When HR Must Manage Up: Handling Toxic Employers with Strategy and Psychological Insight
Duration: 60 Minutes
92 Days Left To REGISTER
Id: 211692
Serena Ittoo
Overview
This practical and psychologically informed webinar focuses on how HR professionals can manage upwards when employer or leadership behavior becomes harmful, reactive, or culturally damaging.
Participants will explore why toxic behaviors persist at senior levels, how power and identity affect receptiveness to feedback, and why traditional HR approaches often fail in these situations. The session emphasizes strategic positioning - helping HR professionals assess risk, influence outcomes, and protect themselves while advocating for healthier practices.
Rather than encouraging confrontation, this webinar supports measured, intelligent action - enabling HR to navigate difficult leadership dynamics with confidence, clarity, and professional authority.
Why you should Attend
When leadership behaviour becomes the problem, HR often carries the risk.
If you've ever felt responsible for fixing issues you didn't create, hesitant to challenge senior figures, or unsure how to raise concerns without damaging your position, this session is for you. Without a clear strategy, HR can become isolated, burned out, or exposed. This webinar provides a structured, realistic approach to managing up - without sacrificing credibility, integrity, or wellbeing.
Areas Covered in the Session
- The reality of HR managing up in toxic or high-risk environments
- Common harmful leadership behaviors HR is asked to "absorb" or fix
- Power, ego, and defensiveness at senior leadership level
- Why evidence alone doesn't change behavior
- Strategic communication when challenging authority
- Protecting credibility, boundaries, and professional standing
- Documentation, escalation, and risk-aware decision-making
- Knowing when influence is possible - and when it is not
- Supporting culture without becoming the buffer for harm
Who Will Benefit
- Senior HR Professionals and HR Business Partners
- Employee Relations and Compliance Specialists
- Heads of People, Culture, and Talent
- HR Professionals supporting Founder-Led or Executive-heavy Organizations
- HR Leaders navigating moral, legal, or emotional pressure
Speaker Profile
Serena is a licensed Master NLP Practitioner and transformational coach specialising in helping professionals, leaders, and teams overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and workplace stress to unlock their full potential. With a results-driven yet empathetic approach, Serena empowers individuals and organisations to foster resilience, enhance focus, and cultivate a positive, thriving workplace environment.
Renowned for her ability to connect deeply with clients, Serena guides them through practical tools and strategies to reduce stress, improve confidence, and build emotional resilience. Her methods have transformed lives, from individuals seeking clarity in their personal lives to corporate leaders looking to navigate high-pressure environments with composure and impact.
Growing up, Serena was inspired by her mother, a Counsellor and Mentor, to embrace personal development early in life. This foundation shaped her ability to overcome challenges, and gave her a unique perspective on growth and resilience. Alongside her professional credentials, Serena holds a First-Class BSc in Songwriting & Music Production, demonstrating her creative and holistic approach to problem-solving and personal development.
Serena has also applied NLP techniques to overcome personal adversities, including bereavement, and has used these same tools to help others navigate change, develop mental clarity, and achieve their goals. Her own experiences fuel her passion for guiding others in crafting sustainable habits and building confidence in both their personal and professional lives.
Access Recorded Version
One Attendee / Group Attendees
Unlimited Viewing Recorded Version for 6 months ( Access information will be emailed 24 hours after the completion of live webinar)