An L&D and HR conversation with… series will feature video interviews with leaders in Learning & Development and Human Resources, sharing learnings, trends and challenges from some of the region’s leading organisations.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Jodi: I would say kind, calm, and generous. And I would hope that others would describe me as the same.

What are you most excited about in the next 12 months?

Jodi: So we have quite new team within our people and culture function at the Hoyts Group, so I’m very excited to see them continue to learn and grow in their confidence in the business. I recall having such a great foundation of learning in my early career and I’m trying to impart that as much as I can. And the other thing I’m looking forward to is that sustainability has recently become a part of my remit, so I’m very keen to learn in this very rapidly evolving space.

What would you say is the biggest priority in your role currently?

Jodi: Biggest priority perhaps rather than challenge, and that is leadership excellence. Our leaders are really the key to our success and it doesn’t matter how many great ideas our people and culture team come up with if our leaders aren’t equipped to deliver on them. So really investing in their capabilities and empowering them to lead our people and our priorities is really crucial to our performance. And I think if I can have a close second but largely aligned priority, I’d have to say hybrid working.

I think it’s something that every HR leader is probably sick of talking about at the moment. And for the most part I think organisations have figured out the mechanic of making it work for their employees, but I don’t think we’ve properly kind of equipped our leaders to lead in this way for the long term, not just as interim measure.

How are you leveraging technology to empower your leaders at Hoyts?

Jodi: So we’re really always looking for ways to optimise the way that we work and use our systems more efficiently and more effectively. And it’s not just about new technology, but also ensuring that we’re using our current technology in the most collaborative and optimal way.

Thankfully, we have some incredibly talented people on our team who are constantly looking for better ways for us to work and we’re also exploring AI, so we’re kind of slowly delving into how it can work to support our people in their roles and make our processes more efficient.

What would you say is the single most important trait or behaviour for leaders to develop?

Jodi: I would say curiosity is the single most important trait or behaviour, I think. Curiosity in your people, in your industry and in your own development.

What are you most looking forward to at the L&D + HR Symposium?

Jodi: I love hearing examples from other organisations and I know we’re all experiencing similar things, albeit perhaps in different environments, so I love hearing those case studies and learning from each other. And of course the beautiful space that the Hunter Valley provides.

L&D + HR Symposium, 1-2 August 2023, will bring together 180 L&D and HR professionals for a day of conference featuring inspiring international keynotes and the best local case studies.