The Business of Being Brilliant podcast
S11 E5: 'How to fix people issues brilliantly'
with Kieran Mander
Monday 16 March 2025

About this episode
What happens when you walk into an organisation and realise the people issues run deeper than anyone thought? In this episode, I unpack what it takes to fix complex people challenges — from diagnosing the real problems to turning chaos into clarity. Together with my guest, we explore what an interim HR leader should focus on first, how to handle messy structures, broken recruitment processes, and how to spot the sharks in the tank.
Joining me is Kieran Mander, a Fellow of the CIPD and a recognised authority in international HR, coaching, and people strategy. With more than twenty years of experience across sectors like tech, utilities, aviation, and retail, including a decade working in the Middle East, Kieran has played pivotal roles in everything from start-ups to FTSE 100 firms. He’s led major change programmes, served as a committee vice chair, and is now co-authoring The HRBP Handbook — sharing best practices and fresh thinking to champion better work and working lives. Kieran’s expertise lies in translating complex objectives into practical, impactful strategies that truly make organisations better places to work.
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Kieran on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranmander/
Kieran’s website: https://www.kieranmander.com/
Rate A Recruiter website: https://ratearecruiter.net/
Order Helen’s new business book, the Amazon Bestseller People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free. Help others to discover it too by leaving a book review and/or rating here.
Download free retention tools from Helen’s website here, including the Freedom Index and 8 ways to diagnose your retention risks.
Listen to Helen’s special podcast episode about People Glue with guest host, CEO and tech entrepreneur Jen Sundberg.
Discover Helen’s award-winning first business book The Future of Time: how ‘re-working’ time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing. Browse the reviews or rate it/post your own review here.
Join Helen’s mailing list here.
Follow Helen on LinkedIn and Instagram.
