HR Engage Podcast with Melitta McDonald

She didn't choose HR — HR chose her. And it took 7 years, 11 schools, a construction site, and a whole lot of "I don't have all the answers" to get there. 

In this raw and refreshingly honest conversation, Chief People Officer Melitta McDonald pulls back the curtain on what it ACTUALLY takes to build a thriving HR career — no sugarcoating, no corporate jargon, just real talk from someone who's been in the trenches (literally, on construction sites) and earned her seat at the executive table. 

If you've ever felt like an imposter, wondered whether you're "qualified enough," or struggled to get leadership to take HR seriously... this episode is your permission slip to do things differently.  

🔥 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: 

The Unconventional Path That Works Melitta shares why working full-time while completing her degree over 7 years gave her an edge that fast-track graduates often miss. She breaks down the real-world benefits of learning HR "in the trenches" — handling contracts, policies, and difficult conversations WHILE studying the theory behind them. 

The #1 Skill Every HR Professional Needs (It's Not What You Think) Forget policies and procedures. Melitta reveals that LISTENING — truly listening for what makes each person tick — is the foundational skill that transformed her career. She shares practical advice on how to develop this skill and why it matters more than knowing all the textbook answers. 

How to Earn Respect in Male-Dominated Industries From corporate finance to construction to FMCG manufacturing, Melitta has navigated industries where HR was often seen as "the fun police." She shares exactly how she changed that perception, built credibility with skeptical teams, and grew female representation from near-zero to 41% in one organization. 

Getting HR a Seat at the Leadership Table Tired of being seen as a "cost centre"? Melita reveals her strategy for becoming a true business partner — including how to speak the language of your ELT, present data that resonates, and build the trust that gets you invited into strategic conversations. 

The Truth About Culture (That Most Managers Won't Like) Here's a controversial take: Culture is NOT HR's sole responsibility. Melitta makes the case for why every department — Finance, Operations, Sales — should have "and Culture" in their title, and how to get buy-in from leaders who think culture is just about Christmas parties and team lunches. 

Managing a Multi-Generational, Multicultural Workforce With 48% of her workforce on visas and employees spanning FIVE generations, Melitta shares the retention and engagement strategies that actually work in today's complex workplace environment.

🎯 WHO IS THIS EPISODE FOR? 

✅ HR professionals feeling like they need "more qualifications" to succeed 

✅ Early-career HR practitioners looking for real-world guidance 

✅ HR generalists who love the breadth of the profession 

✅ Anyone struggling to get HR taken seriously by leadership 

✅ People leaders in male-dominated or blue-collar industries 

✅ HR managers dealing with multi-generational workforce challenges 

✅ Anyone who's ever felt like an imposter in their career

Produced and published by Law Firm Marketing experts, Practice Proof