Shaping the Future of Work with Tom Kegode 

Building people-first cultures in a tech-first world 

As part of our partnership with Quartz for the HR Leadership Summit Spring Edition event, HRD Connect sat down with Tom Kegode, Communications and Connections Lead for People and Places at Lloyds Banking Group. Tom will be speaking at the Quartz panel discussion “Shaping the Future of Work: Leadership and Collaboration in a Tech-First World” (21st May 2025, 9:50–11:25 AM), alongside leaders from HP, Insulet, and CGIAR. 

In this exclusive conversation, Tom shares practical insight on the evolving role of HR, cross-functional collaboration, and why leaders must start with what makes us human. 

Why tech must be people-first 

When asked what “tech-first” means in the context of his work, Tom is quick to flip the script. “Technology is only great if it helps us be more human,” he says. “It should enhance creativity, judgement, collaboration, empathy—not replace them.” 

Rather than focusing on digitisation for its own sake, Tom believes organisations should assess how technology can improve how people work, connect and grow. At Lloyds, that’s meant rethinking hybrid work beyond just location. “We need to think about end-to-end experiences—where a project might begin in a digital space, then move in-person, and finish digitally again. The goal is fluid, connected collaboration.” 

This mindset also shapes how physical workspaces are designed. “Our offices are becoming high-tech and high-touch environments,” he adds. “They should supercharge human interaction when teams come together.” 

Culture, rituals, and digital nudges 

This balance isn’t limited to physical spaces. Culture plays a huge role, and digital tools are used to embed inclusive behaviours and team rituals. “We think about digital nudges, ways of working, and how tech can shape behaviours that reflect our values,” Tom says. 

These nudges, like inclusive meeting defaults or hybrid-friendly collaboration features, help shape a workplace where everyone can show up fully—regardless of where they work. 

The power of cross-functional collaboration 

When it comes to transformation, Tom is a strong advocate for co-creation. “The best work happens in cross-functional squads. Not when each team works in a silo, but when you bring people together—early—and give them autonomy.” 

This collaborative mindset also underpins how Lloyds approaches organisational change. Risk and finance leaders aren’t brought in at the end to review plans—they’re involved in the design process. “It builds shared ownership. Everyone’s part of the journey from the start,” he says. 

Telling a strategic story 

Tom stresses the importance of storytelling in HR’s evolution. “When technology disrupts the way we work, we can’t just react—we have to lead. And that starts with telling a cohesive, strategic story,” he says. 

That story must answer why changes are happening and how they serve customers. “At Lloyds, everyone either serves customers or supports those who do. That’s the lens we use for everything. Whether it’s tech, process design, or policy—we ask, how does this help us serve better?” 

Skills are the new currency 

With AI and automation reshaping roles across the business, Tom believes HR must lead—not follow. “This is the slowest the world is ever going to move. We need to operate at pace, not just respond to disruption.” 

That means designing a future-ready workforce. “We’re building sandbox environments where people can experiment safely with new tools. We’re also mapping emerging skills and partnering with Microsoft to trial skill-tracking platforms like Viva,” he shares. 

Reskilling is already paying off. “We’ve had colleagues move from frontline roles into tech because they bring customer insight into those teams. That’s the kind of transformation we want.” 

There’s no room for resistance to digital. “Saying ‘I’m not a tech person’ isn’t really an option anymore,” Tom says. “Tech is everywhere, so we’re making sure people are equipped to thrive alongside it.” 

HR transformation starts at home 

Lloyds is applying the same philosophy internally to HR. “We’re rolling out a large language model tool to simplify HR policy access. It removes the friction, makes information easier to find in the moment,” says Tom. 

AI is also supporting inclusivity. “Tools like Microsoft Copilot are being explored for their accessibility benefits—particularly for neurodiverse colleagues,” he adds. 

And driving all of this change are a Senior leadership team of internal changemakers and over 7,000 colleague ‘Catalysts’— early adopters embedded across the business. “They help spot blockers, experiment with new tech, and drive innovation at scale,” Tom shares. This peer-led model enables grassroots transformation with Sponsorship from leaders and accelerates adoption across a large, complex organisation. 

The leadership shift: 4Cs (Coach, clarity, care, and challenge) 

What does it take to lead in this environment? For Tom, there are four non-negotiables: coaching, clarity, care, and challenge. 

“Leaders need to coach people through change, bring clarity when the map is shifting, and show care and empathy throughout,” he says. “At the same time, we need to challenge with kindness. The pace is high—we all need to perform at our best.” 

Advice for HR leaders 

Tom leaves us with a grounded but powerful takeaway: “In a world so focused on tech, start with what makes us human. Empathy. Creativity. Collaboration. Let technology enable those things—not drive them.” 

He continues, “Don’t do change to people—design it with them. That’s how we build real alignment and momentum.” 

Tom will explore these ideas further at the panel: “Shaping the Future of Work: Leadership and Collaboration in a Tech-First World.” Don’t miss the chance to hear how he and other senior leaders are building organisations where tech and humanity go hand in hand. 

HRD Connect Curators of the New Business Landscape. HRD Connect produces industry-recognized content for senior HR leaders. Through articles, case studies, Q&As, podcasts, events, and more, we offer truly progressive and cutting-edge insights designed to help people leaders address core HR challenges and add greater value to their business.

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