Podcast – CPO Talk!

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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.

Introduction

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.

Episode 1

Parental Transition Coaching with Linda Johnston, Chief People Officer at ⁠Isio

In this opening episode of CPO Talk: Family-Friendly Cultures, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠Parent and Professional⁠, sits down with Linda Johnston, Chief People Officer at ⁠Isio⁠, to talk about one of the most powerful tools for building a truly supportive, family-friendly culture – parental transition coaching.

It’s a warm, honest and practical conversation and a brilliant listen for anyone passionate about supporting working parents. It’s also a great listen for working parents, too.

Episode 2

Flexible Working with Catherine Ridd, HR Director at Triodos Bank UK

In this episode of CPO Talk: Family-Friendly Cultures, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠⁠Parent and Professional⁠⁠, chats with Catherine Ridd, HR Director at ⁠Triodos Bank UK⁠, about why flexible working really matters — especially for parents.

They discuss personal experiences with work-family balance, the necessity of flexibility for mental wellbeing, and the challenges organisations can face in implementing such policies.

Episode 3

Family-Friendly Leadership with Elise Lockyer, Chief People Officer, Sonovate

In this episode of CPO Talk: Family-Friendly Cultures, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠Parent and Professional⁠, chats with Elise Lockyer, Chief People Officer, Sonovate, about the ripple effect of role modelling family-friendly leadership from the top.

Elise shares personal reflections on balancing leadership and parenthood, and why leading with humanity, especially through moments of challenge and trauma, can have a lasting impact on both culture and performance.

Episode 4

Future Workplaces with Louise Brown, HR Leader and Board Chair, City HR

In this latest episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠Parent and Professional⁠, sits down with Louise Brown, HR Leader and Board Chair at City HR for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation on the future of family-friendly workplaces meeting the needs of evolving families.

They discuss the evolving nature of family structures, the importance of work-life balance, and how organisations can create inclusive environments that support diverse family needs. Louise shares her personal experiences and insights on redefining professionalism, the significance of human leadership, and the necessity for workplaces to adapt to the changing dynamics of family life.

Episode 5

Beyond Family-Friendly Policies with Sam Turner, Chief People Officer, Lenvi

In this latest episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠Parent and Professional⁠, sits down with Sam Turner, Chief People Officer at Lenvi, to explore what it really means to support employees through the unexpected moments of parenthood and beyond.

Together, they unpack how family-friendly workplaces can go further than policies — offering proactive, compassionate support when life doesn’t go to plan. From fertility challenges to navigating additional needs, and from the silent struggles younger employees may face to the value of open communication and leadership empathy, Sam shares brilliant insights on building a culture that flexes to meet real life.

Episode 6

Rethinking Family-Related Policies – with Greg McCaw, Chief People Officer, BKL

In this thoughtful episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠Parent and Professional⁠,  speaks with Greg McCaw, Chief People Officer at  BKL, about what it really means to build a family-friendly workplace — one that responds with compassion, not just compliance.

Together, they explore how organisations can rethink rigid policies to create a culture that embraces the whole human experience, from becoming a parent to navigating grief, caring responsibilities, and unexpected life moments. Greg shares powerful personal stories and insights, including how BKL introduced a gold-standard kinship care policy – giving kinship carers the same paid leave and flexibility as new parents.

Episode 7

Busting the Myth – Careers and Family Balance can Co-Exist with Fiona Brunskill, Chief People Officer at Transport for London

In this episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of Parent and Professional, is joined by Fiona Brunskill, Chief People Officer at Transport for London, to discuss how employees can achieve true work-life balance while still progressing in their careers, and what organisations can do to make that possible.

Fiona shares her personal experiences as a working mother and how they have shaped her approach to leadership and employee support. Together, they explore the importance of recognising diverse family structures, the need for flexibility that works for all employees, not just parents and those in shift roles – and why fostering inclusive, employee-led career development is key to creating cultures where everyone can thrive.

Episode 8

Supporting dads in the workplace – valuing all caregivers can Co-Exist with Carina Huette, Chief People Officer at radicant bank

In this episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of ⁠Parent andProfessional⁠, is joined by Carina Huette, Chief People Officer at ⁠radicant bank⁠, discusses the importance of supporting dads in the workplace. Carina shares her personal experiences and insights on how to create a family-friendly culture that values both mothers and fathers as caregivers.

The discussion highlights the need to break down stereotypes around fatherhood, the barriers that prevent dads from taking on more parenting responsibilities, and the benefits of fostering a supportive environment for all parents. Together, Helen and Carina reflect on why a balanced work-family life is essential for employee engagement and overall workplace culture – and why more organisations in Switzerland need to step up to this challenge if they want to compete in attracting and retaining talent.

Episode 9

How openness builds a supportive culture with Claire Hawes, Chief Operating & People Officer, CIPHR

In this episode, Helen Letchfield, co-founder of Parent and Professional is joined by Claire Hawes, Chief Operating & People Officer at CIPHR, to explore the power of storytelling in shaping workplace culture. Claire shares how openness and lived experience can break down barriers, build trust, and create a truly supportive environment for working parents and carers.

Together, they discuss the challenges of returning to work after parental leave, the impact of divorce on work life and the role of supportive networks, and why recognising diverse family structures is key to building a culture of acceptance and understanding.