27 May 2026 15:30 - 16:15
Fireside chat - What changes when trust is tested: Leading people functions under scrutiny, from workforce to boardroom
Trust rarely breaks during calm periods. It fractures under scrutiny, during restructures, contested decisions, leadership missteps, or when both employees and boards begin to question judgement, intent, and outcomes.
This fireside brings two senior leaders into an honest conversation about what actually shifts when trust is tested inside large organisations. How does the people function show up when decisions are challenged not just internally, but at board level? What happens to credibility when outcomes are unpopular, highly visible, and closely scrutinised? And how do leaders navigate the tension between doing what is right for the business, and maintaining trust across the workforce?
Rather than offering theory, this discussion focuses on lived experience. What strengthened trust. What damaged it. What they underestimated. And how credibility is rebuilt when confidence has been tested across both employees and the board.
Key takeaways:
- Understand what erodes trust most quickly during restructuring, high-stakes change, and increased board scrutiny
- Learn how senior leaders maintain authority and credibility when decisions are contested by both employees and the board
- Explore how the people function is perceived when decisions are under pressure, not just during stability
- Gain practical insight into rebuilding trust and shaping the narrative when confidence has been strained or lost