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?
Dotty Day - Fractional CPO (saying "yes" for career development, getting burnt-out, and having a squiggly career)
In this epsiode I'm joined by Dotty Day, a seasoned HR professional with over 26 years of experience, specializing in interim roles and organisational change. Dotty shares her unique career journey, which began unexpectedly when she took a temporary position at Boots Pharmaceuticals, leading her to discover her passion for HR amidst a corporate merger.
Throughout the conversation, Dotty reflects on her diverse experiences across various organizations, including Capital One and Eon, where she developed her expertise in HR transformation and organizational design. She emphasizes the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, which allowed her to gain valuable experience and grow her career.
Dotty is someone who experienced rapid career progression but she also discusses the challenges of burnout she faced in her early career, which prompted her to reevaluate her work-life balance. This pivotal moment led her to explore freelance work, where she found fulfillment in helping organisations navigate change while maintaining her own flexibility.
Having worked in contract roles for many years, Dotty is now looking to help others who want to take the freelancing path through Gighrly, a new community for HR professionals and independent consultants helping them with the tools and support required to navigate this route successfully.
Notes
🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Background (00:56 - 10:38)
- Dotty introduces herself as a career interim and HR freelancer with 26 years of experience
- Dotty specializes in organization design, culture change, and people change
🏢 Early Career and Education (10:38 - 21:23)
- Dotty grew up in a working-class family
- She studied business studies with European business at university
- Dotty accidentally fell into HR through a temp job at Boots Pharmaceuticals
- She progressed quickly in her career, taking on various HR roles
💼 Career Progression and Challenges (21:40 - 32:09)
- Dotty moved through different companies, including Capital One and Northern Foods
- She experienced rapid career growth and significant pay increases
- Dotty faced burnout in a high-pressure role as head of resourcing
🔄 Career Reset and New Directions (32:09 - 40:35)
- After burnout, Dotty left her high-paying job to reset her career
- She started a small business painting pictures and designing websites
- Dotty returned to HR through a role at Eon, which offered a better work-life balance
🚀 Transition to Interim Work (40:36 - 49:30)
- Dotty transitioned into interim work, focusing on transformation projects
- She discusses the benefits and challenges of interim work
- Dotty emphasises the importance of networking in finding interim opportunities
🌐 Building a Network and Personal Brand (49:34 - 59:57)
- Dotty highlights the importance of maintaining professional networks
- She discusses how her network has led to various job opportunities
- Dotty explains the fluid nature of interim wor