Gender stereotypes continue to shape how work is valued, how talent is assessed, and how people progress in organisations, often in ways that operate beneath the surface of conscious awareness. Despite decades of progress on gender equality, deeply embedded assumptions about leadership, competence and commitment continue to influence workplace decisions.

In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by globally recognised researcher and DEI expert Lori Mackenzie, co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, to explore how gender stereotypes persist in today’s workforce — and why they matter for HR leaders.

Drawing on international research, real workplace examples and lived experience, the conversation examines how stereotypes show up in recruitment, promotion, performance assessment and leadership language. They discuss why women can also internalise and reinforce these beliefs, the impact of motherhood penalties, and how seemingly neutral words can carry gendered assumptions.

They also explore the growing role of AI in HR decision-making - both the risks of embedding existing bias at scale, and the opportunity to use data and pattern recognition to challenge inequity.

• Lori Mackenzie – Co-Founder, Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab

• Why gender stereotypes remain deeply embedded in modern workplaces
• Findings from the European Institute for Gender Equality on attitudes to pay and work value
• How stereotypes influence hiring, promotion and reward decisions
• Why women can also internalise and reinforce gender bias
• The “motherhood penalty” and its impact on career progression
• How language reinforces narrow definitions of leadership and success
• Gendered descriptors such as “bossy”, “shrill” and “strategic” — and why they matter
• Where bias shows up across the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to development
• The risks of relying on “gut instinct” in hiring and promotion decisions
• AI in HR: amplifying bias versus using technology to identify patterns and blind spots
• Practical tools to block bias, including scorecards, rubrics and clearer success criteria
• The role of transparency, awareness and self-reflection in driving real change

• European Institute for Gender Equality – Gender Equality Index
• Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab LinkedIn page
• Lori's website

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn. For confidential HR support, contact info@insighthr.ie 📞 Immediate HR support: 056 770 1060

We love your feedback and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges.

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by The HR Room, produced by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland and beyond about the issues shaping the world of work today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review.

Embedding workplace wellbeing takes more than good intentions and one-off initiatives. It requires people across the organisation who are willing to champion it every day. In this episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave Corkery and Laura Barry, Head of People Development at Insight HR, are joined by special guest Brian Crooke, Founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland and The Work Well Institute, to explore how wellbeing champions can bring strategy to life on the ground.

Together, they unpack what a wellbeing champion really is (and what they’re not), why peer-led influence is so powerful, and how champion networks help bridge the gap between wellbeing policy and everyday employee experience. The conversation covers how to select, train and support champions, the importance of role clarity and leadership backing, and how to avoid common pitfalls such as overload, lack of structure or tokenism.

Drawing on practical examples from organisations across Ireland, including Irish Life and ESB, this episode offers clear, actionable guidance for HR professionals and leaders who want to embed wellbeing in a sustainable, credible and inclusive way - not just as an initiative, but as part of organisational culture.

• Brian Crooke – Founder, Workplace Wellbeing Ireland & the Work Well Institute

• What wellbeing champions are, and how they differ from mental health first aiders
• Why peer influence is critical to embedding wellbeing
• Selecting champions through voluntary, inclusive processes
• The importance of role clarity, expectations and boundaries
• Training champions to take ownership and shape their role
• Supporting champions without overwhelming them
• Governance, structure and leadership sponsorship of champion networks
• Measuring impact without turning wellbeing into a tick-box exercise
• Common mistakes organisations make, and how to avoid them
• What “good” looks like when a champion network is working well

• Workplace Wellbeing Ireland – Wellbeing Champion Programmes
• Workwell Institute – Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness
• Insight HR – Workplace Wellbeing Consulting & Support
• Wellness Works Live Webinar – Designing Your Wellbeing Strategy (February 17)

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn.

If today’s episode has you thinking about introducing or strengthening a wellbeing champion network in your organisation, you can arrange a confidential consultation with Laura Barry by emailing info@insighthr.ie.

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love your feedback and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges.

📞 Immediate HR support: 056 770 1060 📧 info@insighthr.ie

Workplace investigations sit at the heart of fairness, trust and accountability in organisations. But when investigations involve high-profile individuals, external parties, or allegations of serious misconduct, the scrutiny can be intense and the risks for employers multiply rapidly if fair procedures are not followed.

In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Rebecca Bowman, Head of Investigations at Insight HR, to examine a recent high-profile UK case involving HarperCollins and allegations made against author David Walliams.

Using what has been publicly reported about the case, they whether the investigation process itself may have been flawed and what HR leaders can learn when managing allegations involving contractors, public figures and non-employees.

They unpack the principles of natural justice, the importance of fair procedures, and why speed, secrecy or outcome-driven approaches can expose organisations to legal challenge, reputational damage and loss of trust. The discussion offers practical guidance for HR professionals navigating complex investigations under intense pressure.

• Rebecca Bowman – Head of Investigations, Insight HR

• Why workplace investigations must be handled with care — especially in high-profile cases
• The HarperCollins / David Walliams case and what has been publicly reported
• Investigating allegations involving contractors, consultants and external parties
• Employers’ duty of care when employees interact with non-employees
• What “natural justice” and fair procedures mean in practice
• Why the right to respond is fundamental to any defensible investigation
• The risks of outcome-driven or rushed investigations
• Reputational damage caused by flawed investigation processes
• Protecting employee wellbeing while ensuring procedural fairness
• When to involve external investigators in complex or sensitive cases
• Key non-negotiables for a fair, impartial and robust investigation

• Media coverage of the HarperCollins / David Walliams investigation
• Workplace Investigation Services - Insight HR
• Workplace Investigations Guide - Insight HR

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, you can do that here. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn.

For confidential HR support, contact info@insighthr.ie 📞 Immediate HR support: 056 770 1060

We love your feedback and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges.

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by The HR Room Podcast, produced by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland and beyond about the issues shaping the world of work today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review.