In this episode, Tobba sits down with Fay Wallis, a career and executive coach with nearly a decade of experience helping HR professionals develop rewarding, sustainable careers.

Fay is the founder of Bright Sky Career Coaching, the host of the HR Coffee Time podcast (ranked in the top 2% of podcasts globally), and creator of the Essential HR Planner and the Inspiring HR Leadership Development Program.

In this conversation, Fay shares her unconventional journey from HR business partner to coach and how a single career development workshop transformed her purpose. She talks openly about experiences with burnout, workplace anxiety, and why she’s focused on empowering HR professionals to work smarter, not harder, while supporting wellbeing at work.

Fay and Tobba dig into the realities facing HR leaders, from overwhelming workloads to the challenge of setting boundaries, and share practical advice for anyone seeking greater fulfilment in their career.

Discussion highlights:

• Fay’s background in HR, her shift to coaching, and the step-by-step growth of her business (01:14)

• The pivotal moment of designing and delivering her first career management workshop – and its unexpected impact (03:13)

• Most common themes HR leaders bring to coaching: lack of confidence, workplace relationships, and career transitions (09:23)

• How burnout and anxiety shaped her approach to wellbeing and productivity (11:10)

• The importance of learning to say no and setting boundaries in HR (15:29)

• The wide-ranging responsibilities of HR professionals and the evolving scope of the HR role (15:38)

• The most popular and helpful HR Coffee Time podcast episodes: confidence at work and competency-based interviews (20:43)

• Advice for anyone considering reaching out for career support or coaching (25:28)

• The value of peer support, planning, and taking small, daily steps for personal and professional wellbeing (30:50)

• Practical signs of burnout and anxiety – and Fay’s strategies for managing wellbeing (33:18)

Listen to this episode for honest insights on sustainable success, practical workplace wellbeing, and how to navigate the demands of HR leadership.

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/

Website: https://brightskycareercoaching.co.uk/

Podcast:  https://brightskycareercoaching.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/

About Kara Connect

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Our mission is to make it easy for your employees to manage their wellbeing through direct access to best-in-class support. Whenever they need it.

Learn more at www.KaraConnect.com.