Meet the Team: Emmanuel Johnson, Senior People and Culture Manager
Emmanuel thrives on helping others shine, loves working alongside colleagues, and believes in taking every chance to celebrate life – especially if it involves Afrobeats.
Read on to hear about his top priorities, biggest challenges, and favourite tracks.
What made you want to be part of PPL – and what were you doing before you joined the business?
Music has always been part of my life, and I’ve always wanted to work in the music industry. Prior to this role, I worked as an HR Business Partner for a construction company for just over seven years, and I heard about PPL from a friend who is a recording artist.
The chance to work with an organisation that I could see makes such a different to so many people made PPL a very attractive place to work. Now that I’m here, having the ability to add value and make a difference while working alongside wonderful colleagues is great.
Tell us about a typical day in your role?
I don’t think a typical day in HR exists, let alone in my role! It varies depending on plans we have set up across the year. My role revolves around development, talent management and employee engagement, but being part of a team means I support in other areas within HR too. PPL also provides HR services to a number of external businesses within the music industry, from policy work and projects to day-to-day general queries.
I love being able to interact with various stakeholders at all levels and supporting the business to ensure we achieve our targets.
What are your top priorities right now?
Our Employee Engagement Survey is one. Our last survey in 2023 has driven changes over the past 12 – 15 months, and two years later we’re checking in with our people again. It’s important to be clear on what we are working towards and how we can make a positive, intentional difference.
We’re also embedding our new company values, which have been shaped by feedback from employees. For this I’m working with our Comms team and senior leaders across the business.
The third big priority is continuing to create opportunities for growth and development within PPL.
What are some of the biggest challenges?
It’s important to keep evolving and innovating so we can continue to make a positive change to how we operate and how we work. This is why managing change is so important. We have some great people within the business who are helping to drive this, and it’s always a team effort.
What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?
I love being able to see the difference we make within our business. As any HR Professional knows, in order to make a difference, you need a clear plan and the right people to help bring that plan to life. I’m lucky to work with so many people who share that goal.
In the music world, who are your ones to watch?
An artist called Skeete. His sound is a mixture of R&B and Dancehall. He’s been around for some time, but I only heard of him around a year ago because he popped up on my Spotify. The algorithm works!
What’s a track that always makes you smile – and why?
It depends on my mood and environment. Last week, I may have said ‘One Dance’ by Drake with Kyla and Wiz Kid but that’s because of nostalgia, and I was in a funky house type of mood.
If I was pressed on one, it would be ‘Happy Birthday’ by Busy Signal. It’s a song that adds a little bit of spice to the typical happy birthday song we all know. It reminds me of good times. Life is precious so any milestone should be celebrated.
And finally, what new track should everyone have on their playlist?
Mood by Wiz Kid. It just reminds me of being around good vibes, good people, and summer. Even if you’re not into Afrobeats, it will make you smile.