Podcast – CPO Talk!
CPO Talk – Family-Friendly Cultures
Join Helen Letchfield, co-founder of Parent and Professional, as she chats with Chief People Officers (CPOs) who are leading the way in making workplaces more family-friendly.
Hear real stories, fresh ideas, and practical strategies for building a work culture that truly supports parents and caregivers, because when people thrive at home, they thrive at work too.
Season Two
The story behind this podcast – meet your host, Helen Letchfield
Hello, I’m Helen Letchfield, co-founder of Parent and Professional — and the host of this podcast. Before we dive into the interviews, I thought it might be helpful to introduce myself and share why I started this podcast in the first place.
Season Two – Episode 1
Building Family-Friendly Cultures through Employee Networks with Fiona Hnatow, Chief People Officer, The University of Portsmouth
In this episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of Parent and Professional, speaks with Fiona Hnatow, Chief People Officer, The University of Portsmouth, for an inspiring and practical conversation on the role of employee networks in shaping truly family-friendly workplaces.
Drawing on her own experience as a working parent, Fiona shares why networks have become a vital resource — not just for connection and support, but as a powerful driver of organisational change. Together, they explore how well-supported, well-connected networks can influence policy, inform leadership decisions, and create environments where employees can thrive both professionally and personally.
2026 Report: The Future of Work is Family Friendly
What does it take to build a truly family-friendly culture — not just in principle, but in practice?
That’s the question we put to Chief People Officers across sectors in season one of our CPO Talk podcast — and the answers we heard were honest, nuanced, and full of practical insight.
As we look ahead to 2026, it’s clear that the future of work will be shaped by how organisations respond to the human moments that matter most — parental leave, caring responsibilities, midlife health, flexible working, and wellbeing across all life stages.
This new report brings together:
- Reflections from 15 CPO podcast interviews
- Real-world examples of what’s working (and what’s not)
- The five key themes emerging across sectors
- Practical takeaways for building a culture where people feel supported and able to perform
Whether you’re navigating change, shaping policy, or making the case for investment in your people, this report is designed to give you ideas, language, and leadership insight to support your next steps.
Download the full report here: https://crm.parentandprofessional.co.uk/2026-report-the-future-of-work-is-family-friendly
Are you a CPO with a story to share? We’d love to hear from you – please get in touch. Season 2 of CPO Talk starts recording in March, continuing the conversation with fresh voices and practical insight.
