Lesley Coles

Pioneer
DISC Type : DIS

People Director - People Partnering, Industrial & Employee Relations at Gist Limited

Blackbrook, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Lesley Coles is an operationally focused and MCIPD-qualified People Director with extensive experience in the logistics and manufacturing sectors for major companies like Gist, EV Cargo, and Morrisons. Colleagues describe her as a visionary, tenacious, and hard-working servant leader who excels in developing robust HR structures in demanding, fast-paced, and unionized environments.

Outside of her formal role, Lesley is a reflective leader, drawing inspiration from books like Sheryl Sandbergs "Lean In. " She values creating supportive environments where people can thrive and has a relatable perspective on balancing professional demands, often sharing insights on adapting to the accelerating pace of change in the modern workplace.

She is keenly focused on the future of employment law, finding recent proposals for the new Employment Relations Bill "mindblowing. "

Personality Overview

Decisive But Friendly

Driven But Considerate

Dynamic But Sincere

They combine a unique set of diverse traits where they are fast and friendly but can slow down to be thorough when needed  They have the unique ability to win both love and respect from their team (or outsiders) If they are convinced, they can become very strong champions for your product

Topics They Care About

Employee & Industrial Relations
Her career is centered on HR leadership in both union and non-unionized environments, with a specific focus on industrial and employee relations at Gist Limited.
Women in Leadership
She publicly recommends Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In, " indicating a strong interest in empowering women and fostering confidence and leadership in the workplace.
Future of Work
She has posted about the accelerating pace of change, including AI, automation, and digital transformation, emphasizing the need for organizations to be proactive and anticipate trends.

Media Appearances

Lesley has no verified media appearances

Work History

2-2024
People Director - People Partnering, Industrial & Employee Relations at Gist Limited
10-2021 - 2-2024
Vice President Human Resources at EV Cargo
1-2019 - 10-2021
Senior Human Resources Business Partner - Manufacturing at Morrisons
7-2017 - 1-2019
Senior Human Resources Business Partner - Logistics at Morrisons
7-2016 - 7-2017
Head Of Human Resources - Logistics at Müller UK & Ireland

Education

2019 - 2020
Intermediate Level 3 Award in Food Safety for Food Manufacturers from RSPH - Royal Society for Public Health
2019 - 2019
Influencing & Negotiating with Trade Unions from Blueprint Management Consulting

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 21 Location : Blackbrook, England, United Kingdom Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : People Director - People Partnering, Industrial & Employee Relations at Gist Limited
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Insights For Selling To Lesley

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Mostly stick to your standard pitch and qualifying script, but add some stories or anecdotes to it
  • Keep your pitch focused on the impact but nurture the relationship too
  • Use phrases like ‘your decision will’, ‘you will impact’ etc.

DONT's

  • Don't lean very heavily into providing too much information, sharing whitepapers etc.
  • Don’t be very informal during the early interactions even if they are being so themselves
  • Avoid focusing only on the product or its ROI, keep building trust subtly

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Lesley is

  • Nothing less than a strong combination of proof of results, relationship and high levels of professionalism is effective with them.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Lesley

  • They can say no while staying friendly, but can also be pursuaded to reconsider

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Lesley move?

  • They are generally fast movers and can take quick decisions
  • Can Lesley take some risk or not?

  • They have high risk-appetite but can get ahead of themselves once in a while. Observe carefully

You And Lesley

Personality Compatibility


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