Episode 223: Military Leadership for Modern HR: Trust, Accountability and Human Skills at Work: Michelle Westwood, Chief People Officer at Osborne Clarke
Tue Feb 03 2026
Michelle reflects on her career from 20 years in the Royal Navy to the legal sector, highlighting how her military background instilled leadership qualities founded on trust and how modelling compassionate leadership improves team engagement that also creates meaningful change.
Discussing how military lessons translate to professional services, Michelle emphasises the importance of developing leadership skills at every stage of a career, sharing the concept of an 'accountability ladder' to encourage every colleague to demonstrate leadership in their role. Michelle also explores the intersection of AI and human experience, highlighting how curiosity, critical thinking, and neurodiverse perspectives can differentiate organisations in ways data alone cannot measure.
Michelle shares her passion for supporting the veteran and military spouse community, illustrating how inclusive talent strategies can unlock overlooked potential. She reflects on initiatives from her past roles, including improving female retention in the Royal Navy and resolving NHS pay differentials through collaborative, transparent approaches and shows how small, thoughtful interventions can have profound impact.
How is AI really playing out? Slalom's new research
Thank you to Slalom for sponsoring this week's podcast episode.
If you're an HR leader navigating AI and wondering how to move from ambition to adoption, Slalom's latest research offers practical insights you can use right away.
Slalom surveyed more than 2,000 global executives to understand how AI is really playing out, where investment is translating into value, where it isn't and, what that means for leadership, skills and cross functional alignment.
Download your free summary here: Get Slalom's latest AI research
👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community
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Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work?
We're easing into February with Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker as our Book of the Month – a fascinating guide to understanding the power of rest and the profound impact sleep has on our health, mood, and performance.
Walker draws on decades of research to show why sleep is essential for our body, mind, and wellbeing – a gentle reminder to prioritise rest after a dark and tiring January. It's a perfect read for nurturing yourself and reclaiming energy for both your personal and professional life.
Let this month's book inspire you to make self-care a priority, because even small changes to our sleep habits can transform the way we feel, think, and show up each day.
Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book.
References:
The Armed Forces Covenant – The official UK‑wide pledge that organisations can sign to demonstrate support for members of the Armed Forces community, committing to treat them and their families fairly and without disadvantage. Sign the Armed Forces Covenant (UK Government)
Forces Employment Charity – A charity providing lifelong support, training, mentoring, and employment opportunities for service leavers, veterans, reservists, spouses and partners, helping connect military experience with civilian careers. Forces Employment Charity
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Michelle reflects on her career from 20 years in the Royal Navy to the legal sector, highlighting how her military background instilled leadership qualities founded on trust and how modelling compassionate leadership improves team engagement that also creates meaningful change. Discussing how military lessons translate to professional services, Michelle emphasises the importance of developing leadership skills at every stage of a career, sharing the concept of an 'accountability ladder' to encourage every colleague to demonstrate leadership in their role. Michelle also explores the intersection of AI and human experience, highlighting how curiosity, critical thinking, and neurodiverse perspectives can differentiate organisations in ways data alone cannot measure. Michelle shares her passion for supporting the veteran and military spouse community, illustrating how inclusive talent strategies can unlock overlooked potential. She reflects on initiatives from her past roles, including improving female retention in the Royal Navy and resolving NHS pay differentials through collaborative, transparent approaches and shows how small, thoughtful interventions can have profound impact. How is AI really playing out? Slalom's new research Thank you to Slalom for sponsoring this week's podcast episode. If you're an HR leader navigating AI and wondering how to move from ambition to adoption, Slalom's latest research offers practical insights you can use right away. Slalom surveyed more than 2,000 global executives to understand how AI is really playing out, where investment is translating into value, where it isn't and, what that means for leadership, skills and cross functional alignment. Download your free summary here: Get Slalom's latest AI research 👥 Join our free HR Changemakers community You'll be the first to hear about each podcast episode, about our events, and receive free bonus resources that enhance your influence and impact. Join us here: upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world And on Linkedin: Uplifting People | LinkedIn Are you looking for your next great read that inspires you and helps your work? We're easing into February with Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker as our Book of the Month – a fascinating guide to understanding the power of rest and the profound impact sleep has on our health, mood, and performance. Walker draws on decades of research to show why sleep is essential for our body, mind, and wellbeing – a gentle reminder to prioritise rest after a dark and tiring January. It's a perfect read for nurturing yourself and reclaiming energy for both your personal and professional life. Let this month's book inspire you to make self-care a priority, because even small changes to our sleep habits can transform the way we feel, think, and show up each day. Head to UpliftingPeople.com to grab your copy, and we hope you enjoy this month's Uplifting Book. References: The Armed Forces Covenant – The official UK‑wide pledge that organisations can sign to demonstrate support for members of the Armed Forces community, committing to treat them and their families fairly and without disadvantage. Sign the Armed Forces Covenant (UK Government) Forces Employment Charity – A charity providing lifelong support, training, mentoring, and employment opportunities for service leavers, veterans, reservists, spouses and partners, helping connect military experience with civilian careers. Forces Employment Charity