As we prepare for HR Experience 2025, one of the most anticipated voices joining us on stage is Leigh Elena Henderson – Founder of HRManifesto, author of Work Rescue and the creator behind some of TikTok’s most viral workplace truths. With over a million followers, Leigh has become a powerful advocate for authenticity, mental health, and culture repair in today’s workplaces.
I spoke with Leigh about what truly signals that a company culture is in trouble, how HR professionals can hold their ground in the face of resistance, and why silence in the workplace should never be mistaken for peace. Her perspective is sharp, vulnerable, and refreshingly real – just like her content. Leigh will be speaking at HR Experience 2025 on May 26 in Sava Centar, Belgrade, with a session titled Thriving Together: HR Strategies to Fix Engagement & Retention.
In your experience, what’s the first red flag that a workplace culture needs fixing?
When people stop talking. I’m not talking about small talk in the break room, I mean honest conversations. When employees are afraid to speak up or have given up on being heard, that silence speaks volumes. It’s not peace, it’s people checking out, giving up, and mentally moving on before physically doing so. And when folks start whispering or just keeping their heads down, that’s your sign that trust is broken and the culture needs serious work.
Many HR professionals feel stuck between leadership expectations and employee needs. What’s your message to HR teams trying to push for cultural change, but facing resistance?
First of all, I see you. HR is in the middle of everything, and sometimes it feels like we’re walking a tightrope with no net. My message? Keep going. You’re not imagining the tension, and you’re not wrong for wanting better. Change always feels like resistance at first. But you have more influence than you think, and sometimes just holding the line with compassion and courage is exactly what your workplace needs. Be the spark. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. And your presence changes lives.
Your TikTok content resonates with millions. What does that tell us about how people feel about work today?
People are tired of pretending at work. They’re craving authenticity, humanity, and a little bit of humor to cope with the nonsense. The fact that so many are watching, commenting, and sharing my content shows just how universal the struggle is. People want to be seen and heard, and they’re over the corporate double-speak and toxic positivity. They want something real. And thankfully due to my content, they at least now know they’re not alone in what they’re experiencing.
If attendees could take away just one mindset shift from your talk – something they could apply immediately – what would it be?
You don’t have to earn your worth at work. You already have it. That’s the shift. So many of us are caught in this endless loop of proving ourselves, trying to be perfect, trying to be everything to everyone. And that’s exhausting. The moment you realize you determine your value - no one else does - and your work makes a difference? Game changer. And that’s the energy I want people to walk away with.
What’s something about your own leadership or HR journey that surprises people when they hear it?
I’ve been fired. And that shocks people because they think if you’re in HR or an executive, you must be untouchable. But that’s not even the most surprising thing - being fired was the best thing to ever happen to me in my career! That’s right, sometimes our darkest moments are our greatest turning points. Getting knocked down made me stop performing for approval and start aligning my life with who I really am and what I really want. It was messy and painful, but it was also the beginning of living my purpose at a greater scale and that changed everything in my life for the better. I’m so thankful I was fired!
Don't miss the chance to meet and hear Leigh Elena Henderson live in Belgrade!
English 
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