Dr Wayne Mullen

What do you love about your job?

Developing people. No question. I have been fortunate to have travelled all over the world delivering leadership and executive development programmes, working with leadership teams, coaching and meeting many incredible people. It has been the privilege of my life.

What do you dislike about your job?

Certainly as a Chief People Officer, there are challenging aspects of the job, not least downsizing.

What advice would you give a junior coming into the industry now?

I would encourage them to expose themselves to as many ideas and research about organisations, leadership, people and performance as possible and to keep learning. There are few universal truths out there but having knowledge, know-how and a wide ranging toolkit can only benefit you and the organisations you support. Also, focus on your integrity not your reputation.

What do you see as the biggest advance in technology in your field in the last 5 years?

AI is developing at pace. Initially some AI was aggregating, scraping information from various sources. Now we are seeing some really interesting developments from productivity tools to learning and coaching support, to automation and analysis. I would like to see more in predictive analytics and better use of AI in HRIS.

There is that Sunday/Monday experience. On a Sunday I can sit at home and learn, order food, connect with family, book tickets, all using my phone. But on a Monday to book leave or access benefits, it often requires multiple login and systems. I do not love a chatbot.

What excites you about the future of your industry?

I did not become a Chief People Officer through the traditional route of HR business partner or Head of HR. I was (and remain) a specialist in Leadership and Organisational Development. The value of HR is established but increasingly organisations are recognising that value of specialist work in Leadership, Culture, Performance and are willing to make the investment. I have never considered HR a back-office function; significant value in organisations goes home at the end of every day and HR is critical in protecting and growing that.

The pandemic pitted employers and employees against each other but there is an opportunity in this liminal space to rethink work. Hybrid and remote working open up global talent pools. We can think about how we use physical workspaces as places for connection, collaboration, celebration. We can think about how the task can drive decisions on what gets done where. What is easier to do at home versus an office? When does collaboration need to be synchronous versus asynchronous and face to face versus remote? What really drives productivity?

What is the biggest challenge you see in your role over the next 12 months?

The employment market has been slow but we tend to see things cycle between employer/employee markets. Things may shift to the latter which means more turnover. The backlash we are seeing against DEI concerns me. I do not know anyone working in this space who prioritises, for example, identity over merit. Working with difference is a critical organisational competency (not least in leadership teams) and may be testament to organisational agility. But maybe it is an opportunity to take a fresh look at how we create inclusive workplaces and help everyone to thrive and be at their best.

What is the biggest curveball question you have ever been asked in an interview?

I cannot think of any particular curveballs. I did an interview with a CEO who opened with “I do not know what you do.” We ended up working together for over 9 years across various businesses.

What trait are you looking for from everybody you interview?

Cognitive flexibility. Being able to adjust your thinking, look at situations anew and not rely too much on what you already know or have done. Increasingly in contemporary contexts, that ability to shift perspectives, be open to doing things differently is critical to success. I have seen people with great experience and backgrounds struggle because they cannot let go of rigid beliefs or ways of working.

One fact about you that nobody knows?

I once appeared in a video for the Australian band INXS. Actually I think a lot of people know that.

What do your days off look like?

I love theatre, and the arts generally, so an ideal day off would be to go for lunch and see something. It is more difficult now as I have a dog and for some reason the venues will not let her in. She is a complete aesthete.

What is the worst gift you have ever been given?

A gift is a gift. I would always appreciate it.

We would like to thank Wayne for his generous time and for the personal insight into his life and journey. If you would like to feature in this informal, fun series aimed at creating a community of senior people who meet and network then please reach out to us on hello@dnevo.com. We would love to hear from you!