Hi there, we are Karen and Siân and here are our stories...
We believe the time is right to disrupt HR recruitment and career development.
Have you applied for a job only to be met with tumbleweed blowing in the wind? Are you so busy that when you lose a member of your team you frantically try to fill that empty chair as soon as possible rather than standing back and checking if your existing team set-up is fit for purpose for the new organisational strategy? Do you believe you and your team are getting left behind when it comes to the rapid changes in work?
We've been there – and that's why we believe recruiting and developing talent for senior HR leaders needs to be disrupted now more than ever. We live in a world that is changing rapidly, from workplace flexibility to new modes of collaboration, all making the future of work uncertain.
Outdated practices are no longer effective for finding and cultivating HR leadership talent. It’s critical that HR recruitment and career development initiatives match the speed of the current environment so HR leaders can find and grow the right people for their team quickly to enable organisational success. By investing in yourself and leading your HR team to success, you’ll be well on your way to turbo-charging your HR career development and staying ahead of the game.
Karen Beaven...
Originally from Barrow in Furness and now living in London, I’ve spent most of my career working in Human Resources. I’ve worked across a number of sectors and sizes of organisation and have appeared on the HR Most Influential list on a couple of occasions.
I’ve worked for some fabulous organisations including Sainsburys, HMV, AllSaints, River Island, Currys and BBC Studios. In 2015 I was recognised as HR Director of the Year at the HR Excellence Awards in addition to picking up a number of other awards with my team for the work we had delivered.
In 2019 my first book Strategic HR Management, An HR professional’s toolkit was published by Kogan Page. This book was then shortlisted for the Business Book Awards in 2020. I’ve also previously written a regular column for HR Magazine and written articles which have appeared in People Management and PrintWeek Magazine.
When it comes to work, all I want is to do work I love with people who inspire me and I’m incredibly passionate about wellbeing and supporting HR people as they build their careers.
HR isn’t an easy option, it can be tough going at times but the flipside is that it can also be incredibly rewarding when you find yourself in the right role at the right time with a CEO who’s as passionate about the people agenda as you are. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience this several times in my career and am now passionate about helping others to find their dream role and build an amazing career.
...Siân Harrington
I've been so lucky over the past three decades as a business journalist and editor to interview some of the most fascinating names in business – from those who may not be best known for their people leadership (!) to the best of role models. Along the way I have found myself, pen in hand, in front of leaders as varied as ex-boxer George Walker, billionaire retailer Phillip Green and former UK prime minister Teresa May to ex Tesco head Terry Leahy, global entrepreneur Richard Branson and the founder of Russian Standard Roustam Tariko. I certainly have some stories to tell!
Through all this I have seen the impact good people practice and continual learning plays in successful and sustainable organisations. And it was this this that prompted me to leave the corporate world back in 2017 to pursue my dream to help HR leaders to thrive in the fast-evolving digital working environment.
As a former board director, editor and journalist at some of the UK’s most successful business publications including The Grocer and Retail Week, I've delivered award-winning content, mentored journalists who have gone on to be leading names in their sectors, and created innovative and successful brands including the annual HR Most Influential list, HR in the Boardroom with CEO coach and LinkedIn Influencer Steve Tappin and The Grocer Gold Awards.
I am also executive editor of How to Become a World Class Manager by Wayne Clarke, launching in March 2023, and author of several papers on HR including the CIPD's Responsible Investment in Technology guide. I've previously been editor and publisher of HR magazine, a board director at Mark Allen Group and non-executive director at leadership institute Roffey Park.
And now with Karen I want to help shake up the HR talent and recruitment market to make it responsive to today's candidate and organisational needs. I am particularly excited by the changes taking place in work and am on a mission to inspire HR and people leadesr to seize and shape the future of work.
What People Say About Us
A powerful exciting duo!
"A new exciting chapter begins! A powerful duo! Looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds!"
Royston Guest, author, speaker and business performance coach
One of the most exciting and natural collaborations.
"This is one of the most exciting and natural collaborations I can think of. Can’t wait too see how this develops."
Wayne Gwilym, head of organisational development, Tai Tarian
Two powerhouses coming together.
" Two powerhouses coming together. Can't wait to see what magic you create going forward."
Shakil Butt, multi-award winning HR and leadership specialist
Turning ideas into impact.
" BRAVO!!! Anything Siân 'touches' turns to gold. She has a knack of identifying relevant ideas and turning those ideas into impact. Excited to see how it unfolds"
Dave Ulrich, speaker, author and founder of modern HR