Hélène Djalo
London,United Kingdom
Summary
People-focused project and operations leader with 5+ years’ experience delivering strategic workforce initiatives, digital transformation, and performance improvement across fast-paced retail environments. Proven track record in stakeholder engagement, talent planning, and data-led decision-making. Passionate about creating inclusive, high-performing teams and aligning people strategy with business growth.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work history
Workforce Management & People Strategy Lead
Gymshark
London
09.2024 - 03.2025
- Successfully led workforce transformation projects across multi-site retail environments, delivering improvements in team efficiency, labour planning, and cost control, all while supporting broader organisational growth.
- Developed and executed strategic people plans that balanced business objectives with employee experience, ensuring talent was aligned with operational demand and long-term capability needs.
- Drove cross-functional collaboration between operations, HR, and technology teams to deliver people-focused solutions, including shift optimisation, labour forecasting tools, and team structure redesigns.
- Managed large-scale projects using structured RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) frameworks—proactively identifying and addressing risks and blockers to ensure projects were delivered on time and within budget.
- Implemented digital and process improvements to support business expansion and operational change, including system integrations that enabled better team planning, onboarding, and scheduling.
- Led on automation and data-driven solutions that enhanced workforce visibility, reduced admin, and empowered managers to make informed decisions based on real-time insights.
- Embedded performance metrics and feedback loops that strengthened leadership accountability and team engagement, resulting in measurable gains in efficiency, morale, and service quality.
- Brought a strategic yet hands-on approach to change management, with a focus on coaching leaders, aligning stakeholders, and creating sustainable people solutions that support long-term business success.
Senior People Operations ( HR People Partner)
Gymshark
London
11.2023 - 12.2024
- Designed and delivered strategic people and operational plans to improve team performance, streamline workflows, and support long-term business growth in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Led workforce planning and optimisation using performance metrics and operational insights to drive engagement, improve productivity, and support sustainable staffing structures.
- Managed cross-functional projects focused on enhancing people systems and processes, including the integration of new inventory and order management tools that supported store operations.
- Partnered with technical and operational teams to implement end-to-end systems that supported new store launches, ensuring processes were people-friendly and aligned with wider business goals.
- Led organisational change projects, including data migration initiatives, ensuring accurate transfer of legacy HR and operational data to modern platforms while safeguarding data integrity and compliance.
- Collaborated with senior stakeholders to track project budgets, monitor risk, and provide regular people-focused reporting that informed decision-making at scale.
- Established clear KPIs and performance frameworks, resulting in measurable improvements in team efficiency, leadership effectiveness, and operational consistency.
Bakery Manager
Gail's Bakery
London
01.2022 - 11.2023
- Spearheaded digital transformation in retail, integrating advanced technologies to optimise store operations and elevate customer experience (Gail's loyalty app/ crafting for growth Champion )
- Executed long-term growth strategies and enhancing brand presence through targeted initiatives
- Directed regional data migration projects, ensuring accurate and efficient transition to a centralised database ( Project L6 Rise platform)
- Enhanced data analytics processes, enabling better forecasting and inventory management .
- Developed excellent customer relationships through effective communication and service delivery.
- Maximized profitability through waste control measures and efficient use of resources.
- Tracked daily sales to identify popular items and predict future demand accurately.
- Maintained high standards of food hygiene and health and safety at all times.
Operational Excellence Cluster manager
PAUL UK
City of London
10.2016 - 12.2021
- Directed multi-site operations across the region, implementing standardized processes to elevate performance and brand consistency
- Analysed sales and operational data to drive strategic decisions, contributing to significant revenue growth
- Led the integration of new customer relationship management (CRM) and order management systems to improve operational efficiency.
- Managed large-scale projects involving system development and process optimisation, achieving measurable improvements in customer satisfaction.
- Spearheaded data migration efforts, consolidating information from legacy systems into a new ERP platform.
- Conducted RAID management workshops, ensuring proactive risk identification and mitigation.
Education
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (LEVEL 7) -
The Imperial College
11.2024 - 12 2025
DIPLOMA OF HIGHER EDUCATION (CMI LEVEL 6) - undefined
Chartered Management Institute
01.2022 - 4 2024
BACHELOR OF ARTS - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
University of Hertfordshire
01.2022 - 6 2024
MBA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS -
UCLA Extension / Isee Business School
Paris /California 01.2016 - 12 2016
Skills
- People Strategy & Organisational Design
- Workforce Planning & Optimisation
- Leadership Development & Coaching
- Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Change Management & Cultural Alignment
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- HR Systems & Digital Transformation
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Talent Mapping & Succession Planning
- Employee Experience & Wellbeing
- Budget & Resource Management
- Project & Risk Management (RAID)
Languages
English
Fluent
French
Native
Timeline
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (LEVEL 7) -
The Imperial College
11.2024 - 12 2025
Workforce Management & People Strategy Lead
Gymshark
09.2024 - 03.2025
Senior People Operations ( HR People Partner)
Gymshark
11.2023 - 12.2024
Bakery Manager
Gail's Bakery
01.2022 - 11.2023
DIPLOMA OF HIGHER EDUCATION (CMI LEVEL 6) - undefined
Chartered Management Institute
01.2022 - 4 2024
BACHELOR OF ARTS - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
University of Hertfordshire
01.2022 - 6 2024
Operational Excellence Cluster manager
PAUL UK
10.2016 - 12.2021
MBA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS -
UCLA Extension / Isee Business School
01.2016 - 12 2016
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