Which skills really make the difference at the top of the HR profession?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, you'll meet the brilliant Jane Beeston, Chief People Officer at Colart. With nearly 40 years of experience in HR – spanning generalist roles, transformation, and international work – Jane has a huge amount of insight to share.

We learn from her about the shift from HR Director to CPO, what the role really involves, and how she’s built strong relationships with her CEO and board. Jane talks openly about the communication skills she’s had to develop, how coaching training changed the way she works, and why staying curious (and occasionally sticking her nose into things!) has helped her make a bigger impact.

Whether you’re working towards a CPO role or simply want to grow in confidence and influence, there’s plenty to take away from Jane’s story.

[00:00] Welcome & introduction to Jane

[02:00] Jane’s path to becoming a CPO

[04:00] Why the CEO relationship really matters

[07:00] What changes when you move into a CPO role

[08:00] What a board does (and how to work with them)

[10:30] How Jane improved her communication skills

[12:00] Staying connected across a global team

[14:00] Getting your message to stick across the business

[15:00] Why coaching skills have made such a difference

[16:00] How curiosity helps you grow and influence

[18:00] Common challenges in the CPO role

[19:00] How Jane approaches communication in practice

[22:00] Looking after your wellbeing in a demanding role

[24:00] You don’t have to do it all alone

[25:00] Advice for anyone who wants to be a CPO one day

[27:30] Jane’s experience of cross-functional projects

[30:00] Prioritising what matters most

[32:00] If you’re stepping into a CPO role: own it!

[34:00] Courses and continuous learning that helped

[36:00] Learning to work across different countries

[37:30] Final thoughts and thank you

1. Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
2. Fay’s website
3. Fay’s HR leadership programme – Inspiring HR Leadership
4. Connect with Jane Beeston on LinkedIn



1. Episode 53: Why Coaching Skills Can Help Your HR Career (and How to Develop Them) with Charlie Warshawski
2. Episode 130: Build Managers' Confidence and Skills with the Coaching Two-Step with Jude Slater
3. Episode 43: The One Thing That Will Boost Your Resilience Throughout Your HR Career with Tom Cleary
4. Episode 32:

What does it really take to become a successful Chief People Officer – and how can you prepare for the step up?

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis is joined by Kanika Mehra, an inspiring CPO with over 20 years of global HR experience. Having worked in fast-paced environments ranging from global giants like Amazon to scaling organisations going through rapid transformation, Kanika shares what helped her make the move into a CPO role – and what it’s really like once you get there.

From building commercial acumen and using data to tell compelling stories, to managing pressure, leading through change and staying true to your values – this conversation is packed with practical insights to support you on your own HR leadership journey.

[00:00] Introduction

[02:12] Meet Kanika Mehra

[02:25] How she got her first CPO role

[03:23] The role LinkedIn played – and how to improve your profile

[07:00] The differences between being a Head of People or HR Director vs a CPO

[09:27] Making big decisions

[14:02] Learning to lead without having all the answers

[17:50] Developing confidence and decisiveness

[22:51] Why business acumen is essential – and how to build it

[27:45] Becoming confident with data and storytelling

[33:12] Her biggest challenge as a CPO

[34:03] Balancing employee experience with business priorities

[37:59] Maintaining mental wellbeing in a high-pressure role

[40:08] The importance of values alignment

[42:38] Advice for anyone who’d like to be a CPO

[45:41] Advice for first-time CPOs

[49:57] Courses and books that have helped Kanika succeed

[52:36] Wrap-up and other HR Coffee Time podcast episode recommendations

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website
• Connect with Kanika Mehra on LinkedIn

(Book links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them.)

• My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future – Indra Nooyi
• Data-Driven HR: How to Use Analytics and Metrics to Drive Performance – Bernard Marr
• Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon – Colin Bryar and Bill Carr
• Excellence in People Analytics – Jonathan Ferrar and David Green

• Episode 22: How to handle conflict at work
• Episode 31: 3 little-known LinkedIn features which will help you get your next job
• Episode 35: Helping teams thrive with personal user manuals
• Episode 47: Discovering your values to help your HR career
• Episode 106:

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to succeed as a Chief People Officer - or whether stepping into the role might be right for you - this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.

Host Fay Wallis is joined by John Scrooby, Chief People Officer at tech company Masabi. John shares honest and thought-provoking insights about what the role really involves, the challenges it brings, and how to navigate them. From taking ownership beyond your remit, to managing your wellbeing in a high-pressure role, and showing up as a values-driven, emotionally honest leader - this is a must-listen for anyone aiming to grow their HR leadership career.

John also reflects on his journey from his tech career to HR, explains what helped him make the transition, and gives advice for anyone looking to lead with impact.

[00:00] Introduction

[00:54] Why this series of episodes exists

[03:25] Meet John Scrooby

[03:55] How John got his first CPO role

[08:41] What he thought HR was - vs what he discovered

[10:39] The difference between being a Head of HR or HR Director and a CPO

[14:37] Advice for HR professionals nervous about stepping up

[17:20] Why peer support matters

[18:10] Vulnerability, leadership and mental health

[25:07] How John maintains his mental wellbeing

[29:43] Skills and habits that have helped him succeed

[32:15] John’s advice for anyone who would like to be a CPO one day

[36:21] His biggest challenge as a CPO

[41:24] How to get invited in as an HR leader

[44:51] His top piece of advice for new CPOs

[46:38] Courses or qualifications—are they essential?

[49:08] Conclusion

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with John Scrooby on LinkedIn
• People Before Strategy: A New Role for the CHRO (HBR article)
• University of Cambridge Judge Business School – CHRO Programme

(Book links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them).

• HR Coffee Time’s top book recommendations to thrive in your HR/People career
• Work Rules! by Laszlo Bock
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released and get access to other free career tips, tools and resources by signing up to receive the free weekly HR Coffee Time email.