How do you build a people strategy that supports one of New Zealand's most recognised global brands while staying true to its purpose?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Faye Restall, Chief People Officer at Les Mills International, to explore leadership, organisational culture, global people strategy, and how HR can create real commercial value.

Leading the People & Culture function for a business that reaches thousands of employees, over 100,000 instructors and 25,000 gym partners worldwide, Faye shares practical insights into building high-performing teams, developing exceptional managers, navigating AI, and keeping people connected to purpose in a rapidly changing world.

From leadership capability and employee engagement to business strategy, organisational development, AI adoption, and the future of work, this conversation explores how modern HR leaders can simplify complexity while helping organisations thrive. Faye discusses why management excellence matters just as much as leadership, how curiosity and continuous improvement create better outcomes, and why People & Culture should always be aligned to commercial priorities.

The conversation also explores how Les Mills has maintained a strong culture while expanding globally, the importance of balancing consistency with entrepreneurial thinking, and why creating meaningful employee experiences starts with understanding what the business is trying to achieve.

What You'll Learn


How Les Mills maintains culture across a global organisation


Why People & Culture strategy should align with business strategy


The importance of management excellence alongside leadership capability


Practical ways AI is improving HR and employee experience


How curiosity drives innovation and continuous improvement


Why simplicity often creates better People & Culture outcomes


The role purpose plays in employee engagement and performance


How to balance consistency with entrepreneurial thinking


Why communication is critical to successful capability development


How HR can become a genuine commercial partner to the business

Key Takeaways


Great People & Culture starts with understanding the business


Strong managers create stronger employee experiences


Purpose attracts people, but great leadership helps them stay


HR delivers the most value when it solves business problems


AI should support real organisational challenges, not create more complexity


Curiosity and continuous improvement drive innovation


Simple, practical people strategies are often the most effective


Culture becomes a competitive advantage when people understand both what they do and why it matters

About Faye Restall

Faye Restall is Chief People Officer at Les Mills International, where she leads the global People & Culture strategy for one of the world's leading fitness brands.

With executive leadership experience across organisations including PwC, Optus and Westpac, Faye specialises in organisational development, leadership capability, employee engagement, business transformation, and global people strategy.

She partners with executive leaders to build high-performing teams, strengthen management capability, and support continued global growth while preserving the purpose and culture that have made Les Mills an internationally recognised brand.

Why This Episode Matters

As organisations navigate rapid technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and increasingly global ways of working, HR has become far more than a support function.

This episode demonstrates how People & Culture leaders can create measurable business value by aligning people strategy with commercial priorities, building capable managers, embracing AI thoughtfully, and keeping people connected to purpose. Whether you're an HR professional, business owner, executive leader, or people manager, this conversation offers practical insights into creating organisations where culture, leadership, and performance work together.

Resources & Links
Les Mills International:https://www.lesmills.com
Connect with Faye Restall on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-restall-a17b6612/

How do you build a people strategy that supports one of New Zealand's most recognised global brands while staying true to its purpose?
In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Faye Restall, Chief People Officer at Les Mills International, to explore leadership, organisational culture, global people strategy, and how HR can create real commercial value.
Leading the People &amp; Culture function for a business that reaches thousands of employees, over 100,000 instructors and 25,000 gym partners worldwide, Faye shares practical insights into building high-performing teams, developing exceptional managers, navigating AI, and keeping people connected to purpose in a rapidly changing world.
From leadership capability and employee engagement to business strategy, organisational development, AI adoption, and the future of work, this conversation explores how modern HR leaders can simplify complexity while helping organisations thrive. Faye discusses why management excellence matters just as much as leadership, how curiosity and continuous improvement create better outcomes, and why People &amp; Culture should always be aligned to commercial priorities.
The conversation also explores how Les Mills has maintained a strong culture while expanding globally, the importance of balancing consistency with entrepreneurial thinking, and why creating meaningful employee experiences starts with understanding what the business is trying to achieve.
What You'll Learn
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How Les Mills maintains culture across a global organisation
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Why People &amp; Culture strategy should align with business strategy
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The importance of management excellence alongside leadership capability
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Practical ways AI is improving HR and employee experience
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How curiosity drives innovation and continuous improvement
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How to balance consistency with entrepreneurial thinking
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Key Takeaways
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Great People &amp; Culture starts with understanding the business
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Strong managers create stronger employee experiences
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HR delivers the most value when it solves business problems
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AI should support real organisational challenges, not create more complexity
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Simple, practical people strategies are often the most effective
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Culture becomes a competitive advantage when people understand both what they do and why it matters
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About Faye Restall
Faye Restall is Chief People Officer at Les Mills International, where she leads the global People &amp; Culture strategy for one of the world's leading fitness brands.
With executive leadership experience across organisations including PwC, Optus and Westpac, Faye specialises in organisational development, leadership capability, employee engagement, business transformation, and global people strategy.
She partners with executive leaders to build high-performing teams, strengthen management capability, and support continued global growth while preserving the purpose and culture that have made Les Mills an internationally recognised brand.
Why This Episode Matters
As organisations navigate rapid technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and increasingly global ways of working, HR has become far more than a support function.
This episode demonstrates how People &amp; Culture leaders can create measurable business value by aligning people strategy with commercial priorities, building capable managers, embracing AI thoughtfully, and keeping people connected to purpose. Whether you're an HR professional, business owner, executive leader, or people manager, this conversation offers practical insights into creating organisations where culture, leadership, and performance work together.
Resources &amp; Links
<ul>
<li>Les Mills International: <a href="https://www.lesmills.com/">https://www.lesmills.com</a></li>
<li>Connect with Faye Restall on LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-restall-a17b6612/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-restall-a17b6612/</a></li>
</ul>

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Looking for actionable business insights all in one place? 
We're here to help you find a way with a curation of the &lsquo;best bits&rsquo; from top business podcasts. 
Save time searching; subscribe to the SME Stream where you can listen to relevant, timely, business-related content today.&nbsp;
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