Skip to content
Get in touch

Is your HR strategy bulletproof or bullet-pointed?

The second instalment in our People. Performance. Proof. series.

Featuring:

Heidi Sichien Headshot

Heidi Sichien

CPO, Phillips

Hosted by:

Headshot photo of Octavius Black, Executive Chair of MindGym

Octavius Black, CBE

Co-founder and Executive Chair, MindGym

Hein Knaapen, Managing Partner, Europe, CEO Works

Hein Knaapen

Managing Partner, Europe, CEO Works

HR strategy doesn't fail because of a lack of ambition, it fails because of a lack of focus.

In this candid discussion, Heidi shares how to cut through HR theatre, win over sceptics and turn strategy into commercial impact. Together with Octavius and Hein, she explores what it takes to lead HR transformation. 

Watch the recording for the tough questions, honest answers, and practical strategies you won’t find in any textbook.

Five takeaways for transforming your HR strategy

1. Shift from process to impact

Every decision at Philips had to pass one test: does this drive business value? If not, it stopped.

2. Redesign your HR operating model around the business

Business partners focused on strategy execution. COEs acting as product owners. A small strategic core aligned with the CEO. Centralised delivery for scale.

3. Follow the money

Measure business outcomes, not HR activity. Co-create goals with leaders rather than handing over HR-led solutions.

4. Cut legacy habits fast

Stop what isn't working. Bring in external talent where mindset change is needed. Reward simplicity. Challenge "the way we've always done it."

5. Build for what's next

Scale AI. Redesign incentives for performance and pace. Hold leaders to behaviours that drive clarity, speed and impact.

Portrait photo of Octavius Black in professional attire, posing for a headshot.

A practical framework for commercial HR

This webinar showed what it takes to turn HR into a commercially driven business function. The next step is making these ideas work in the reality of your own organisation.

In his latest article, The HR You Deserve, Octavius Black outlines a practical framwwork for where to start - and what to stop - to turn good intentions into business results.

Make your HR strategy bulletproof

Get practical advice on where to focus for the greatest impact. Our team works with HR leaders to identify the priorities that will make the biggest difference, and the distractions worth leaving behind.

Book a conversation to explore what the right next steps could look like for your organisation.