Bupa is a household name, but the reality inside this global health giant is shifting.

As the organisation evolves into a customer-centric healthcare provider, bringing a workforce 84,000 strong on the journey, their employer brand has never been more critical.

In this episode of Employer Branding Unplugged, Mark Puncher sits down with Meagan Michaels, Head of Employer Brand and Experience at Bupa.

Meagan reveals how Bupa’s unique structure - having no shareholders - creates a culture where purpose acts as a ‘north star’ for high performance, and how this intersection of heart and ambition inspired their new EVP lead line: “Where Purpose Meets Possible.”

The episode also covers the “messy,” non-linear journey of developing Bupa’s EVP, why “launching” an EVP is often a mistake and why the rise of AI might just herald a new golden age for imperfect, authentic human storytelling.

Bupa: careers.bupa.com.au/ Employer Branding Australia: employerbrandingaustralia.com/

This episode of Employer Branding Unplugged feels less like a podcast recording and more like a pub chat!

Mark Puncher is joined by industry veterans and long-time friends Quila Cervelli (V/Line) and Ivan ‘Harry’ Harrison (Toll) to dismantle the clichés holding employer branding back.

The trio plays a ruthless game of “Kill, Keep, Evolve,” where Harry doesn’t hesitate to kill the workplace culture trope that “we’re all one big family.”

He also delivers a searing hot take on greed as a driver in our economy, predicting a not-so-distant future where we might actually pay a premium for genuine human experience.

Meanwhile, Quila flips the script in “Three Words Only” claiming the future of humans at work will be “bot’s best friend.” She also hits back at the idea that we all have the attention spans of goldfish, saying she’d happily watch a documentary-length employer branding film if it had a good story.

In a world where employer branding often feels safer than it is honest, this episode brings the kind of candour you usually only hear after hours.

Employer Branding Australia: employerbrandingaustralia.com/

There’s arguably no sector that brings as many challenges, and as many rewards, as human services.

It’s a tough gig, let’s be honest. There’s no hiding that. But, as this week’s guests can attest, sharing the reality - warts and all - is critical to attracting the right people and deterring the wrong ones.

In this week's episode of Employer Branding Unplugged, Mark Puncher sits down with two heavyweights in human services HR - Katarina Elezovic (Head of Talent, Mercy Health) and Matthew Quinn (Talent Acquisition Manager, Anglicare Victoria).

Together, they dive deep into the unique challenges of recruiting in human services - the delicate balance between ‘noble purpose’ and ‘hard slog’ and dismantle the myth that moving into the non-profit sector is a ‘career step backwards’.

Kat and Matt share their organisation’s incredible EVP messaging, proving that a strong EVP is what connects thousands of employees to a shared mission.

Mercy Health: mercyhealth.com.au/our-organisation/careers/

Anglicare Victoria: www.anglicarevic.org.au/careers/

Employer Branding Australia: www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/