An extraordinary group of Chief People Officers and CHROs came together inside the HIC HR Hub for a virtual roundtable that went straight into the real, human work of leadership.
Monica Holliday, Chief People Officer at British Airways, grounded the discussion in the high-stakes reality of aviation, where trust, empathy, and teamwork are survival skills. As she shared:“In moments of pressure, people don’t remember your policy, they remember how you made them feel.”
From there, the room opened up.
Leaders dug deeply into what respect truly means in organizations, especially across generations. One powerful truth landed clearly: Leaders don’t get to pick whose version of respect wins. You define the non-negotiables and build culture from there.
The dialogue moved into trust, authenticity, and rebuilding connection in uncertain times. One leader captured it best: “Trust isn’t rebuilt with one big move. It’s rebuilt in a thousand small, consistent actions.”
What made this roundtable different was the sense of community. One participant, Paul Ortega, shared afterward: “Thank you. I want to extend my thanks to the leadership team for such a great Zoom roundtable earlier today. I was traveling at the time and saw firsthand the very human interactions between employees and customers that Monica spoke about right there in the airport. It really brought the conversation to life.”
That’s the power of these rooms: real-time leadership insight meeting real-world experience.
So powerful, in fact, that a Forbes contributor who participated will be writing an article on the very topic discussed, developed in collaboration with Team HIC.
We closed by looking ahead, how AI can remove friction and create more space for humanity at work, and why respect must be treated as a leadership capability, not just a value on a wall.
The energy, honesty, and depth made one thing clear: This community of people leaders isn’t reacting to what’s next for work, they’re shaping it.
🔒 All attendees are members of the HIC HR Hub, a private community for senior People leaders to share wisdom, challenge one another, and lead with courage and clarity.
📅 Our next HR Leadership Roundtable takes place in March. If you’re ready for candid dialogue, real insight, and leadership that actually feels human, you’ll want to be in the room. Team HIC
