Feb 02 2025 34 mins 1
Lucinda is joined by Caroline McCague, the Director of People and Culture at the RSPCA, to discuss her inspiring journey and the unique challenges of working within a 200-year-old charity.
Caroline shares insights into the RSPCA's broad mission of animal welfare, including their rescue operations, advocacy work, and the importance of governance in the charity sector. She reflects on her transition from professional services to a purpose-driven organisation, and talks about the significance of employee well-being and inclusivity in achieving the RSPCA's goals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Working at the RSPCA emphasises a strong connection to purpose, with employees motivated by a shared commitment to animal welfare. This intrinsic motivation fosters a culture where everyone is focused on making a positive impact.
- Transitioning from the private sector to a charity organisation can be challenging due to preconceived notions about industry experience. However, skills from professional services can be valuable in the charity sector, and organisations should be open to diverse backgrounds.
- Understanding charity governance is crucial for effective leadership in the nonprofit sector. This includes working closely with a board of trustees, who provide oversight and guidance, similar to non-executive directors in the corporate world.
- Investing in employee well-being is essential for organisational success. By prioritising the mental and emotional health of staff, organisations can enhance their ability to care for the animals they serve, creating a sustainable model for both people and animals.
BEST MOMENTS
"Ultimately, the central premise for us is about animal welfare. It's making sure that we inspire everybody around us to create a better world for all animals."
"I think my biggest challenge has been myself... I had to really be brave about making decisions."
"We've been changing that narrative... it is important that we invest in our people just as much as we invest in our caring of animals."
"I think the skills can work, transfer both ways... People just can be very close-minded about what they feel a person can adapt to."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The HR Uprising Podcast | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher
The HR Uprising LinkedIn Group
How to Prioritise Self-Care (The HR Uprising)
How To Be A Change Superhero - by Lucinda Carney
HR Uprising Mastermind - https://hruprising.com/mastermind/
Get your copy of How To Be A Change Superhero by emailing at [email protected]
Caroline McCague - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/caroline-mccague-70005026
ABOUT THE HOST
Lucinda Carney is a Business Psychologist with 15 years in Senior Corporate L&D roles and a further 10 as CEO of Actus Software where she worked closely with HR colleagues helping them to solve the same challenges across a huge range of industries. It was this breadth of experience that inspired Lucinda to set up the HR Uprising community to facilitate greater collaboration across HR professionals in different sectors, helping them to ‘rise up’ together.
“If you look up, you rise up”
CONTACT METHOD
HR Uprising
- Join the LinkedIn community - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13714397/
- Email: [email protected]
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindacarney/
- Twitter: @lucindacarney
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Actus Software
