In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Michael Burgess, Chief People Officer at Amey, to unpack what it really takes to build credibility, influence, and impact in HR when you don’t start with privilege, pedigree, or permission.

Michael shares his journey from leaving school at 16 and working as a farm labourer, to becoming a CPO responsible for people, culture, safety, and operations at scale. Along the way, he explains why hard work consistently beats talent, and why enjoying the work itself is the most underrated driver of long-term performance.

Most importantly, he breaks down a deeply practical view of modern HR, why getting the basics right earns you the seat at the table, why listening without action destroys trust, and how widening the talent pool through second-chance hiring, apprenticeships, and prison-to-work pathways is not charity, but smart, future-ready leadership.

🎓 In this episode, Michael discusses:

Why listening without action trains employees to disengage
How getting the HR basics right earns trust and credibility at the top table
Why hard work and enjoyment of work outlast talent, ambition, and opportunity
Why HR fails when it overloads the business with initiatives instead of running a clear plan
How Amey builds real career pathways through apprenticeships and prison-to-work programs

🙏‍ Thank you to our series partner - atlas copilot

Meet the AI-native adaptive learning platform that builds the course, teaches the skill, and proves the impact, while work is happening, not weeks later → https://www.atlascopilot.com/

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Why Hard Work Still Beats Talent at Work

HR Leaders