From the second the doors opened at How HR Leaders Change the World LIVE! 2025, the room was buzzing with conversation and curiosity.
HEX was proud to be a headline partner for the second year running, and I’m grateful to Cecilia Crossley and the team at Uplifting People for putting together a day that blended energy, realism, and impact.
A high energy day that set the tone
HR leaders from across industries came together at the event ready to participate, challenge assumptions, and share their experiences. Each of the day’s sessions sparked discussion and interesting perspectives.
We were privileged to listen to HR colleagues discussing issues and challenges highly relevant to organisations everywhere. Rather than staying in the realm of theory or familiar talking points, the panel discussions dug into meaty topics such as:
- Shifting workforce expectations
- The pressure for businesses to lead responsibly
- The growing role of HR in social impact
- The demand for transparency and trust
- The pressure of change, including our old friend AI
The panel members spoke authentically about their challenges and successes, and the discussions really got me thinking about how I can more effectively support HR leaders in my work.
Mindset: the engine of leadership impact
I had the opportunity to lead a session exploring mindset, which sits at the heart of my work with CHROs and senior HR leaders. Mindset is the lens through which leaders interpret uncertainty, pressure, opportunity and change. It either limits impact or amplifies it.
During the session we explored:
- What distinguishes the mindset of great CHROs
- How HR leaders can reframe what they find hard into opportunities for growth
- Why internal barriers often matter more than external ones
- How mindset influences strategic clarity, presence and resilience
The insights shared by the audience brought the topic to life and it was fantastic to see the opportunities that the challenging parts of senior HR roles can bring.
Key note speaker Sir Bob Geldof
A highlight for me was Cecilia’s interview with Sir Bob Geldof. He challenged leaders to act with urgency, to stay connected to the real human consequences of their decisions, and to recognise that leadership is ultimately about service, courage, and refusing to look away.
His words reminded us that impact happens when conviction meets action – something the HR profession understands but can struggle to implement.
An energising event
Events like this always leave me energised, and this year was no different. The HR profession is often described as the heartbeat of an organisation. Not only this, days like this are a reminder that HR leaders are also catalysts for innovation, inclusion, responsibility, and progress.
A thank you again to Cecilia Crossley, the Uplifting People team, the speakers, the partners who supported the event, and all the HR leaders who showed up and shared their views and insights.
