HR Like a Boss The Impact of Work on Lives | HR Like a Boss with Aoife O’Brien

In this episode of the HR Like a Boss podcast, John Bernatovicz interviews Aoife O'Brien, an HR expert and author, discussing the impact of work on individuals, the purpose of human resources, and the challenges faced in creating a positive workplace culture. Aoife shares her experiences and insights on how to improve work environments and the importance of leadership in fostering employee engagement. They discuss the importance of psychological safety, the costs associated with toxic leadership, and the framework outlined in Aoife's book, Thriving Talent.

ABOUT AOIFE O'BRIEN

Aoife O’Brien is the founder of Happier at Work and host of the award-winning Happier at Work podcast, ranked in the top 2% globally. A culture and leadership expert with over 20 years’ corporate experience, she works with global organisations to create the conditions where people can perform, grow, and stay. Her work focuses on aligning culture, drivers, and capabilities so employees feel valued, clear, and equipped to do their best work and organisations see sustainable gains in performance, engagement, and retention. Her debut book, Thriving Talent, was published in March 2026, was featured by Forbes, and is an Irish Times bestseller.