Black History Month - an interview with Rosie Hewat

Introduction by Chikere Igbokwe

Black History Month, which started in the US, is an annual event remembering important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora. In the UK, it runs throughout  the month of October.

This year, Black History Month takes on even greater significance. 2020 has brought a number of injustices to the forefront, and the Black Lives Matter movement has gained further prominence. We have seen that everyone is taking on the injustices of racism. This is not black versus white – it's everyone fighting what is wrong.

As I work in the HR field, I felt that it was important for me to showcase a number of black senior HR leaders in this field. Over the month, we will publish a number of interviews with senior HR leaders. We hope this will inspire the next diverse generation of HR professionals and help senior leaders to understand and recognise the importance of a diverse workforce throughout the organisation.

Chikere Igbokwe, Associate Director, Macmillan Davies

Rosie Hewat, Global Chief People Officer at PGMBM

Rosie Hewat is the Global Chief People Officer at PGMBM, and brings almost two decades of HR & People Operations experience to the team. She specialises in building, growing, scaling and leading within innovative, ambitious and purpose-driven organisations like Funding Circle, Neyber, Pockit and We Make Change, and she excels in the strategic design, building and implementation of compliant infrastructures, processes and initiatives that facilitate high-performing, inclusive, engaged and diverse people teams.

PGMBM is a unique partnership between British, Brazilian and American lawyers, with particular expertise in group litigation and is currently managing some of the largest claims in English legal history including claims arising from the collapse of the Fundão Dam, the largest environmental disaster in the history of Brazil. The firm is also at the cutting-edge of UK group consumer claims, representing thousands of affected clients throughout the UK and the world. These claims are against Volkswagen, Daimler (Mercedes Benz), British Airways, Bayer and other major multi-national corporations.

Rosie joined PGMBM in 2020 is a Board Advisor to a few companies, and was the Chair of the Operations & Finance Committee of the Fintech Industry Risk Management Council. She is a Mentor in the CIPD’s Steps Ahead Mentoring programme as well as the Leaders Plus programme – a social enterprise dedicated to supporting leaders with babies and young children to progress their career. Rosie is a champion of diversity, inclusion and equality; and has volunteered for the PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), the Stuart Low Trust (a Mental Health Charity) and the various homeless-charity fund-raisers.

Rosie holds qualifications in Human Resources Management from the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), Payroll & Pensions Management from the CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) and PRINCE 2 certification for Project Management. She also holds a qualification in Health & Safety in the Workplace and speaks 3 languages.

Q&A

What time does your alarm go off and what is your morning routine?

4:30 AM and actually I don't have an alarm, I just wake up around this time. I'm a devout Christian, so I start my day with prayer, reviewing my schedule for the day, and a good cup of coffee. 2-3 days a week, I throw in a visit to the gym before I head into the office, as it's open at 6 AM - or if I miss the morning, then I try to go after work (though it's less appealing after a day's work).

How has Covid 19 and the fact we are all working from home changed your routine?

Well I changed roles in the midst of the lockdown. Went from working from home full time in the previous role, to the new role where being present was possible (and very welcomed by myself) as I was tired of being stuck at home. I definitely prefer to be on site, remote working has never really been my thing, though I appreciate I am fortunate to have a role that allows me the flexibility to do either.

How do you feel right now?

It's been a strange year for sure, COVID-19 pretty much shutting down the planet, the deathst that sparked the BLM protests around the world, but I'm an optimist and believe that things happen to facilitate change. If we are smart, we use these instances to learn and be better as a species and kinder to our environment, and each other.

What are you responsible for at PGMBM?

I am the Chief People Officer responsible for strategic and operational HR, globally.

How did you get into HR?

I was inspired to really go into HR by the HR leader at a temp role. I'm afraid I can't recall her surname, but her name was Sue. I was always interested in all the things that make up HR, but did not know there was a title for my passion or indeed a career path. She showed me the way in the brief period I worked there, and I decided I would do this. So I did.

Describe your typical day

Unpredictable, but I roll with it. If there's one thing you take away from the Fintech sector where I spent the last 10 years prior to joining the amazing Law firm i now work at, PGMBM, it's being ready for anything. So, I don't get flustered easily.

What has been your greatest challenge in your career to date?

Dealing with the impact of Covid on the business I was about to exit as well as the knock-on effect on the wider public. Specifically, the impact on the people. I dare say most HR departments around the globe, would consider 2020 to have been a real test on their careers and them as the individuals in the front-line that was forgotten as we had to pick up the pieces of a lot of people.

What advice would you give younger people getting into the profession today – in particular minority candidates?

Work hard, know your s**t - credibility is key to growth in HR, so having good knowledge is important because the people that hire you, expect you to know the answers; and learn how to get a seat at the table.

What was the best career advice you were ever given, and by whom?

Having children and a fulfilling career does not have to be a trade-off. - My mum (She's awesome!).

Can you recommend any books and/or podcasts?

What I spend my time reading or listening to might surprise the many people that see me as super-professional. However, I am a firm believer in laughter/escapism being mandatory for better mental health and wellbeing. I do read the CIPD's People Management magazine, the CIPP's Professional publication and other business publications However, the last book I read which had nothing to do with the Cantonese I am currently learning, was The Orphan Girl and Other Stories West African Folk Tales by Buchi Offodile. I don't really listen to Podcasts unless they are recommended to me - mostly listen to music. Open to recommendations on podcasts - but please let it be funny.