“What purpose means to me is probably the experience of human connection. And that’s something that I didn’t necessarily identify in my early life, but it’s always been a connecting string through my favourite moments, experiences, and how I work and my drive, and how I’ve become the person that I am today. It’s one of the biggest reasons I ended up getting into human resources or people in the first place. Like many of us, I started out in recruitment, and I felt like you sort of got someone the job, wished them well, and then lost that extended experience with them. For me, it was really important to continue supporting people and see how they progressed and developed. That’s also why I love events and being in that space so much,  because it’s all about building in-person human experiences and connections, which drive me. I’m an extrovert through and through, and I gain energy from human interaction and creating that connection.”

“I probably feel most connected to my work when it leans into my most natural behaviours. So when it’s driving my purpose, when I can feel that human interaction, but equally when I feel like I’m making a difference for the better. When you work in this space, you’re often having really difficult conversations, so it’s not always positive. But when you find somebody who you know is going to flourish in the space you’re hiring for, and then you see them succeed, grow, and fulfill their own purpose, it’s the most satisfying feeling. I’m also fortunate to work in a business where I genuinely back our mission. We curate food and drink lineups for large-scale events, festivals, and sporting events. We work with incredible independent food traders who left their nine-to-five to follow their passions, and we get to give them a stage at world-renowned events. Being able to bring people into that space, where their purpose and passion come alive, is amazing.”

“I can only speak from imagination because I probably never felt well resourced. Maybe in agency work, when you had peers in similar roles who could share experiences and advice. One of the biggest challenges of being in a standalone people role is that you rarely feel resourced. There will always be times you’re doing something for the first time with no idea how, or going through something you can’t share because of its sensitivity. And when you’re championing that perspective with a CEO who has their own agenda, it can feel lonely. I live and die by my network, and it’s easy to forget that sometimes. But there are people living the same experiences, struggling in the same ways, and when we share and support each other, that becomes the real resource.”

“There are a few things that help me stay grounded in challenging moments. My biggest advice is not to take things personally, though it’s difficult in the moment. We’re exposed to people at vulnerable, volatile times, so you have to safeguard yourself. Walks in nature are non-negotiable for me, I go out at lunch every day for an hour. I also keep a few mantras that remind me you can support someone while keeping enough distance to protect yourself. And I work with a few external supporters I can seek advice from when I need it.”

“I wish people understood more about what people and talent roles actually are, and why so many of us do this work. Most of us came from recruitment because we wanted to keep supporting people long-term. I’ve gotten into so many online arguments with people saying HR is not your friend. Technically, no, it’s a professional role. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have people’s best interests at heart. We’re always trying to balance human needs with business needs. Sometimes that means being the bearer of hard news, and sometimes it means championing people-first change. In my current business, people know my ethics and my goals. But in the wider world, HR is often miscast as the enemy, and that makes me sad.”

“I want to make a big impact in my job, not just small ones. Working in an industry people dream of joining, festivals, food, hospitality, I get to help them access those opportunities. Giving someone their dream job is incredible, but the bigger impact is helping make their working life better once they’re here. That could be improving benefits, increasing flexibility, or supporting them through a tough time. Even if they move on, I want this business to be a positive stepping stone that gave them something meaningful.”

“I play many roles in different teams. Some might say I’m a hoop-maker with processes to jump through. Others see me as someone who makes their lives easier, supports tough conversations, and is there to listen. I do endless walks and talks with people every day. But I also challenge leadership to champion their people and think first about engagement and performance. The role is both supportive and directive, you have to adapt to what’s needed.”

“One small ritual that helps me feel like myself is being in nature. As much as I thrive on human connection, sometimes I need to escape and reconnect with myself instead. A walk along canals, watching wildlife, just helps me remember who I am and what matters.”

“My sense of purpose has evolved over time. When I was younger, it looked like going to festivals, partying, and meeting as many people as possible. I thought I was just being fun and carefree, but really it was about connection. That’s still my purpose , I’ve just learned to channel it differently. I still love festivals and new people, but now I bring that same drive for connection into my work, in more meaningful ways.”

“My message to the Resourced Humans Collective would be: you are not alone. Even if you’re in a standalone role, there’s a collective of people who’ve lived the same challenges. We should all learn and grow from each other. It’s easy to get stuck in the day-to-day, but this is the most amazing industry because people are so open, honest, and willing to share. You just need to reach out.”