In this episode, we sit down with Christine, Head of Talent & People at a pioneering quantum computing start up, to explore her unexpected journey from studying psychology during a global recession to leading people strategy in one of tech's most innovative sectors. Christine shares what it means to bridge the gap between talent acquisition and HR, the challenges of scaling a team from 12 to 100, and why retention is just as strategic as hiring.
We dive into:
Why HR wasn’t the original plan and how Christine found her way back to it
The real differences between recruitment and talent acquisition
How people teams can (and should) collaborate to improve onboarding and retention
Conducting painful but powerful audits to build HR foundations
Mental resilience, imposter syndrome, and defining your leadership philosophy
This episode is packed with candid insights for anyone navigating the intersection of recruitment, people ops, and start up growth.
Whether you're an aspiring HR leader or just wondering how to grow your career in people roles, Christine’s story will inspire and ground you.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:12 Journey into HR and Talent Acquisition
05:16 Understanding the Role of Head of Talent and People
08:46 The Shift from Recruitment to Talent Development
10:54 Collaboration Between Talent Acquisition and HR
13:21 Navigating Imposter Syndrome in HR
15:36 Continuous Learning in the People Space
17:08 Challenges in Transitioning Roles
20:03 Balancing Energy and Empathy in HR
22:39 Team Dynamics and People Operations
25:35 Conducting Audits for Operational Efficiency
28:44 The Importance of Employee Feedback
30:19 Advice for Transitioning Between Roles
36:41 Final Reflections and Advice for the Future
