HR Coffee Time Weekly Email
Hi, I'm Fay - a career & executive coach who specialises in helping HR/People professionals to have successful and fulfilling careers. I'm the Founder of Bright Sky Career Coaching, creator of the HR Planner and host of the podcast,🎙HR Coffee Time. Every Friday afternoon I send a free HR Coffee Time email - a weekly shot of inspiration for your HR career. Sign up to receive your own HR Coffee Time emails using the 'Subscribe' button below.
It’s here… the 2026 digital Essential HR Planner 📲
Hi Reader, Do you remember how exciting it felt to receive your first-ever business card with your name on it? I still remember thinking, "I feel like an actual grown-up now - a business person." I don't really use business cards anymore (do you? I always connect with new contacts on LinkedIn instead). But I had that same excited feeling this week when two things happened: 📸 First, I received a set of beautiful new photos from the wonderful photographer (Vicki Knights) who shot The Essential...
[The HR Planning Day] Some quick updates about the day 📝 (I'm looking forward to seeing you there!)
Hi Reader, I can't believe The HR Planning Day is just around the corner! (Thursday, 27th November). I'm really looking forward to seeing you there and helping you map out an amazing 2026. Below is everything you need to know for the day. What to bring If you had a copy of The Essential HR Planner for 2025 and used it this year, you may find it helpful to bring it with you (but please don't worry if you didn't have a copy; it isn't essential to bring it!) Your organisation's strategy document...
The speaker I was too nervous to invite last year...
Hi Reader, Have you ever listened to something so good you had to stop what you were doing? That’s exactly what happened the first time I came across Dr Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey’s podcast, The Element of Inclusion (ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts in the world). I was doing the ironing on a Sunday afternoon (my weekends are very rock n roll…😅) and within minutes I abandoned the ironing board, sat down, and started taking notes. What he was sharing was that good. A few weeks later, nerves...
You deserve to be celebrated for the work you do 💫
Hi Reader, It takes quite a lot to annoy me, but after reading yet another HR-bashing news article last week, I couldn’t sleep. Because every day I see the opposite of what is being described in the press at the moment - hard-working HR professionals helping their organisations succeed, improving performance, and creating the conditions for people to do their best work. So let’s counteract the negativity and celebrate the good. ✨ I’m proud to be partnering with Personio for their People &...
HR can feel lonely - but it doesn’t have to.
Hi Reader, Do you ever feel like working in HR can be a bit lonely? It’s something that’s come up again and again in my recent podcast conversations with Chief People Officers. In this week’s episode of 🎙️HR Coffee Time, my guest, Nebel Crowhurst, talked about the importance of building a strong network - having people outside your organisation you can turn to when you need advice, a sounding board, or simply someone who understands what it’s like to do what you do. Nebel shared some...
Tickets are live for The HR Planning Day 🎟️ 🎉
Hi Reader, I'm excited to be able to share that tickets are officially live for The HR Planning Day 🎉 It’s happening on Thursday 27th November 2025 at the Roehampton Club in Barnes, south-west London - and it would be wonderful to have you there. Photo from last year's HR Planning Day I absolutely loved running The HR Planning Day for the first time last year. It was amazing to see so many HR professionals enjoying the day - reflecting, sharing ideas, and getting excited about their goals and...
🎄Christmas in July (with 4 HR gems to unwrap)
Hi Reader, Have you ever heard the phrase “Christmas in July”? I first learnt it from my friend Catherine Erdly, who’s a retail expert. She explained that in retail, July is when Christmas really begins – because if you're not planning your festive stock, campaigns, and events now, it’s already too late. And ever since then, it’s stuck with me. It’s been on my mind again this week – partly because I need to get cracking with the designs and activities for the 2026 edition of The Essential HR...
What's the real difference between an HR Director and a CPO/CHRO?
Hi Reader, It’s a question I know many HR professionals wonder about - what actually changes when you step up from HR Director to Chief People Officer? That’s exactly why I ask every guest in my special 🎙️HR Coffee Time podcast series on the CPO role to answer it. In the latest episode, I was joined by Jane Beeston, CPO at Colart. Jane generously shared her experience of stepping into the Chief People Officer role, what it really involves, and the skills that have helped her thrive. She talks...
3 public speaking tips from one of my favourite books
Hi Reader, Does your blood run cold at the idea of having to present to a packed room at work? Or maybe you're ok with presenting but know you could be even better. A fear of public speaking is something I've struggled with in the past and have had to actively work on over the years. My favourite book I've come across to help is called Speaking Up Without Freaking Out by Matt Abrahams. It’s packed with 50 practical techniques to overcome nerves and deliver a great talk or presentation. 🎥 In...
Dread the idea of creating a strategy?
Hi Reader, Does the idea of having to write a strategy fill you with dread?Perhaps you've no idea where to start with it, or worry it will take you months of hard work. If so, you’re definitely not alone – and I’ve got something to help. 📽️ In this short video, I introduce you to one of my favourite strategy tools: a one-page template created by Dr. Max Mckeown (author of The Strategy Book). It’s simple, practical and can be used for all sorts of planning – whether you’re thinking about your...
Hi, I'm Fay - a career & executive coach who specialises in helping HR/People professionals to have successful and fulfilling careers. I'm the Founder of Bright Sky Career Coaching, creator of the HR Planner and host of the podcast,🎙HR Coffee Time. Every Friday afternoon I send a free HR Coffee Time email - a weekly shot of inspiration for your HR career. Sign up to receive your own HR Coffee Time emails using the 'Subscribe' button below.