The Lighthouse HR Consultancy podcast is for CEOs, founders and HR leaders who are serious about making people strategy a true driver of growth – not just an admin function.

Hosted by Maggie Sierko, Fractional HR Director and Founder of Lighthouse HR, the podcast brings over 20 years of senior HR experience from organisations like Amazon, IKEA and large multi-site businesses straight to your ears.

For many organisations, the impact is immediate. Whether it’s leading a transformation, stabilising a team, strengthening leadership capability, or simply giving you an experienced partner to deliver the people agenda, fractional support can become the catalyst your business needs.

Why does Amazon get so many big decisions right? It’s not luck – it’s leadership discipline. At Amazon, being “right, a lot” is a principle built on judgment, curiosity, and balance.

High standards are contagious – but only when leaders set them. At Amazon, “good enough” simply isn’t part of the vocabulary. Leaders are expected to raise the bar every single day, ensuring that quality is measured as rigorously as speed.

At Amazon, hiring and developing the best isn’t just about filling roles, it’s about raising the bar for the entire organisation. Every hire or promotion is reviewed by a panel from across the business to ensure fresh, independent judgment and continuous improvement.

What if curiosity was a leadership KPI in your business? 🤔 At Amazon, it’s not optional – it’s a core expectation. Leaders are encouraged to read, research, and question every day, knowing that curiosity fuels growth and innovation.

Imagine if everyone in your business acted like an owner. How different would things look? 🤔 At Amazon, there’s no such thing as “that’s not my job.” Ownership means taking full responsibility for results – not just for your own tasks, but for the bigger picture. Leaders think long-term, making decisions that serve the future rather than chasing short-term wins.

At Amazon, speed isn’t just a competitive edge – it’s a leadership mindset. Slow decisions cost more than fast mistakes, which is why leaders show a Bias for Action. They move with intent, knowing that most decisions are reversible – the essence of the One-Way vs. Two-Way Door principle.

Think beyond today. At Amazon, big thinking isn’t about small gains – it’s about imagining what doesn’t exist yet. Leaders are expected to “see around corners,” anticipating markets, customer needs, and risks before they emerge. Every decision is made with scale and longevity in mind: Will this still hold true in five or ten years? Will it stand up to disruption? Bold ideas build the future – not just the next quarter.

At Amazon, “Dive Deep” means leaders never outsource understanding. They know their business at every level – questioning data, tracing root causes, and staying close to the detail. No one is too senior to visit a fulfilment centre or read a customer ticket. It’s a mindset of curiosity and accountability, where asking “Why?” isn’t a challenge, it’s culture.

I know what it feels like to have more on your plate than hours in the day. I’ve been exactly where you are – at the coal face of change, influencing senior stakeholders and driving real results.

When your HR team is running on empty, it can feel overwhelming. The growing to-do list, the pressure to drive productivity, and the need to retain top talent can weigh heavily on your shoulders. But you don’t have to face these challenges alone.

You know that moment when the business is charging ahead with new priorities, but your HR team is stretched thin, trying to keep up with transformation, engagement, and retention – all at once?

It’s not that HR teams can’t do it. It’s that they’re already doing everything else.

Every conversation I’ve had lately with HR leaders has a familiar thread –
“we’re so busy keeping the lights on, we’ve no space left to think.”

The Meet of MK – End of Summer Party 2025 at Hotel La Tour Milton Keynes brought together an inspiring mix of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community champions from across Buckinghamshire. The evening highlighted the strength of our local business network, with engaging conversations, new partnerships, and the privilege of connecting with Mayor James Lancaster.

Amazon isn’t successful by accident. Its famous Leadership Principles are not just words on a wall – they are the DNA of every decision, every investment, every innovation…

In a world of constant change, your people strategy can’t afford to lag behind. That’s why more CEOs and COOs are turning to Fractional HR Directors, experienced leaders who bring strategic clarity, drive transformation, and support growth without the full-time commitment.

Here’s something you won’t see on a balance sheet, but it drives EVERYTHING behind the results.
At every senior leadership meeting at Amazon – from leadership discussions to strategy sessions – there is always one extra chair. It’s not symbolic…