Chief People & Inclusion Officer at Co-op, Claire Costello on career breaks & culture

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Claire is the Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Co-op. Prior to the Co-op, she worked across Asda and Walmart for 23 years, setting up, establishing and leading the procurement team. As well as sharing learning and experiences with wider Walmart international markets to grow procurement support and influence, Claire also held a UK-based role leading the US IT Sourcing team, working remotely with teams across four countries.
Claire started her career as a factory accountant at Smith and Nephew, and shares her experiences in finance, procurement, and people management, highlighting the transitions and skills learned along the way.
She emphasises the importance of adaptability and learning in different roles. During her time at Asda, we discuss the importance of culture, team dynamics, and explore her movement from finance to procurement, and more recently her transition into a people-focused role at Coop. She describes how her previous experiences influence her approach to this role.

Our conversation touches upon the corporate culture at Asda and Coop, with Claire noting similarities in values and community focus. She also talks about the challenges and opportunities in aligning with corporate values.
We then discuss the evolving nature of work, especially in the context of hybrid and flexible working arrangements. And explore how these changes impact team dynamics and leadership approaches.
Throughout the discussion, Claire provides personal insights into her career choices, the importance of taking risks, and the value of understanding different facets of a business. She advocates for career breaks, reflecting on her own experience and the benefits it brought to her professional and personal life.
Finally towards the end, Claire shares her excitement for upcoming projects and initiatives at Coop, particularly focusing on inclusion and belonging. She also briefly touches on her personal life, discussing her children and her impending 'empty nester' status.
If you enjoy listening to this podcast why not check out some of the others in season 1 & 2. Or perhaps you fancy taking part yourself? If so why not get in touch. You can find me via LinkedIn or Twitter