Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic
sylvia  Alexandra Pojda

sylvia Alexandra Pojda

London

Summary

Visionary and people-first Director of People & Culture with 20+ years’ international experience leading HR, organisational development, and culture transformation across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Skilled at integrating People, DEIB, and culture strategies to build inclusive, high-performing workplaces where employees thrive and organisations achieve their mission.

A trusted advisor to executive teams and Boards, I combine strategic HR leadership, DEIB expertise, and change management to align people strategy with organisational vision and financial sustainability. Experienced in unionised environments, I foster constructive relationships with employee representatives while ensuring compliance with employment law, the Equality Act, and health & safety regulations.

I have a proven track record of:

· Designing and delivering people and culture strategies that improve engagement, wellbeing, and organisational performance.

· Embedding DEIB principles across recruitment, leadership, and employee lifecycle processes, while supporting external representation and equity goals.

· Leading transformation in fast-paced and complex environments, ensuring employee voice, wellbeing, and recognition are at the heart of change.

· Overseeing HR, talent management, L&D, employee relations, and facilities management to ensure safe, sustainable, and human-centred workplaces.

Known for my emotional intelligence, collaboration, and resilience, I build strong stakeholder relationships at every level, balancing organisational goals with employee needs. My leadership ensures that culture, inclusion, and continuous improvement remain central to long-term success.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work history

People Coach

Community Workforce Transition
01.2023 - 09.2025
  • Supported displaced workers during the pandemic through coaching, CV-building, and mental wellbeing sessions.
  • Delivered D&I and agile job-readiness workshops in partnership with faith groups and charities.
  • Helped over 150 individuals re-enter employment or training.
  • Designed inclusive employment resources used by multiple community partners.

Agile Change & Transformation Programme Strategic Lead (Workplace Stakeholder Manager & Consultant)

Middlesex University
Hendon, UK
06.2023 - 01.2024
  • Transformation Programme focusing on process improvement, behavioural change (people, culture, business) and technology across all faculties and campuses globally.
  • Leading Middlesex Programme Strategy 2031 (within 15 projects with a strong focus on student and employee wellbeing).
  • Collaboration with Key Academics (Chancellor, vice Chancellor, Deans, Deputy Deans, Head of Departments, HR and C-suit Business).
  • Stakeholder Mapping: Working with organisations to identify key stakeholders for a project and assess the stakeholder’s position, e.g., support for the change and influence.
  • Stakeholder Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with key client stakeholders, acting as a partner throughout the transformation journey.
  • Lead Change Delivery: Drive stakeholder engagement and change management initiatives across complex transformation projects, ensuring alignment with client goals and project timelines.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work effectively within a matrixed environment, collaborating across disciplines to deliver integrated solutions.
  • Client Engagement & Insight Generation: Conduct interviews, facilitate workshops, and analyse surveys to generate actionable insights. Present findings in a clear, compelling manner to senior stakeholders.
  • Strategy & Planning: Design and implement tailored change management strategies, communication plans, and stakeholder engagement approaches that support successful project delivery.
  • Project & Resource Management: Manage workplace change and stakeholder engagement activities, including planning, resource coordination, progress tracking, and invoicing to meet delivery and financial objectives.
  • Communication & Reporting: Maintain regular communication with clients and internal teams, providing clear updates, reports, and presentations on project progress and outcomes.
  • Impact Translation: Translate technical, construction, or electrical project impacts into strategic insights that are easily understood by executive audiences.
  • Business Development Support: Contribute to bid proposals, identify new opportunities for workplace change and stakeholder engagement support opportunities with MU clients.

Strategic Change Programme Lead, Faculty of Business and Law

Middlesex University
Hendon, UK
03.2023 - 06.2023
  • Transformation Programme focusing on process improvement and behavioural change within Faculty of Business and Law and student overseas (Dubai).

Programme & Project Change Lead, Workplace Stakeholder Manager

Southwark Council
London
01.2020 - 03.2023
  • Company Overview: Within the Public Health Programme Services division at Tri-Borough, Advisory team comprises experts in workplace consulting, change management, and facilities management.
  • Led workplace transformation programmes across public sector real estate portfolios, including NHS hospitals, courts, prisons, care homes, schools, and community housing.
  • Partnered with senior stakeholders to design and implement change management strategies that supported service delivery, operational efficiency, and community impact.
  • Managed stakeholder mapping, engagement, and communications to ensure alignment, mitigate resistance, and build trust across diverse audiences.
  • Oversaw programme governance, risk management, and compliance with public sector regulations, ensuring delivery within scope, budget, and timelines.
  • Facilitated workshops, focus groups, and consultations to gather insights, co-design solutions, and secure buy-in for change initiatives.
  • Coordinated cross-functional teams, consultants, and contractors to deliver integrated workplace and organisational change solutions.
  • Developed and implemented communication and training plans to support staff transition to new workplace environments and ways of working.
  • Provided strategic advisory on corporate real estate utilisation, space optimisation, and facilities management to support long-term sustainability.
  • Acted as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, translating technical project impacts into accessible insights that guided decision-making.
  • Represented the organisation at industry events and sector forums, sharing best practices in workplace change, stakeholder engagement, and real estate programme delivery.
  • Within the Public Health Programme Services division at Tri-Borough, Advisory team comprises experts in workplace consulting, change management, and facilities management.

Education Principal Consultant – Strategic Planning (People and Culture)

Department for Education
London
01.2017 - 12.2019

Principal Consultant – Strategic Planning (People, Culture and Business)

Harrods
London
01.2015 - 12.2016

Programme Change Lead

Primary and Secondary Schools
London
09.2010 - 12.2014
  • Company Overview: gov
  • Gov

Principle Consultant, Teacher

Polish International Saturday School
Walthamstow, UK
09.2010 - 12.2012

Consultant

Capgemini
Katowice
10.2008 - 09.2010

Consultant

Private Health Clinic
Katowice
10.2006 - 09.2008

Project Manager

NHZ Hospital
Chorzow
09.2003 - 09.2004

Education

Master of Science - Sociology - Behavioural Science - Organisation Management and Development

University of Silesia
Poland

Bachelor of Science - Social Psychology - Public Health

University of Silesia
Poland

Phd - Research - Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

University of Silesia
Poland

Skills

Language skills: English, Polish, American (fluent); Italian, German, Czech (basic)

Expertise in L&D and digital learning

  • Strong instructional design capabilities
  • Effective digital learning design with LMS proficiency

Understanding of business psychology principles

  • Development of practical learning content for diverse audiences
  • Confident facilitation in various environments

Effective communication with stakeholders at all levels

  • Experience in client partnerships with large organisations
  • Skilled relationship management for high satisfaction rates

Coaching for executives and team development initiatives

  • Leadership behaviour and culture transformation strategies
  • Strong analytical skills for problem-solving tasks

Outstanding interpersonal communication abilities

Affiliations

  • AI
  • Psychology
  • Culture
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Change and Transformation

Timeline

Agile Change & Transformation Programme Strategic Lead (Workplace Stakeholder Manager & Consultant)

Middlesex University
06.2023 - 01.2024

Strategic Change Programme Lead, Faculty of Business and Law

Middlesex University
03.2023 - 06.2023

People Coach

Community Workforce Transition
01.2023 - 09.2025

Programme & Project Change Lead, Workplace Stakeholder Manager

Southwark Council
01.2020 - 03.2023

Education Principal Consultant – Strategic Planning (People and Culture)

Department for Education
01.2017 - 12.2019

Principal Consultant – Strategic Planning (People, Culture and Business)

Harrods
01.2015 - 12.2016

Programme Change Lead

Primary and Secondary Schools
09.2010 - 12.2014

Principle Consultant, Teacher

Polish International Saturday School
09.2010 - 12.2012

Consultant

Capgemini
10.2008 - 09.2010

Consultant

Private Health Clinic
10.2006 - 09.2008

Project Manager

NHZ Hospital
09.2003 - 09.2004

Master of Science - Sociology - Behavioural Science - Organisation Management and Development

University of Silesia

Bachelor of Science - Social Psychology - Public Health

University of Silesia

Phd - Research - Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

University of Silesia
sylvia Alexandra Pojda