What happens when organisations genuinely listen to their people and act on what they hear?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Maria Coupland, General Manager People & Culture at Finance Now, to explore employee experience, leadership, culture, and the commercial realities of building high-performing workplaces.

Drawing on experience across multiple industries and countries, Maria shares practical insights into creating meaningful employee experiences, building trust through action, and partnering with leaders to drive business outcomes through people.

From leadership development and culture champions to employee engagement, recognition, and commercial HR, this conversation explores how organisations can create workplaces where people feel heard, valued, and motivated to contribute.

What You'll Learn

• How employee experience drives engagement and retention

• Why listening to employees is only valuable if you act on the feedback

• How Culture Champions can strengthen workplace culture

• The role recognition plays in engagement and performance

• Why leadership development should be continuous, not event-based

• How HR can build credibility through commercial thinking

• What it means to be a true business partner

Key Takeaways

• Great employee experiences start with listening and follow-through

• Trust is built through consistency and action

• Leadership development works best when leaders learn together

• HR creates the most value when it's connected to business outcomes

• Small changes can have a significant impact on engagement and culture

About Maria Coupland

Maria Coupland is General Manager People & Culture at Finance Now. With experience across multiple sectors and countries, she is passionate about creating workplaces where people can thrive while delivering strong business outcomes through practical, people-focused leadership.

Why This Episode Matters

As organisations compete for talent and navigate ongoing change, employee experience has become a critical driver of performance, retention, and culture. This episode provides practical insights for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners looking to create workplaces where people genuinely want to stay and contribute.

Resources

• Maria Coupland | LinkedIn