Senovis

We're so delighted to share this highlight reel from our recent Great Minds CHRO Gathering, which brought together 40 CHRO peers, recognized experts, and leading academics to shape and advance the people agenda. Throughout the event, our CHRO attendees had opportunities to network with peers, discuss pressing HR issues with academic leaders, and gain valuable insights into sharing and progressing the Strategic HR and People Agenda. If you were unable to join us for our Great Minds CHRO Gathering, we have collated all of the insights, learning and takeaways into a CHRO Briefing: Summary of key discussions – the role of the CHRO in influencing and impacting organizational performance, download your copy: https://lnkd.in/eVfcHwcu #CHROGathering #HRLeadership #PeopleAgenda Derek McKay, Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Sadiq Merali (FCA), Michelle Stansfield FCIPD, David Collings, Emma Parry, Dana Minbaeva, Katie Jacobs, Sinead Kilkelly, Michelle Lydon, David Frost, Tamie Hutchins, Jag Dhanji, Chartered FCIPD, Katie Obi, Sarah Mason FCIPD, Catherine Douglas

In a world where HR has evolved from an administrative function to a key strategic player, Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) are expected to drive business outcomes that align with overarching corporate goals. This shift requires HR leaders to adopt more sophisticated, data-driven approaches to decision-making. This is where Evidence-Based HR (EBHR) comes in. EBHR enables CHROs to make informed decisions based on a combination of internal data, scientific research, and the professional expertise of their teams and wider professional network. By using evidence to guide decision making, CHROs can ensure their strategies are both relevant and effective. In turn, this leads to more measurable and impactful outcomes - whether it’s improving employee engagement, enhancing retention, or supporting leadership development. The reality is, in today’s complex business environment, intuition alone won’t cut it. Decisions must be grounded in data and research to ensure they drive meaningful change. EBHR helps HR leaders stay ahead by ensuring that every decision is justified, defendable, and has the best chance of delivering results. Have you adopted an evidence-based approach in your HR strategy? #EBHR #StrategicHR #PeopleStrategy Derek McKay, Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Michelle Stansfield FCIPD, Sadiq Merali (FCA)

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a month since our Great Minds CHRO Gathering. The insights and conversations from the event continue to resonate with us, especially as we reflect on the challenges CHROs face in navigating today’s fast-changing landscape. One standout moment came from Professor Dana Minbaeva, part of our esteemed academic panel, who shared a powerful message: “Standing still as a CHRO is the worst thing you can do, both for your career and for your business.” Innovation, adaptability, and a commitment to ongoing learning are critical to the success of HR leaders and the organizations they serve. How are you driving growth and innovation within your HR strategy? #CHROLeadership #ContinuousDevelopment #HRStrategy Derek McKay, Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Michelle Stansfield FCIPD, Sadiq Merali (FCA)

In today’s fast-paced HR landscape, making decisions based on intuition alone is no longer sustainable. Evidence-Based HR (EBHR) is a strategic approach that allows CHROs to base their decisions on the best available data, research, and professional judgment. Rather than relying on gut feelings, EBHR helps you make decisions that are informed, balanced, and aligned with the realities of your organization. The concept is simple: it’s about gathering and using evidence from a variety of sources, including internal / organizational data (e.g., employee engagement scores or turnover rates), your organizations stakeholders values and concerns (employees, managers, stakeholders), external research (such as peer-reviewed studies or industry benchmarks), and the judgment/insight of HR experts. By synthesizing these elements, you create a robust framework for decision-making that is both proactive and measurable. Many HR professionals still rely on best practices or trends to guide their actions, but without understanding the underlying evidence, these approaches may lead to unintended consequences. EBHR encourages you to dig deeper and ask: What’s the evidence behind this decision? How do we know it will work for our specific context? So, the next time you are making a strategic HR decision, pause and consider: Are we acting on the best available evidence? #EvidenceBasedHR #StrategicHR #HRLeadership Derek McKay, Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Michelle Stansfield FCIPD, Sadiq Merali (FCA)

At our recent Great Minds CHRO Gathering, we were delighted to have Matthew Syed as our keynote speaker, where he shared invaluable insights on the power of a growth mindset in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. Matthew challenged us to think about how often we, as leaders, fall into the comfort zone—relying on what we know—versus leaning into discomfort and growth. He emphasized that a true learning and growth mindset is essential for driving innovation and navigating the complex challenges that organizations face today. In his blog, From Comfort to Growth: Leaning into the Learning Mindset, Matthew delves deeper into this concept, exploring how organizations and leaders can cultivate an environment where learning, experimentation, and growth are not only encouraged but expected. Discover how you can shift from comfort to growth by adopting a learning mindset: https://lnkd.in/eJW7fiMC #GrowthMindset #CHROLeadership #LearningCulture Derek McKay, Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Sadiq Merali (FCA), Michelle Stansfield FCIPD

At Senovis, we know that CHROs are at the forefront of navigating unprecedented challenges. From driving ESG initiatives and DEE&I strategies to adapting to rapid technological changes, your role continues to evolve. Our recent Great Minds CHRO Gathering brought together 40 CHROs and leading experts to explore these critical issues. Discover the key takeaways and insights from our event, including how CHROs are approaching AI, skills ecosystems, and their People strategy in our latest CHRO Briefing: Summary of key discussions – the role of the CHRO in influencing and impacting organizational performance. Download your copy: https://lnkd.in/eVfcHwcu #HRLeadership #PeopleAgenda #FutureOfWork Derek McKay, Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Michelle Stansfield FCIPD, Sadiq Merali (FCA)

A timely article from the IMF discussing the topic that's on everyone's radar: AI and jobs. With the IMF predicting that AI will affect almost 40% of jobs around the world, noting the potential for AI to disrupt existing job markets while creating new ones that demand a different set of skills. The question we must address is not just how we adopt AI, but how we prepare our workforce to thrive in an AI-driven economy? At Senovis, we believe that the future of work must be inclusive, innovative, and resilient. That’s why one of our round tables at our Great Minds CHRO Gathering was dedicated to Future-Proofing Your Workforce in the Age of Disruption. The round table brought together thought leaders, esteemed academics, and CHRO professionals to explore actionable strategies for equipping our workforce with the skills and mindset needed. #AI #FutureOfWork #WorkforceStrategy #CHROGathering Derek McKay Michelle Stansfield FCIPD Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha Sadiq Merali (FCA) 

We’re delighted by the meaningful connections made throughout our CHRO Gathering. The opportunity to network with such accomplished CHROs and thought leaders from various industries was invaluable, sparking new ideas and laying the foundation for future collaborations. The conversations and relationships built last week will continue to shape and strengthen the HR community long after our CHRO Gathering, and we’re excited to see what emerges from these partnerships. Thank you to everyone who contributed to creating such a collaborative and engaging atmosphere! #CHROGathering #HRLeadership #PeopleAgenda Derek McKay Michelle Stansfield FCIPD Sadiq Merali (FCA) Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha

From the feedback around our Great Minds CHRO Gathering, a highlight for many attendees were the series of Round Table Discussions. Attendees had the unique opportunity to engage in two different, dynamic round tables, each facilitated by experienced CHROs. These intimate discussions were designed to dive deep into pressing topics, from the real impact of DEE&I initiatives to sustainability and futureproofing the workforce. As we reflect on these conversations, it's clear that the exchange of ideas in these sessions has set the stage for actionable strategies that will shape the future of HR. A huge thank you to our round table facilitators and all participants for their contributions to these insightful and engaging discussions. #CHROGathering #HRLeadership #PeopleAgenda Derek McKay, Sadiq Merali (FCA), Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha, Michelle Stansfield FCIPD

Earlier this week, I was really pleased to join more than 35 influential CHROs and thought leaders at Senovis inaugural CHRO Great Minds Gathering. Bringing together CPOs from a wide range of organisations and sectors (employing almost 1m people in total - what an amazing opportunity to improve working lives at scale) with top academics provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas to influence people strategy and the world of work. Chairing a session on elevating CHRO capabilities with the brilliant Michelle Lydon and Dana Minbaeva was an energising end to the day. Just three of my many takeaways from the event... 💡 It has never been more critical for CHROs to bring the outside in to their organisations, engaging with a wide range of external information sources and stakeholders. With business ecosystems becoming more complex, the ability to be a systems thinker, spot connections and horizon scan should be part of the CPO job description. 💡 Perfection is the enemy of good in so many areas right now. Change is fast-paced and constant and disruptions will keep coming. Work with the best available evidence you can (including data, academic research and organisational knowledge), but at some point you are going to need to make a decision and act -- just ensure diverse perspectives help you reach a conclusion. 💡 CPOs need to be at the forefront of driving strategic transformation, not getting stuck in the role of strategy implementor. HR has never been better positioned to do this, and is increasingly the confidant of the CEO and chair, but HR leaders need to create space to do so, including finding time to engage with the external world and the frontline of their organisation. As always at events like this, I was struck by the power of CPOs sharing problems and ideas - the willingness and openness of this community to collaborate and share is like nothing else. And great to catch up with brilliant CPOs including Katie Obi Sarah Mason FCIPD David Frost Emma Blaney Jo Pick Congratulations to the Senovis team and particular thanks to Derek McKay for including me in the day. (Also another milestone for me as the first night away from the new baby - but everyone survived!)