About
Experienced enough to know what works. Curious enough to challenge it.
I'm Kate Maddison-Greenwell, founder of People Efficient. I help leadership teams turn ambitious plans into change that actually happens.
I've spent 26 years in senior HR and business leadership, including 15 years at Gi Group UK where I went from HR Manager to Division Head, before founding People Efficient in 2021. That means I've sat on both sides of the table: the leader who has to deliver the change, and the adviser who's supposed to make it easier.
What I learned is simple. Transformations rarely fail because the strategy was wrong. They fail because the structure didn't match how work really flows, the middle managers were never brought with it, or nobody had the difficult conversations at the right time. That's the part of transformation everyone underestimates, and it's where I spend most of my energy.
I'm also a trained actor. It shapes how I facilitate, how I listen and how I help leaders find the words for hard moments. It's also the reason impACT exists.
I'm direct, practical and collaborative. I'll work with your board on Monday and with your operational teams on Tuesday, and I'm comfortable in both rooms.
The thinking behind the name
Efficient doesn't mean fewer people. It means less friction: fewer handoffs that go nowhere, fewer processes nobody believes in, fewer decisions stuck in the wrong place. Take that friction out and people get to spend their time on the work that needs a human. That's better for the business and better for them.
- 26+ yearsin senior HR and business leadership
- Former Regional HR Director15 years at Gi Group UK, reporting to the MD
- Level 7 CIPDChartered Institute of Personnel and Development
- AgilePM, Scrum Master, Agile Coachcertified in Agile delivery
- Trained actorcommunication, facilitation, rehearsal
- Yorkshireworking with organisations across the UK
- Founder-ledevery engagement personally overseen or delivered
Sectors include rail and transport, aviation, healthcare, hospitality, gaming, pharmaceuticals, facilities and professional services, often in highly regulated and unionised environments.
What people say about working with Kate
Kate led the company through major change projects and transformations... supporting the team through the pandemic she has been extremely pro-active, compassionate and forward-thinking, consistently ahead of the game.
I worked with Kate on a business transformation project that required strong HR leadership to deal with some complex issues. Kate was simply amazing, giving strategic guidance and getting into the detail with specific cases involving the displacement process... Not only did she give HR and legal guidance, but was clearly guided by a strong moral compass of right and wrong. As important as this, Kate was great fun to work with. It was a difficult time for employees who were affected by the consultation process, and an emotional situation to deal with. But Kate was always there with a "pick me up".