Executive influence: Getting your voice heard when the stakes are high

About this event

Part of our mid-career stream of monthly events for people professionals taking on more responsibility and broadening their influence.

How do you ensure the people perspective is heard when major organisational decisions are being made?

As people professionals progress into senior roles, they are increasingly expected to influence decisions that affect the workforce, culture and long-term success of their organisation.

Whether you're advocating for employee wellbeing during a restructuring, challenging a decision that could impact engagement, or presenting people insights to an executive team, your ability to influence can determine whether the people perspective is truly considered.

This session focuses on one of the most important responsibilities of senior people leaders: ensuring that the HR voice is heard when business decisions are being made.

Through practical examples, honest reflections and lessons learned, we'll explore what it takes to earn credibility, influence strategic decisions and ensure the people perspective is heard when it matters most.

We'll explore

• How to influence executive teams and senior stakeholders when the stakes are high
• Building the credibility needed to be seen as a strategic adviser rather than a functional expert
• Developing professional courage and knowing when to challenge decisions
• Balancing commercial priorities with people outcomes
• Navigating organisational politics, competing agendas and differing viewpoints
• Influencing decisions when you don't have formal authority
• Using evidence, insight and business understanding to strengthen your influence

You'll hear practical examples of

• Challenging executive decisions constructively while maintaining trust and credibility
• Securing buy-in for major people initiatives and organisational change programmes
• Influencing difficult conversations around restructuring, growth and organisational performance
• Using workforce insights and people data to support strategic decision-making
• Building trusted relationships with CEOs, executive teams and boards

You'll leave with

• Practical techniques for increasing your influence with senior leaders
• Greater confidence in high-stakes leadership conversations
• Tools for building professional courage and challenging constructively
• Insights into how experienced HR leaders navigate complex organisational environments
• Ideas you can apply immediately within your own organisation
• Connections with fellow CIPD members facing similar leadership challenges

About the Mid-Career series

As your career develops, so do the challenges and opportunities you face. Whether you're leading teams, influencing senior stakeholders, driving organisational change or preparing for your next role, the Mid-Career series is designed to support you at every stage of your professional journey.

Exclusively for CIPD members, these sessions bring together experienced people professionals from across sectors to learn from experts, share experiences and build valuable professional connections. Alongside practical insights, you'll gain access to peer support, fresh perspectives and the latest thinking from the CIPD and fellow practitioners facing similar challenges.

Because career development doesn't stop once you've gained experience. As your professional body, the CIPD is here to support you throughout your career, helping you build the confidence, skills, knowledge and network needed to increase your impact and progress towards your future career goals.

Guest Speakers profiles:

Samantha Lubanzu FCIPD

1. Participants will receive their joining details 24 hours before the webinar, along with a reminder 15 minutes before the session begins.

2. The session may be recorded and shared afterwards.

3. The chat function will be used to engage with participants.

4. If there is an external speaker, their views will be their own and may not necessarily reflect those of the CIPD.

5. If any reasonable adjustments are required, participants are encouraged to make this known and assistance will be provided.

Samantha Lubanzu FCIPD, MSc is an Multi-Award winning HR & Inclusive Leadership Strategist, keynote speaker and Founder of Crown Leaders Co, with more than 20 years’ experience influencing people, culture and organisational decisions at senior level.

A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Samantha has worked at the intersection of people and business throughout her career, including senior HR leadership roles supporting complex organisational change, employee relations and workforce transformation. At a Top FSTE 100 bank she supported a major TUPE and employee relations transformation affecting 43,000 colleagues, delivering the programme six months ahead of schedule. She has also led inclusion communities of more than 7,000 colleagues and served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the CIPD Manchester Branch.

Samantha is passionate about ensuring that the people perspective is not simply represented in the boardroom, but heard, respected and acted upon when the stakes are high.

Her work explores executive influence, professional courage and the realities of leadership: how HR leaders build credibility beyond their functional expertise, challenge decisions without losing trust, navigate organisational politics, balance commercial priorities with people outcomes, and find the courage to speak up when it matters most.

Her TEDx talk, “Why Do the Strongest Women Wear Invisible Masks?”, explores the hidden pressures that can shape how strong women show up in leadership, and the cost of feeling that we must constantly adapt, protect, perform or appear strong.

Through her keynote speaking and leadership work, Samantha challenges leaders to move beyond performative approaches to inclusion and culture and create environments where people can bring their full leadership voice to the table.

Samantha brings a combination of senior HR experience, lived organisational insight and a direct, practical approach to leadership influence helping people professionals develop the confidence, credibility and courage to make their voice count when it matters most.

Michael Youd

MSc, BA (Hons), Chartered FCIPD

Michael Youd is an experienced senior HR practitioner with 20 years industry experience across the private, public and third sectors. His roles have included management of a national sector wide project, managing an HR function across a national organisation and leading a number of local teams.

Michael is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a active volunteer for the professional body which has included facilitating and leading on different events over the past decade.

Michael has experience of project management, change management, employee relations and industrial relations. He has extensive experience in successful trade union negotiations at a local organisation and national level.

Michael’s experience in change management spans a number of sectors and includes working with senior managers to achieve successful change programmes. Michael has Lean Six Sigma Green Belt to support systems and process changes as part of wider change programmes.

Please note: