From Harrods to HR Consultancy: Lucinda Reader on Building People-Centric Businesses

In this episode of The HR & Wellbeing Insider, Paul Connolly chats with Lucinda Reader—founder of Ravello HR—about her journey from cutthroat recruitment to launching her own consultancy.

Early Beginnings: Recruitment in the Fast Lane

Lucinda’s career kicked off at 17 in a high-pressure recruitment agency, where she discovered a fascination for people’s stories and careers. “I can’t just meet someone—I have to know everything about them,” she laughs. After refining her skills in specialist recruitment, Lucinda joined Harrods, running high-volume seasonal campaigns (including hiring Father Christmas and his elves!). That intense, transactional environment taught her how to deliver under pressure—and sparked her pivot into broader HR roles.

Gaining a 360° View of People & Business

Rather than specialise immediately, Lucinda deliberately moved into ER, generalist, RPO and hybrid talent-recruitment positions, including a seven-year stint at Metro Bank during its explosive growth. “I built it from the ground up,” she says. Each role added a new toolkit: from dealing with private equity cultures to behaviour-driven performance models. By sampling every slice of HR, she prepared herself to advise diverse clients through Ravello HR.

Energised by Commercial Impact

What keeps Lucinda energised? Seeing how the right people plan underpins business success. “If you’ve got a people plan, your business plan will work—if you don’t, it won’t,” she insists. She helps leaders understand HR as a strategic partner rather than a cost centre, using skills matrices and competency frameworks to align talent with commercial goals. When executives grasp that, Lucinda says, “the magic starts to happen.”

Specialisms on Demand: The Consultant’s Toolbox

At Ravello HR, Lucinda offers generalist expertise and calls in reward, OD or payroll specialists from her network as needed. This flexible model means clients get tailored solutions without overinvesting in fixed headcount. It also reflects HR’s modern shift: “We used to be generalists; now we’ve siloed into talent, reward, wellbeing, OD… but the consultant needs to know a bit of everything.”

Keeping the Human Touch

Despite all the data, technology and AI on the horizon, Lucinda never loses sight of kindness and respect. Whether running discipline meetings or celebrating weddings, she treats everyone with compassion. Her voluntary work with No Going Back, a charity that trains soon-to-be-released offenders for employment, reinforces this belief. “You don’t know everyone’s story—that humility is crucial in HR,” she explains.

Embracing Change & Future Trends

Lucinda’s motto? “Change is good—embrace it.” She helps organisations map talent needs three to twelve months ahead, avoiding last-minute “war for talent” panic. Looking further out, she’s excited by AI-powered self-serve tools for managers and more behaviour-based performance reviews that align with company values. “AI can handle basic queries, freeing HR and managers to coach and connect,” she predicts.

Volunteering: Second Chances in Action

Working with No Going Back, Lucinda delivers interview workshops in prisons, teaching life-skills to offenders months before release. She sees the transformation in participants’ confidence and the charity’s 5–7% reoffending rate. “It’s a constant reminder that everyone deserves respect and a second chance,” she says.

Key Takeaways & Advice

• Side-step to learn: Take on projects outside your comfort zone. Lateral moves build breadth.

• Build a support network: Mentors and peer groups fuel growth and resilience.

• Map skills - don’t splurge on training: Identify in-house experts who can upskill colleagues at no extra cost.

• Communicate change relentlessly: Even “no news” is news—regular updates crush gossip and anxiety.

Ready for more insights from Lucinda’s journey and hands-on HR strategies? Listen to the full episode of The HR & Wellbeing Insider and subscribe to stay ahead of the curve.

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Best Regards,
Paul ✌🏻
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