Is This Room Free?
Welcome to Is This Room Free? In this podcast I will be talking to HR professionals and listening to the stories of their careers. I will be finding out about the journeys they have taken and what they learnt along the way. The purpose is to help others in the profession identify and understand the various paths available and take inspiration from my guest speakers. Whether you are someone who is looking to get that first step on the HR career ladder or an aspiring HR Director, I hope you get value from these conversations.
Is This Room Free?
Simon Schumann-Davies - the most experienced and complete HR person I've EVER interviewed!
I've often referenced the HR Bingo sheet through various podcast episodes. That's the list of everything you can do in the HR spectrum and ticking off as many as you can.
Well I think this episodes guest is the first person I've ever met who can probably stand up and shout "HR BINGO!"
I was incredibly thrilled to be joined by Simon Shumann-Davies for this 101st episode.
I would class Simon as being in the top percentile of HR professionals, simply based on what his market rate would be if he were looking for permanent work. However, this isn't someone who has had it easy... quite the opposite in fact.
Simon began his HR career in the RAF, which in itself is quite unique. Upon leaving the Forces he then struggled to get a HR job in the private sector as his experience in such a different type of organisation wasn't deemed relevant.
However, despite overcoming that initial difficulty he has gone on to accumulate one of the most comprehensive profiles I've ever come across.
Whilst he says his is an employment law and change specialist, I struggle to think of anything he hasn't done in the HR space. This is combined with him working across an incredible amount of sectors and industries as well as companies from start-up to global giants.
Taking another unique turn, Simon now works as a fractional HR Director and he explains what exactly this type of work entails.
This is THE episode that you cannot miss!