Kathy Osborne
Job title
HR director, Hamleys
Quote to remember
In fantasy land, Id be a self-employed personal fitness trainer
What are your key responsibilities?
Providing a full human resources service for around 700 permanent employees, rising to1,200 at Christmas.
Previous jobs (both HR and non-HR)?
Head of retail support for Wallis; further back, field management roles within Wallis and Next; and before that,
a management trainee with House of Fraser.
Why did you choose Hamleys?
It offered a fantastic opportunity to be part of a business turnaround within a prestigious brand, and at the same time to establish a totally new business The Bear Factory.
What attracted you to a career in HR?
The belief that people are the biggest single source of competitive advantage that a company can have.
What key skills do you need to be successful in your current role?
I need to be supportive, commercially focused, pragmatic and persuasive a good sense of humour helps too.
What do you enjoy most about your current job?
Seeing people develop to exceed expectations.
What do you enjoy least about your job?
The fact that Im unofficial facilities manager for head office.
What has been your greatest achievement in work?
Playing a part in the strategy that has successfully transformed the performance and culture of the organisation.
What is the most important contribution that HR can make to a business?
To ensure that all HR activities support and are totally aligned to the strategic and commercial goals of the organisation.
If you werent working for Hamleys, which company would you most like to work for?
In fantasy land, Id be a self-employed personal fitness trainer.
Which business person, outside Hamleys, do you admire most?
Rose Marie Bravo, CEO of Burberry. The way she turned the brand into a commercial global success story is very impressive.
What measures do you use to see how good a job you are doing?
One-to-one conversations with staff in the stores that tells me whether they feel valued by the company or not.
Which book has had the greatest influence on you?
Recently, Flying with Condors by Judy Leden. It is proof that all dreams are attainable with determination and courage.