Event Presentations

Beyond HR: Stepping from Chief People Officer to CEO

Written by Engage Employee | Jun 22, 2026 1:20:28 PM

What does it really take to step up from leading people strategy to leading an entire organisation? At the Engage Employee Summit, Joyce Idoniboye answered that question with rare candour — drawing on her remarkable journey from Chief People Officer to Acting CEO at Oxfam.

Joyce brought to life the defining moments of her leadership story: steering the organisation through significant change, earning trust under pressure, and making high-stakes decisions in the face of complexity. Her session made a compelling case for why the skills long associated with HR leadership aren't just valuable in the CEO role — they're essential to it.