly means, going beyond just happy employees.You’ll discover why a focus on strategic behaviour and performance drivers is the missing p
HR Leadership Mindset for Success with Tom Emery
Welcome to the HR Strategy in the Hot Seat Podcast!In this first episode, I'm joined by Tom Emery for Hex Development and we are diving into a critical factor of success for HR Leaders, the mindset they bring and lead with. How HR Leaders show up influences how they organisation responds to them and how they best influence for maximum impact.Tom Emery, from Hex Development is a seasoned HR leader
Trailer for the HR Strategy in the Hot Seat podcast
Welcome to the Trailer for the BRAND NEW podcast: HR Strategy in the Hot Seat!
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