Episode 8

full
Published on:

21st Sep 2023

Leading in a People First Culture: Xero's Jen Surtees

Through expert interviews and high-level panels, Talent in Accounting explores talent, culture, recruitment, leadership, mental well-being, and more with expert interviews and high-level discussions.

What a People-First Culture Means for Today's Leaders: Jen Surtees discusses the importance of a people-led culture and how it aligns with the brand. She emphasises the need for intentionality in creating a culture where employees feel valued and can connect with the company's purpose and values. She encourages businesses to identify their unique selling points, define their purpose, and use values to guide policies and leadership decisions. Building a culture where people can thrive involves focusing on human connections, autonomy, and fair treatment, all contributing to a motivated and inspired workforce.

Guest Bio

Jen Surtees is the Director of People Experience (UK & EMEA) at Xero, with extensive experience in coaching and a passion for supporting individuals to be their best selves at work. Jen designs recruitment, development, and cultural programs for businesses that prioritize people at heart. She thoroughly researched the psychological conditions that foster high-performing teams and a sense of belonging, resulting in strong team cultures. Jen works at Xero, ensuring the company provides every employee with a world-class and inclusive experience. She creates an environment where employees can believe, belong and flourish. Under her leadership, Xero has been named the 5th Best Workplace in Tech and the 2nd Best Workplace for Women in the UK Large Business Category. Jen loves the great outdoors and recently moved with her husband and daughter to the coast, where they enjoy spending time outdoors and experiencing nature.

Your Host

Host Rob Brown is a renowned presenter, facilitator, and chair for high-level conferences and events in the accounting and fintech profession worldwide. He's an expert on trust, reputation, talent, career development, and more.

Author of Build Your Reputation and a TEDx speaker with over 300,000 YouTube views: stroke survivor, a committed Christian, and a black belt in kickboxing. Based in Nottingham, UK, he enjoys chess, backgammon, and orange chocolate but is allergic to grapefruit.

Get to know us better!

If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your preferred platform.

Social Media:

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Accounting Talent Podcast

About the Podcast

Accounting Talent Podcast
Exploring talent, people, recruitment, retention and succession in the accounting profession with high level panels, expert interviews, commentary and insights.
The ACCOUNTING TALENT PODCAST is hosted by Rob Brown, co-founder of the Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) along with Jeff Phillips of AccountingFly and Going Concern. The show explores talent, people, culture, employer brand, recruitment, retention and succession in the accounting profession with high level panels, expert interviews, commentary and insights. Key topics include soft skills, examinations, qualifications, leadership, mental wellbeing, the brand of the profession, employee value propositions, engagement, capacity and headcount in accountancy firms, career development, HR, L&D, the great resignation, quiet quitting and a range of talent issues in accounting.

Host Rob Brown is a renowned presenter, facilitator and chair of high-level conferences, panels and events globally for the accounting and fintech profession. He is also a dynamic speaker and accomplished expert on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, career development, succession, gen z/generations, employee advocacy and executive presence. https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown/
https://bit.ly/AI-youtube

About your host

Profile picture for Rob Brown

Rob Brown

Rob Brown hosts the multiple accounting podcast and chair conferences, panels and events globally for the accounting and fintech profession. He is co-founder of Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) which helps vendors, experts and influencers serve the accounting and finance world. He is a dynamic speaker and accomplished expert on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, career development, succession, gen z/generations, employee advocacy and executive presence. Rob is author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk ‘The Personal Brand of You’ has been viewed 400,000 times on YouTube. He is a stroke survivor, has epilepsy, is a committed Christian and has a black belt in kickboxing. He is based in Nottingham UK, home of Robin Hood, plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.