What does it really mean to be a Chief People Officer today?
For many, the title has a different meaning depending on the business and the requirements (the scope also differs depending on which ‘hat’ a CPO wears – more in our previous blog here), often seen as just another corporate rebrand of HR. Yet, as Kathryn Kendall, CPO at Saltus, explains in this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, the role is complex and nuanced. It’s about creating the conditions where people thrive so organisations can perform at their best. She discusses with host Chris Howard that the modern CPO is embedded in the business, understanding its culture, and championing its people strategy at every level.
The three roles of a CPO
Kathryn outlined three roles a modern CPO must be able to perform:
- The CPO’s role is to align employee wellbeing with business goals, proving that a healthy culture fuels organisational success.
- Today’s CPO must blend data with empathy, pairing metrics like attrition and engagement with real-world insight to guide decisions.
- The role is rapidly evolving, with post-pandemic shifts, hybrid work, and AI demanding that CPOs keep organisations agile while considering employees’ needs for wellbeing, flexibility, and purpose.
Kathryn envisions the role of the CPO as the “conscience of the organisation.” Their job is to safeguard cultural values while steering strategic decisions, asking tough questions in the boardroom, keeping the business grounded in its human reality. In fast-growing companies like Saltus, that means identifying the core values that must remain constant through change such as; respect, client focus, and clear communication. Everything else needs to stay flexible and adapt as the business scales.
The future CPO must navigate complexity with confidence: leveraging technology without losing sight of people, leading transformation while holding fast to the organisation’s purpose. People will always be unpredictable but that’s exactly what makes this role not only vital but exciting for the years ahead.
