Debra Gardner
Debra Gardner on belonging
With 14 years of HR experience under her belt, Debra Gardner is passionate about people, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Now the Chief People Officer for LSL Property Services plc, Debra regularly uses her expertise (and abundance of to-do lists) to solve challenges and make sure her colleagues work somewhere they feel they belong. Debra told us about her love for people, prioritising family time and why beekeeping helps her headspace.
Photographs by Christopher Owens
Tell me about your background and career.
I started my working career at Marks & Spencer and absolutely loved it – it was the first time I felt really independent, and I’m still a dedicated customer!
I had a couple of short-term jobs after that before moving to Northumbria Police. That’s where I pursued a career in HR. I’d been told I wouldn’t be able to do this because I hadn’t got a degree, but I got the opportunity to study for my MSc which I was so grateful for.
Since then, I’ve worked in various companies, including Sage and other tech companies in the UK and globally.
Tell me about the company you work for. What do you attribute to your success?
I work for LSL Property Services plc (LSL). It’s one of the largest providers of services to mortgage intermediaries and estate agency franchisees and also provides surveying and valuation services to seven out of the eight largest mortgage lenders in the UK.
I’m LSL’s Chief People Officer, so I’m part of the Executive Team responsible for driving our business forward and ensuring we have a company that our colleagues want to be part of - and where they feel they belong. I’m Chair of the Colleague Engagement Forum and Executive Sponsor of our Inclusion and Diversity Forum.
I love the challenge and thrill of working outside of the traditional HR remit, so I have taken up the mantle of chairing our Data Protection and Information Security Committee too.
What do you love most about what you do every day?
It’s got to be the people. I love interacting with people, learning from them and supporting them to develop and enjoy work. The People team are truly amazing - they have such varied backgrounds, interests and experiences, so spending time with them is a pleasure. In HR, no two days are the same, which gives me good variety and stops me becoming bored.
Have you had to make sacrifices in your chosen career, and have they been worth it?
Changing careers has meant that I’ve often had to take demotions to prove myself. At times it felt embarrassing and difficult on the old purse strings, but looking back I’m pleased I made those sacrifices and I’ve managed to progress in my career because of it.
“I love interacting with people, learning from them and supporting them to develop and enjoy work.”
What are some of your daily rituals and why are they part of your routine?
I always start the day with a coffee and some family time. I’ve also found that, over the years, incorporating exercise into my week makes me more productive. I’m no athlete but I always feel much better after some exercise!
What does work/life balance look like for you?
My family are everything to me, so having proper down time - to recharge and focus on them - is non-negotiable. I love spending time outdoors so I try to get outside every day. Sometimes it’s just a quick walk in the garden with a cup of coffee, whilst on a break from work.
In my spare time, I’m a beekeeper - you have to concentrate on the bees when you’re there so that helps to focus the mind on something other than work!
How do you stay focused and productive in a world of distractions?
I’m naturally curious (which is a nice way of saying nosy) so I get easily distracted and have a lot of ‘to do’ lists as a result. I’ve got notebooks, diaries and online trackers for different things - I don’t know what I’d do without them.
If I’ve got an important deadline, I find putting on a podcast or music in the background focuses my mind.
“My family are everything to me, so having proper down time - to recharge and focus on them - is non-negotiable.”
If you had the power to change the world, what would you change?
What a question! There are so many things I would change. I think it’s got to be fixing climate breakdown – it's already having a huge negative effect on us and I worry about future generations and what the world will look like for them.
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