How can leaders embrace AI and rapid change without losing the human connection that drives great workplaces?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Margo Thomas, Chief People Officer at Sime Motors, to explore leadership, trust, organisational culture, and the evolving role of HR in today's workplace.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience across education, banking, technology, manufacturing, distribution, and automotive, Margo shares practical insights into leading with authenticity, building high-trust teams, and helping organisations balance commercial performance with genuine care for people.

From leadership vulnerability and relationship building to AI, commercial acumen, career development, and the future of HR, this conversation explores why people professionals need to spend less time behind their desks and more time understanding the people and businesses they support.

The discussion also explores the importance of intuition in leadership, coaching future HR professionals, navigating difficult conversations with empathy, and why curiosity, courage, and connection remain some of the most valuable capabilities for the future of work.

What You'll Learn

• Why human connection remains HR's greatest strength

• How AI should enhance, not replace, leadership

• The importance of building high-trust relationships

• Why HR professionals need to spend time in the business, not just behind a screen

• How commercial understanding strengthens People & Culture leadership

• The value of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership

• Why curiosity and saying "yes" create career opportunities

• How to coach leaders through difficult conversations with empathy

• The importance of balancing policy with sound judgement

• Practical advice for building a successful HR career

Key Takeaways

• Great leadership starts with trust, authenticity, and genuine relationships.

• Technology should strengthen human connection, not replace it.

• HR creates the greatest value when it understands the commercial realities of the business.

• Strong leaders balance empathy with sound judgement.

• Curiosity and continuous learning accelerate career growth.

• High-performing HR professionals spend time where the work happens.

• Leadership becomes stronger when people feel trusted, supported, and challenged.

• Organisations succeed when people and business outcomes are considered together.

About Margo Thomas

Margo Thomas is Chief People Officer at Sime Motors, where she leads the organisation's People & Culture strategy across leadership, organisational capability, employee experience, and workforce development.

With more than 20 years of HR leadership experience spanning education, banking, telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, distribution, and automotive, Margo is passionate about building high-performing teams, developing leaders, and creating workplaces where people feel connected, trusted, and empowered to succeed.

Why This Episode Matters

As organisations embrace AI, flexible work, and increasing workplace complexity, leaders face the challenge of maintaining meaningful human connection while delivering commercial outcomes.

This episode provides practical insights into how People & Culture leaders can build trust, strengthen leadership capability, and create workplaces where technology supports, rather than replaces, authentic relationships. Whether you're an HR professional, executive, business owner, or people leader, Margo offers practical advice for leading with empathy, commercial awareness, and purpose.

Resources & Links

• Sime Motors: https://www.simemotors.co.nz/
• Connect with Margo Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margo-thomas-567ba04/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What separates genuinely innovative organisations from those that simply talk about innovation?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Nicola Taylor, co-founder of Tax Traders and Taxi, to explore organisational culture, innovation, leadership, and the mindset required to build businesses that continually evolve.

Drawing on her experience building successful fintech companies, Nicola shares practical insights into creating cultures where experimentation, curiosity, belonging, and psychological safety drive better decisions and stronger business outcomes.

From productive failure and behavioural values to leadership, recruitment, AI, feedback, and continuous improvement, this conversation challenges many of the common assumptions about innovation. Nicola explains why innovation is built through disciplined experimentation rather than random ideas, why leaders should ask better questions instead of having all the answers, and how organisations can intentionally design cultures where people feel empowered to contribute their best thinking.

The discussion also explores how belonging starts long before an employee's first day, why feedback should be celebrated rather than feared, and how removing ego from decision-making allows organisations to learn faster and perform better.

What You'll Learn

• Why innovation requires discipline as much as creativity

• The difference between productive and unproductive failure

• How psychological safety differs from comfort

• Why belonging begins before an employee's first day

• How behavioural values create stronger organisational cultures

• The role curiosity plays in leadership and innovation

• Why leaders should ask better questions instead of providing all the answers

• How experimentation drives continuous improvement

• The importance of feedback, reflection, and lifelong learning

• How AI and technology can support, rather than replace, human capability

Key Takeaways

• Innovation is built through disciplined experimentation, not random ideas.

• Psychological safety allows people to contribute without fear, even when conversations are uncomfortable.

• Great cultures are intentionally designed through everyday behaviours.

• Strong leaders create environments where others can succeed.

• Curiosity and feedback accelerate learning and better decision-making.

• Behavioural values are more powerful than aspirational statements.

• Belonging strengthens engagement, confidence, and performance.

• Technology will continue to evolve, but human judgement, empathy, and creativity remain essential.

About Nicola Taylor

Nicola Taylor is the co-founder of Tax Traders and Taxi, two award-winning New Zealand fintech businesses transforming the way organisations manage tax and business funding.

Passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, and building exceptional workplace cultures, Nicola is recognised for challenging conventional thinking around leadership, organisational design, and business growth. She is a strong advocate for creating environments where curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning enable both people and organisations to thrive.

Why This Episode Matters

As organisations navigate rapid technological change, AI, and evolving workforce expectations, creating innovative cultures has become a critical leadership capability.

This episode provides practical insights into how leaders can intentionally design workplaces where people feel safe to experiment, challenge ideas, learn from failure, and contribute their best thinking. Whether you're an HR professional, business owner, executive leader, or entrepreneur, Nicola offers practical ideas for building cultures that are innovative, resilient, and ready for the future.

Resources & Links

• Tax Traders: https://www.taxtraders.co.nz
• Taxi: https://www.gotaxi.co.nz/
• Connect with Nicola Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-raffills-taylor/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.