Interview: How Tesla’s former DEI director, Kristen Kavanaugh, chose courage over fear

person skydiving on air during daytime, Tesla DEI director, courage over fear

Courageous leadership isn’t about saving the day. It’s about taking small steps to stand up for your beliefs, when retreating would be easier. In an interview with HRZone, Kristen Kavanaugh, former DEI director of Tesla, reveals her journey to resilience, her proudest moments at the automotive company, and how courageous leaders can respond to corporate pullbacks from DEI.

Five psychological safety challenges for hybrid workplaces

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Building psychological safety is a complex venture for any organisation. But the very nature of hybrid work makes it even more difficult to foster. Here, Jacqueline Towers of Hubstar presents five common barriers to speak-up cultures in hybrid settings – and how to remove these through small changes to everyday behaviours.

Beyond the strategy deck: How HR can turn sustainability promises into action

green plant

Your sustainability strategy looks impressive, but are your people systems actually delivering change? Professor Matthew Gitsham from Hult International Business School explores the critical disconnect between organisational promises and performance – and shows you exactly how HR can bridge that gap through culture, capability, and leadership transformation.

Return to office: How not to upset almost everyone

A woman appears stressed while working on laptop. Return to office.

With return-to-office (RTO) mandates back in the news, Quentin Millington of Marble Brook explains why there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy for where to work. Here, he outlines eight questions HR leaders can pose to their organisations to encourage meaningful thinking, rapid decisions and practical action.

The silent culture killer that is impacting your talent

Nine in ten British employees are disengaged at work, yet, 80% of employees actually enjoy the work they do. So if their role isn’t the problem, what is? Sanjay Lobo, CEO of OnHand, highlights why lack of purpose is draining the spark from your teams – and three ways to turn this around.

Lessons from the depths: What OceanGate teaches us about toxic leadership

yellow and black gas lamp, OceanGate

The OceanGate investigation revealed that toxic leadership played a crucial role in a preventable tragedy. But these destructive patterns exist in workplaces everywhere. Here, occupational psychologist Fran Pestana explains how gaslighting and manipulation operate – and their profound psychological and commercial costs.

Money versus people, the conflict ChatGPT cannot resolve

ChatGPT, a cell phone sitting on top of a laptop computer

As OpenAI restructures to chase profits, raising doubts about the firm’s commitment to AI for the benefit of all, we see writ large the unremitting conflict between self-interest and stakeholder value. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook makes sense of the complex dynamic, offering ideas to quieten this near-universal distraction from good work.

HR’s role in handling domestic abuse disclosures

love shouldn't hurt-printed on back of woman, disclosing domestic abuse

With one in five UK employees experiencing domestic abuse, workplaces can be one of the few safe spaces a victim-survivor can turn to for help. Here, Susan Bright, CEO of EIDA (Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse), shares guidance for HR teams on handling domestic abuse disclosures with compassion and clarity.

Have better impact: Three imperatives for thoughtful leaders

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Through work, we all have an impact on colleagues, customers or society. How can we ensure we use this power to good effect? Quentin Millington of Marble Brook looks at the value of being ’thoughtful’, and what three central imperatives of thoughtfulness mean in practice.

AI layoffs pose risk: Build strength, not weakness

photo of dining table and chairs inside room, AI layoffs

Last week the chief executive of BT Allison Kirkby said the group’s ambitions to harness the “full potential of AI” may involve more layoffs than her predecessor had outlined in 2023. Here, Quentin Millington of Marble Brook considers four ways leaders can ensure artificial intelligence strengthens – rather than weakens – their team’s value.

Pride amid DEI pushback: Why HR must show what allyship really means

group of people under garment

Pride flags are flying this month, as they are every June. But in this period of anti-DEI rhetoric, your team is watching – now more than ever – how your organisation responds. Kerry Nicholson, Chief of Operations for Brand Champions, explores the feelings of exclusion and exhaustion felt by the LGBTQ+ community today, and how organisations can be genuine allies amid increasing DEI resistance.