The People Agenda
Real voices. Fresh thinking.
Are you an HR leader grappling with the complexities of HR tech, transformation, or change management?
Listen to The People Agenda podcast (previously the HR on the Offensive) for cutting-edge insights, actionable strategies, and real-world success stories to tackle your biggest HR and Payroll challenges.
In each episode, we dive into the latest trends, expert advice, and practical solutions to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving workplace.
Whether you’re looking to drive adoption of new technology, lead organisational change, or simply optimise your HR strategy, you’ll leave every episode with fresh perspectives and tools to take your initiatives to the next level.
Got a great story to tell? If you have insights you’d like to share with our audience about your experience in this space please reach out to us via the form below.
Scroll down to browse our most recent podcasts and subscribe on your favourite listening platform to be first to know when new episodes are released.
Latest episodes
What is a CPO? with Jonny Friedman
The modern Chief People Officer is no longer just a people leader. Today's CPO is a strategic business partner, cultural architect, and organisational conscience. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell speak to Jonny Friedman,...
What is a CPO? with Neil Morrison
Great leadership roles are rarely defined by job titles alone. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell sit down with Neil Morrison, from Severn Trent Water as he explains why the modern CPO is no longer just an HR leader. The...
What is a CPO? With Joe Binnion
What is a CPO, and how is the role changing as organisations face relentless transformation? In brief Explores what a CPO is and how the role links to business strategy. Discusses metrics, talent and credibility in the C-suite. Examines how AI is reshaping workforce...
Are your early careers hiring strategies ready for the AI era?
The future of early careers is being rewritten in real time. As AI reshapes entry-level work and application volumes surge, employers are rethinking what makes talent stand out and candidates need a new playbook to keep up. In this episode of The People Agenda...
Who owns agentic AI?
The conversation around AI in the workplace is shifting fast and the real tension isn’t about technology, it’s about ownership. Who actually “owns” AI inside an organisation today? In this episode of The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard and LACE Director of AI Data...
What is a CPO? With Keniro Miller
“A Chief People Officer is a hybrid role of pretty much most of the exec roles that sit around the table.” The role of a Chief People Officer is evolving fast and it’s no longer just about HR. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris...
My career in Reward with Jenny Craik
“Reward and performance is all about understanding people.” says Jenny Craik. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by experienced HR leader Jenny Craik, who shares insights from her career in reward and performance at organisations...
How can smart incentive design drive performance?
Well-designed incentives can transform organisational performance however, poorly designed ones can quietly undermine strategy, culture, and results. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and LACE reward specialists, Julie Elder and Mike...
How can CPOs build greater influence in the C-suite?
Great leadership does not start with a title. It starts with influence. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we explore one critical question: how can today’s Chief People Officer (CPO) move from having a seat at the table to genuinely shaping business...
SWP Summit 2026 – all you need to know ahead of the conference
Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer a future-focused concept; it’s a present-day business imperative. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by Douglas Leach, Founder of People Strategy Hub and the driving force behind...
The death of the job application: Is AI at fault?
AI is flooding hiring pipelines with polished look-alike applications, and recruiters are struggling to tell real capability from well-written automation. Inspired by an article in The Economist titled “Job applicants are winning the AI arms race against recruiters”....
What does M&A get wrong about people and how can it be fixed?
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals fail less because of spreadsheets and more because of people. Most M&A promise growth, scale, or capability. Many underdeliver because leaders underestimate the human side of change. In this episode of The People Agenda...
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