HR Leaders

How do you decide which HR projects deserve your team’s time? Amanda Poole, Chief People Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, shares why her team cut 40% of its planned work after an initial planning exercise produced 353 proposed projects.
For Episode #5 of HR Leaders On the Road, Chris Rainey sits down with Amanda at UNLEASH World 2026 in Paris, with our series partner Workhuman.
Amanda explains how BMS approaches prioritisation, internal mobility and AI adoption. She shares why managers need to lead experimentation, how AI tools can help employees find opportunities across functions, and why HR must consider the work its own processes create.
The conversation also explores her move from HR into sales leadership, the demands of board-level people investment discussions and her advice for future Chief People Officers.

IN THIS EPISODE
Why Amanda’s team cut 40% of its proposed HR work
How BMS uses 3 priorities to focus attention
Why HR should examine the work it creates for employees
How AI-enabled career tools support internal mobility
The manager’s role in AI adoption and work redesign
How CPOs balance business investment with care for people

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Workhuman
Learn what 21 million recognition moments reveal about skills, burnout, AI adoption and how work really gets done →https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/recognition-intelligence-report/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social_advertising&utm_campaign=1215515251063857&utm_content=null&utm_term=emea_events_forum-paris-26_prospecting~null_whforum-paris-event-hr-leaders-podcastad_1x1_10.20.2026
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What comes after AI training? Sharon Doherty, Chief People and Places Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, shares 5 shifts in how leaders approach AI transformation, work redesign and the future of HR.
For Episode #4 of HR Leaders On the Road, Chris Rainey welcomes Sharon back to the podcast at UNLEASH World 2026 in Paris, with our series partner Workhuman.
Sharon explains Lloyds’ work to upskill 300 senior leaders, rethink how tasks are shared between people and AI agents, and connect employee services across functions.
Her example of supporting customers worried about fraud makes the challenge clear: if AI frees up capacity, what should people have more time to do?

5 ideas you’ll take from this episode:
Why leaders need ongoing, hands-on AI learning
How customer needs can guide work redesign
Lloyds’ approach to outcomes, tasks and AI agents
How the CEO, HR and technology leaders contribute to transformation
The skills HR needs to help shape what comes next

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Workhuman
Learn what 21 million recognition moments reveal about skills, burnout, AI adoption and how work really gets done →https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/recognition-intelligence-report/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social_advertising&utm_campaign=1215515251063857&utm_content=null&utm_term=emea_events_forum-paris-26_prospecting~null_whforum-paris-event-hr-leaders-podcastad_1x1_10.20.2026
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can employers use AI while continuing to build meaningful careers?
Laurent Choain, Global Chief People & Culture Officer at Accor, joins Chris Rainey to discuss AI, internal mobility, frontline development and the future of workplace learning.
Laurent shares that 49% of Accor’s general managers reported at least 5 promotions since joining the group. He explains why career opportunities need ongoing learning and operational support, and why employees’ own ambitions belong in the conversation.
He also explores ideas for sharing AI productivity gains and using internal expertise to make learning more relevant. These proposals are discussed alongside examples of Accor’s existing approach.
Welcome back to HR Leaders On the Road. This is Episode #3 from UNLEASH World 2026 in Paris, recorded in partnership with Workhuman.

5 ideas you’ll take from this episode:
Why AI’s impact needs to be considered role by role
Who could share in the benefits of AI productivity gains
What makes career progression believable
How to support internal moves beyond a careers website
How employee expertise could shape the future of learning

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Workhuman
Learn what 21 million recognition moments reveal about skills, burnout, AI adoption and how work really gets done →https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/recognition-intelligence-report/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social_advertising&utm_campaign=1215515251063857&utm_content=null&utm_term=emea_events_forum-paris-26_prospecting~null_whforum-paris-event-hr-leaders-podcastad_1x1_10.20.2026
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does collaboration look like when it’s built into the work, the strategy and what people get rewarded for?
Andrew R. Davis, Executive Vice President & Global Chief People Officer at Sony Music Entertainment, joins Chris Rainey to discuss company culture, cross-functional collaboration and leadership through change.
Andrew explains why data scientists work alongside the teams who find and develop artists, how Sony Music recognises collaboration, and why he sees culture erosion as a risk HR leaders need to watch.
Welcome back to HR Leaders On the Road. This is Episode #2 from our studio at UNLEASH World 2026 in Paris, recorded in partnership with Workhuman.

5 lessons you’ll learn:
→ Why understanding business operations matters for HR
→ How creative teams and data scientists work together
→ How recognition and rewards reinforce collaboration
→ Why leadership behaviour sets the standard for culture
→ How HR can help organisations change without losing their values

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Workhuman
Learn what 21 million recognition moments reveal about skills, burnout, AI adoption and how work really gets done →https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/recognition-intelligence-report/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social_advertising&utm_campaign=1215515251063857&utm_content=null&utm_term=emea_events_forum-paris-26_prospecting~null_whforum-paris-event-hr-leaders-podcastad_1x1_10.20.2026
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you change company culture when confidence is low and too many decisions travel to headquarters?
Michelle Robertson, Executive Board Member, HR, People & Culture at adidas, joins Chris Rainey to explain the people decisions behind adidas’ turnaround, from honest leadership communication to giving local teams more authority.
Welcome back to HR Leaders Podcast on the Road. For Episode #1 from UNLEASH World 2026, we brought our studio to Paris with our friends at Workhuman for unscripted conversations with CHROs and People leaders.
Michelle shares why the CEO gave his mobile number to the workforce, how employees can question the board live, and what adidas changed in its structure to support a global brand with a local mindset.

5 takeaways from this episode:
→ How open leadership communication can help rebuild belief
→ Why local teams need decision-making power and accountability
→ How adidas shifted investment and reduced headquarters complexity
→ What respectful communication looks like during difficult change
→ Why Michelle sees AI transformation as a people challenge

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Workhuman
Learn what 21 million recognition moments reveal about skills, burnout, AI adoption and how work really gets done →https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/recognition-intelligence-report/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social_advertising&utm_campaign=1215515251063857&utm_content=null&utm_term=emea_events_forum-paris-26_prospecting~null_whforum-paris-event-hr-leaders-podcastad_1x1_10.20.2026
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.