In episode 715 of the HRchat podcast, I talk with Nikki Scarr, Global Head of HR at abcam. With a career spanning both corporate and military HR, Nikki brings a unique perspective to the profession with 18 years of experience in a variety of HR roles across the world.
Nikki’s passion for social mobility, stemming from her own experience as the first in her family to attend university, shines through as she recounts her journey into HR. Hear how she’s been instrumental in creating her company’s first social mobility employee resource group, expanding global work experience opportunities, and supporting future leaders.
In a candid conversation, Nikki opened up about her decision to share her personal story on LinkedIn, which not only garnered immense support but also inspired senior leaders to share their own journeys.
Nikki will be a speaker at the Cambridge AI Summit on June 18th. In our conversation, Nikki shares her views on AI and digital workers – underscoring her belief that technology should enhance, not replace, human-centric tasks. Nikki discusses the ethical considerations and her reservations about AI in recruitment processes, advocating for the indispensable role of human involvement to ensure fairness and depth in candidate selection.
More About Nikki Scarr
Currently Global Head of HR for leading Cambridge-based life sciences company abcam, Nikki has partnered the organization’s Digital transformation for the past 3 years forging connections between talent and innovation. Her is passionate about creating inclusive and diverse workplaces that empower people to achieve their full potential.
Nikki is a British Army Veteran, trustee of Army Families Federation and a social mobility champion. Nikki believes ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ and has championed initiatives aimed at leveling the playing field for future generations.