In Episode 7 of The B Continued podcast, we are joined by Jane Chesters, co-founder of Orion. With over 35 years of experience in the HR function and 25 years leading HR transformation consultancy for some of the world's most recognizable brands, Jane brings a masterclass perspective on what it really takes to move an organization from one state to another.

In this episode, Jane joins Jess Hilton and Ralph Tribe to discuss the "hard yards" of change and why many organizations know where they want to go but struggle to get there. From the evolution of technology as a strategic business tool to the rising importance of the ESG and wellness agendas, Jane explores the critical connection between organizational strategy and people strategy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The "Doing More" Rule: Why you cannot do more with less without stopping certain tasks, doing them differently through technology, or "running hot" for a non-sustainable period.

The Credibility Factor: Why HR leaders must move beyond "gut instinct" and use evidence-based data to lead high-level business conversations.

The Transformation vs. Change Debate: Understanding the difference between redesigning an operating model and the actual journey of supporting people through that shift.

The "Game Changer" Muscle: Why the innovator profile is often the rarest in HR and how the function must develop this muscle to fully leverage the AI opportunity.

The Recovery Premium: Why rest and recovery are essential, evidence-based components of any true high-performance culture.

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: The three things required to do more with less.

00:46 – Jane’s background: 35 years of HR expertise and the founding of Orion.

02:08 – The origin story: Identifying the gap in the HR transformation market.

05:41 – Is outsourcing still relevant? The shift back to in-house advisory.

08:01 – Significant shifts: Moving from HR efficiency to strategic business tools.

10:11 – New agendas: Wellness, multi-generational workforces, and ESG.

12:05 – The transformation process: Starting the journey with a new HR Director.

14:44 – Making it stick: Why the client must lead the transformation for it to work.

16:10 – The Sustainability Test: Why "running hot" leads to burnout.

20:25 – Great HR: It’s not a template; it’s what that specific organization needs.

23:42 – Strategic Priorities: Navigating the gap between "wants" and "needs".

25:53 – The Evidence Dilemma: Why numerical performance ratings are often value-destructive.

29:24 – High Performance: The counterintuitive science of rest and recovery.

32:11 – Credibility at the Table: Being in the conversation, not just in the room.

38:09 – Transformation vs. Change: Defining the journey and the destination.

43:18 – Lessons from TFL: Identity and centralized vs. decentralized models.

47:48 – HR’s AI Readiness: Are we ahead of or behind the curve?.

51:52 – The "Girly Swot" Debate: Is using AI "cheating" or smart acceleration?.

54:01 – The GC Index: Why "Game Changers" are missing from many HR teams.